Mass spectrometric in-situ determination of NO2 in gas mixtures by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionisation

One- and two-colour photoionisation spectra for NO₂ have been investigated using a time of flight mass spectrometer as detector to find the most efficient REMPI process for analytical applications. Two different inlet systems have been employed: a pulsed supersonic jet expansion stage and a flow reactor. Selective and sensitive mass spectrometric determinations of free NO₂ have been possible even in the presence of high concentrations of organic nitrates, HNO₃ and other NO₂ precursors. Employing two-colour (1+1+1) excitation using a concentration of HNO₃5·10¹⁴ molecules/cm³ a detection limit of 5·10¹¹ molecules/cm³ has been found for NO₂ whereas in the absence of HNO₃ a detection limit of 5·10¹⁰ molecules/cm³ is reported.     

Early stages of styrene-isoprene copolymerization in gas phase clusters probed by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization

We present direct evidence for the formation of the covalent bonded styrene (isoprene)(2) oligomer and the isoprene dimer ions following resonance ionization of the gas phase styrene-isoprene binary clusters. The application of resonance ionization to study polymerization reactions in clusters provides new information on the structure and mechanism of formation of the early stages of polymerization and holds considerable promise for the discovery of new initiation mechanisms and for the development of novel materials with unique properties.     

丁酮分子的共振增强多光子电离解离研究

利用可调谐染料激光研究了丁酮分子的共振增强多光子电离解离过程,发现在428～448nm激光波段丁酮分子发生的是经4p和4dRydberg态的(3+1)多光子过程。此外,我们还用“梯开关”模型对丁酮母体离子的解离机理和各碎片来源作了详细的分析,分析认为在丁酮母体离子的解离过程中存在H原子重排与电荷的重新分布现象。     

Mass spectrometric analysis of carbon monoxide-nitrogen mixtures

A method for the analysis of gas mixtures containing both carbon monoxide and nitrogen, by using a single-focussing mass spectrometer, is described. It involves measurement of the mass spectrum of a gas sample before and after conversion of the carbon monoxide present into carbon dioxide by means of the Schütze catalyst.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of mixtures without separation

Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, p. 1450, June, 1989.     

Case studies in multiphoton ionisation and dissociation of Na2

Two photon ionisation and dissociation of Na₂ resonantly enhanced via the (2)¹Σ_u double minimum state has been studied. A pulsed, cold molecular beam, UV-laser excitation and ionisation in the energy range from 28 400 to 29 850 cm^?1 and kinetic energy analysis of the fragments by a time of flight method (KETOF) is used. Fast Na⁺ fragments are formed via intermediates below and above the barrier of the double minimum state while slow fragments are observed predominantly from vibrational states above the barrier. Some indication of tunneling is also seen. The KETOF spectra reveal three groups of kinetic energies. The relative abundance of these fragments depends on the laser polarisation and is different for slow, intermediate and fast fragments. A Monte-Carlo simulation of the KETOF spectra using bound-free Franck-Condon factors gives a satisfactory agreement with the experimental observations and allows a consistent explanation of the observations.     

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).     

Capillary gas chromatographic — Mass spectrometric determination of iprodione in chicory and leek

Summary A capillary GC/MS method is presented for the analysis of iprodione (CAS registry number 36734-19-7) in chicory and in leek. Preliminary extraction was carried out using methanol, and the extracts were cleaned up using two liquid-liquid extractions and Bakerbond SPE Florisil? cartridges. The eluates were evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, and the residues dissolved in hexane. Iprodione was then monitored by capillary Gas Chromatography, with Mass Spectrometric Detection, in the selective ion mode at m/z 314. Recoveries of 89 % to 108 % were obtained for chicory and leek fortified at 100 and 500 μg kg⁻¹. The proposed method of analysis has a detection limit of 2 μg kg⁻¹ for chicory and 4 μg kg⁻¹ for leek.     

Case studies in multiphoton ionisation and dissociation of Na2

Dissociative ionisation of Na₂ via the 3s 3d ¹Σ _g and¹Π _g states has been studied in the near threshold energy regime up to 120 meV above the three particle (Na⁺ + Na(3s) +e ^?) break up limit. A pulsed, cold molecular beam, pulsed laser 2 colour 3 photon resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionisation, and kinetic energy analysis of the fragments by a time of flight method (KETOF) is used. As series of vibrational levels in the two intermediate 3s 3d Rydberg states are excited, slow Na⁺ fragments are observed with a maximum kinetic energy given by the excess energy of the 2 + 1 photon process above threshold, thus confirming a direct dissociative ionisation process. The intensity distribution of the Na⁺ fragments shows a very pronounced maximum at zero kinetic energy, its shape differing somewhat for the¹Σ _g and¹Π _g intermediate states. Also observed is a strong signal of fast fragments arising from a typical 4 photon process which leads to dissociation of Na ₂ ⁺ molecules in their electronic ground state.     

Dissociative multiphoton ionization of NO2 studied by time-resolved imaging

We have studied dissociative multiphoton ionization of NO2 by time-resolved velocity map imaging in a two-color pump-probe experiment using the 400 and 266 nm harmonics of a regeneratively amplified titanium-sapphire laser. We observe that most of the ion signal appears as NO+ with approximately 0.28 eV peak kinetic energy. Approximately 600 fs period oscillations indicative of wave packet motion are also observed in the NO+ decay. We attribute the signal to two competitive mechanisms. The first involving three-photon 400 nm absorption followed by dissociative ionization of the pumped state by a subsequent 266 nm photon. The second involving one-photon 400 nm absorption to the 2B2 state of NO2 followed by two-photon dissociative ionization at 266 nm. This interpretation is derived from the observation that the total NO+ ion signal exhibits biexponential decay, 0.72 exp(-t/90+/-10)+0.28 exp(-t/4000+/-400), where t is the 266 nm delay in femtoseconds. The fast decay of the majority of the NO+ signal suggests a direct dissociation via the bending mode of the pumped state. .     

Rapid determination of complex mixtures by dual-column gas chromatography with a novel stationary phase combination and spectrometric detection

Fast GC separations of a broad range of analytes are demonstrated using a capillary column coated with a novel immobilized ionic liquid (IIL) stationary phase. Both completely cross-linked and partially cross-linked columns were evaluated, yielding approximately 1600 and approximately 2000 theoretical plates per meter, respectively. Enhanced separation is demonstrated using a dual-column ensemble comprised of an IIL column, a commercially coated Rtx-1 column, and a pneumatic valve connecting the inlet to the junction point between the two columns. Enhanced separation of 20 components, with two sets of co-eluting peaks is shown in approximately 150 s, while sacrificing only a length of time equivalent to the sum of the stop flow pulses, or about 15.5 s. A novel application of a band trajectory model that shows band position as a function of analysis time as analytes move through the column ensemble is employed to determine pulse application times. The model predicts component retention times within a few seconds. Another method of selectivity enhancement of the IIL stationary phase-coated columns is demonstrated using a differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) that provides a second dimension separation based on ion mobility in a high-frequency electrical field. The DMS is able to separate all but one set of co-eluting components from the IIL column. The separation of 13 components found in the headspace above U.S. currency is demonstrated using the IIL column in a dual-column ensemble as well as with the DMS.     

Mass spectrometric determination of ILPR G-quadruplex binding sites in insulin and IGF-2

The insulin-linked polymorphic region (ILPR) of the human insulin gene promoter region forms G-quadruplex structures in vitro. Previous studies show that insulin and insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) exhibit high affinity binding in vitro to 2-repeat sequences of ILPR variants a and h, but negligible binding to variant i. Two-repeat sequences of variants a and h form intramolecular G-quadruplex structures that are not evidenced for variant i. Here we report on the use of protein digestion combined with affinity capture and MALDI-MS detection to pinpoint ILPR binding sites in insulin and IGF-2. Peptides captured by ILPR variants a and h were sequenced by MALDI-MS/MS, LC-MS and in silico digestion. On-bead digestion of insulin-ILPR variant a complexes supported the conclusions. The results indicate that the sequence VCG(N)RGF is generally present in the captured peptides and is likely involved in the affinity binding interactions of the proteins with the ILPR G-quadruplexes. The significance of arginine in the interactions was studied by comparing the affinities of synthesized peptides VCGERGF and VCGEAGF with ILPR variant a. Peptides from other regions of the proteins that are connected through disulfide linkages were also detected in some capture experiments. Identification of binding sites could facilitate design of DNA binding ligands for capture and detection of insulin and IGF-2. The interactions may have biological significance as well.     

Intense-field modulation of NO2 multiphoton dissociation dynamics

We report on the dynamics of multiphoton excitation and dissociation of NO(2) at wavelengths between 395 and 420 nm and intensities between 4 and 10 TW cm(-2). The breakup of the molecule is monitored by NO A (2)Sigma(+)n(')=1,0-->X (2)Pi(r)n(")=0 fluorescence as a function of time delay between the driving field and a probe field which depletes the emission. It is found that generation of n(')=0 and 1 NO A (2)Sigma(+) results in different fluorescence modulation patterns due to the intense probe field. The dissociation dynamics are interpreted in terms of nuclear motions over light-induced potentials formed by coupling of NO(2) valence and Rydberg states to the applied field. Based on this model, it is argued that the time and intensity dependences of A (2)Sigma(+)n(')=0-->X (2)Pi(r)n(")=0 fluorescence are consistent with delayed generation of NO A (2)Sigma(+)n(')=0 via a light-induced bond-hardening brought about by the transient coupling of the dressed A (2)B(2) and Rydberg 3ssigma (2)Sigma(g) (+) states of the parent molecule. The increasingly prompt decay of A (2)Sigma(+)n(')=1-->X (2)Pi(r)n(")=0 fluorescence with increasing intensity, on the other hand, is consistent with a direct surface crossing between the X (2)A(1) and 3ssigma (2)Sigma(g) (+) dressed states to generate vibrationally excited products.     

Selective ultra-trace detection of NO and NO2 in complex gas mixtures using broad-bandwidth REMPI mass spectrometry

In this paper we demonstrate the feasibility of ultra-trace resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection employing a small broad-bandwidth solid state laser system. The results reported here are compared with measurements carried out with a conventional excimer pumped dye laser combination. Mass selected broad-bandwidth REMPI spectra for the environmentally relevant nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 are presented. Tunable broad-bandwidth laser radiation with a spectral resolution of > 10 cm(-1) in the wavelength range 560-400 nm was employed for the detection of NO2. For NO detection, the range 230-224 nm was covered. Laser radiation was generated using an optical parametric oscillator pumped by an unseeded Nd:YAG laser. A mobile time-of-flight mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric pressure laser ionization source allowed for mass selective parent ion detection at m/z 30 for NO and m/z 46 for NO2. The limit of detection was 10 pptV for NO and 20 pptV for NO2. A selectivity of > 2000 for both compounds with respect to N2O5, organic nitrates and NO2 in the case of NO is reported. An improved laser system currently under construction is expected to provide detection limits below pptv mixing ratios for both nitrogen oxides in a 20 s integration interval.     

Mass spectrometric amino acid sequence determination in arginine-containing peptides

Methods of converting arginine residues into ornithine, N^δ-pyrimidylornithine, N^δ-imidazolidinonidenornithine residues in peptides have been developed. The modified peptides undergo the amino acid type of fragmentation, so that mass spectrometry can now be used for amino acid sequence determination in arginine-containing peptides.     

Mass spectrometric study of MgO clusters produced by the gas aggregation technique

Gas phase (MgO) _n ⁺ and (MgO) _n Mg⁺ clusters were produced in a gas aggregation source and studied by using laser-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A MgO molecule apparently serves as the nucleus for cluster growth, to which Mg and O atoms add. The heat generated by the formation of metal-oxygen bonds, and that added to the cluster by ionization leads to the production of clusters with the stoichiometry of the stable high-temperature oxide. The abundance maxima observed in the mass spectra indicate that the clusters form compact cubic structures similar to pieces of the MgO crystal lattice. The primary fragmentation channel responsible for the observed patterns is probably the loss of MgO monomers.     

Mass spectrometric studies of 2-nitrosophenols

The mass spectra of 2-nitrosophenols are independent of the insertion temperature, suggesting that the compounds either do not exhibit tautomerism in the vapour phase or that the enthalpy of isomerization is low. However, their fragmentation patterns suggest tautomerism in the molecular ion.