Combined Use of Post-Ion Mobility/Collision-Induced Dissociation and Chemometrics for b Fragment Ion Analysis

Although structural isomers may yield indistinguishable ion mobility (IM) arrival times and similar fragment ions in tandem mass spectrometry (MS), it is demonstrated that post-IM/collision-induced dissociation MS (post-IM/CID MS) combined with chemometrics can enable independent study of the IM-overlapped isomers. The new approach allowed us to investigate the propensity of selected b type fragment ions from AlaAlaAlaHisAlaAlaAla-NH₂ (AAA(His)AAA) heptapeptide to form different isomers. Principle component analysis (PCA) of the unresolved post-IM/CID profiles indicated the presence of two different isomer types for b₄ ⁺, b₅ ⁺, and b₆ ⁺ and a single isomer type for b₇ ⁺ fragments of AAA(His)AAA. We employed a simple-to-use interactive self-modeling mixture analysis (SIMPLISMA) to calculate the total IM profiles and CID mass spectra of b fragment isomers. The deconvoluted CID mass spectra showed discernible fragmentation patterns for the two isomers of b₄ ⁺, b₅ ⁺, and b₆ ⁺ fragments. Under our experimental conditions, calculated percentages of the “cyclic” isomers (at the 95 % confidence level for n = 3) for b₄ ⁺, b₅ ⁺, and b₆ ⁺ were 61 (± 5) %, 36 (± 5) %, and 48 (± 2) %, respectively. Results from the SIMPLISMA deconvolution of b₅ ⁺ species resembled the CID MS patterns of fully resolved IM profiles for the two b₅ ⁺ isomers. The “cyclic” isomers for each of the two-component b fragment ions were less susceptible to ion fragmentation than their “linear” counterparts.

Automated Deconvolution of Overlapped Ion Mobility Profiles

Presence of unresolved ion mobility (IM) profiles limits the efficient utilization of IM mass spectrometry (IM-MS) systems for isomer differentiation. Here, we introduce an automated ion mobility deconvolution (AIMD) computer software for streamlined deconvolution of overlapped IM-MS profiles. AIMD is based on a previously reported post-IM/collision-induced dissociation (CID) deconvolution approach [J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 23, 1873 (2012)] and, unlike the previously reported manual approach, it does not require resampling of post-IM/CID data. A novel data preprocessing approach is utilized to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the deconvolution process. Results from AIMD analysis of overlapped IM profiles of data from (1) Waters Synapt G1 for a binary mixture of isomeric peptides (amino acid sequences: GRGDS and SDGRG) and (2) Waters Synapt G2-S for a binary mixture of isomeric trisaccharides (raffinose and isomaltotriose) are presented. Graphical Abstract

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Chemometric Data Analysis for Deconvolution of Overlapped Ion Mobility Profiles

We present the details of a data analysis approach for deconvolution of the ion mobility (IM) overlapped or unresolved species. This approach takes advantage of the ion fragmentation variations as a function of the IM arrival time. The data analysis involves the use of an in-house developed data preprocessing platform for the conversion of the original post-IM/collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry (post-IM/CID MS) data to a Matlab compatible format for chemometric analysis. We show that principle component analysis (PCA) can be used to examine the post-IM/CID MS profiles for the presence of mobility-overlapped species. Subsequently, using an interactive self-modeling mixture analysis technique, we show how to calculate the total IM spectrum (TIMS) and CID mass spectrum for each component of the IM overlapped mixtures. Moreover, we show that PCA and IM deconvolution techniques provide complementary results to evaluate the validity of the calculated TIMS profiles. We use two binary mixtures with overlapping IM profiles, including (1) a mixture of two non-isobaric peptides (neurotensin (RRPYIL) and a hexapeptide (WHWLQL)), and (2) an isobaric sugar isomer mixture of raffinose and maltotriose, to demonstrate the applicability of the IM deconvolution.     

Evidence for Sequence Scrambling and Divergent H/D Exchange Reactions of Doubly-Charged Isobaric b-Type Fragment Ions

To date, only a limited number of reports are available on structural variants of multiply-charged b-fragment ions. We report on observed bimodal gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) reaction kinetics and patterns for substance P b₁₀ ²⁺ that point to presence of isomeric structures. We also compare HDX reactions, post-ion mobility/collision-induced dissociation (post-IM/CID), and sustained off-resonance irradiation-collision induced dissociation (SORI-CID) of substance P b₁₀ ²⁺ and a cyclic peptide with an identical amino acid (AA) sequence order to substance P b₁₀. The observed HDX patterns and reaction kinetics and SORI-CID pattern for the doubly charged head-to-tail cyclized peptide were different from either of the presumed isomers of substance P b₁₀ ²⁺, suggesting that b₁₀ ²⁺ may not exist exclusively as a head-to-tail cyclized structure. Ultra-high mass measurement accuracy was used to assign identities of the observed SORI-CID fragment ions of substance P b₁₀ ²⁺; over 30 % of the observed SORI-CID fragment ions from substance P b₁₀ ²⁺ had rearranged (scrambled) AA sequences. Moreover, post-IM/CID experiments revealed the presence of two conformer types for substance P b₁₀ ²⁺, whereas only one conformer type was observed for the head-to-tail cyclized peptide. We also show that AA sequence scrambling from CID of doubly-charged b-fragment ions is not unique to substance P b₁₀ ²⁺.

Collision Cross Sections and Ion Mobility Separation of Fragment Ions from Complex N-Glycans

Ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) holds great potential for structural glycobiology, in particular in its ability to resolve glycan isomers. Generally, IM-MS has largely been applied to intact glycoconjugate ions with reports focusing on the separation of different adduct types. Here, we explore IM separation and report the collision cross section (CCS) of complex type N-glycans and their fragments in negative ion mode following collision-induced dissociation (CID). CCSs of isomeric fragment ions were found, in some cases, to reveal structural details that were not present in CID spectra themselves. Many fragment ions were confirmed as possessing multiple structure, details of which could be obtained by comparing their drift time profiles to different glycans. By using fragmentation both before and after mobility separation, information was gathered on the fragmentation pathways producing some of the ions. These results help demonstrate the utility of IM and will contribute to the growing use of IM-MS for glycomics.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Structural resolution of carbohydrate positional and structural isomers based on gas-phase ion mobility-mass spectrometry

This report describes the rapid characterization of positional and structural carbohydrate isomers based on structural separations provided by ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Many of the diseases associated with glycoprotein variation can be more effectively treated with earlier detection substantiating the need for high-throughput methodologies for glycan characterization. This remains particularly difficult due to heterogeneity, branching, and large size of carbohydrate moieties which creates the potential for numerous isobaric positional and structural isomers that are difficult to characterize using conventional MS methods. IM-MS provides rapid (μs to ms) structural separations by IM and subsequent identification by MS which presents a means for characterization of positional and structural carbohydrate isomers. To chart the structural variation observed in IM-MS, the ion-neutral collision cross sections for over 300 carbohydrates are reported. This diversity can also be varied through the utility of using different alkali metals to tune separation selectivity via alkali metal-carbohydrate coordination. Furthermore, the advantages of combining either pre- and/or post-IM fragmentation prior to MS analysis is demonstrated for enhanced confidence in carbohydrate identification.     

Self-assembled supramolecular architecture with alternating porphyrin and phthalocyanine, bonded by hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking

5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenyl porphyrinato manganese (III) (MnTPP) ligated by THF in opposite axial directions and a sixcoordinate phthalocyaninato cobalt (II) (CoPc) with 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5-thiol (HL) molecules as axial ligands were self-assembled in a mixed solution of tetrahydrofuran and acetone (v/v = 1:1) to form a hydrogen bonding “polymer” alternated with porphyrin (Por) and phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules, MnTPP(THF)₂CoPc(L)₂(1). The hydrogen bonding interaction was contributed by nitrogen [in the axial ligand (L⁻) of phthalocyanine] and hydrogen atom (in a peripheral phenyl around the porphyrin ring). This hydrogen bonding “polymer” was also enhanced by π–π stacking of the tetrazole in L⁻ with both TPP and Pc macrocycles. These polymer chains were constructed into their three-dimension (3D) architecture only by Van der Waal’s attractions. Crystal data for 1 indicate a triclnic system of P-1. Unit cell: a = 11.3932(8) Å, b = 12.6462(9) Å, c = 14.4939(11) Å, α = 91.1970(10)°, β = 95.5050(10)°, γ = 90.7200(10)°, and with cell volume of 2078.0(3) ų.     

Discriminating alkylbenzene isomers with tandem mass spectrometry using a dielectric barrier discharge ionization source

Soft ambient ionization sources generate reactive species that interact with analyte molecules to form intact molecular ions, which allows rapid, sensitive, and direct identification of the molecular mass. We used a dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) source with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure to detect alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon isomers (C₈H₁₀ or C₉H₁₂). Intact molecular ions [M]^•+ were detected at 2.4 kV_pp, but at increased voltage (3.4 kV_pp), [M + N]⁺ ions were formed, which could be used to differentiate regioisomers by collision-induced dissociation (CID). At 2.4 kV_pp, alkylbenzene isomers with different alkyl-substituents could be identified by additional product ions: ethylbenzene and -toluene formed [M-2H]⁺, isopropylbenzene formed abundant [M-H]⁺, and propylbenzene formed abundant C₇H₇⁺. At an operating voltage of 3.4 kV_pp, fragmentation of [M + N]⁺ by CID led to neutral loss of HCN and CH₃CN, which corresponded to steric hindrance for excited state N-atoms approaching the aromatic ring (C-H). The ratio of HCN to CH₃N loss (interday relative standard deviation [RSD] < 20%) was distinct for ethylbenzene and ethyltoluene isomers. The greater the number of alkyl-substituents (C-CH₃) and the more sterically hindered (meta > para > ortho) the aromatic core, the greater the loss of CH₃CN relative to HCN was.     

Energy-Resolved Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry—A Concept to Improve the Separation of Isomeric Carbohydrates

Recent works using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) have highlighted the power of this instrumental configuration to tackle one of the greatest challenges in glycomics and glycoproteomics: the existence of isobaric isomers. For a successful separation of species with identical mass but different structure via IM-MS, it is crucial to have sufficient IM resolution. In commercially available IM-MS instruments, however, this resolution is limited by the design of the instrument and usually cannot be increased at-will without extensive modifications. Here, we present a systematic approach to improve the resolving capability of IM-MS instruments using so-called energy-resolved ion mobility-mass spectrometry. The technique utilizes the fact that individual components in an isobaric mixture fragment at considerably different energies when activated in the gas phase via collision-induced dissociation (CID). As a result, certain components can be suppressed selectively at increased CID activation energy. Using a mixture of four isobaric carbohydrates, we show that each of the individual sugars can be resolved and unambiguously identified even when their drift times differ by as little as 3 %. However, the presented results also indicate that a certain difference in the gas-phase stability of the individual components is crucial for a successful separation via energy-resolved IM-MS.

Reactivity of the unsaturated manganese dihydrides [Mn2(μ-H)2(CO)6(μ-L2)] [L2 = (EtO)2POP(OEt)2, Ph2PCH2PPh2, Me2PCH2PMe2] toward silicon and tin hydrides

The dimanganese hydride complexes [Mn₂(μ-H)₂(CO)₆(μ-L₂)] [L₂ = (EtO)₂POP(OEt)₂ (tedip), Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ (dppm)] react with primary and secondary silanes H₂SiPhR (R = Ph, Me, H) to give the corresponding derivatives [Mn₂(μ-H₂SiPhR)(CO)₆(μ-L₂)] having a silane molecule displaying a relatively unusual μ-κ²:κ² coordination mode (averaged values are ca. Mn-H = 1.59 Å, H-Si = 1.69 Å and Mn-Si = 2.381 Å, when R = Ph and L₂ = tedip). These complexes display in solution cis and/or trans arrangement of the bridging silane relative to the diphosphorus ligands (and facial and/or meridional arrangements of the corresponding carbonyl ligands), depending on the bridging groups. The novel unsaturated dihydride [Mn₂(μ-H)₂(CO)₆(μ-dmpm)] (dmpm = Me₂PCH₂PMe₂) has been prepared through the reaction of [Mn₂(μ-Cl)₂(μ-dmpm)(CO)₆] and 5 equiv of Li[BH₂Me₂] in tetrahydrofuran followed by addition of water. The dihydride complexes [Mn₂(μ-H)₂(CO)₆(μ-L₂)] (L₂ = tedip, dppm, dmpm) react with HSnPh₃ to give different mixtures of products strongly dependent on the particular reaction conditions. We have thus been able to isolate and characterize five new types of dimanganese-tin derivatives: [Mn₂(μ-SnPh₂)₂(CO)₆(μ-L₂)], [Mn₂(μ-H)(μ-Ph₂SnO(H)SnPh₂)(CO)₆(μ-L₂)] (average values are Mn-Sn = 2.54 Å, Sn-O = 2.11 Å, when L₂ = tedip), [Mn₂(μ-H)(μ-κ¹:κ²-HSnPh₂)(CO)₆(μ-L₂)], [Mn₂(μ-H)(μ-κ¹:κ¹-O(H)SnPh₂)(CO)₆(μ-L₂)], and [Mn₂(μ-H)(SnPh₃)(CO)₇(μ-L₂)] (Mn-Mn = 3.237(1) Å, Mn-Sn = 2.642(1) Å, when L₂ = dppm).     

Four new hydroxymonophosphates with closely related intersecting tunnels structures: The series AM(PO3(OH))2 with A=Rb, Cs; M=Fe, Al, Ga, In

The family of hydroxymonophosphates of generic formula AM^III(PO₃(OH))₂ has been revisited using hydrothermal techniques. Four new phases have been synthesized: CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂, RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂, RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂ and RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂. Single crystal diffraction studies show that they exhibit two different structural types from previously observed other phases with A=H₃O, NH₄, Rb and M=Al, V, Fe. The “Cs-In” and “Rb-Fe” phosphates crystallize in the triclinic space group , with the cell parameters a=7.4146(3) Å, b=9.0915(3) Å, c=9.7849(3) Å, α=65.525(3)°, β=70.201(3)°, γ=69.556(3)° and V=547.77(4) Å³ (Z=3) for CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=7.2025(4) Å, b=8.8329(8) Å, c=9.4540(8) Å, α=65.149(8)°, β=70.045(6)°, γ=69.591(6)° and V=497.44(8) Å³ (Z=3) for α-RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂. The “Rb-Al” and “Rb-Ga” phosphates crystallize in the Rc space group, with a=8.0581(18) Å and c=51.081(12) Å (V=2872.5(11) Å³ and Z=18) for RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=8.1188(15) Å and c=51.943(4) Å (V=2965(8) Å and Z=18) for RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂. These two structural types are closely related. Both are built up from M^IIIO6 octahedra sharing their apices with PO₃(OH) tetrahedra to form [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units, but the latter exhibits a different configuration of their tetrahedra. The three-dimensional host-lattices result from the connection of the [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units and they present numerous intersecting tunnels containing the monovalent cations.     

Evaluation of ion mobility in capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry for the identification in metabolomics

Currently, feature annotation remains one of the main challenges in untargeted metabolomics. In this context, the information provided by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in addition to accurate mass can improve the quality of metabolite annotation, and MS/MS fragmentation patterns are widely used. Accurate mass and a separation index, such as retention time or effective mobility (μ_eff), in chromatographic and electrophoretic approaches, respectively, must be used for unequivocal metabolite identification. The possibility of measuring collision cross-section (CCS) values by using ion mobility (IM) is becoming increasingly popular in metabolomic studies thanks to the new generation of IM mass spectrometers. Based on their similar separation mechanisms involving electric field and the size of the compounds, the complementarity of ^DTCCS_N2 and μ_eff needs to be evaluated. In this study, a comparison of ^DTCCS_N2 and μ_eff was achieved in the context of feature identification ability in untargeted metabolomics by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled with HRMS. This study confirms the high correlation of ^DTCCS_N2 with the mass of the studied metabolites as well as the orthogonality between accurate mass and μ_eff, making this combination particularly interesting for the identification of several endogenous metabolites. The use of IM-MS remains of great interest for facilitating the annotation of neutral metabolites present in the electroosmotic flow (EOF) that are poorly or not separated by CZE.     

Synthesis and structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterization of benzo[c]quinolizinium and its 5-aza-, 6-aza, and 5,6-diaza analogues

Four heterocyclic salts 1a-d were prepared by Ca²⁺-assisted cyclization of fluoro derivatives 3, and investigated by spectroscopic (NMR and UV), electrochemical, and computational (DFT and MP2) methods. The mechanism for the formation of the cations was investigated at the DFT level of theory. 2-D NMR spectroscopy for 1[ClO₄] in DMSO­d₆ aided with DFT results permitted the assignment of ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals in cations 1. The molecular and crystal structures for 1a[ClO₄] [C₁₃H₁₀ClNO₄ triclinic, P−1, a=9.6517(12) Å, b=11.0470(13) Å, c=12.2373(15) Å, α=67.615(1)°, β=78.845(2)°, γ=87.559(2)°; V=1183.0(2) Å³, Z=4] and 1d[ClO₄] [C₁₂H₉ClN₂O₄ triclinic, P−1, a=5.9525(6) Å, b=8.3141(9) Å, c=12.2591(13) Å, α=73.487(1)°, β=83.814(1)°, γ=83.456(1)°; V=576.07(10) Å³, Z=2] were determined by X-ray crystallography and compared with results of DFT and MP2 calculations. Electrochemical analysis gave the reduction potential order (1b>1c∼1d>1a), which is consistent with computational results.     

X-ray crystallographic structure and physical properties of the pentacoordinated [TPAFeCl] complex

A new pentacoordinated ferrous compound [TPAFeCl]⁺ (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) was synthesized from the reaction between H₃TPA(ClO₄)₃ and Fe(PⁿPr₃)₂Cl₂ in MeCN. The unique trigonal bipyramidal [TPAFeCl]⁺ complex was characterized as a S = 2 high spin complex based on the crystallographic structure, magnetic susceptibility, ¹H NMR spectrum and semi-empirical ZINDO/S calculations. Crystal of [TPAFeCl]₂(FeCl₄)(MeCN)₂ was monoclinic with a = 12.019(2) Å, b = 27.550(5) Å, c = 14.138(2) Å, β = 94.168(3)°, V = 4668.9(13) Å³, space group C/c, and the unit cell contained a racemic mixture of Δ and Λ isomers with ferrous tetrachloride anion.     

The W2Cl4(NHCMe3)2(PR 3)2 molecules (R 3=Me3, Et3, Pr n 3, Me2Ph) I. Their isomeric forms,interconversion proeesses,crystalline forms,and detailed molecular structures

A thorough study of compounds with the formula W₂Cl₄(NHCMe₃)2(PR₃)₂, withR ₃=Me₃, Et₃, Prg ⁿ ₃ Me₂,Ph, is reported. In addition to the previously reported crystalline compounds, namely Ia,trans-W₂Cl₄(NHCMe₃)₂(PMe₃)₂ in space group Pmmn;3a,trans-W₂Cl₄(NHCM₃)₂(PEt₃)₂ in space group P2₁/^a (or P2₁/^c); and4,cis-W₂Cl₄(NHCMe₃)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂ in Pna2₁, we have obtained and structurally characterized the following new substances,1b,trans-W₂Cl₄,(NHCMe₃)₂(PMe₂)₂, space group P2₁/^c,a= 12.233 (4) Å,b= 12.872 (4) Å,c=17.095 (5) Å,=93.52 (2)°,Z=4,V=2687 (1) ų 2,cis-W₂Cl₄(NHCMe₃)₂(PMe₃)₂, P2₁/^c,a=9.673 (4) Å,b=17.249 (4) Å,c=16.244 (5) Å,=99.63 (3),Z = 4 ,V=2669 (1) Å.3b,trans-W₂Cl₄(NHCMe₃)₂(PEt₃)₂, Pl,a=16.850 (3) Å,b=17.797 (3) Å,c= 11.459 (2)Å,= 101.02 (1),= 103.13°, y=84.23 (1)°,Z=4,V= 3279 (1) Å5,trans-W₂Cl₄(NHCM₃)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂, Fdd2,a=39.563 (8) Å at 20°C; 39.325 (10) Å at -6O°C,b = 57.543 (17) Å at 20°C; 57.186 (16) Å at -60°C,c= 8.810 (1) Å at 20°C; 8.770 (1) Å at - 60°C ,Z=24,V=20057 (7) ų (20°C), 19723 (8) ų ( - 60°C) .6,trans-W₂Cl₄(NHCMe_{3 2}(PPrⁿ ₃)₂, Pl,a= 17.287 (2) Å (20°C); 17.077 (5) Å (-60°C),b= 19.119 (2) Å (20°C); 18.952 (6) Å (-60°C),c= 12.713 (1) Å (20°C); 12.668 (4) Å (-60°C),Z=4,V= 3980 (1) ų (20°C), 3898 (2) ,ų ( - 60°C). In addition, the structure of3a was re-determined and refined so that the disorder ratio was a refined parameter, leading to a value of 0.520:0.480 instead of being arbitrarily fixed at 0.50:0.50. In all of the structures the molecules are held in eclipsed (but very distorted) rotational conformations and the W-W distances are all within the range of 2.305-2.330 Å. As will be shown in a later paper, for all phosphines, thecis andtrans isomers are of similar stability and an equilibrium mixture exists in solution. It is also shown that1a and3a do not contain unexpectedly short W-N bonds as previously reported.     

Equilibrium Structure of Beryllium Dibromide from Combined Gas Electron Diffraction and Vibrational Spectroscopy Analysis

The molecular structure of BeBr₂ has been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction at the temperature 800(10) K. The conventional analysis yielded the following values: r _g(Be–Br) = 1.944(6)Å, l(Be–Br) = 0.068(4)Å, r _g(Br–Br) = 3.848(8)Å, l(Br–Br) = 0.109(3)Å, k(Be–Br) = 1.1(1.1) × 10^–5 ų, (Br–Br) = 2.1(1.0) × 10^–5 ų. Three models of nuclear dynamics were used to simulate the conventional analysis values—infinitesimal vibrations and two models, which take into account the kinematic and dynamic anharmonicity of the bending vibration. All models give similar values of bond angle, amplitudes, and shrinkage, excluding the harmonic model, which yields too low value l(Br–Br). The equilibrium bond distance r _e(Be–Br) = 1.932(11) Å was estimated, taking into account the anharmonicity corrections for stretching and bending vibrations and centrifugal distortion.     

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Sodiated Multimers of Steroid Epimers with Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) has recently seen increased use in the analysis of small molecules, especially in the field of metabolomics, for increased breadth of information and improved separation of isomers. In this study, steroid epimers androsterone and trans-androsterone were analyzed with IM-MS to investigate differences in their relative mobilities. Although sodiated monomers exhibited very similar collision cross-sections (CCS), baseline separation was observed for the sodiated dimer species (R_S = 1.81), with measured CCS of 242.6 and 256.3 Ų, respectively. Theoretical modeling was performed to determine the most energetically stable structures of solution-phase and gas-phase monomer and dimer structures. It was revealed that these epimers differ in their preferred dimer binding mode in solution phase: androsterone adopts a R=O – Na⁺ – OH—R′ configuration, whereas trans-androsterone adopts a R=O – Na⁺ – O=R′ configuration. This difference contributes to a significant structural variation, and subsequent CCS calculations based on these structures relaxed in the gas phase were in agreement with experimentally measured values (ΔCCS ~ 5%). Additionally, these calculations accurately predicted the relative difference in mobility between the epimers. This study illustrates the power of combining experimental and theoretical results to better elucidate gas-phase structures.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Ce10[Si10O9N17]Br, Nd10[Si10O9N17]Br and Nd10[Si10O9N17]Cl oxonitridosilicate halides with a new layered structure type

The isotypic oxonitridosilicate halides Ce₁₀[Si₁₀O₉N₁₇]Br, Nd₁₀[Si₁₀O₉N₁₇]Br and Nd₁₀[Si₁₀O₉N₁₇]Cl were obtained by the reaction of the respective lanthanide metals, their oxides and halides with “Si(NH)₂” in a radiofrequency furnace at temperatures around 1800 °C, using CsBr, resp. CsCl, as a flux. The crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Pbam, no. 55, Z=2; Ce/Br: a=10.6117(9) Å, b=11.2319(10) Å, c=11.688(8) Å, R1=0.0356; Nd/Br: a=10.523(2) Å, b=11.101(2) Å, c=11.546(2) Å, R1=0.0239; Nd/Cl: a=10.534(2) Å, b=11.109(2) Å, c=11.543(2) Å, R1=0.0253) and represent a new layered structure type. The structure refinements were performed utilizing an O/N-distribution model according to Paulings rules, i.e. nitrogen was positioned on all bridging sites and mixed O/N-occupation was assumed on the terminal sites resulting in charge neutrality of the compounds. The layers consist of condensed [SiN₂(O/N)₂] and [SiN₃(O/N)] tetrahedra of Q² and Q³ type. The chemical composition of the compounds was derived from chemical analyses for Nd₁₀[Si₁₀O₉N₁₇]Br and electron probe micro analyses (EPMA) for all three compounds. The results of IR spectroscopic investigations are reported.     

The multiple conformational charge states of zinc(II) coordination by 2His‐2Cys oligopeptide investigated by ion mobility‐mass spectrometry,density functional theory and theoretical collision cross sections

Whether traveling wave ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (IM‐MS), B3LYP/LanL2DZ density functional theory, and ion size scaled Lennard‐Jones (LJ) collision cross sections (CCS) from the B3LYP optimized structures could be used to determine the type of Zn(II) coordination by the oligopeptide acetyl‐His₁‐Cys₂‐Gly₃‐Pro₄‐Tyr₅‐His₆‐Cys₇ (amb₅) was investigated. The IM‐MS analyses of a pH titration of molar equivalents of Zn(II):amb₅ showed that both negatively and positively charged complexes formed and coordination of Zn(II) increased as the His and Cys deprotonated near their pKa values. The B3LYP method was used to generate a series of alternative coordination structures to compare with the experimental results. The method predicted that the single negatively charged complex coordinated Zn(II) in a distorted tetrahedral geometry via the 2His‐2Cys substituent groups, whereas, the double negatively charged and positively charged complexes coordinated Zn(II) via His, carbonyl oxygens and the C‐terminus. The CCS of the B3LYP complexes were calculated using the LJ method and compared with those measured by IM‐MS for the various charge state complexes. The LJ method provided CCS that agreed with five of the alternative distorted tetrahedral and trigonal bipyramidal coordinations for the doubly charged complexes, but provided CCS that were 15 to 31 Ų larger than those measured by IM‐MS for the singly charged complexes. Collision‐induced dissociation of the Zn(II) complexes and a further pH titration study of amb_5B, which included amidation of the C‐terminus, suggested that the 2His‐2Cys coordination was more significant than coordinations that included the C‐terminus. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.