Ion characterisation by comparison of ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry data

The major uncertainty related to ion mobility spectrometry is the lack of knowledge about the characteristics of the ions detected. When using a radioactive atmospheric pressure ionisation source (e.g. ⁶³Ni), from theory proton bound water clusters are expected as reactant ions. When analyte ions occur, proton transfer should lead to proton-bound monomer and dimer ions. To increase the knowledge about those ionisation processes in an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), a ß-radiation ionisation source was coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) and an identical one to an IMS. Exemplarily, acetone, limonene and 2- and 5-nonanone were introduced into both instruments in varying concentrations. By correlating the MS and IMS spectra, conclusions about the identities of the ions detected by IMS could be drawn. Proton-bound monomer, dimer and even trimer ions (MH⁺, 2MH⁺, 3MH⁺) could be observed in the MS spectra for acetone and 5-nonanone and could be assigned to the related signals detected by IMS. The oligomers could be expected from theory for increasing concentration. Limonene and 2-nonanone yielded in a variety of different ions and fragments indicating complex gas phase ion chemistry. Those findings on the obviously different behaviour of different analytes require further research focussed on the ion chemistry in IMS including the comparison of different ionisation sources.     

Atomisation and chemical ionisation of Si,Ge and Sn in fuel-rich flames

The relationship between atomisation and ionisation for Si, Ge and Sn in fuel-rich C₂H₂ and H₂ flames has been studied by means of flame ionisation mass spectroscopy, thermochemical calculation of burnt gas equilibrium composition, and computer simulation of chemical ionisation kinetics. The mass spectra obtained from C₂H₂/Ar/O₂ flames are similar to those from H₂ diffusion flames: Sn yields Sn⁺ and SnOH⁺, Ge and Si yield GeOH⁺ and SIO⁺. These similarities are in contrast to the substantial differences in calculated atomisation found between the C₂H₂ and H₂ flames. The discrepancies between atomisation and ionisation are reconciled by a chemical ionisation mechanism in which the ions SiH⁺, GeH⁺ and SnH⁺ are important intermediates. The ratios of atomic ions to protonated monoxides, M⁺:MOH⁺ are determined by the thermochemistry for the reaction, MOH⁺ + H ⇌ M⁺ + H₂O.     

Transformation Studies of Some Polar Pesticides In Water By On-Line Solid-Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography/Particle Beam-Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT

An on-line automated method for phototransformation studies of alachlor, aldicarb, and methiocarb by means of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with particle beam (PB) interface is described. Surface water samples were first spiked with 50 μg/1 of each pesticide and then exposed to the radiation of a medium-pressure mercury lamp. Next, in regular intervals of 60 min, aliquots of 50-ml sample were enriched on a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and on-line eluted by a gradient of LC eluent onto analytical column for separation, followed by MS detection. A phototransformation experiment with each pesticide was performed twice, with MS operated in electron ionisation (EI) and positive chemical ionisation (PCI) modes. Many transformation products (TPs) of parent pesticides were detected and in numerous instances, tentatively identified. Appearance of several transformation products is reported for the first time.     

Mass spectrometric determination of the ionisation cross-sections of BaO, Ba, BaF2 and BaI2 by electron impact

A Nier-type mass spectrometer coupled with a Knudsen cell was used for the ionisation cross-section measurements of Ba, BaO, BaF₂ and BaI₂, using appropriate internal standards with known ionisation cross-sections. The vapour pressure ratio of standard to investigated compound, needed for calculation was obtained via the chemical analysis of the effusate. The use of this approach eliminated several sources of uncertainties. The problems concerning the preferential loss of fragment ions was also discussed and partly eliminated. The results obtained were compared with predictions, usually used in the field of high temperature mass spectrometry and a more recent approach using a model for ionisation cross-sections of high temperature molecules (MCM).     

Evaluation of three ionisation modes for the analysis of chlorinated paraffins by gas chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry

The applicability of three ionisation modes to the analysis of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was evaluated. MS conditions for electron ionisation (EI), positive chemical ionisation (PCI) and electron-capture negative ionisation (ECNI) were optimised using commercially available individual tetra-, penta- and hexachlorodecanes. In addition, mass spectra were studied and fragmentation pathways were proposed for each individual congener. Different fragment ions were evaluated for quantification, and ECNI-MS using [HCl2](-) and [Cl2](-*) ions was selected for the determination of SCCPs. Quality parameters (repeatability, limits of detection and calibration range) were established for the proposed method, which was then applied to the analysis of SCCPs in river sediments.     

Electrochromatography of Metal Ions on Zirconium(IV) Phosphoantimonate Papers: Quantitative Separation of Platinum(IV) from Platinum Group and Other Metal Ions

Abstract

Zirconium (IV) phosphoantimonate impregnated papers have been used to study the electrochromatographic behaviour of 29 metal ions in buffers of weak organic acids with their corresponding ammonium salts as background electrolytes at fixed voltage and time intervals. As a result of these investigations, the variation in the average mobility of metal ions with the ionisation constants of the organic acids used in buffers and other parameters such as atomic numbers and charge on the metal ions has been studied. On the basis of the differential mobilites of the metal ions, which depends on the ion exchange properties of Zr(IV) phosphoantimonate and the nature of the complexes formed with the electrolytes, some binary, ternary and quarternary separation have been achieved. Besides microgram separations (25 μg-100 μg) of Pt(TV) from Pt group and other metal ions have also been achieved.     

Substituent effects in mass spectra of monosubstituted benzils

The mass spectra of a series of thirteen m- and p-substituted benzils have been determined at several ionising voltages below 20 eV and at 70 eV. At ionising voltages up to 5 eV above the ionisation potentials the benzil molecular ions decompose entirely by two pathways to give substituted and unsubstituted benzoyl ions. Fractional intensities of the molecular ion (F_M), substituted (F_X) and unsubstituted (F_H) benzoyl ions were obtained for each benzil as a function of energy from measured ionisation efficiency curves, and ionisation and appearance potentials for all major ions determined from the ionisation efficiency curves by a semilogarithmic method. Various correlations of ion intensity and energy parameters with δ⁺ and δ constants are examined; these are generally poor. Fair correlations are obtained between log (F_X/F_H) or (AP – AP) and δ or δ⁺, and these are interpreted in terms of the expected effect of substituents on the stabilities of the product ions in the decompositions. A good correlation is observed between log (F_X/F_H) and AP · AP; this suggests that substituents affect F_X/F_H mainly by changing the activation energies for the competing decompositions of the molecular ions. The competitive shift has a marked effect on these appearance potentials so that in this system AP – IP is not a good measure of the activation energy for the primary decompositions.     

Potentiel d'ionisation,potentiel d'apparition et courbes d'ionisation differentielle pour les 1-2 dimethylcyclohexanes CIS et Trans

The molecular ionisation and appearance potentials of several ions have been determined for the two cis and trans 1-2 dimethylcyclohexanes using the Energy Distribution Difference (EDD) technique. The differences between the ionization efficiency curves for the ions [M—CH₃]^+. and [M—2CH₃]^+. tend to prove that the rearrangements give rise to cyclobutenic ions.     

Fragmentation pathways of 2,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane cations in the gas phase

2,3‐Dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (DMNB) is an explosive taggant added to plastic explosives during manufacture making them more susceptible to vapour‐phase detection systems. In this study, the formation and detection of gas‐phase [M+H]⁺, [M+Li]⁺, [M+NH₄]⁺ and [M+Na]⁺ adducts of DMNB was achieved using electrospray ionisation on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The [M+H]⁺ ion abundance was found to have a strong dependence on ion source temperature, decreasing markedly at source temperatures above 50°C. In contrast, the [M+Na]⁺ ion demonstrated increasing ion abundance at source temperatures up to 105°C. The relative susceptibility of DMNB adduct ions toward dissociation was investigated by collision‐induced dissociation. Probable structures of product ions and mechanisms for unimolecular dissociation have been inferred based on fragmentation patterns from tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of source‐formed ions of normal and isotopically labelled DMNB, and quantum chemical calculations. Both thermal and collisional activation studies suggest that the [M+Na]⁺ adduct ions are significantly more stable toward dissociation than their protonated analogues and, as a consequence, the former provide attractive targets for detection by contemporary rapid screening methods such as desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2009 Commonwealth of Australia. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies in organic mass spectrometry. Part 25. Benzyl ion formation in chemical ionisation (methane or isobutane) of some ortho-alkylhetero-substituted diphenylcarbinols

The behaviour of some ortho-alkylhetero-substituted diphenylcarbinols, including deuterium labelled derivatives, under chemical ionisation (methane or isobutane) conditions has been investigated. It has been determined that ortho-alkylhetero diphenylmethyl cations formed by water elimination from the protonated molecule undergo consecutive rearrangements which afford benzyl (or tropylium) ions previously observed for ortho-substituted diphenylcarbenium ions generated by electron ionisation. This reaction also occurs under low-energy collision conditions. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact ionisation spectra from hypervelocity impacts using aliphatic poly(methyl methacrylate) microparticle projectiles

We report impact ionisation spectra from spherical poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microparticles of 724 nm diameter impacting a rhodium target. These projectiles were coated with an ultrathin (~11 nm) overlayer of polypyrrole, an electrically conducting organic polymer; this enabled the accumulation of sufficient surface charge to allow electrostatic acceleration up to speeds of 4 to 8 km s(-1) using a high-voltage Van de Graaff instrument. A grid above the target (held at 3.33 kV cm(-1) with respect to the target) accelerated the cations that were generated during the hypervelocity impacts, and these ions then drifted to a charge detector. By measuring the collected charge vs. time and assuming only single ionisation events, time-of-flight mass spectra were obtained. Strong signals were observed for cationic species with ions of m/z 41, 65 and 115. There were also minor contributions from cations with masses ranging from m/z 29 to 142. The three major signals are assigned to fragment ions (C(3)H(5)(+), C(4)H(5)O(+)/C(5)H(9)(+) and C(6)H(11)O(2)(+)) which are known to be associated with the decomposition of PMMA. These impact ionisation spectra differ significantly from those reported earlier using polystyrene (PS) microparticles. The aliphatic PMMA microparticles generate small (m/z <100) fragment ions more readily at lower speeds than the predominantly aromatic PS microparticles, where speeds of at least 10 km s(-1) are typically required for substantial yields of low-mass fragment ions. This correlates well with the well-known greater chemical and thermal fragility of PMMA compared to PS. The PMMA microparticles should prove useful synthetic mimics for aliphatic carbonaceous micrometeorites.     

Massenspektrometrische Analyse von 2-Alkoxy-und 2-Alkylmerkapto-(1,3,2)Diox-, Oxathi-und Dithi-Arsolanen

The electron-impact and chemical ionisation mass spectra of the arsolanes (CH₂)₂XYAs? ZR (X, Y and Z = O or S) are compared and the main fragmentation routes given. Electron-impact and chemical ionisation spectra show a dimerisation of the arsolanes.     

Synthesis,NMR, and Computational Study of 1,2-Diethyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropenylium Hexachloroantimonate

Preparation and ¹³C NMR identification of 1,2-diethyl-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropenylium hexachloroantimonate (4) is described. The assignment of the NMR data was corroborated by calculating ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the corresponding model ion 4M. The total stabilization of the parent cyclopropenylium ion 1 substituted by the silyl and the two methyl groups is found to be only slightly lower than stabilization of the trimethyl derivative. The computed NICS(1) parameters reveal that all of the examined ions possess substantial aromatic character.     

对苯二胺缩对苯二甲醛席夫碱及其配合物的制备和电化学性能

以对苯二胺和对苯二甲醛为原料缩合制备出对苯二胺缩对苯二甲醛席夫碱聚合物（PT）,研究了采用不同物质的量之比的单体所制备的聚合物的电化学性能。利用席夫碱聚合物中N原子上的孤对电子与不同金属离子配位形成席夫碱配位聚合物（PT-M）,并对所形成聚合物的电化学性能进行了研究。采用X射线衍射（XRD）、红外（IR）、热重-差示扫描量热法（TG-DSC）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和能谱（EDS）对产物进行了表征,PT-M的XRD峰强度相比于PT明显降低,表明金属离子配位进入分子链骨架中引起的空间位阻减少了分子链排列的有序性。采用循环伏安、恒电流充放电和交流阻抗评价了所制备的配位聚合物材料的电化学性能。研究发现,聚席夫碱铝配合物（PT-Al）表现出较优的电化学性能,在0.5 A·g^-1的电流密度下其电容值为649.6 F·g^-1,并且具有较好的循环稳定性,在8 A·g^-1的电流密度下循环1 000次后仍有80.9%的电容保持率。     

Environmental Determination of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylate Refractory Residues Using Mass Spectrometric Techniques

Abstract

The use of methane chemical ionisation GC/MS gave satisfactory results when applied to environmental analysis of halogenated octylphenol polyethoxylates residues. In addition the selected ion monitoring GC/MS technique has been successfully applied for simulataneous qualitative and quantitative determination of some refractory metabolites of nonylphenol polyethoxylates in secondary sewage effluent and surface waters.     

A Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometric Study of Fluorescamine and Fluorescamine - Amino Acid Derivatives

Abstract

The chemical ionization mass spectra of fluorescamine and fluorescamine - amino acid derivatives have been studied using methane and ammonia as reagent gases. Major ions in the spectra are protonated molecular ions, adduct ions and ions formed by loss of an oxygen atom.

Fluorescamine, 4-phenyl-spiro[furan-2(3H),1′-phthalan]3,3′-dione, is a powerful new fluorogenic reagent for assaying primary amines.¹ and EI² and EI³ mass spectrometric investigations of fluorescamine and its derivatives were carried out. Our present study reports the CI mass spectral analysis of fluorescamine and some of its amino acid derivatives.     

Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of post-harvest fungicides in citrus fruits

Liquid chromatography (LC)-atmospheric pressure ionisation (API)-mass spectrometry (MS) has been used to determine residues of five fungicides in oranges with a minimum sample cleanup. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) and electrospray (ES) were compared and both gave similar results in terms of sensitivity and structural information. The main ions were [M+H]+ for carbendazim, imazalil, thiophanate methyl and thiabendazole, and [M+H-C4H9NHCO]+ for benomyl. Samples were extracted with sodium sulphate and ethyl acetate. Although benomyl and thiophanate methyl were transformed through the extraction procedure to carbendazim, the method showed good precision (<13%) and recovery (>70%), except for thiophanate methyl (50%), whilst also yielding limits of detection (<0.03 mg kg(-1)) that are adequate for the determination of the studied fungicides in oranges.     

Identification and quantitation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine in the thoracic nervous system of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

Phenylalanine, tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) were identified unambiguously and quantitatively determined in single ventral thoracic nerve cords from the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Deuterium-labelled analogues of each compound were added to a single ventral thoracic nerve cord in hydrochloric acid; the tissue was homogenised and the suspension centrifuged. The remaining hydrochloric acid was eliminated azeotropically by repeated additions of acetonitrile followed by evaporation under a stream of nitrogen and the resultant residue derivatised by reaction with hexafluoroisopropanol and pentafluoropropionic anhydride. Under negative-ion chemical ionisation conditions, the hexafluoroisopropanol-pentafluoropropionyl derivatives produced characteristic ions which were sufficiently abundant to be suitable for selected-ion monitoring. This method is highly specific and gave a limit of detection below the nanogram level. The amounts of phenylalanine, tyrosine and DOPA in a single ventral thoracic nerve cord were, respectively, 194 +/- 81, 347 +/- 88 and 11 +/- 11 ng per tissue.     

Chemical analysis of bleach and hydroxide-based solutions after decontamination of the chemical warfare agent O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (VX)

Detailed chemical analysis of solutions used to decontaminate chemical warfare agents can be used to support verification and forensic attribution. Decontamination solutions are amongst the most difficult matrices for chemical analysis because of their corrosive and potentially emulsion-based nature. Consequently, there are relatively few publications that report their detailed chemical analysis. This paper describes the application of modern analytical techniques to the analysis of decontamination solutions following decontamination of the chemical warfare agent O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (VX). We confirm the formation of N,N-diisopropylformamide and N,N-diisopropylamine following decontamination of VX with hypochlorite-based solution, whereas they were not detected in extracts of hydroxide-based decontamination solutions by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We report the electron ionisation and chemical ionisation mass spectroscopic details, retention indices, and NMR spectra of N,N-diisopropylformamide and N,N-diisopropylamine, as well as analytical methods suitable for their analysis and identification in solvent extracts and decontamination residues.