Photoionization studies on various quinones by an infrared laser desorption/tunable VUV photoionization TOF mass spectrometry

Photoionization and dissociative photoionization characters of six quinones, including 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ), 9,10-phenanthroquinone (PQ), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), benz[a]- anthracene-7,12-dione (BAD) and 1,2-acenaphthylenedione (AND) have been studied with an infrared laser desorption/tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (IR LD/VUV PIMS) technique. Mass spectra of these compounds are obtained at different VUV photon energies. Consecutive losses of two carbon monoxide (CO) groups are found to be the main fragmentation pathways for all the quinones. Detailed dissociation processes are discussed with the help of ab initio B3LYP calculations. Ionization energies (IEs) of these quinones and appearance energies (AEs) of major fragments are obtained by measuring the photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical data.     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of CN radical with ketene

The bimolecular single collision reaction potential energy surface of CN radical with ketene (CH2CO) was investigated by means of B3LYP and QCISD(T) methods. The calculated results indicate that there are three possible channels in the reaction. The first is an attack reaction by the carbon atom of CN at the carbon atom of the methylene of CH2CO to form the intermediate NCCH2CO followed by a rupture reaction of the C-C bond combined with -CO group to the products CH2CN CO. The second is a direct addition reaction between CN and CH2CO to form the intermediate CH2C(O)CN followed by its isomerization into NCCH2CO via a CN-shift reaction, and subsequently, NCCH2CO dissociates into CH2CN CO through a CO-loss reaction. The last is a direct hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH2CO by CN radical. Because of the existence of a 15.44 kJ/mol reaction barrier and higher energy of reaction products, the path can be ruled out as an important channel in the reaction kinetics. The present theoretical computation results, which give an available suggestion on the reaction mechanism, are in good agreement with previous experimental studies.     

Chelation-controlled radical chain reactions studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a novel tool for the investigation of chemical reactions in solution and for the direct detection and identification of reactive intermediates. The tributyltin hydride mediated addition of tert-butyl iodide to dimethyl 2-cyclohexyl-4-methyleneglutarate (2) in the presence of Lewis acids was investigated by ESI-MS using a microreactor coupled on-line to an ESI mass spectrometer. For the first time we have been able to show that transient radicals in radical chain reactions can be detected unambiguously under steady-state conditions in the reaction solution and can be characterized by ESI-MS/MS and accurate mass determination. The detection of different heterodimer radical complexes by ESI-MS/MS has provided new insights into the mechanism of Lewis acid controlled radical chain reactions. Dimeric chelate complexes of glutarates, such as 2 and 3, and Lewis acids, like Sc(OTf)3, MgBr2OEt2 and LiClO4, were observed as well as higher aggregates with additional equivalents of Lewis acid. Evidence for a dynamic equilibrium of the complexes in solution was found by NMR spectroscopy. The ESI-MS investigation of the chelation of glutarate 2 with various Lewis acids has led to the conclusion that the tendency for Lewis acids to form dimeric chelate complexes and higher aggregates has an important effect on the stereoselective outcome of the radical reactions.     

Pyrolysis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). 1. Experimental study with molecular-beam mass spectrometry and tunable synchrotron VUV photoionization

An experimental study of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) pyrolysis (3.72% MTBE in argon) has been performed at low pressure (267 Pa) within the temperature range from 700 to 1420 K. The pyrolysis process was detected with the tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization and molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS). About thirty intermediates are identified from near-threshold measurements of photoionization mass spectrum and photoionization efficiency spectrum. Among them, H2, CO, CH4, CH3OH and C4H8 are the major pyrolysis products. The radicals such as methyl, methoxy, propargyl, allyl, C4H5 and C4H7 are detected. The isomers of pyrolysis products are identified as well, i.e., propyne and allene, 1,2,3-butatriene and vinylacetylene, isobutene and 1-butene, propanal and acetone. Furthermore, the mole fractions of the pyrolysis products have been evaluated under various temperatures. Meanwhile, the initial formation temperatures of different pyrolysis products can be obtained. This work is anticipated to present a new experimental method for pyrolysis study and help understand the pyrolysis and combustion chemistry of MTBE and other oxygenated fuels.     

Theoretical mechanistic study on the reaction of CN radical with HNCN

The mechanism for the reaction of the cyanogen radical (CN) with the cyanomidyl radical (HNCN) has been investigated theoretically. The electronic structure information of the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PESs) is obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level, and the single-point energies are refined at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p) level as well as by multilevel MCG3-MPWB method. The calculations show that the C atom of CN additions to middle- and end-N atoms of HNCN are two barrierless association processes leading to the energy-rich intermediates IM1 HN(CN)CN and IM2 HNCNCN, respectively, on the singlet PES. The higher barriers of the subsequent isomerization and dissociation channels from IM1 and IM2 indicate that these two intermediates, which have considerably thermodynamic and kinetic stability, are the dominant product at high pressure. While at low pressure, the most favorable product is P(2) H + NCNCN, which will be formed from both IM1 and IM2 via direct dissociation processes by the H-N bond rupture, and the secondary feasible product is P(4) HCN + (1) NCN, while P(5) HCCN + N(2) and P(6) HCNC + N(2) are the least competitive products. On the triplet PES, P(14) NCNC + HN may be a comparable competitive product at high temperature. In addition, the comparison between the mechanisms of the CN + HNCN and OH + HNCN reactions is made. The present results will enrich our understanding of the chemistry of the HNCN radical in combustion processes and interstellar space.     

直流放电制备CN自由基及其LIF探测

CN自由基是研究化学反应动力学的典型自由基，CN的动力学行为，如CN＋O2的反应已成为研究自由基－自由基反应的模型体系[1]，同时也在许多实际过程如燃烧过程，星际气体的形成过程中起着重要的作用[2，3]．利用含有CN的化合物进行光解、放电、与亚稳态原子分子进行传能反应是目     

A vacuum ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer with high sensitivity for study of gas-phase radical reaction in a flow tube

Photoionization mass spectrometry as a powerful analytical method has been widely utilized and provided valuable insight in the field of gas-phase reactions. Here, a highly sensitive vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with a microwave discharge generator and a fast flow tube reactor has been developed to study radical reactions of atmospheric and combustion interests. Two kinds of continuous light sources, the tunable VUV synchrotron radiation at Hefei, China for isomer-specific product detection and a commercial krypton discharge lamp for time-consuming kinetic measurements, are employed as photoionization sources in the apparatus. A multiplexed detection with high sensitivity (the limit of detection ∼0.8 ppb) and high mass resolution (M/ΔM ∼ 2100) has been approached. As representative examples, the self-reaction of the methyl radical, CH₃, and the reaction of the methyl radical with molecular oxygen are studied and multiple species including reactive radicals and isomeric/isobaric products are detected and identified. In addition, some preliminary results related to the reaction kinetics are also presented.     

Synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry measurements of kinetics and product formation in the allyl radical (H2CCHCH2) self-reaction

Product channels for the self-reaction of the resonance-stabilized allyl radical, C3H5 + C3H5, have been studied with isomeric specificity at temperatures from 300-600 K and pressures from 1-6 Torr using time-resolved multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry. Under these conditions 1,5-hexadiene was the only C6H10 product isomer detected. The lack of isomerization of the C6H10 product is in marked contrast to the C6H6 product in the related C3H3 + C3H3 reaction, and is due to the more saturated electronic structure of the C6H10 system. The disproportionation product channel, yielding allene + propene, was also detected, with an upper limit on the branching fraction relative to recombination of 0.03. Analysis of the allyl radical decay at 298 K yielded a total rate coefficient of (2.7 +/- 0.8) x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), in good agreement with previous experimental measurements using ultraviolet kinetic absorption spectroscopy and a recent theoretical determination using variable reaction coordinate transition state theory. This result provides independent indirect support for the literature value of the allyl radical ultraviolet absorption cross-section near 223 nm.     

Hydroxyl radical reactions with adenine: reactant complexes, transition states, and product complexes

In order to address problems such as aging, cell death, and cancer, it is important to understand the mechanisms behind reactions causing DNA damage. One specific reaction implicated in DNA oxidative damage is hydroxyl free-radical attack on adenine (A) and other nucleic acid bases. The adenine reaction has been studied experimentally, but there are few theoretical results. In the present study, adenine dehydrogenation at various sites, and the potential-energy surfaces for these reactions, are investigated theoretically. Four reactant complexes [A···OH]* have been found, with binding energies relative to A+OH* of 32.8, 11.4, 10.7, and 10.1 kcal mol(-1). These four reactant complexes lead to six transition states, which in turn lie +4.3, -5.4, (-3.7 and +0.8), and (-2.3 and +0.8) kcal mol(-1) below A+OH*, respectively. Thus the lowest lying [A···OH]* complex faces the highest local barrier to formation of the product (A-H)*+H(2)O. Between the transition states and the products lie six product complexes. Adopting the same order as the reactant complexes, the product complexes [(A-H)···H(2)O]* lie at -10.9, -22.4, (-24.2 and -18.7), and (-20.5 and -17.5) kcal mol(-1), respectively, again relative to separated A+OH*. All six A+OH* → (A-H)*+H(2)O pathways are exothermic, by -0.3, -14.7, (-17.4 and -7.8), and (-13.7 and -7.8) kcal mol(-1), respectively. The transition state for dehydrogenation at N(6) lies at the lowest energy (-5.4 kcal mol(-1) relative to A+OH*), and thus reaction is likely to occur at this site. This theoretical prediction dovetails with the observed high reactivity of OH radicals with the NH(2) group of aromatic amines. However, the high barrier (37.1 kcal mol(-1)) for reaction at the C(8) site makes C(8) dehydrogenation unlikely. This last result is consistent with experimental observation of the imidazole ring opening upon OH radical addition to C(8). In addition, TD-DFT computed electronic transitions of the N(6) product around 420 nm confirm that this is the most likely site for hydrogen abstraction by hydroxyl radical.     

Identification of leucine-enkephalin radical oxidation products by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The oxidation of the peptide leucine-enkephalin (YGGFL) induced by the hydroxyl radical (HO*), formed under Fenton-like conditions [Cu (II)/H(2)O(2)], was studied and monitored by LC-MS. The oxidation products identified included products resultant from (a) the insertion of oxygen atoms (1-5), (b) peptide backbone cleavage (short-chain products formed by diamide pathway) and (c) radical-radical crosslinking reactions. In order to identify the modified residues, LC-MS/MS spectra were obtained. The insertion of oxygen atoms into the peptide originated hydroxide, di-hydroxide and/or hydroperoxide derivatives. In addition it was found that the aromatic amino acids are most susceptible to being hydroxylated, while the aliphatic amino acids are more prone to forming hydroperoxides. Oxidation products with double bonds were also identified. The short chain products resulted from the alpha-carbon radical of terminal amino acids (Tyr and Leu). Products resulting from cross-linking reactions between intact carbon-centered peptide radical (with and without one HO group) and a side chain radical (*C(7)H(7)O) were identified. It was found that, although all amino acids residues of the peptide undergo modifications, the N-terminal seems to be prone to oxidative modifications under these conditions.     

Initiation of radical polymerization by peroxyacetates: Polymer end-group analysis by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

End-groups of poly(methyl methacrylate) from radical solution polymerization of MMA using tert-butyl peroxyacetate (TBPA), tert-amyl peroxyacetate (TAPA), 1,1,2,2- tetramethylpropyl peroxyacetate (TMPPA), and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl peroxyacetate (TMBPA) as the initiators were analyzed via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The type and the relative concentration of the radical species, which actually initiate macromolecular growth, are determined. In the majority of cases, these species differ from the primary radicals from thermal decomposition of the peroxyacetates. Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) was applied for unambiguous peak assignment. The methylcarbonyloxyl radical, which is formed by the decomposition of all peroxyacetates, was found to undergo decarboxylation yielding an initiating methyl radical. TAPA- and TMPPA-derived alkoxyl radicals mainly show β-scission, TMBPA-derived alkoxyl radicals additionally undergo a 1,5-hydrogen-shift reaction. The tert-butoxyl radicals produced from TBPA undergo pronounced chain-transfer reaction prior to their decomposition into methyl radicals and acetone. In the case of using benzene as a relatively inert solvent, the tert-butoxyl radicals exhibit transfer to monomer yielding polymer molecules, which do not carry any initiator-derived end-groups. By using mesitylene as a cosolvent, small amounts of star polymer were generated via multiple hydrogen abstraction by tert-butoxyl radicals from the three individual methyl groups of mesitylene. This uncomplicated procedure of modification of end-group and polymer topology may be attractive for facile adjustment of polymer viscosity in technical processes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2453–2467, 2007     

Direct analysis of industrial oligoglycerols by liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection and mass spectrometry

Summary A liquid chromatographic method has been developed for analysis of industrial polyglycerols, precursors of polyglycerol fatty esters, which are non-ionic surfacetants. The method utilizes two complementary chromatographic systems: porous graphitic carbon and an aminopropyl polymer with an acetonitrile-water mixture as mobile phase. Detection of these non-UV absorbing compounds was effected by means of evaporative light-scattering detection. Their structures were determined by comparison of their retention with that of synthesized standards, and by mass spectrometry.     

Use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the investigation of radical cation chain reactions in solution: detection of transient radical cations

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) coupled to a microreactor is an excellent tool for the investigation of reactions in solution. Here, we report the first results of our investigations into preparatively interesting electron-transfer-initiated chain reactions in solution which proceed via radical cations as reactive intermediates. The tris(p-bromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate (1)-mediated [2+2] cycloaddition of trans-anethole (2) to give 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylcyclobutane (3) was investigated. The reaction proceeds as a radical cation chain reaction via transient intermediates 2 ⁺ and 3 ⁺ that could be detected and characterized unambiguously directly in the reacting solution by ESI-MS/MS. The identity of the intermediates was confirmed by comparison with authentic MS/MS spectra of 2 ⁺ and 3 ⁺ obtained by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). In addition, substrate and product can be monitored easily in the reacting solution by APCI-MS.Part of this work was presented at the 36th Conference of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS).     

Unusual reactions of isolable dialkylgermylene and -stannylene with galvinoxyl radical

The reactions of isolable dialkylgermylene and -stannylene with a galvinoxyl radical were found to give rather unusual cyclic compounds in high yields via intermediate adduct radicals. The structures of the cyclic compounds were determined by X-ray crystallography. We propose a concerted cyclization mechanism in which the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the tert-butyl group by the galvinoxyl radical is accompanied by the simultaneous attack of the germyl radical center to the tert-butyl carbon atom.     

The detection and mapping of the spatial distribution of insect defense compounds by desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Many insects use chemicals synthesized in exocrine glands and stored in reservoirs to protect themselves. Two chemically defended insects were used as models for the development of a new rapid analytical method based on desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (DAPPI-MS). The distribution of defensive chemicals on the insect body surface was studied. Since these chemicals are predominantly nonpolar, DAPPI was a suitable analytical method. Repeatability of DAPPI-MS signals and effects related to non-planarity and roughness of samples were investigated using acrylic sheets uniformly covered with an analyte. After that, analytical figures of merit of the technique were determined. The spatial distribution of (E)-1-nitropentadec-1-ene, a toxic nitro compound synthesized by soldiers of the termite Prorhinotermes simplex, was investigated. Then, the spatial distribution of the unsaturated aldehydes (E)-hex-2-enal, (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal, (E)-oct-2-enal, (E,E)-deca-2,4-dienal and (E)-dec-2-enal was monitored in the stink bug Graphosoma lineatum. Chemicals present on the body surface were scanned along the median line of the insect from the head to the abdomen and vice versa, employing either the MS or MS² mode. In this fast and simple way, the opening of the frontal gland on the frons of termite soldiers and the position of the frontal gland reservoir, extending deep into the abdominal cavity, were localized. In the stink bug, the opening of the metathoracic scent glands (ostiole) on the ventral side of the thorax as well as the gland reservoir in the median position under the ventral surface of the anterior abdomen were detected and localized. The developed method has future prospects in routine laboratory use in life sciences.     

Steric effects on nascent vibrational distributions of the HCN product produced in CN radical reactions with ethane, propane and chloroform

Time-resolved IR emission spectroscopy (TRIES) has been used to study infrared emission in the 3400–3100 cm⁻¹ region from HCN molecules produced when CN radicals abstract a hydrogen atom from ethane, propane, and chloroform. From these observations the nascent vibrational distributions of the HCN produced were derived. The nascent vibrational population distributions of the product HCN in all of the reactions are non-statistical and inverted in both the pure CH stretch (00p) and CH stretch—bend (0np) series.     

Evaluation of free hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of some Chinese herbs by capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection

Due to the severe damage caused by free hydroxyl radicals (OH·) to cells and tissues, there is much interest in finding and studying effective and non-toxic OH· scavengers, including traditional Chinese herbs. In this paper, the simple and highly-sensitive technique of capillary zone electrophoresis with amperometric detection (CZE-AD) was used to study the OH· scavenging activities of aqueous extracts from some traditional Chinese herbs. Salicylic acid (SAL) was used as an OH· trap, and the content of OH· could be determined by assaying their products, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA). The optimum conditions for CZE-AD for the determination of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA were explored. The linearity ranges of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA were 1.0 ×10^–7~1.0 ×10^–4 mol L^–1, and their detection limits were as low as 2×10^–8 mol L^–1, which were much better than the CE-UV method often used. The traditional Chinese herbs studied included Radix angelicae sinensis, Rhizoma coptidis, Ligustrum lucidum, Ligusticum wallichii, Radices glycyrrhizae and Semen plantaginis. The experiments showed that the aqueous extracts from all of the above traditional Chinese herds had free OH· scavenging activities, although to different degrees.     

基于液相色谱-串联质谱法的肉类特征肽段鉴别及掺假测定

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱技术鉴别肉类特征肽段及定量检测羊肉中常见外源肉掺假的方法。样品经蛋白质提取、胰蛋白酶水解和固相萃取小柱净化后,利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（UPLC-Q/Exactive-HRMS）和Proteinpilot软件,实现蛋白质和多肽的鉴定;再通过基本局部比对搜索工具（BLAST）与Uniprot数据库对比分析,筛选出羊肉、鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉的20个物种特征性多肽标志物;最后利用高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱（UPLC-QqQ-MS）系统对羊肉、鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉的特征性多肽进行了验证和多反应监测（MRM）定量研究。将鸭肉、猪肉和鸡肉分别按照质量分数为1%、5%、10%、20%、50%的比例掺加到羊肉中,得到鸭肉最低掺假检出限为0.25%、猪肉最低掺假检出限为0.17%、鸡肉最低掺假检出限为0.10%。     

Multidimensional mass spectrometry to characterize degradation products generated during MALDI of polystyrenes prepared by controlled radical polymerization techniques

An analytical workflow involving high resolution mass analysis, collision‐induced dissociation and ion mobility was implemented to structurally characterize polymeric by‐products detected in lieu of intact species when performing matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) of polystyrenes with fragile end groups. Studied samples were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition–fragmentation transfer polymerization and nitroxide‐mediated polymerization. Spectral resolution enabled by orthogonal injection of MALDI ions into a reflectron time‐of‐flight mass analyzer allowed a thorough inventory of species, including some with the same nominal m/z value but different elemental composition. Individual end‐group mass determination was achieved in MS/MS experiments, implementing an additional separative dimension based on ion mobility prior to CID to assist precursor ion selection in case of interferences. Besides validating commonly reported polystyrene chains terminated with either endo‐ or exo‐double bond, this multidimensional approach permitted to show that initiating moiety could also be affected by the MALDI process. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3388–3397