A Simple and Rapid Method for the Identification of Amphetamine and Metamphetamine Hydrochlorides by Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

In order to determine amphetamine and metamphetamine, we have used a method never used before in the legal practice. The aim of our work was to optimize the measurement conditions for the rapid and accurate determination of amphetamine and metamphetamine. We have developed a method which makes possible the unambiguous identification of the hydrochlorides of the hallucinogens amphetamine and metamphetamine, even when these two are present simultaneously. In our work we have used the ammonium salt technique. The information available from the mass spectra (molecular ion, appearance of characteristic fragments) are dependent on the temperature of the direct sample and the ionisation energy. As a consequence, we have primarily studied the influence of the above two parameters upon the mass spectra.     

Mobility-Modulated Sequential Dissociation Analysis Enables Structural Lipidomics in Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Spatial lipidomics based on mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for fundamental biology studies and biomarker discovery. But the structure-resolving capability of MSI is limited because of the lack of multiplexed tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method, primarily due to the small sample amount available from each pixel and the poor ion usage in MS/MS analysis. Here, we report a mobility-modulated sequential dissociation (MMSD) strategy for multiplex MS/MS imaging of distinct lipids from biological tissues. With ion mobility-enabled data-independent acquisition and automated spectrum deconvolution, MS/MS spectra of a large number of lipid species from each tissue pixel are acquired, at no expense of imaging speed. MMSD imaging is highlighted by MS/MS imaging of 24 structurally distinct lipids in the mouse brain and the revealing of the correlation of a structurally distinct phosphatidylethanolamine isomer (PE 18 : 1_18 : 1) from a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Mapping of structurally distinct lipid isomers is now enabled and spatial lipidomics becomes feasible for MSI.     

微型辉光放电等离子体用于质谱成像分析的初步研究

本实验利用实验室自主研发的微型辉光放电等离子体(MFGDP)作为离子源解吸样品,使之离子化,得到样品的特征质谱图,经特定软件的转化即可得到对应的图像,图像表明,MFGDP用于质谱成像具有可行性.本方法具有装置简单、操作简易、等离子体羽低温、分析时间短(＜20 min)等优点,可同时定位样品中不同物质的空间分布.本研究探讨了影响质谱成像图清晰度的因素,优化了实验条件,在最优条件下,本方法的空间分辨率约300μm,对加有尿素的不同字迹进行初步质谱分析,并对冬枣切片中硬脂酸和槲皮素衍生物的空间分布做了影像探索.此技术可以根据化学物质的指纹图谱区分不同的字迹,也能够很好地获取样品中不同营养物质的分布状况,因此,为字画研究、艺术品鉴定、营养物质分布图的获取提供了一种新的方法.     

有机异构体的质谱分析简介

本文介绍了用于有机异构体辨析的几种质谱方法，并综述了它们在五类异构体中的应用。     

Immuno-Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging Identifies Functional Macromolecules by Using Microdroplet-Cleavable Mass Tags

We present immunoassay-based desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (immuno-DESI-MSI) to visualize functional macromolecules such as drug targets and cascade signaling factors. A set of boronic acid mass tags (BMTs) were synthesized to label antibodies as MSI probes. The boronic ester bond is employed to cross-link the BMT with the galactosamine-modified antibody. The BMT can be released from its tethered antibody by ultrafast cleavage of the boronic ester bond caused by the acidic condition of sprayed DESI microdroplets containing water. The fluorescent moiety enables the BMT to work in both optical and MS imaging modes. The positively charged quaternary ammonium group enhances the ionization efficiency. The introduction of the boron element also makes mass tags readily identified because of its unique isotope pattern. Immuno-DESI-MSI provides an appealing strategy to spatially map macromolecules beyond what can be observed by conventional DESI-MSI, provided antibodies are available to the targeted molecules of interest.     

Conception and Evaluation of a Library of Cleavable Mass Tags for Digital Polymers Sequencing

A library of phosphoramidite monomers containing a main-chain cleavable alkoxyamine and a side-chain substituent of variable molar mass (i.e. mass tag) was prepared in this work. These monomers can be used in automated solid-phase phosphoramidite chemistry and therefore incorporated periodically as spacers inside digitally-encoded poly(phosphodiester) chains. Consequently, the formed polymers contain tagged cleavable sites that guide their fragmentation in mass spectrometry sequencing and enhance their digital readability. The spacers were all prepared via a seven steps synthetic procedure. They were afterwards tested for the synthesis and sequencing of model digital polymers. Uniform digitally-encoded polymers were obtained as major species in all cases, even though some minor defects were sometimes detected. Furthermore, the polymers were decoded in pseudo-MS³ conditions, thus confirming the reliability and versatility of the spacers library.     

Analysis of organic aerosols collected on filters by Aerosol Mass Spectrometry for source identification

Aerosol Mass Spectrometers (AMS) are powerful tools in the analysis of the chemical composition of airborne particles, particularly organic aerosols which are gaining increasing attention. However, the advantages of AMS in providing on-line data can be outweighed by the difficulties involved in its use in field measurements at multiple sites. In contrast to the on-line measurement by AMS, a method which involves sample collection on filters followed by subsequent analysis by AMS could significantly broaden the scope of AMS application. We report the application of such an approach to field studies at multiple sites. An AMS was deployed at 5 urban schools to determine the sources of the organic aerosols at the schools directly. PM₁ aerosols were also collected on filters at these and 20 other urban schools. The filters were extracted with water and the extract run through a nebulizer to generate the aerosols, which were analyzed by an AMS. The mass spectra from the samples collected on filters at the 5 schools were found to have excellent correlations with those obtained directly by AMS, with r² ranging from 0.89 to 0.98. Filter recoveries varied between the schools from 40 to 115%, possibly indicating that this method provides qualitative rather than quantitative information. The stability of the organic aerosols on Teflon filters was demonstrated by analysing samples stored for up to two years. Application of the procedure to the remaining 20 schools showed that secondary organic aerosols were the main source of aerosols at the majority of the schools. Overall, this procedure provides accurate representation of the mass spectra of ambient organic aerosols and could facilitate rapid data acquisition at multiple sites where AMS could not be deployed for logistical reasons.     

Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds at Jungfraujoch High-Alpine Research Station using Two-Step Laser Mass Spectrometry

Jungfraujoch (JFJ) is considered to be a location for background free troposphere measurements. Aerosol particles collected at JFJ are analyzed to characterize adsorbed polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Aerosol samples were collected from March 21 to 25, 2000 and from August 1 to 9, 2000. Samples were then analyzed by two-step laser mass spectrometry (L2MS). The mass spectra show higher relative concentrations of PACs present on samples collected during the August sampling period versus the March sampling period. L2MS data from March indicates good correlation with black carbon aerosol data measured in parallel. This suggests that long range transport of aerosol from combustion is responsible for the majority of PACs observed. Data from August unexpectedly showed markers indicative of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The contribution to total aerosol may be small, but the relative signal of ETS markers correlates well with the number of visitors coming daily to JFJ, pointing to a local source of ETS.     

近红外光谱分析模型传递简易方法研究

本文在不同时间安装的多台同型号近红外光谱仪上建立推进剂校正模型时,由于推进剂样品数量少且难于保存,新到仪器在建模时常遇到代表性样品数量严重不足.为此,提出将2台波长一致性好的近红外光谱仪器上采集的光谱组成一个混合校正样品光谱集,使用偏最小二乘法(PLS)建立模型的方法.结果表明,在用户缺少专业模型传递软件情况下,该方法...     

Mass Spectra of Acridone Alkaloids

The mass spectra of a variety of simple acridones, prenylacridones, pyranoacridones, dihydropyranoacridones, and furoacridones are presented and discussed. The results illustrate that the characteristic fragmentation patterns are of considerable utility in the application of mass spectrometry to structure elucidation in the acridone alkaloids.     

A Comparison Of Measurement of Homovanillic Acid in Brain Tissue by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

A comparison of liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LCEC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) has been made for analysis of homovanillic acid (HVA) in rat brain tissue. The LCEC procedure gave slightly higher average values of HVA in the samples measured; however, the HVA content determined by both methods related significantly. Rat brain meostriatum was used as representative samples for comparison of the two analytical procedures.     

Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry of Complex Anions Containing Rhenium and Technetium

Abstract

Field desorption mass spectra of Technetium and Rhenium anionic coordinate complexes have been obtained. lonization was principally by electron extraction from the anion, cation or neutral anion-cation pair, or by cation attachment to the intact molecule. The spectra were generally simple and allowed confirmation of known of proposed coordinate complex structures.     

Determination of Hydrogen in Zircaloy by Spark Source Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Application of Spark Source Mass Spectrometry(SSMS) for the determination of hydrogen in zircaloy clad material used in nuclear reactors is reported. The advantage of SSMS lies in the fact that along with the metallic trace constituents even the nonmetallics including the gaseous impurities can also be determined in a single analysis using the photoplate detection system. The value obtained for H₂ using photoplate detection system is compared with that obtained in electrical detection system in SSMS and also with the value obtained employing the conventional inert gas fusion technique.     

Complexes of a New N3S2 Macrocycle: Synthesis,Structure and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

The silver(I) complex of a 15-membered macrocyclic ligand with an N₃S₂ donor set (L¹) has been prepared by the reaction of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dithiaoctane in the presence of silver(I) ions. A reduced form (L²) of the ligand, in which the imine groups are converted to amines, was prepared by the reduction of the silver(I) complex by sodium borohydride. The ligand L² has been characterised by various spectroscopic techniques and the copper(II) complex has been prepared. The metal complexes of L¹ and L² have been characterised by electrospray mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectroscopy. The copper(II) complex of L¹ has been synthesised from [AgL¹]⁺ via metal exchange. [CuL¹](ClO₄)₂ crystallises in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ with a = 14.374(5) Å, b = 12.947(3) Å, c = 11.824(3) Å with Z= 4. The geometry about the metal centre approximates trigonal bipyramidal with the pyridinyl nitrogen and the sulfur donors in the equatorial positions and the imine nitrogen donors in the axial positions. Metal ion exchange and the relative stabilities of metal complexes of the macrocyclic ligands were studied by electrospray mass spectrometry.     

Tandem Mass Spectrometry Imaging Enables High Definition for Mapping Lipids in Tissues

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of lipids in biological tissues is useful for correlating molecular distribution with pathological results, which could provide useful information for both biological research and disease diagnosis. It is well understood that the lipidome could not be clearly deciphered without tandem mass spectrometry analysis, but this is challenging to achieve in MSI due to the limitation in sample amount at each image spot. Here we develop a multiplexed MS² imaging (MS²I) method that can provide MS² images for 10 lipid species or more for each sampling spot, providing spatial structural lipidomic information. Coupling with on-tissue photochemical derivatization, imaging of 20 phospholipid C=C location isomers is also realized, showing enhanced molecular images with high definition in structure for mouse brain and human liver cancer tissue sections. Spatially mapped t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding has also been adopted to visualize the tumor margin with enhancement by structural lipidomic information.     

High-Throughput Optimization of Photochemical Reactions using Segmented-Flow Nanoelectrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry**

Within the realm of drug discovery, high-throughput experimentation techniques enable the rapid optimization of reactions and expedited generation of drug compound libraries for biological and pharmacokinetic evaluation. Herein we report the development of a segmented flow mass spectrometry-based platform to enable the rapid exploration of photoredox reactions for early-stage drug discovery. Specifically, microwell plate-based photochemical reaction screens were reformatted to segmented flow format to enable delivery to nanoelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. This approach was demonstrated for the late-stage modification of complex drug scaffolds, as well as the subsequent structure–activity relationship evaluation of synthesized analogs. This technology is anticipated to expand the robust capabilities of photoredox catalysis in drug discovery by enabling high-throughput library diversification.     

Giving Gold Wings: Ultrabright and Fragmentation Free Mass Spectrometry Reporters for Barcoding,Bioconjugation Monitoring,and Data Storage

The widespread application of laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) highlights the need for a bright and multiplexable labeling platform. While ligand-capped Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a promising LDI-MS contrast agent, the predominant thiol ligands suffer from low ion yields and extensive fragmentation. In this work, we develop a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand platform that enhances AuNP LDI-MS performance. NHC scaffolds are tuned to generate barcoded AuNPs which, when benchmarked against thiol-AuNPs, are bright mass tags and form unfragmented ions in high yield. To illustrate the transformative potential of NHC ligands, the mass tags were employed in three orthogonal applications: monitoring a bioconjugation reaction, performing multiplexed imaging, and storing and reading encoded information. These results demonstrate that NHC-nanoparticle systems are an ideal platform for LDI-MS and greatly broaden the scope of nanoparticle contrast agents.     

Development of Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometer for detection of unstable species in flames

Results are presented here on the detection of unstable species formed in flames using a novel Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LIMS) system. The chemical species generated in atmospheric pressure flames were directly introduced into a mass spectrometer operated at high vacuum conditions using a newly developed interface, in which the ionization was induced by laser irradiation. Optimum conditions for the experimental conditions were investigated in order to obtain mass spectra with adequate signal to noise (S/N) ratios. In addition, the distribution profiles of various species in the flame was measured and visualized. The distribution of OH profiles was also measured under the same conditions using Planer Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) diagnostics. The results showed that the profiles of OH distribution by LIMS were in good agreement with those obtained using PLIF diagnostics.     

三氟乙氧基取代的吡啶衍生物的核磁氢谱及质谱研究

本文报道了三个由三氟乙氧基取代的氯代三氟甲基吡啶化合物的核磁共振氢谱及电子轰击质谱，结果表明，与乙氧基化合物相对照，在Ｈ－ＮＭＲ中，由于三氟甲基的强吸电子作用，其次甲基移向低场，并给出了一组具有较大偶合常数的四得峰。在ＥＩＭＳ中，均存在较多的架重排离子峰，其中Ｃ－Ｏ，Ｃ－Ｆ，Ｃ－ＣＦ３键断裂及失法ＣＯ形成的五元，四元含氮杂环离子是重要质谱特征。     

Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation Enables Top-Down Characterization of Membrane Protein Complexes and G Protein-Coupled Receptors

Membrane proteins are challenging to analyze by native mass spectrometry (MS) as their hydrophobic nature typically requires stabilization in detergent micelles that are removed prior to analysis via collisional activation. There is however a practical limit to the amount of energy which can be applied, which often precludes subsequent characterization by top-down MS. To overcome this barrier, we have applied a modified Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer coupled to an infrared laser within a high-pressure linear ion trap. We show how tuning the intensity and time of incident photons enables liberation of membrane proteins from detergent micelles. Specifically, we relate the ease of micelle removal to the infrared absorption of detergents in both condensed and gas phases. Top-down MS via infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), results in good sequence coverage enabling unambiguous identification of membrane proteins and their complexes. By contrasting and comparing the fragmentation patterns of the ammonia channel with two class A GPCRs, we identify successive cleavage of adjacent amino acids within transmembrane domains. Using gas-phase molecular dynamics simulations, we show that areas prone to fragmentation maintain aspects of protein structure at increasing temperatures. Altogether, we propose a rationale to explain why and where in the protein fragment ions are generated.