Benzene as a selective chemical ionization reagent gas

Dilute mixtures of C₆H₆ or C₆D₆ in He provide abundant [C₆H₆]^+· or [C₆D₆]^+· ions and small amounts of [C₆H₇]⁺ or [C₆D₇]⁺ ions as chemical ionization (CI) reagent ions. The C₆H₆ or C₆D₆ CI spectra of alkylbenzenes and alkylanilines contain predominantly M^+· ions from reactions of [C₆H₆]^+· or [C₆D₆]^+· and small amounts of MH⁺ or MD⁺ ions from reactions of [C₆H₇]⁺ or [C₆D₇]⁺. Benzene CI spectra of aliphatic amines contain M^+·, fragment ions and sample-size-dependent MH⁺ ions from sample ion-sample molecules reactions. The C₆D₆ CI spectra of substituted pyridines contain M^+· and MD⁺ ions in different ratios depending on the substituent (which alters the ionization energy of the substituted pyridine), as well as sample-size-dependent MH⁺ ions from sample ion-sample molecule reactions. Two mechanisms are observed for the formation of MD⁺ ions: proton transfer from [C₆D₆]^+· or charge transfer from [C₆D₆]^+· to give M^+·, followed by deuteron transfer from C₆D₆ to M^+·. The mechanisms of reactions were established by ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) experiments. Proton transfer from [C₆H₆]^+· or [C₆D₆]^+· is rapid only for compounds for which proton transfer is exothermic and charge transfer is endothermic. For compounds for which both charge transfer and proton transfer are exothermic, charge transfer is the almost exclusive reaction.     

Reactivity in the gas phase. Behaviour of isoxazoles under negative ion chemical ionization conditions

[M ? H⁺]^? ions of isoxazole (la), 3-methylisoxazole (1b), 5-methylisoxazole (1c), 5-phenylisoxazole (1d) and benzoylacetonitrile (2a) are generated using NICI/OH^? or NICI/NH₂^? techniques. Their fragmentation pathways are rationalized on the basis of collision-induced dissociation and mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and by deuterium labelling studies. 5-Substituted isoxazoles 1c and 1d, after selective deprotonation at position 3, mainly undergo N ? O bond cleavage to the stable α-cyanoenolate NC ? CH ? CR ? O^? (R = Me, Ph) that fragments by loss of R? CN, or R? H, or H₂O. The same α-cyanoenolate anion (R = Ph) is obtained from 2a with OH^?, or NH₂^?, confirming the structure assigned to the [M ? H⁺]^? ion of 1d, On the contrary, 1b is deprotonated mainly at position 5 leading, via N? O and C(3)? C(4) bond cleavages, to H? C ≡ C? O ^? and CH₃CN. Isoxazole (1a) undergoes deprotonation at either position and subsequent fragmentations. Deuterium labelling revealed an extensive exchange between the hydrogen atoms in the ortho position of the phenyl group and the deuterium atom in the α-cyanenolate NC ? CD = CPh ? O^?.     

Negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some nitroso compounds with CO2 as reagent gas

Summary Mass spectra of seven N-nitrosamines and five alkyl nitrites, the O-nitroso compounds, have been obtained by low pressure negative chemical ionization with CO₂ as reagent gas. Intense anions were observed at m/z M–32 for N-nitrosamines and at m/z M–30 for alkyl nitrites. Addition products were found at m/z M+12 and M+43 for N-nitrosamines and at m/z M+14 for alkyl nitrites. By using isotopically labeled CO₂, it could be shown that the anions at m/z M+12, M+14 and M+43 correspond to [M - H₂NO + CO₂ ^–, [M – NO + CO₂]^–, and [M – H + CO₂]^–, respectively.

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Negativionen-CI-Massenspektrometrie einiger Nitrosoverbindungen mit CO₂ als Reagensgas

Zusammenfassung Die Massenspektren von sieben N-Nitrosaminen und fünf Alkylnitriten (O-Nitrosoverbindungen) wurden durch negative chemische Ionisation bei niederem Druck mit CO₂ als Reagensgas erhalten. Intensive Anionen wurden bei m/z M–32 für N-Nitrosamine und bei m/z M–30 für Alkylnitrite beobachtet. Additionsprodukte fanden sich bei m/z M+12 und M+43 für N-Nitrosamine sowie bei m/z M+14 für Alkylnitrite. Mit Hilfe von Isotopen-markiertem CO₂ konnte gezeigt werden, daß die Anionen bei m/z M+12, M+14 und M+43, [M – H₂NO + CO₂]^–, [M – NO + CO₂]^– bzw. [M – H + CO₂]^– entsprechen.

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A full account of this work including the negative chemical ionization mass spectra obtained with other reagent gases will be submitted to the Journal of Mass Spectrometry.     

Analysis of benzannelated thiophene derivatives by negative-ion chemical ionization using oxygen as a reagent gas

Under the conditions of negative-ion chemical ionization with O₂ as a reagent gas [NCI(O₂)], thiophene derivatives suffer surface-catalysed oxidative degradation with subsequent ionization of the resulting species. These degradation reactions are to some extent structure specific and thus may be used for the localization of rings and/or substituents. It is advisable, however, to combine NCI(O₂) with either electron impact ionization or positive ion CI. The latter ionization methods yield abundant M^+· ions but hardly any structure-specific fragments, whereas with NCI(O₂) the determination of the molecular mass may be difficult owing to the competing oxidation reactions.     

Reactivity of acetonyl anion with nitroaromatics: an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization study

Nucleophilic attack by the acetonyl anion (CH₃COCH) on highly electron‐deficient nitroaromatics such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) results in the carbon‐bonded anionic σ‐complexes (Meisenheimer complexes). The complexes are generated at atmospheric pressure with relatively low internal energy and do not dissociate under atmospheric pressure chemical ionization conditions, but can be dissociated upon collisional activation to produce characteristic nitrobenzyl‐substituted acetonyl anions via elimination of HNO₂. Further fragmentation produces deprotonated nitrotoluene anions through the loss of CH₂CO, while loss of CH₂COCH₃ and CH₃COCH₃ yields nitroaromatic molecular anions and their H‐loss counterparts. Hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) scrambling is observed in the fragmentation products of the [TNT · CD₃COCD₂]^? complex to extents which vary for different fragmentation pathways. Selective Meisenheimer complex formation, together with its distinctive fragmentation pattern, supplies a highly discriminatory method for detection of TNT and related compounds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous analysis of pesticides from different chemical classes by using a derivatisation step and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This work presents a new method to analyse simultaneously by GC–MS 31 pesticides from different chemical classes (2,4 D, 2,4 MCPA, alphacypermethrin, bifenthrin, bromoxynil, buprofezin, carbaryl, carbofuran, clopyralid, cyprodinil, deltamethrin dicamba, dichlobenil, dichlorprop, diflufenican, diuron, fenoxaprop, flazasulfuron, fluroxypyr, ioxynil, isoxaben, mecoprop-P, myclobutanil, oryzalin, oxadiazon, picloram, tau-fluvalinate tebuconazole, triclopyr, trifluralin and trinexapac-p-ethyl). This GC–MS method will be applied to the analysis of passive samplers (Tenax^® tubes and SPME fiber) used for the evaluation of the indoor and outdoor atmospheric contamination by non-agricultural pesticides. The method involves a derivatisation step for thermo-labile or polar pesticides. Different agents were tested and MtBSTFA (N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide), a sylilation agent producing very specific fragments [M−57], was retained. However, diuron could not be derivatised and the isocyanate product was used for identification and quantification. Pesticides which did not need a derivatisation step were not affected by the presence of the derivatisation agent and they could easily be analysed in mixture with derivatised pesticides. The method can be coupled to a thermal-desorption unit or to SPME extraction for a multiresidue analysis of various pesticides in atmospheric samples.     

Reactivity sequences of dipolarophiles towards diazocarbonyl compounds - MO perturbation treatment

Whereas diazomethane cycloadditions are only accelerated by electron-attracting substituents in the olefinic or acetylenic dipolarophile, the cycloadditions of diazoacetic, diazomalonic and diazo(phenylsulfonyl)acetic ester show in accordance with the PMO treatment U-shaped activity functions when log k₂ is plotted versus the lowest IP of the dipolarophiles.     

Kinetics of chemical ionization in shock waves: III. Inert diluent gas effect on the chemical ionization rate

An experimental study of ionization in hydrogen azide decomposition and methane oxidation in shock waves is reported. In both cases, the kinetics of chemical ionization changes significantly upon the replacement of argon with helium as the inert diluent gas. The diluent effect is explained in terms of the hypothesis that the reactions responsible for chemical ionization proceed via the formation of an excited intermediate complex. Calculations using kinetic schemes of the ionization processes are carried out.     

Pharmacophore features distributions in different classes of compounds

A pharmacophore analysis approach was used to investigate and compare different classes of compounds relevant to the drug discovery process (specifically, drug molecules, compounds in high throughput screening libraries, combinatorial chemistry building blocks and nondrug molecules). The distributions for a set of pharmacophore features including hydrogen bond acceptors, hydrogen bond donors, negatively ionizable centers, positively ionizable centers and hydrophobic points, were generated and examined. Significant differences were observed between the pharmacophore profiles obtained for the drug molecules and those obtained for the high-throughput screening compounds, which appear to be closely related to the nondrug pharmacophore distribution. It is suggested that the analysis of pharmacophore profiles could be used as an additional tool for the property-based optimization of compound selection and library design processes, thus improving the odds of success in lead discovery projects.     

In situ chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry--the beneficial influence of isobutane as a reagent gas

We report a comparison of the ionization yields provided by the most common reagents (methane, ammonia, methanol, acetonitrile, isobutane) performing in situ chemical ionization with an ion trap mass spectrometer. Four molecules were chosen in the medical field to illustrate experimental results: alprazolam, diazepam, flunitrazepam and acetaminophen. Under usual operational conditions, relative abundances of protonated ions appreciably depend on the reagents. The greatest abundance of MH(+) ions was obtained with isobutane while observed intensities for MH(+) ions varied from 73% for methanol and ammonia to about 23% for acetonitrile and methane. Results were temptatively rationalized comparing energies of formation of the reagent ions and storage efficiency in the trapping field.     

Reaction of analyte ions with neutral chemical ionization gas

Analytical Chemistry Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA Ion-molecule reactions of neutral methane with analyte ions under normal methane chemical ionization conditions are discussed. Reactant ions can be generated by direct electron ionization (EI) fragmentation, chemical ionization (CI) fragmentation, or collision-induced dissociation (CID). Examples in which products of such reactions appear in mass spectra in both conventional CI sources in “beam” instruments and low pressure CI in a quadrupole ion trap are presented. Also shown is an example in which MS/MS product ions react with neutral methane used for CI in an ion trap. It is shown that it is relatively straightforward to recognize such reactions in a quadrupole ion trap and in certain cases to minimize or preclude them. Effects of various operating parameters have been investigated and are discussed.     

Differentiation of isobaric compounds using chemical ionization reaction mass spectrometry

The technique of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) couples a proton transfer reagent, usually H3O+, with a drift tube and mass spectrometer to determine concentrations of volatile organic compounds. Here we describe a first attempt to use chemical ionization (CI) reagents other than proton transfer species inside a PTR-MS instrument. The ability to switch to other types of CI reagents provides an extra dimension to the technique. This capability is demonstrated by focusing on the ability to distinguish several isobaric aldehydes and ketones, including the atmospherically important molecules methacrolein and methyl vinyl ketone. Two CI reagents were selected, H3O+ and NO+, both being cleanly generated in a low intensity radioactive source prior to injection into the drift tube. By recording spectra with both of these reagents, the contributions from different isobaric molecules can be separated by virtue of their unique spectrometric 'fingerprints'. The work demonstrates that this form of instrumentation is not restricted to proton transfer reagents and is the basis of a more general technique, chemical ionization reaction mass spectrometry (CIRMS).     

Reactivity of benzenetricarbonylchromium derivatives under conditions of dissociative ionization in the gas phase

The reactivity of benzenetricarbonylchromium derivatives under conditions of their fragmentation by electron impact was studied. The generalized structural and mass spectral characteristics formed on the basis of the information theory, molecular graph theory, and theory of absolute reaction rates were used to establish correlations between some of these characteristics.     

Acetone chemical ionization studies. VII-acetylation of some aromatic compounds

Acetone chemical ionization mass spectra of 14 monosubstituted aromatic compounds were studied. Benzene, toluene and halobenzenes give exclusively charge-exchange spectra with very little fragmentation. Protonation is characteristic of compounds with higher proton affinities than acetone, with the exception of benzonitrile. Acetylation reactions are observed mainly with benzonitrile, phenol, anisole and aniline. The acetylation of phenol and aniline mostly occurs at the substitutent.     

气相色谱-负化学源-质谱法检测水中10种全氟羧酸化合物

建立了气相色谱-负化学源-质谱（GC-NCI-MS）检测水中10种全氟羧酸化合物的分析方法。使用硅烷衍生化试剂N-甲基-N-三甲基硅基三氟乙酰胺（MSTFA）对全氟羧酸化合物进行衍生化，水样经弱阴离子交换固相萃取柱净化富集后进样。实验优化了样品前处理、衍生化和仪器条件。结果表明，10种全氟羧酸化合物在0.1~10 mg/L范围内线性关系良好，相关系数为0.9956~0.9993；方法的检测限（LOD）和定量限（LOQ）分别为0.5~1.5 μg/L和1.5~4.5 μg/L。在空白水样中进行了3个添加水平的加标回收试验，10种全氟羧酸化合物的平均回收率为70.2%~112.6%，相对标准偏差（RSD）为2.1%~14.5%（n=6）。该法原理简单，灵敏度高，准确、精密，可实现水体中10种全氟羧酸化合物同时检测的要求。     

Nitromethane as a substitute for nitric oxide in chemical ionization

Nitromethane chemical ionization mass spectra of some alkenes, alkynes and alcohols show that the spectra are similar in many respects to those obtained under nitric oxide chemical ionization conditions.