Toward understanding the ionization of biomarkers from micrometer particles by bio-aerosol mass spectrometry

The appearance of informative signals in the mass spectra of laser-ablated bio-aerosol particles depends on the effective ionization probabilities (EIP) of individual components during the laser ionization process. This study investigates how bio-aerosol chemical composition governs the EIP values of specific components and the overall features of the spectra from the bio-aerosol mass spectrometry (BAMS). EIP values were determined for a series of amino acid, dipicolinic acid, and peptide aerosol particles to determine what chemical features aid in ionization. The spectra of individual amino acids and dipicolinic acid, as well as mixtures, were examined for extent of fragmentation and the presence of molecular ion dimers, which are indicative of ionization conditions. Standard mixtures yielded information with respect to the significance of secondary ion plume reactions on observed spectra. A greater understanding of how these parameters affect EIP and spectra characteristics of bio-aerosols will aid in the intelligent selection of viable future biomarkers for the identification of bio-terrorism agents.     

Potential of electrophilic epoxide reactions for the monitoring of acid gases in the environment

Mineral and short-chain carboxylic acid vapours and NO(x) gases were reacted with cyclohexene oxide (1,2-epoxycyclohexane) to quantitatively produce specific, thermally stable cyclohexyl derivatives. Subsequent analysis of these derivatives by gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy and flame ionisation detection afforded a multi analyte method for the assay of these gaseous acidic atmospheric species. Derivatisation was found to be quantitative for the derivatives tested and the method highly sensitive (to 0.3 mg/m3 for a 30 l sample), accurate, precise and free from apparent interferences. The technique has been applied to "acid stack gases" and a number of other acid rich atmospheres and the results obtained show good agreement with the single analyte wet chemical determinations indicating that the approach has considerable potential as a routine analytical method for measuring such atmospheric pollutants. The high specificity of the reaction mechanism and its potential for the analysis of analyte mixtures is illustrated in the assay of nitric acid and its acid anhydride, dinitrogen pentoxide.     

Glass capillary gas chromatography of amino acid enantiomers

Glass capillaries coated with Chirasil-Val, a chirally functionalised polysiloxane, are capable in principle of resolving all protein amino-acid enantiomers in a single run and within a short analysis time, thus allowing for example the quantitative amino acid determination by enantiomer labelling. The elution characteristics of the individual amino acids however are also dependent upon the chemical nature of the capillary wall surface, and a surface pretreatment is found to be necessary if all protein amino acids are to be analysed. Of the various methods of pretreatment tested, etching of borosilicate glass with gaseous HCl followed by deposition of colloidal silicic acid is considered to be the most suitable.     

The role of charge-site location in fragmenting ions. 1—[CH3 CHXCOOCH3]+˙ and [CH2XCH2 COOCH3]+˙ ions and the structures of daughter ions derived from the loss of X (X = I,Br, Cl and CH3)

The structures of the m/z 87, [C₄H₇O₂]⁺, ions generated by dissociative ionization of CH₃CGXCOOCH₃ and XCH₂CH₂COOCH₃ (X = CH₃, Cl, Br, and I) have been investigated via their unimolecular and collisionally activated fragmentations and by apperance energy measurements. For both precursors loss of X = CH₃ produced, via H atom transfer, ions of structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH_2 = CH}\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } \left({{\rm OH}} \right){\rm OCH}_{\rm 3} $\end{document} (a), ΔH_f = 386 kj mol^?1. In marked contrast, loss of I^˙ from ionized CH₃CHICOOCH₃ and ICH₂CH₂COOCH₃ proceeded without rearrangement to yield respectively ions of structure \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH_3}\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {{\rm HCOOCH_3}} $\end{document} (b), ΔH_f = 480 kJ mol^?1 and (c), ΔH_f = 450 kJ mol^?1. These different fragmentation behaviours are explained via photoelectron spectra which show that the formal charge site in the precursor ion is at the carbonyl oxygen when X = CH₃ but at the halogen atom when X = I. The precursor molecules X = Cl and Br display both of the above characteristics, CH₃CHXCOOCH₃ yielding mixtures of a and b and XCH₂CH₂COOCH₃ producing a and c ions.     

Estrogen receptor ligands. 12. Synthesis of the major metabolites of an ERalpha-selective, dihydrobenzoxathiin antagonist for osteoporosis

[reaction: see text] During the course of drug metabolism studies, a major metabolite of compound 1 was detected in rhesus monkeys and assigned structure 4. The intriguing biotransformation of 1 leading to 4 was confirmed by a 19-step total synthesis starting from resorcinol (11), the key feature of which was the construction of the oxygen bridge utilizing a phenolic oxidation and trapping sequence. In addition, the synthesis of a related metabolite (5) is described.     

Preparation and reactions of mono-reissert compounds and analogs at the 3,4-position of quinazoline

Quinazoline, acid chlorides, and trimethylsilyl cyanide have been converted to mono-Reissert compounds at the 3,4-position of the quinazoline system. Various reactions of these quinazoline Reissert compounds are reported.     

Flow-through microdispenser for interfacing micro-HPLC to Raman and mid-IR spectroscopic detection

A flow-through microdispenser has been coupled to a micro HPLC separation system and used as a solvent elimination interface for Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopic detection of the separated compounds. Using the microdispenser picoliter sized droplets can be generated and deposited on an appropriate target placed on a computerized x, y-stage. Evaporation of volatile solvent and buffer is rapid and allows analysis of the obtained dry deposits by various techniques. Due to the destruction free character of Raman and FTIR spectroscopy they can be applied sequentially to interrogate the same deposit. In the reported application five phenolic acids typically present in wine have been separated on a C-18 column technique using a mixture of water, methanol and acetic acid as mobile phase. For spectrum acquisition infrared and Raman microscopes have been used. The spectra recorded from the dried deposits of the separated compounds agreed well with the reference spectra of corresponding components.