How does a CC double bond cleave in the gas phase? Fragmentation of protonated ketotifen in mass spectrometry

In the literature, it is reported that the protonated ketotifen mainly undergoes C?C double bond cleavage in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS); however, there is no explanation on the mechanism of this fragmentation reaction. Therefore, we carried out a combined experimental and theoretical study on this interesting fragmentation reaction. The fragmentation of protonated ketotifen (m/z 310) always generated a dominant fragment ion at m/z 96 in different electrospray ionization mass spectrometers (ion trap, triple quadrupole and linear trap quadrupole (LTQ)‐orbitrap). The mechanism of the generation of this product ion (m/z 96) through the C?C double bond cleavage was proposed to be a sequential hydrogen migration process (including proton transfer, continuous two‐step 1,2‐hydride transfer and ion‐neutral complex‐mediated hydride transfer). This mechanism was supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and a deuterium labeling experiment. DFT calculations also showed that the formation of the product ion m/z 96 was most favorable in terms of energy. This study provides a reasonable explanation for the fragmentation of protonated ketotifen in ESI‐MS/MS, and the fragmentation mechanism is suitable to explain other C?C double bond cleavage reactions in mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective detection of unknown organic bromine compounds and quantification potentiality by negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with induced in-source fragmentation

For the detection of unknown organic bromine compounds, a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method with negative-ion electrospray ionization (NI-ESI) and induced in-source fragmentation (IISF) was established. After LC separation, the molecules are fragmentized in the source, and bromide is detected via m/z 79 and m/z 81 based on the isotopic occurrence of bromine. In this way, the retention times of the unknown organobromine compounds are determined, and this can be used to extract additional structural information (number of bound bromine atoms, molecular mass and fragmentation scheme) from measurements in the commonly used but less sensitive scan mode. The analysis of known organobromine compounds shows that LC/NI-ESI-IISF mass spectrometry with detection of m/z 79 and 81 is more sensitive than the detection of daughter ions (LC/ESI/MS-MS). Therefore, we present a method not only for the detection of unknown organic bromine compounds, but also for the selective and sensitive detection and quantification of known organobromine compounds.     

Does deprotonated benzoic acid lose carbon monoxide in collision-induced dissociation?

Decarboxylation is known to be the major fragmentation pathway for the deprotonated carboxylic acids in collision-induced dissociation (CID). However, in the CID mass spectrum of deprotonated benzoic acid (m/z 121) recorded on a Q-orbitrap mass spectrometer, the dominant peak was found to be m/z 93 instead of the anticipated m/z 77. Based on theoretical calculations, ¹⁸O-isotope labeling and MS³ experiments, we demonstrated that the fragmentation of benzoate anion begins with decarboxylation, but the initial phenide anion (m/z 77) can react with trace O₂ in the mass analyzer to produce phenolate anion (m/z 93) and other oxygen-containing ions. Thus oxygen adducts should be considered when annotating the MS/MS spectra of benzoic acids.     

Identification of isobaric product ions in electrospray ionization mass spectra of fentanyl using multistage mass spectrometry and deuterium labeling

Isobaric product ions cannot be differentiated by exact mass determinations, although in some cases deuterium labeling can provide useful structural information for identifying isobaric ions. Proposed fragmentation pathways of fentanyl were investigated by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry coupled with deuterium labeling experiments and spectra of regiospecific deuterium labeled analogs. The major product ion of fentanyl under tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) conditions (m/z 188) was accounted for by a neutral loss of N‐phenylpropanamide. 1‐(2‐Phenylethyl)‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (1) was proposed as the structure of the product ion. However, further fragmentation (MS³) of the fentanyl m/z 188 ion gave product ions that were different from the product ion in the MS/MS fragmentation of synthesized 1, suggesting that the m/z 188 product ion from fentanyl includes an isobaric structure different from the structure of 1. MS/MS fragmentation of fentanyl in deuterium oxide moved one of the isobars to 1 Da higher mass, and left the other isobar unchanged in mass. Multistage mass spectral data from deuterium‐labeled proposed isobaric structures provided support for two fragmentation pathways. The results illustrate the utility of multistage mass spectrometry and deuterium labeling in structural assignment of isobaric product ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the electron ionization mass spectrum of tabun

Tabun (ethyl N,N‐dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate), or GA, is a chemical warfare nerve agent produced during the World War II. The synthesis of its analogs is rather simple; thus, it is a significant threat. Furthermore, experiments with tabun and other nerve agents are greatly limited by the involved life risks and the severe restrictions imposed by the Chemical Weapons Convention. For these reasons, accurate theoretical assignment of fragmentation pathways can be especially important. In this work, we employ the Quantum Chemistry Electron Ionization Mass Spectra method, which combines molecular dynamics, quantum chemistry methods, and stochastic approaches, to accurately investigate the electron ionization/mass spectrometry (EI/MS) fragmentation spectrum and pathways of the tabun molecule. We found that different rearrangement reactions occur including a McLafferty involving the nitrile group. An essential and characteristic pathway for identification of tabun and analogs, a two‐step fragmentation producing the m/z 70 ion, was confirmed. The present results will be also useful to predict EI/MS spectrum and fragmentation pathways of other members of the tabun family, namely, the O‐alkyl/cycloalkyl N,N‐dialkyl (methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, or propyl) phosphoramidocyanidates.     

Correlations of ion structure with multiple fragmentation pathways arising from collision‐induced dissociations of selected α‐hydroxycarboxylic acid anions

Under conditions of collision‐induced dissociation (CID), anions of α‐hydroxycarboxylic acids usually fragment to yield the distinctive hydroxycarbonyl anion (m/z 45) and/or the complementary product anion formed by neutral loss of formic acid (46 u). Further support for the known two‐step mechanism, involving an ion‐neutral complex for the formation of the hydroxycarbonyl anion from the carboxyl group, is herein provided by tandem mass spectrometric results and density functional theory computations on the glycolate, lactate and 3‐phenyllactate ions. A fourth, structurally related α‐hydroxycarboxylate ion, obtained by deprotonation of mandelic acid, showed only loss of carbon dioxide upon CID. Density functional theory computations on the mandelate ion indicated that similar energy inputs were required for a direct, phenyl‐assisted decarboxylation and a postulated novel rearrangement to a carbonate ester, which yielded the benzyl oxide ion upon loss of CO₂. Rearrangement of the glycolate ion led to expulsion of carbon monoxide, whereas the 3‐phenyllactate ion showed the loss of water and formation of the benzyl anion and the benzyl radical as competing processes. The fragmentation pathways proposed for lactate and 3‐phenyllactate are supported by isotopic labeling. The relative computed energies of saddle points and product ions for all proposed fragmentation pathways are consistent with the energies supplied during CID experiments and the observed relative intensities of product ions. The diverse reaction pathways characterized for this set of four α‐hydroxycarboxylate ions demonstrate that it is crucial to understand the effects of structural variations when attempting to predict the gas‐phase reactivity and CID spectra of carboxylate ions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of doxylamine and related compounds

The chemical ionization mass spectrometric (CIMS) analysis of doxylamine, N,N-dimethyl-2-[1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy]ethanamine, and related compounds, using both ammonia and methane as reagent gases, is discussed. The two reagent gases did not produce the same major fragment ion for doxylamine. Mechanisms for the fragmentation of doxylamine under either ammonia or methane CIMS conditions are proposed. The mechanisms explain the observation of an m/z 182 fragment ion for doxylamine analyzed under methane CIMS conditions and an m/z 184 product ion detected under ammonia CIMS conditions.     

Mass spectrometry of diaziridines: 1—Rearrangements of the molecular ion of 1-benzyl-3,3-dimethyldiaziridine and identification of some daughter ions using collisional activation

Intense rearrangement processes involving migrations of hydrogen atoms and the phenyl group were observed in the electron impact induced fragmentation of 1-benzyl-3,3-dimethyldiaziridine. The following ions are observed: (i) m/z 146: a two-step fragmentation involving hydrogen transfer followed by loss of NH₂; (ii) m/z 119: C—N¹ bond fission followed by a 1–4 phenyl shift and loss of CH₃N₂; (iii) m/z 106: a process involving reciprocal hydrogen migration between the methyl and benzylic methylene groups; (iv) m/z 58: hydrogen transfer from benzylic methylene and subsequent loss of PhCHN. The origin of these ions has been confirmed by measurements of metastable transitions in 1-benzyl-3,3-dimethyldiaziridine, and on specifically deuterated and substituted diaziridines. The structure of the ions at m/z 119 and m/z 106 has been deduced by means of collisional activation spectrometry.     

Thermal degradation behavior of a carboxylic acid-terminated amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)

The thermal degradation of an amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-carboxylic acid terminated (PE-b-80%PEO–CH₂COOH) and its salt obtained as intermediary product from chemical oxidation of the end group of poly(ethylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-80%PEO) has been studied using a thermogravimetric mass spectrometry (TG/MS) coupled system. The isothermal fragmentation of PE-b-80%PEO–CH₂COOH showed a more complex fragmentation pattern than PE-b-80%PEO owing to the simultaneous occurrence of the polyether block and the carboxylic end group fragmentations. This led to the appearance of four overlapping ion current peaks of fragments with m/z 44 and two peaks relative to m/z 18 at different times by acid-terminated copolymer. For the PE-b-80%PEO copolymer, two ion current peaks associated to m/z 44 and one large peak relative to m/z 18 fragments were detected. The intermediary product (PE-b-80%PEO–CH₂COO⁻ K⁺) showed differences related to the fragmentation behavior. It has more defined ion current signals and presented characteristic peaks attributed to m/z 43 fragment at the very beginning of the thermal degradation process, which it not detected in the acid copolymer.     

Gas‐phase fragmentation of the protonated benzyl ester of proline: intramolecular electrophilic substitution versus hydride transfer

In this study, the gas phase chemistry of the protonated benzyl esters of proline has been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and theoretical calculation. Upon collisional activation, the protonated molecules undergo fragmentation reactions via three primary channels: (1) direct decomposition to the benzyl cation (m/z 91), (2) formation of an ion‐neutral complex of [benzyl cation + proline]⁺, followed by a hydride transfer to generate the protonated 4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylic acid (m/z 114), and (3) electrophilic attack at the amino by the transferring benzyl cation, and the subsequent migration of the activated amino proton leading to the simultaneous loss of (H₂O + CO). Interestingly, no hydrogen/deuterium exchange for the fragment ion m/z 114 occurs in the d ‐labeling experiments, indicating that the transferring hydride in path‐b comes from the methenyl hydrogen rather than the amino hydrogen. For para‐substituted benzyl esters, the presence of electron‐donating substituents significantly promotes the direct decomposition (path‐a), whereas the presence of electron‐withdrawing ones distinctively inhibits that channel. For the competing channels of path‐b and path‐c, the presence of electron‐donating substituents favors path‐b rather than path‐c, whereas the presence of electron‐withdrawing ones favors path‐c rather than path‐b. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conformational simulations of aqueous solvated alpha-conotoxin GI and its single disulfide analogues using a polarizable force field model

The solution conformation of alpha-conotoxin GI and its two single disulfide analogues are simulated using a polarizable force field in combination with the molecular fragmentation quantum chemical calculation. The polarizability is explicitly described by allowing the partial charges and fragment dipole moments to be variables, with values coming from the linear-scaling energy-based molecular fragmentation calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. In comparison with the full quantum chemical calculations, the fragmentation approaches can yield precise ground-state energies, dipole moments, and static polarizabilities for peptides. The B3LYP/6-31G(d) charges and fragment-centered dipole moments are introduced in calculations of electrostatic terms in both AmberFF03 and OPLS force fields. Our test calculations on the gas-phase glucagon (PDB code: 1gcn) and solvated alpha-conotoxin GI (PDB code: 1not) demonstrate that the present polarization model is capable of describing the structural properties (such as the relative conformational energies, intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds) with accuracy comparable to some other polarizable force fields (ABEEM/MM and OPLS-PFF) and the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) hybrid model. The employment of fragment-centered dipole moments in calculations of dipole-dipole interactions can save computational time in comparison with those polarization models using atom-centered dipole moments without much loss of accuracy. The molecular dynamics simulations using the polarizable force field demonstrate that two single disulfide GI analogues are more flexible and less structured than the native alpha-conotoxin GI, in agreement with NMR experiments. The polarization effect is important in simulations of the folding/unfolding process of solvated proteins.     

Characterization of multiple fragmentation pathways initiated by collision‐induced dissociation of multifunctional anions formed by deprotonation of 2‐nitrobenzenesulfonylglycine

The correlation of anion structure with the fragmentation behavior of deprotonated nitrobenzenesulfonylamino acids was investigated using tandem mass spectrometry, isotopic labeling and computational methods. Four distinct fragmentation pathways resulting from the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated 2‐nitrobenzenesulfonylglycine (NsGly) were characterized. The unusual loss of the aryl nitro substituent as HONO was the lowest energy process. Subsequent successive losses of CO, HCN and SO₂ indicated that an ortho cyclization reaction had accompanied loss of HONO. Other pathways involving rearrangement of the ionized sulfonamide group, dual bond cleavage and intramolecular nucleophilic displacement were proposed to account for the formation of phenoxide, arylsulfinate and arylsulfonamide product ions at higher collision energies. The four distinct fragmentation pathways were consistent with precursor–product relationships established by CID experiments, isotopic labeling results and the formation of analogous product ions from 2,4‐dinitrobenzenesulfonylglycine and the Ns derivatives of alanine and 2‐aminoisobutyric acid. The computations confirmed a low barrier for ortho cyclization with loss of HONO and feasible energetics for each reaction step in the four pathways. Computations also indicated that three of the fragmentation pathways started from NsGly ionized at the carboxyl group. Overall, the pathways identified for the fragmentation of the NsGly anion differed from processes reported for anions containing a single functional group, demonstrating the importance of functional group interactions in the fragmentation pathways of multifunctional anions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Density Functional Theory and Mass Spectrometry of Phthalate Fragmentations Mechanisms: Modeling Hyperconjugated Carbocation and Radical Cation Complexes with Neutral Molecules

This is the first ab initio study of the energetics of the fragmentation mechanisms of phthalate, by mass spectrometry, leading to protonated phthalic anhydride (m/z 149). Phthalates fragment by two major pathways; namely, the McLafferty + 1 rearrangement and the loss of alkoxy. Both pathways involve a carbonyl oxygen attack to the ortho-carbonyl carbon leading to structures with tetrahedral carbon intermediates that eventually give m/z 149. These pathways were studied by collision induced dissociation (CID) using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The proposed McLafferty + 1 pathway proceeds through a distonic M^•+, leading to the loss of an allylic-stabilized alkene radical. The McLafferty rearrangement step proceeds through a six-membered ring transition state with a small activation energy ranging 0.4–6.2 kcal/mol; the transfer of a second H from the distonic ion of the rearrangement step proceeds through a radical cation molecule complex. Based on quantum chemical modeling of the cation molecule complexes, two kinds of cation molecule complexes were identified as radical cation molecule complex and hyperconjugated cation molecule complex. This distinction is based on the cation and simplifies future modeling of similar complexes. Optimization of important fragments in these pathways showed cyclized and hydrogen-bonded structures to be favored. An exception was the optimized structure of the protonated phthalic anhydride (m/z 149) that showed a structure with an open anhydride ring.     

Fragmentation-based QM/MM simulations: length dependence of chain dynamics and hydrogen bonding of polyethylene oxide and polyethylene in aqueous solutions

Molecular fragmentation quantum mechanics (QM) calculations have been combined with molecular mechanics (MM) to construct the fragmentation QM/MM method for simulations of dilute solutions of macromolecules. We adopt the electrostatics embedding QM/MM model, where the low-cost generalized energy-based fragmentation calculations are employed for the QM part. Conformation energy calculations, geometry optimizations, and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations of poly(ethylene oxide), PEO(n) (n = 6-20), and polyethylene, PE(n) ( n = 9-30), in aqueous solution have been performed within the framework of both fragmentation and conventional QM/MM methods. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding and chain configurations obtained from the fragmentation QM/MM simulations are consistent with the conventional QM/MM method. The length dependence of chain conformations and dynamics of PEO and PE oligomers in aqueous solutions is also investigated through the fragmentation QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations.     

Electron impact-induced fragmentation of 15N-labelled 1,2,4-triazoles

The electron impact-induced fragmentation patterns of 3,5-diphenyl-lH-1,2,4-[4-¹⁵N]triazole, 4-ethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-[4-¹⁵N]triazole, l-ethyl-3,5-diphenyl-lH-1,2,4-[4-¹⁵N]triazole and the corresponding unlabelled compounds were established from exact mass measurements and from metastable ion evidence. Evidence for two fragmentation mechanisms was established for the formation of the m/z 104 peak in the spectrum of the 4-ethyl compound. Only the 1-alkylated triazole exhibited an intense peak at m/z 131. Major peaks at m/z 221 (222) and 118 are characteristic of the investigated triazoles.     

Competitive benzyl cation transfer and proton transfer: collision‐induced mass spectrometric fragmentation of protonated N,N‐dibenzylaniline

Collision‐induced dissociation of protonated N ,N ‐dibenzylaniline was investigated by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Various fragmentation pathways were dominated by benzyl cation and proton transfer. Benzyl cation transfers from the initial site (nitrogen) to benzylic phenyl or aniline phenyl ring. The benzyl cations transfer to the two different sites, and both result in the benzene loss combined with 1,3‐H shift. In addition, after the benzyl cation transfers to the benzylic phenyl ring, 1,2‐H shift and 1,4‐H shift proceed competitively to trigger the diphenylmethane loss and aniline loss, respectively. Deuterium labeling experiments, substituent labeling experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to support the proposed benzyl cation and proton transfer mechanism. Overall, this study enriches the knowledge of fragmentation mechanisms of protonated N ‐benzyl compounds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Competition of Charge Remote and Charge Directed Fragmentation Mechanisms in Quaternary Ammonium Salt Derivatized Peptides—An Isotopic Exchange Study

Derivatization of peptides as quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) is a promising method for sensitive detection by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (Cydzik et al. J. Pept. Sci. 2011, 17, 445–453). The peptides derivatized by QAS at their N-termini undergo fragmentation according to the two competing mechanisms – charge remote (ChR) and charge directed (ChD). The absence of mobile proton in the quaternary salt ion results in ChR dissociation of a peptide bond. However, Hofmann elimination of quaternary salt creates an ion with one mobile proton leading to the ChD fragmentation. The experiments on the quaternary ammonium salts with deuterated N-alkyl groups or amide NH bonds revealed that QAS derivatized peptides dissociate according to the mixed ChR-ChD mechanism. The isotopic labeling allows differentiation of fragments formed according to ChR and ChD mechanisms.     

Hydroxycarbonyl anion (m/z 45), a diagnostic marker for α‐hydroxy carboxylic acids

Collision‐induced dissociation mass spectra of anions derived from α‐hydroxy carboxylic acids (AHAs) show a diagnostic peak at m/z 45. Product ion spectra recorded from this m/z 45 ion confirm that it represents the hydroxycarbonyl anion ( ), and not the formate anion ( ) as sometimes described in the literature. For example, the formate anion is not only defiant to further fragmentation but is also unreactive toward CO₂. In contrast, the hydroxycarbonyl anion easily fragments to produce a peak at m/z 17 for the hydroxyl anion, and also readily reacts with CO₂ to produce a peak at m/z 61 for the bicarbonate anion. The hydrogen atom in the hydroxycarbonyl anion and that in the formate anion are not mobile within the skeletal framework of the ions, since the two ions did not manifest any interconversion under the conditions and time scales of our mass spectrometric experiments. The other significant product ion peak in the spectra of deprotonated AHAs represents a 46‐Da loss. MS/MS data from appropriately deuteriated compounds confirmed that one hydrogen atom from the C‐2 position, and the other from the hydroxy group are specifically removed for this loss of elements of formic acid. Moreover, the two oxygen atoms eliminated for the HCOOH loss originate exclusively from the carboxylate group. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A versatile electrophoric derivatisation reagent for negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry: <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-(pentafluorobenzyloxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoyl chloride

The synthesis of a novel electrophoric derivatisation reagent, o-(pentafluorobenzyloxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoyl chloride, is described. The reagent was tested against selected primary and secondary amino compounds, as well as phenolic and aliphatic hydroxyl compounds as analytical targets. The derivatives exhibit excellent mass spectral properties under negative ion chemical ionisation, i.e. reduced fragmentation and thus high ion current for the targeted m/z during analysis. Since the reagent bears a pentafluorobenzyl ester group, resulting negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectra were expectedly dominated by dissociative resonance electron capture typically observed with these compounds, additionally showing neutral loss of carbon dioxide and ammonia (in the case of primary amines). The reagent is suitable for detecting the target compounds with high sensitivity, as exemplified for the analysis of amphetamine and methylphenidate from human plasma where chromatographic background is drastically reduced by a shift in detected m/z and retention time and lower limits of quantification at 7.8 pg/mL (amphetamine) and 4.5 pg/mL (methylphenidate) can be obtained. The choice of two or three target quantification masses allows selective detection and adjustment of lowest background interference. No carryover effect was observed for the derivatives of amphetamine and methylphenidate.     

Electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra of 2,2-diphenyl-3-arylcyclobutanone oximes. Formation of ion m/z 167

The electron impact (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) spectra of 2,2-diphenyl-3-aryl cyclobutanone oximes (1–5) are reported. Formation of diphenylmethyl cation at m/z 167 is a major fragmentation process in both EI and CI spectra. Labelling studies established that the hydrogen involved in this rearrangement transfers from the NOH group and not from cyclobutane ring positions. The [M + 3]⁺ ions are formed under CI conditions as a result of C?N double bond reduction. An interesting secondary kinetic isotope effect is observed in the formation of ion e at m/z 183 in both EI and CI spectra. Other characteristic fragmentation pathways occurring in the EI and CI spectra of these compounds are outlined.