Ferrocene-mediated carbon paste electrode modified with d-fructose dehydrogenase for batch mode measurement of d-fructose

A mediated modified carbon paste and renewable surface electrode for fructose amperometric measurement based on d-fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) was prepared and optimized. Commercially available ferrocene (FcH) and hydroxymethyl ferrocene (FcCH₂OH) were used as mediators. The substituted FcH showed better linearity and higher sensitivity. The influence of different experimental parameters was studied for optimum analytical performance. The final FDH-modified electrode showed good analytical performance for batch mode measurements of fructose.     

Ferrocenylalkylation processes under electrospray ionization conditions

The electrospray ionization behavior of some ferrocenylalkylazoles CpFeC₅H₄CH(R)Az (AzH are derivatives of imidazole, pyrazole, triazole and their benzo analogs; R = H, Me, Et, Ph), ferrocenylalkanols CpFeC₅H₄CH(R)OH (R = H, Me), and mixtures of the latter with azoles was studied. The electrospray ionization mass spectra of these compounds, in addition to the molecular ion [M]^+·, the protonated molecule [M + H]⁺, and ferrocenylalkyl cation [FcCHR]⁺ peaks, exhibit also intensive peaks for the binuclear ions [(FcCHR)₂X]⁺ (X = Az or O), resulting from ferrocenylalkylation of the initial compounds with the ferrocenylalkyl cations. Electrospray ionization of an equimolar mixture of ferrocenylmethanol FcCH₂OH and imidazole gives the protonated ferrocenylmethylimidazole molecule [FcCH₂Im + H]⁺ and the [FcCH₂(Im)₂ + H]⁺ dimer, apart from the ions typical of each component, i.e., ferrocenylalkylation of azoles with the ferrocenylalkylcarbinols, known in the chemistry of solutions, takes place under electrospray conditions. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1318–1321, August, 2006.     

Direct analysis of liquid samples by desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)

Desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) was evaluated for the direct analysis of liquid samples. Several interesting results were found. First, in contrast to the previous DESI analysis of dried solid samples that was limited to proteins with MW ≤25 kDa (Anal. Chem. 2007, 79, 3514), bovine serum albumin (BSA, 66 kDa) was successfully ionized from solutions by DESI with observation of corresponding multiply charged ions. Second, direct DESI analysis of protein tryptic digest solutions without chromatographic separation, sample clean-up, and the sample drying step was demonstrated, providing reasonably good sequence coverage of 52% to 97%. Third, direct analysis of biofluids such as an undiluted urine sample without sample pretreatment is possible, emphasizing the high tolerance of DESI with salt. These results suggest that a charged droplet pick-up mechanism is responsible for desorption and ionization of liquid samples by DESI. Also, unlike in electrospray ionization (ESI), inhibition of electrochemical reduction in the negative ion mode was observed for liquid sample DESI. In addition, reactive DESI can be performed with ion/ion reactions of Zn(II) complexes for the selective binding of phosphoserine in the presence of serine. DESI experiment can also be carried out directly to liquid samples flowing out of a pumped syringe needle tip, allowing rapid analysis. Furthermore, on-line coupling of electrochemical cell with DESI-MS was demonstrated, in which perylene radical cations generated in the cell were successfully transferred to the gas-phase for MS detection by DESI. This study extended the scope of DESI-MS applications, which could have potentials in bioanalytical and forensic analysis.     

Reactive desorption electrospray ionization for rapid screening of guests for supramolecular inclusion complexes

Reactive desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), an ambient technique, has been explored as a tool for the development of a fast screening approach for supramolecular complexes capitalizing on the specificity of mass spectrometric detection. A library of twelve potential guests for inclusion by a β‐cyclodextrin host was initially screened via DESI using a spray solution incorporating the host directed toward an array of deposited guests. The steroid nortestosterone was used to verify the applicability of reactive DESI for complexation experiments with β‐cyclodextrin. Results from the DESI experiment and results from an analogous electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectral screen were compared with solution‐phase data obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The complexes detected using DESI were identical to those determined using NMR, validating the applicability of the technique to supramolecular applications, but the ESI data exhibited significant disparities, predominantly due to the interference of nonspecific artifacts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The reactivity of ferrocenylalkyl azoles under the conditions of electrospray ionization

Under the conditions of electrospray ionization of ferrocenylalkyl azoles FcCH(R)X (Fc-η⁵-C₅H₅Fe-η⁵-C₅H₄, R - H, Me, XH - 2-methyl imidazole, pirazole) the processes of oxidation, protonation, fragmentation and ferrocenylalkylation to form, molecular ions [М]⁺, protonated molecules [М+Н]⁺, ferrocenylalkyl cations [FсCHR]⁺ and bisferrocenylalkyl azole cations [(FcCHR)2X]⁺, respectively, take place. Using special experimental techniques (deuterated solvents, saturation of ionic source of an ESI mass-spectrometer by the vapors of solvents, the experiments under the “inverse” ESI conditions when the solvent is subjected to electrospray in the presence of ferrocenylalkyl derivative vapours) and quantum-chemical calculations at the level of the B3LYP/LanL2DZ theory the scheme of the formation of these ions in a gas phase according to the mechanism of “activating protonation” was suggested. it was found that all these ions are formed through the protonation stage, which is taking place mainly in a gas phase. The key stage is the exothermic process of the protonation of the initial compounds by hydroxonium ions giving rise to protonated [M+H]⁺ molecules which further oxidize and alkylate ferrocenylalkylazoles to form molecular radical cations and bisferrocenylalkyl azole ions [FcCH(Me)-X-CH(Me)Fc]⁺. The decomposition of protonated ions with the elimination of the azole molecule gives rise to ferrocenylalkyl cations [FсCHR]⁺ capable in turn of oxidizing and alkylating the initial compounds.     

Complex compounds of ferrocene in a biacceptor system

Summary Three-component systems of ferrocene (FcH): carbon tetrachloride: tetranitromethane have been investigated spectrally in the 290–800 nm range. Quantitative relationships were investigated between electron-donor acceptor (EDA) complexes of ferrocene and CCl₄ (FcH · CCl₄) and C(NO₂)₄ [FcH · C(NO₂)₄] and the ferricenium cation (FcH⁺) which is formed as a result of dissociation of complexes and which depends upon the initial concentration of C(NO₂)₄ and duration the reaction. The results prove the destabilizing influence of C(NO₂)₄ on the EDA complex of ferrocene and CCl₄.     

The dichloromethane induced fragmentation of ferrocenylmethyldimethylamine. Mechanistic aspects and crystallographic and electrochemical investigation of the (FcCH2)2NMe2 and FcCH2NMe2H ions

Ferrocenylmethyldimethylamine, FcCH₂NMe₂, reacts with CH₂Cl₂ in either the presence or absence of non-coordinating counterions to give equimolar amounts of the bis(ferrocenylmethyl)dimethyl ammonium salts (FcCH₂)₂NMe₂⁺X⁻ (X⁻=PF₆⁻, SbF₆⁻, BPh₄⁻ or Cl⁻, 1a–d) and the corresponding protonated ammonium salts FcCH₂NMe₂H⁺ which have been isolated as the SbF₆⁻ and Cl⁻ salts 2b,d. The reaction proceeds via fragmentation of an intermediate quaternary chloromethylated ammonium ion to chloromethylferrocene, FcCH₂Cl, and dimethyliminium chloride NMe₂CH₂⁺Cl⁻. The parent amine acts as a nucleophile toward FcCH₂Cl to give 1a–d and as a base toward NMe₂CH₂⁺ to give FcCH₂NMe₂H⁺, NMe₂H and (Me₂N)₂CH₂. The FcCH₂Cl intermediate is intercepted by NEt₃ while KCN or LiH do not successfully compete with FcCH₂NMe₂. A new, non-toxic, selective, high-yield route to 1d is also presented. Electrochemistry and UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry reveal, that the two identical redox centers in 1a–d are essentially non-interacting. Individual E_1/2 values have been determined for different solvents by digital simulation. The corresponding ferrocenium salts were prepared by either chemical or electrochemical means and accordingly characterized. Our studies are augmented by X-ray structure analyses of 1b, 1d and 2d. 1d contains three different cation conformers and four molecules of water per unit cell. The latter are hydrogen bonded to the chloride counterions to form one-dimensional infinite chains parallel to the a axis.     

Direct detection of chlorpropham on potato skin using desorption electrospray ionization

Most pesticides, herbicides and other plant treatment agents are applied to the crop surface. Direct mass spectrometric methods, such as desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), offer new ways to analyze plant samples directly and rapidly. A strategy for the development and optimization of a DESI method for the direct determination of chemicals on complex surfaces is described. Chlorpropham (CP) was applied to potato surfaces as an example for a crop protection agent and analyzed using a self‐made DESI source. Aspects such as instrument selectivity, sensitivity and reproducibility were investigated. The MS⁴ fragmentation pattern of CP was analyzed to achieve the necessary detection selectivity, and is discussed in detail. Similar fragmentation was found in the ESI and DESI mass spectra, indicating that the mechanisms of ESI and DESI are closely related. A DESI method for semi‐quantification of CP on potatoes was developed. Detection limits of 6.5 µg/kg were found using MS/MS. The reproducibility, in the range of 12% (signal variation), appears to be sufficient for semi‐quantitative measurements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectrometry of rhenium complexes: a comparative study by using LDI‐MS,MALDI‐MS,PESI‐MS and ESI‐MS

A group of rhenium (I) complexes including in their structure ligands such as CF₃SO₃‐, CH₃CO₂‐, CO, 2,2′‐bipyridine, dipyridil[3,2‐a:2′3′‐c]phenazine, naphthalene‐2‐carboxylate, anthracene‐9‐carboxylate, pyrene‐1‐carboxylate and 1,10‐phenanthroline have been studied for the first time by mass spectrometry. The probe electrospray ionization (PESI) is a technique based on electrospray ionization (ESI) that generates electrospray from the tip of a solid metal needle. In this work, mass spectra for organometallic complexes obtained by PESI were compared with those obtained by classical ESI and high flow rate electrospray ionization assisted by corona discharge (HF‐ESI‐CD), an ideal method to avoid decomposition of the complexes and to induce their oxidation to yield intact molecular cation radicals in gas state [M]^+. and to produce their reduction yielding the gas species [M]^–.. It was found that both techniques showed in general the intact molecular ions of the organometallics studied and provided additional structure characteristic diagnostic fragments. As the rhenium complexes studied in the present work showed strong absorption in the UV–visible region, particularly at 355 nm, laser desorption ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry experiments could be conducted. Although intact molecular ions could be detected in a few cases, LDI mass spectra showed diagnostic fragments for characterization of the complexes structure. Furthermore, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectra were obtained. Nor‐harmane, a compound with basic character, was used as matrix, and the intact molecular ions were detected in two examples, in negative ion mode as the [M]^–. species. Results obtained with 2‐[(2E)‐3‐(4‐tert‐buthylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enylidene] malononitrile (DCTB) as matrix are also described. LDI experiments provided more information about the rhenium complex structures than did the MALDI ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry techniques for the analysis of alkyl ethoxysulfate mixtures

This paper compares two liquid introduction atmospheric pressure ionization techniques for the analysis of alkyl ethoxysulfate (AES) anionic surfactant mixtures by mass spectrometry, i. e., electrospray ionization (ESI) in both positive and negative ion modes and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in positive ion mode, using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Two ions are observed in ESI(+) for each individual AES component, [M + Na]⁺ and a “desulfated” ion [M − SO₃ + H]⁺, whereas only one ion, [M − Na]⁻ is observed for each AES component in ESI(−). APCI(+) produces a protonated, “desulfated” ion of the form [M − NaSO₃ + 2H]⁺ for each AES species in the mixture under low cone voltage (10 V) conditions. The mass spectral ion intensities of the individual AES components in either the series from ESI(+) or APCI(+) can be used to obtain an estimate of their relative concentrations in the mixture and of the average ethoxylate (EO) number of the sample. The precursor ions produced by either ESI(+) or ESI(−), when subjected to low-energy (50 eV) collision-induced dissociation, do not fragment to give ions that provide much structural information. The protonated, desulfated ions produced by APCI(+) form fragment ions which reveal structural information about the precursor ions, including alkyl chain length and EO number, under similar conditions. APCI(+) is less susceptible to matrix effects for quantitative work than ESI(+). Thus APCI(+) provides an additional tool for the analysis of anionic surfactants such as AES, especially in complex mixtures where tandem mass spectrometry is required for the identification of the individual components.     

Solvent effects on the electron donor acceptor complex properties of ferrocene and tetranitromethane

Summary Spectral investigations in the 350–800 nm range of ferrocene (FcH) and tetranitromethane [C(NO₂)₄] solutions in cyclohexane and carbon tetrachloride at concentration-constant (FcH) and variable (tetranitromethane) were made. The electron donor acceptor (EDA) complex of ferrocene and tetranitromethane and its dissociation to the ferricenium cation (FcH⁺) were studied as a function of the solvent, the initial C(NO₂)₄ concentration and reaction time.     

Rapid in situ detection of alkaloids in plant tissue under ambient conditions using desorption electrospray ionization

Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry is applied to the in situ detection of alkaloids in the tissue of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). The experiment is carried out by electrospraying micro-droplets of solvent onto native or freshly-cut plant tissue surfaces. No sample preparation is required and the mass spectra are recorded under ambient conditions, in times of a few seconds. The impact of the sprayed droplets on the surface produces gaseous ions from organic compounds originally present in the plant tissue. The effects of operating parameters, including the electrospray high voltage, heated capillary temperature, the solvent infusion rate and the carrier gas pressure on analytical performance are evaluated and optimized. Different types of plant material are analyzed including seeds, stems, leaves, roots and flowers. All the previously reported alkaloids have been detected in C. maculatum, while fifteen out of nineteen known alkaloids for D. stramonium and the principal alkaloids of A. belladonna were also identified. All identifications were confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. Results obtained show similar mass spectra, number of alkaloids, and signal intensities to those obtained when extraction and separation processes are performed prior to mass spectrometric analysis. Evidence is provided that DESI ionization occurs by both a gas-phase ionization process and by a droplet pick-up mechanism. Quantitative precision of DESI is compared with conventional electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (after sample workup) and the RSD values for the same set of 25 dicotyledonous C. maculatum seeds (one half of each seed analyzed by ESI and the other by DESI) are 9.8% and 5.2%, respectively.     

On-line detection of human skin vapors

Vapors released by the skin in the hand of one human subject are detected in real time by sampling them directly from the ambient gas surrounding the hand, ionizing them by secondary electrospray ionization (SESI, via contact with the charged cloud from an electrospray source), and analyzing them in a mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure source (API-MS). This gas-phase approach is complementary to alternative on-line surface ionization methods such as DESI and DART. A dominating peak of lactic acid and a complete series of saturated and singly unsaturated fatty acids (C₁₂ to C₁₈) are observed, in accordance with previous off-line studies by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Several other metabolites have been identified, including ketomonocarboxylic and hydroxymonocarboxylic acids.     

Coupling desorption electrospray ionization with ion mobility/mass spectrometry for analysis of protein structure: evidence for desorption of folded and denatured States

A desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) source has been coupled to an ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the analysis of proteins. Analysis of solid-phase horse heart cytochrome c and chicken egg white lysozyme proteins with different DESI solvents and conditions shows similar mass spectra and charge state distributions to those formed when using electrospray to analyze these proteins in solution. The ion mobility data show evidence for compact ion structures [when the surface is exposed to a spray that favors retention of "nativelike" structures (50:50 water:methanol)] or elongated structures [when the surface is exposed to a spray that favors "denatured" structures (49:49:2 water:methanol:acetic acid)]. The results suggest that the DESI experiment is somewhat gentler than ESI and under appropriate conditions, it is possible to preserve structural information throughout the DESI process. Mechanisms that are consistent with these results are discussed.     

The study of protein conformation in solution via direct sampling by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The direct sampling feature of liquid sample desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) allows the ionization of liquid samples without adding acids/organic solvents (i.e., without sample pretreatment). As a result, it provides a new approach for probing protein conformation in solution. In this study, it has been observed that native protein ions are generated from proteins in water by DESI. Interestingly, the intensities of the resulting protein ions appear to be higher than those generated by ESI of the proteins in water or in ammonium acetate. For protein solutions that already contain acids/organic solvents, DESI can be used to investigate the influences of these denaturants on protein conformations and the obtained results are in good agreement with spectroscopic data. In addition, online monitoring of protein conformational changes by DESI is feasible; for instance, heat-induced unfolding of ubiquitin can be traced with DESI in water without influences of organic solvents/acids. This DESI method provides a new alternative tool for the study of protein conformation in solution.     

Internal energy distributions in desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)

The internal energy distributions of typical ions generated by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) were measured using the "survival yield" method, and compared with corresponding data for electrospray ionization (ESI) and electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI). The results show that the three ionization methods produce populations of ions having internal energy distributions of similar shapes and mean values (1.7-1.9 eV) suggesting similar phenomena, at least in the later stages of the process leading from solvated droplets to gas-phase ions. These data on energetics are consistent with the view that DESI involves "droplet pick-up" (liquid-liquid extraction) followed by ESI-like desolvation and gas-phase ion formation. The effects of various experimental parameters on the degree of fragmentation of p-methoxy-benzylpyridinium ions were compared between DESI and ESSI. The results show similar trends in the survival yields as a function of the nebulizing gas pressure, solvent flow rate, and distance from the sprayer tip to the MS inlet. These observations are consistent with the mechanism noted above and they also enable the user to exercise control over the energetics of the DESI ionization process, through manipulation of external and internal ion source parameters.     

应用高效液相色谱和电喷雾质谱联用技术分析鉴定车前草中的苯乙醇苷化合物

本文采用高效液相色谱与电喷雾质谱联用技术在线分析鉴定了车前草提取物中的三种苯乙醇苷化合物。实验采用反相C18色谱柱,0.2%的醋酸水溶液和乙腈梯度洗脱,车前草中的苯乙醇苷化合物得到很好的分离。在电喷雾质谱负离子条件下,获得了三种苯乙醇苷化合物的分子离子峰,分子量信息,进一步通过质谱的源内CID技术得到相应化合物的结构信息。通过得到的这些信息与文献中的已知化合物或标准品对照从而推断出化合物的结构。     

Comparison of the internal energy deposition of direct analysis in real time and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The internal energy (E_int) distributions of a series of p-substituted benzylpyridinium ions generated by both direct analysis in real time (DART) and electrospray ionization (ESI) were compared using the “survival yield” method. DART mean E_int values at gas flow rates of 2, 4, and 6 L min⁻¹, and at set temperatures of 175, 250, and 325 °C were in the 1.92–2.21 eV range. ESI mean E_int at identical temperatures in aqueous and 50% methanol solutions ranged between 1.71 and 1.96 eV, and 1.53 and 1.63 eV, respectively. Although the results indicated that ESI is a “softer” ionization technique than DART, there was overlap between the two techniques for the particular time-of-flight mass spectrometer used. As a whole, there was an increase in E_int with increasing reactive and drying gas temperatures for DART and ESI, respectively, indicating thermal ion activation. Three dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulations in combination with direct temperature measurements within the DART ionization region revealed complex inversely coupled fluid-thermal phenomena affecting ion E_int values during atmospheric transport. Primarily, that DART gas temperature in the ionization region was appreciably less than the set gas temperature of DART due to the set gas flow rates. There was no evidence of E_int deposition pathways from metastable-stimulated desorption, but fragmentation induced by high-energy helium metastables was observed at the highest gas flow rates and temperatures.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of 1,3,4-oxadiazole–copper complexes

The complexes of 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, namely 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (1), 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (2) and 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (3), with copper cation were studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ability of the compounds studied to form complexes with copper (under the ESI conditions) can be ordered as 2 > 1 > 3. The compounds studied tend to form both 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 chelate complexes with both copper(II) and copper(I). The complexes with copper(I) are formed in the ESI process. The influence of solvent polarity, solution flow-rate, counter ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, CH₃COO⁻, SO₄²⁻, acetylacetonates) on the type of the ions observed was studied. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.