Examination of complex oligosaccharides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry on time-of-flight and magnetic sector instruments

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectra of underivatized oligosaccharides of the type attached to asparagine in glycoproteins (N-linked oligosaccharides) were examined with linear time-of-flight (TOF) and magnetic sector instruments using 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, sinapinic acid, 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid or 2-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid (HABA) as the matrices. All compounds formed abundant [M + Na]⁺ ions with the strongest signals being obtained from 2,5-DHB after recrystallization of the initially dried sample spot from ethanol. Only traces of fragmentation were detected from neutral oligosaccharides on the TOF system but more abundant fragment ions (about 5% relative abundance) were present in the spectra from the magnetic sector instrument. Fragmentation was dominated by Y-type glycosidic cleavages (Domon and Costello nomenclature) between all sugar residues yielding sequence and branching information. Sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides generally produced the sodium adduct of the sodium salt and gave much weaker signals than the neutral sugars in the positive-ion mode. There was also considerable loss of the sialic acid moleties as the result of fragmentation on the magnetic sector instrument. The least fragmentation of both neutral and acidic sugars was caused by 2.5 DHB, which proved to be the most appropriate matrix for examination of oligosaccharide mixtures. Much better resolution of the oligosaccharides was obtained than by traditional methods such as the use of Bio-Gel P-4 gel filtration column chromatography. It is worth noting also that the measurements were considerably faster (a few minutes as opposed to about 16 h). In addition, no radiolabelling was necessary as required for detection on the P-4 columns. Mixtures of oligosaccharides from several glycoproteins (ribonuclease B, human immunoglobulin G (IgG) transferrin, bovine fetuin and chicken ovalbumin) were examined and the patterns of the identified oligosaccharides were found to agree closely with the known compositions of the sugar mixtures. The mass spectrometric resolution on the magnetic sector instrument was very much better (up to 3000, FWHM) than could be obtained with the linear TOF systems (200–400). The technique was used as a detection system for the products of exoglycosidase digestion in experiments to determine the detailed structure of the oligosaccharide chains from human IgG.     

寡糖快原子轰击质谱中碱金属加合离子应用技术的研究

生命科学的研究成果^[1～3]表明,糖蛋白和糖脂中的糖基可作为细胞的识别信号,能控制细胞的分裂和分化.快原子轰击(FAB)质谱是测定寡糖的重要手段^[4,5],但目前还存在不少问题.我们在对麦芽各糖的研究中.     

碱金属离子与三肽复合物的气相裂解反应

为了探索侧链R基团对碱金属离子与多肽复合物气相裂解反应的影响, 采用电喷雾电离质谱法研究了碱金属离子Li⁺, Na⁺和K⁺分别与甘氨酸三肽(GGG)、 甘氨酰-苯丙氨酰-甘氨酸三肽(GFG)和甘氨酰-甘氨酰-苯丙氨酸三肽(GGF)形成的复合物的气相裂解反应. 质谱定性实验结果表明, Li⁺, Na⁺和K⁺与GGG, GFG或GGF在气相中可以形成稳定的复合物, 配合比为1∶1或2∶1. 竞争反应质谱图显示, GGG, GFG或GGF与碱金属离子形成的复合物的质谱峰丰度按Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺顺序依次下降, 表明随着碱金属离子半径的增加, 它们与三肽的结合强度依次减弱. 碰撞诱导解离显示, 母体离子[GGG+Na]⁺, [GGF+Na]⁺和[GFG+Na]⁺ 的质心碰撞能量E(CM)₅₀数值分别为1.94, 1.76和1.63 eV. 通过质谱滴定法测得[GGG+Na]⁺, [GFG+ Na]⁺和[GGF+Na]⁺ 的结合常数lg\begin{array}{c}{K}_{a_1}\end{array}分别为5.30, 5.25和5.17. 质谱法定量结果进一步确认复合物的稳定性顺序为[GGG+Na]⁺>[GGF+Na]⁺>[GFG+Na]⁺, 表明由于空间位阻的影响, 侧链R基团含有苄基的GFG或 GGF与Na⁺的键合强度要小于侧链R全部为H的GGG. 串级质谱分析结果显示, 碱金属化的GGG断裂位点较多, 可解离出丰富的金属化a₂, b和y型碎片离子, 而碱金属化的GGF和GFG解离出的金属化y型离子较多, b型离子其次, 金属化a型离子几乎没有. 此外, 双碱金属化的GGF可解离出较多金属化y型离子. 复合物[GGF+Na]⁺的裂解曲线显示, 当碰撞能量为25 eV时, [y₂+Na-H]⁺ 和[b₂+Na+OH]⁺为主要碎片离子, 当碰撞能量>40 eV时, 只有[b₂+Na+OH]⁺ 碎片离子占有优势数量. 根据质子化三肽裂解机理可以推测, 钠化GFG裂解后生成含噁唑酮的[b₂+Na]⁺离子, 该离子经过一系列过渡态生成[a₂+Na]⁺(2-苄基-4-咪唑酮), 而不是常见的亚胺离子.     

Quantitative analysis of fluorimated ethylchloroformate derivatives of non-protein amino acids using positive and negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectometry

The GC-MS characterization of the ethylchloroformate derivatives of amino acids in an aqueous medium has been applied to non-protein amino acids. Derivatization of non-protein amino acids using ethylchloroformate, trifluoroethanol, and pyridine produced strong [M + 1]⁺ and [M - 1]⁻ ions in positive and negative chemical ionization (CI) modes, respectively. Twenty-one out of the twenty-three non-protein amino acids studied produced detectable ion chromatograms in both ionization modes when methane was used as the CI reagent gas. Mass spectra of these non-protein amino acid derivatives showed characteristic [M - 19]⁺, [M + 1]⁺, [M + 29]⁺, and [M + 41]⁺ peaks in the positive chemical ionization mode, and [M - 1]⁻, and [M + 35]⁻ peaks in the negative chemical ionization mode. The detection limits and the linear dynamic range of trifluorethanol ethylchloroformate derivatives of non-protein amino acids were studied using positive chemical ionization. The detection limits are mostly in the femtomole range.     

Structural characterization of 2-aminobenzamide-derivatized oligosaccharides using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization two-stage time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer

Oligosaccharides were derivatized by reductive amination using 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB) and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization two-stage time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the positive ion mode. The major signals were obtained under these conditions from the [M+Na]+ ions for all 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides. A systematic study was conducted on a series of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides to allow rationalization of the fragmentation processes. The MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra of the [M+Na]+ ions of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides were dominated by glycosidic cleavages. These fragments originating both from the reducing and the non-reducing ends of the oligosaccharide yield information on sequence and branching. Moreover, the MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra were also characterized by abundant cross-ring fragments which are very informative on the linkages of the monosaccharide residues constituting these oligosaccharides. MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS analysis of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides, by providing structural information at the low-picomole level, appears to be a powerful tool for carbohydrate structural analysis.     

Role of the sulfhydryl group on the gas phase fragmentation reactions of protonated cysteine and cysteine containing peptides

The gas phase fragmentation reactions of protonated cysteine and cysteine-containing peptides have been studied using a combination of collisional activation in a tandem mass spectrometer and ab initio calculations [at the MP2(FC)/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level of theory]. There are two major competing dissociation pathways for protonated cysteine involving: (i) loss of ammonia, and (ii) loss of the elements of [CH₂O₂]. MS/MS, MS/MS of selected ions formed by collisional activation in the electrospray ionization source as well as ab initio calculations have been carried out to determine the mechanisms of these reactions. The ab initio results reveal that the most stable [M + H − NH₃]⁺ isomer is an episulfonium ion (A), whereas the most stable [M + H − CH₂O₂]⁺ isomer is an immonium ion (B). The effect of the position of the cysteine residue on the fragmentation reactions of the [M + H]⁺ ions of all the possible simple dipeptide and tripeptide methyl esters containing one cysteine (where all other residues are glycine) has also been investigated. When cysteine is at the N-terminal position, NH₃ loss is observed, although the relative abundance of the resultant [M + H − NH₃]⁺ ion decreases with increasing peptide size. In contrast, when cysteine is at any other position, water loss is observed. The proposed mechanism for loss of H₂O is in competition with those channels leading to the formation of structurally relevant sequence ions.     

Influence of the labeling group on ionization and fragmentation of carbohydrates in mass spectrometry

The ionization and fragmentation behaviors of carbohydrate derivatives prepared by reaction with 2-aminobenzamide (AB), 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP), and phenylhydrazine (PHN) were compared under identical mass spectrometric conditions. It has been shown that the intensities of signals in MS spectra depend on the kind of saccharides investigated and reducing end labels used. PMP sialyllactose, when ionized by ESI/MALDI, produced a mixture of [M + H]+, [M + Na]+, [M - H + 2Na]+ ions in the positive mode and [M - H]-, [M + Na - 2H]- ions in the negative mode. The AB and PHN derivatives formed abundant [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions in ESI, and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) produced abundant [M + Na]+ ions. PMP- and reduced AB-sialyllactose produced only Y-type fragment ions under both MS/MS sources. In the electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS spectrum of PHN-sialyllactose, abundant ions corresponded to B, Z cleavages and in its MALDI-MS/MS spectrum, the abundant ions were consistent with Y glycosidic cleavages with the concurrence of B, C, and cross-ring fragment ions. In the MALDI-MS spectra of oligosaccharides acquired immediately after derivatization, it was possible to detect only PHN derivatives. After purification, spectra of all three types of derivatives showed high signal-to-noise ratios with the most abundant ions observed for AB reduced saccharides. [M + Na]+ ions were the dominant products and their fragmentation patterns were influenced by the type of the labeling and the kind of oligosaccharide considered. In the MALDI-PSD and -MS/MS spectra of AB-derivatized glycans, higher m/z fragment ions corresponded to B and Y cleavages and the loss of bisecting GlcNAc appeared as a weak signal or was not detected at all. Fragmentation patterns observed in the spectra of hybrid/complex PHN and PMP glycans were more comparable-higher m/z fragments corresponded to B and C glycosidic cleavages. For PHN glycans, the abundance of ions resulting from the loss of bisecting GlcNAc depended on the number of residues linked to the 6-positioned mannose. Also, PHN and PMP derivatives produced cross-ring cleavages with abundances higher than observed in the spectra of AB derivatized oligosaccharides. For high-mannose glycans, the most informative cleavages were provided by AB and PHN type of labeling. Here, PMP produced dominant Y-cleavages from the chitobiose while other ions produced weak signals.     

The determination of glycopeptides by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation

Glycopeptides derived from ribonuclease B and ovomucoid have been subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the second quadrupole of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Doubly charged parent ions gave predictable fragmentation that yielded partial sequence information of the attached oligosaccharide as Hex and HexNAc units. Common oxonium ions are observed in the product ion mass spectra of the glycopeptides that correspond to HexNAc⁺ (m/z 204) and HexHexNAc⁺ (m/z 366). A strategy for locating the glycopeptides in the proteolytic digest mixtures of glycoproteins by ions spray liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is described by utilizing CID in the declustering region of the atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer to produce these characteristic oxonium ions. This LC/CID/MS approach is used to identify glycopeptides in proteolytic digest mixtures of ovomucoid, asialofetuin, and fetuin. LC/CID/MS in the selected ion monitoring mode may be used to identify putative glycopeptides from the proteolytic digest of fetuin.     

Analysis of neutral oligosaccharides for structural characterization by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry

We have acquired multi-stage mass spectra (MSn) of four branched N-glycans derived from human serum IgG by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-QIT-TOF-MS) in order to demonstrate high sensitivity structural analysis. [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ ions were detected in the positive mode. The detection limit of [M+Na]+ in MS/MS and MS3 measurements for structural analysis was found to be 100 fmol, better than that for [M+H]+. The [M+H]+ ions subsequently fragmented to produce predominantly a Y series of fragments, whereas [M+Na]+ ions fragmented to give a complex mixture of B and Y ions together with some cross-ring fragments. Three features of MALDI-QIT-CID fragmentation of [M+Na]+ were cleared by the analysis of MS/MS, MS3 and MS4 spectra: (1) the fragment ions resulting from the breaking of a bond are more easily generated than that from multi-bond dissociation; (2) the trimannosyl-chitobiose core is either hardly dissociated, easily ionized or it is easy to break a bond between N-acetylglucosamine and mannose; (3) the fragmentation by loss of only galactose from the non-reducing terminus is not observed. We could determine the existence ratios of candidates for each fragment ion in the MS/MS spectrum of [M+Na]+ by considering these features. These results indicate that MSn analysis of [M+Na]+ ions is more useful for the analysis of complicated oligosaccharide structures than MS/MS analysis of [M+H]+, owing to the higher sensitivity and enhanced structural information. Furthermore, two kinds of glycans, with differing branch structures, could be distinguished by comparing the relative fragment ion abundances in the MS3 spectrum of [M+Na]+. These analyses demonstrate that the MSn technology incorporated in MALDI-QIT-TOF-MS can facilitate the elucidation of structure of complex branched oligosaccharides.     

Quantitative determination of sulfonamide in meat by liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry

This paper describes a newly developed liquid chromatography–electrospray-mass spectrometry (LC–ES-MS) method for the quantitative determination of nine commonly used sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfapyridine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfisoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, sulfaquinoaline and sulfaphenazole) in meat. [M+H]⁺ and [M+Na]⁺ were the two major ions detected in positive ion mode. Selective ion monitoring was employed for quantitative determination. Satisfactory linearity, 0.1–10 μg ml⁻¹, of each compound was obtained. Blank meat samples were fortified at levels between 50 and 500 μg kg⁻¹. [Phenyl-¹³C6]sulfamethazine was used as internal standard. Sulfonamides were isolated from meat with a solvent extraction procedure and then determined by LC–ES-MS. The limits of detection were below 10 μg kg⁻¹. The application of this newly developed method was demonstrated by analyzing various beef, pork and chicken samples from local markets.     

Development of LC-IMS-CID-TOFMS techniques: Analysis of a 256 component tetrapeptide combinatorial library

Recent improvements in ion mobility/time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques have made it possible to incorporate nano-flow liquid chromatography and collision induced dissociation techniques. This combination of approaches provides a new strategy for detailed characterization of complex systems—such as, combinatorial libraries. Our work uses this technology to provide a detailed analysis of a tetrapeptide library having the general form Xxx₁-Xxx₂-Xxx₃-Xxx₄ where Xxx₁ = Glu, Phe, Val, Asn; Xxx₂ = Glu, Phe, Val, Tyr; Xxx₃ = Glu, Phe, Val, Thr; and Xxx₄ = Glu, Phe, Val, Leu—a system that is expected to contain 256 different peptide sequences. The results corroborate the presence of many expected peptide sequences and indicate that some synthetic steps appear to have failed. Particularly interesting is the observation of a t-butyl protecting group on the tyrosine (Tyr) residue. It appears that most Tyr containing peptides that have this t-butyl group attached favor formation of [2M + 2H]²⁺ dimers, which can be readily distinguished from [M + H]⁺ monomers based on differences in their gas-phase mobilities. In this case, we demonstrate the use of the mobility differences between [2M + 2H]²⁺ and [M + H]⁺ ions as a signature for a failure of a synthetic step.     

A study of the gas-phase reaction between protonated acetaldehyde and methanol

Protonated acetaldehyde is methylated on the oxygen during interaction with methanol in the gas phase. The ionic product of the ion/molecule reaction between methanol and protonated acetaldehyde is identical with C-protonated methylvinyl ether (high-pressure ionization), and with the (M − C₂H₅)⁺ fragment ion of sec-butyl methyl ether (following electron ionization), and also with the (M − OCH₃)⁺ fragment ion of acetaldehyde dimethylacetal (following electron ionization). The structures of these ions and the mechanism of their formation were established by isotope-labeling experiments and collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of model compounds obtained with three different types of tandem mass spectrometers (BEQQ, triple-quadrupole, and a penta-quadrupole instrument). Gas phase synthesis of the product ion from [²H₃]-methanol or [²H₄]-acetaldehyde provided insight into its mode of formation and collision-induced dissociation.     

The coordinatively unsaturated cluster cations [Pt3{M(CO)3}(μ-Ph2PCH2PPh2)3] (M = Re, Mn)

The coordinatively unsaturated cluster [Pt₃(μ₃-CO)(μ-dppm)₃]²⁺ (1, dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) reacts with Na⁺[M(CO)₅]⁻ to give the mixed metal clusters [Pt₃{M(CO)₃}(μ-dppm)₃]⁺ (M = Re, 2; Mn, 3). The new clusters are characterized by spectroscopic methods and, for M = Re, by an X-ray structure determination. The Pt₃Re core in 2 is tetrahedral with particularly short metal-metal distances.     

Electrospray mass spectrometry and fragmentation of N-linked carbohydrates derivatized at the reducing terminus

Derivatives were prepared from N-linked glycans by reductive amination from 2-aminobenzamide, 2-aminopyridine, 3-aminoquinoline, 2-aminoacridone, 4-amino-N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide, and the methyl, ethyl, and butyl esters of 4-aminobenzoic acid. Their electrospray and collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation spectra were examined with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The strongest signals were obtained from the [M + Na]+ ions for all derivatives except sugars derivatized with 4-amino-N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide which gave very strong doubly charged [M + H + Na]2+ ions. The strongest [M + Na]+ ion signals were obtained from the butyl ester of 4-aminobenzoic acid and the weakest from 2-aminopyridine. The most informative spectra were recorded from the [M + Li]+ or [M + Na]+ ions. These spectra were dominated by ions produced by sequence-revealing glycosidic cleavages and "internal" fragments. Linkage-revealing cross-ring cleavage ions were reasonably abundant, particularly from high-mannose glycans. Although the nature of the derivative was found to have little effect upon the fragmentation pattern, 3-aminoquinoline derivatives gave marginally more abundant cross-ring fragments than the other derivatives. [M + H]+ ions formed only glycosidic fragments with few, if any, cross-ring cleavage ions. Doubly charged molecular ions gave less informative spectra; singly charged fragments were weak, and molecular ions containing hydrogen ([M + 2H]2+ and [M + H + Na]2+) fragmented as the [M + H]+ singly charged ions with no significant cross-ring cleavages.     

Gas phase studies of the interactions of Fe2+ with cysteine-containing peptides

Gas-phase complexes of cysteine-containing peptides and Fe²⁺ were produced by fast atom bombardment and studied by tandem mass spectrometry. Specific and strong interactions of the iron and sulfur from the thiol group of the cysteine side chain are preserved in the gas phase and are the basis for highly specific fragmentation to give abundant [a_n − 2H + Fe]⁺ ions, where n is position of the cysteine residue from the N-terminus of peptide. Metal/peptide complexes containing more than one Cys residue were also investigated; they display similar chemistry upon collisionally activated decompositions, indicating that the Fe²⁺ ion primarily binds at cysteine sites.     

Gezielte Synthese von Kohlenwasserstoff-verbrückten Komplexen. Nucleophile addition von Pentacarbonylrhenat und -manganat an π-gebundene Dien-, Cyclodien-, Trimethylenmethan-, Cycloheptatrienyl- und Alkin-Liganden

Pentacarbonyl-rhenate and -manganate react with the cationic complexes [cpMo(CO)₂(diene)]⁺, [cpMo(CO)₂(cyclopentadiene]⁺, [cpMo(CO)₂(cyclohexadiene)]⁺, [cpMo(CO)₂(trimethylenemethane]⁺, [(OC)₃Mo(η⁷-C₇H₇)]⁺, [cp(OC)-(Ph₃P)Mo(alkyne)]⁺ to give the corresponding heteronuclear hydrocarbon-bridged complexes.     

Das perfluortriazinium-kation als oxidationsmittel in der metallorganischen synthese—ein neuer weg zur darstellung von [Cp2MCl2](M = Mo

The oxidation of Cp₂MCl₂ (M= Mo, W) with perfluortriazinium tetrafluoroborate, [(FCN)₃F]⁺[BF₄]⁻, in the presence of a flouride ion acceptor (BF₃ or PF₅) in SO₂ solution yielded the cationic metallocene complexes [Cp₂MCl ₂]²⁺[BF₄]⁻ or [C_p2MCl₂] ²⁺[BF₄]⁻[PF₆]⁻ (M = Mo, W), respectively. In these reactions, for the first time the perfluortriazinium cation has proved to be easy to handle and a useful oxidizer in organometallic chemistry. The oxidizer strength of three fluorotriazinium cations, [(XCN)₃F]⁺ (X = F, Cl, H), has been computed ab initio (HF/6 − 31 + G) and calibrated on literature data which were obtained by local density functional calculations. It was anchored to its F⁺ zero point by an experimental value for KrF⁺. ab]Die Oxidation von Cp²MCl₂ mit (M = MO, W) Perfluortriaziniumtetrafluoroborat, [(FCN)₃F]⁺[BF₄]⁻, in Anwesenheit eines Fluoridionenakzeptors (BF₃ oder PF₅) führte in SO₂-Lösung zur Bildung der kationischen Metallocen-Komplexe [Cp₂MCl₂₊]²⁺[BF₄]₂⁻ bzw. [Cp₂MCl₂]²⁺[BF₄]⁻ [PF₆]⁻ (M = Mo, W). In diesen Reaktionen konnte erstmals gezeigt werden, daß Perfluortriazinium-Kationen einfach zu handhabende und nützliche Oxidationsmittel im Bereich der metallorganischen Synthese darstellen. Das (Mdationsvermögen von drei Fluorotriazinium-Kationen, [(XCN)₃F]⁺(X = F, Cl, H), wurde ab initio berechnet (HF/6 − 31 + G) und mit Hilfe von Literaturdaten, die mittels local density functional-Berechnungen erhalten und am experimentellen Wert von KrF ⁺ bezüglich des F⁺ Nullpunktes verankert wurden, kalibriert.     

激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱下的银簇行为

近年来,对金属簇的研究已成为化学与物理学中最活跃的研究领域之一［１］．金属簇被认为是介于单个原子与固体之间的中间相［２］．深入地研究其结构、形成机理及物理与化学行为,对于寻找新的催化剂［３］,重新认识气相化学与凝聚相化学的关系［４］,都有非常重要的意...     

Reactions of transition-metal carbonyls with anhydrous HF

The reactions of a wide range of transition-metal carbonyls with anhydrous HF are described. In particular, Ru₃(CO)₁₂, Os₃(CO)₁₂ and Ir₄(CO)₁₂ give the solution stable [Ru₃(CO)₁₂H]⁺, [Ru(CO)₅H]⁺, [Os₃(CO)₁₂H]⁺, [Os(CO)₅H]⁺ and [Ir₄(CO)₁₂H₂]²⁺ respectively, which have been characterised by a combination of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Isotopic exchange reactions between iron-sulphur-nitrosyl clusters and nitrite

The anion [Fe₄S₃(NO)₇]⁻ undergoes slow exchange with labelled nitrite [¹⁵NO₂]⁻ to yield a product [Fe₄S₃(¹⁴NO)(¹⁵NO)₆]⁻ in which complete isotopic exchange has occurred at the basal Fe(NO)₂ groups, but with no exchange at the apical Fe(NO) group. The neutral Fe₄S₄(NO)₄ reacts rapidly with [¹⁵NO₂⁻ to give fully exchanged [Fe₄S₃(¹⁵NO)₇]⁻, and it is proposed that the conversion proceeds by fragmentation, followed by complete isotopic exchange and rapid reassembly. The binuclear anion [Fe₂S₂(NO)₄]²⁻ also yields, with [¹⁵NO₂]²⁻ in CD₂Cl₂ solution, the fully exchanged [Fe₄S₃(¹⁵NO)₇]⁻, and a mechanism involving successive fragmentation, exchange and reassembly steps is proposed; however in aqueous solution, a clean exchange reaction occurs to give [Fe₂S₂(¹⁵NO)₄]²⁻. Neutral binuclear esters Fe₂(SR)₂(NO)₄ (R = Me, Et, or Ph) with [¹⁴NO₂]⁻ yield the mononuclear paramagnetic [Fe(¹⁴NO)₂(¹⁴NO₂)₂]⁻, and with [¹⁵NO₂]⁻ the analogous [Fe(¹⁵NO)₂(₁₅NO₂)₂]⁻.