The m/z 91 rearrangement ion in the mass spectra of some 1,4-benzodiazepines

With the aid of isotope labeling and by substituent shifts, the relatively strong m/z 91 ion in the mass spectra of 7-chloro-2-methoxy-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepine and related compounds was shown to contain the 5-phenyl ring and the 3-CH₂ group. Mechanisms involving the opening of the 7-membered ring and the migration of the phenyl ring from C-5 to C-3 are postulated for the formation of this ion. This rearrangement ion was also observed in the mass spectra of some 1-alkyl-7-chloro-1,3-dhydro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones.     

A general procedure for rounding m/z values in low-resolution mass spectra

It was revealed that nominal mass spectra extracted from the same NetCDF file using different gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) software products are not identical. This phenomenon is caused by differences in algorithms used for rounding floating-point m/z values to integers. It was found that all programs under consideration (AMDIS, ChemStation, ChromaTOF, MS Search, OpenChrom) use different procedures. It is necessary to know how fractional parts of accurate m/z values of ions are distributed to determine which algorithm yields more robust results. We estimated the respective distribution using two databases (PubChem and NIST). As a result, we came up with a procedure that minimizes the influence of random errors on rounding to integer m/z values. The procedure we suggest is to sum intensities of all floating-point m/z values in a bin [MZ − 0.38; MZ + 0.62] and assign MZ as a nominal m/z value, where MZ is an integer m/z value.     

Electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra of 2,2-diphenyl-3-arylcyclobutanone oximes. Formation of ion m/z 167

The electron impact (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) spectra of 2,2-diphenyl-3-aryl cyclobutanone oximes (1–5) are reported. Formation of diphenylmethyl cation at m/z 167 is a major fragmentation process in both EI and CI spectra. Labelling studies established that the hydrogen involved in this rearrangement transfers from the NOH group and not from cyclobutane ring positions. The [M + 3]⁺ ions are formed under CI conditions as a result of C?N double bond reduction. An interesting secondary kinetic isotope effect is observed in the formation of ion e at m/z 183 in both EI and CI spectra. Other characteristic fragmentation pathways occurring in the EI and CI spectra of these compounds are outlined.     

Calibration of mass ranges up to m/z 10,000 in electrospray mass spectrometers

We report that the cesium salts of monobutyl phthalate, heptafluorobutyric acid, tridecafluoroheptanoic acid, and perfluorosebacic acid generate salt/cluster ions that provide calibration peaks for electrospray mass spectrometers. In the case of the cesium salt of tridecafluoroheptanoic acid ions are available up to m/z 10,000.     

Kinetic-energy-sensitive mass spectrometry for separation of different ions with the same m/z value

A double-focusing mass spectrometer (MS) equipped with a superconducting-tunnel-junction (STJ) detector has been applied to measure relative ionization cross-sections for the production of ions that are accompanied by different ion species with the same mass-to-charge (m/z) value. The STJ detector fabricated for this study enables kinetic energy (E) measurement of incoming individual ions at a counting rate of up to approximately 100 k ions/s and an energy resolution (DeltaE/E) of 15%. Both high counting rate and high-energy resolution are necessary to independently determine both m and z and not the m/z value only in ion-counting MS experiments. Ions such as (14)N(2) (2+) and (14)N(+) with the same m/z value can be clearly discriminated using a kinetic-energy-sensitive MS. This fine discrimination capability allows direct determination of relative ionization cross-sections of the homonuclear diatomic ions (14)N(2) (2+)/(14)N(2) (+) and (16)O(2) (2+)/(16)O(2) (+), which are difficult to measure due to the strong interference by the signals of their dissociated atomic ions with noticeably large ionization cross-sections. The new instrument requires no low-abundance heteronuclear diatomic molecules of the forms (14)N(15)N or (16)O(17)O to carry out ionization studies and thus, is expected to be useful in fields such as atmospheric science, interstellar science, or plasma physics.     

Energy and substituent effects on the mass spectra of substituted benzophenones

For two competing decompositions of the same molecular ion to give products [A₁⁺] and [A₂⁺], the ratio [A₁⁺]/[A₂⁺], is equal to the ratio of rate constants for the formation of the stable ions. Thr ratios, [Y C₇H₄O⁺]/[C₇H₅O⁺], were determined for several benzophenones for electron energies from 15 to 70 eV. Plots of log [Y C₇H₄O⁺]/[C₇H₅O⁺] vs.[ω⁺] gave good straight lines at all energies. Similar correlations have been reported for log [Y C₇H₆⁺]/[C₇H₇⁺] from substituted diphenyl ethanes and are also true for substituted acetophenones, log [YøCO⁺]/[CH₃CO⁺]. A few charge exchange data were obtained which showed the same general trend as the electron-impact data and emphasize the contribution of low energy ions in the 70 eV mass spectra. Relatively poor correlations were obtained for the [Y C₆H₄⁺] and [C₆H₅⁺] ions that are formed by both one-step and two-step decompositions.     

Theoretical and experimental evaluation of the low m/z transmission of an electrodynamic ion funnel

The transmission of ions at low m/z can often be either necessary for an application or problematic (e.g., when large numbers of low m/z ions consume a large fraction of an ion trap's capacity). The low m/z ion transmission limit of an electrodynamic ion funnel has been characterized using both experimental and theoretical approaches. A theoretical model is developed based on a series of infinite wire conductors that represent the ring electrodes of the ion funnel. Mathematical relationships for both low and high m/z cutoffs of the idealized two-dimensional system are derived. The low m/z cutoff is also evaluated through a series of experiments that show it is influenced by both the RF frequency and the DC electric field gradient. However, unlike multipole ion guides, there is no marked dependence of the low m/z cutoff on the RF amplitude, in agreement with theoretical results. With this new understanding, ion funnels can be designed and configured to better match the m/z range requirements for various applications.     

A novel ion trap that enables high duty cycle and wide m/z range on an orthogonal injection TOF mass spectrometer

Although TOF analyzers with orthogonal ion injection provide the whole spectrum without scanning, their duty cycle is low compared with scanning analyzers in single ion monitoring mode. Typical duty cycle is in the range of 5% to 30% depending on the instrument geometry and ion m/z value. We present here a novel trapping/releasing setup, which offers the duty cycle near 100% over a wide range. Operation in the mass range from m/z 120 to almost 2000 is demonstrated. Ions are trapped in a short linear ion trap at the end of the collision cell in an axial pseudopotential well created by additional rf (“AC”) voltage applied to all four rods of the trap with the same amplitude and phase. The pseudopotential created by AC field is mass dependent, and by ramping down the AC voltage, ions can be released from the trap sequentially from high m/z to low, while all ions are gaining the same kinetic energy. Upon entering the TOF accelerator, ions with lower m/z catch up with heavier ions, and the AC ramp parameters can be selected to make all ions meet in the center of the TOF extraction region, resulting in sensitivity gains from 3 to 14 without loss of mass accuracy or resolution.     

Maximum entropy deconvolution of secondary ion mass spectra with a measured response

The Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) has, for the first time, been successfully applied for the deconvolution of Secondary Ion Mass Spectra. Phosphorus-doped silicon was used as an analytical system. The commonly used technique to eliminate the interferences between phosphorus and the silicon hydride peaks (measurement at high mass resolution) strongly reduces the signal intensities. With MEM the mass resolution could be increased by a factor of ten without intensity loss. The response was determined by the lineshape of a non-overlapped mass peak of silicon. The validity of this approach was proved by comparison of the MEM solution with high resolution mass spectra.     

High-throughput and high-resolution two dimensional mapping of pI and m/z using a microchip in a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer

We have developed a high-throughput, two-dimensional-mapping (isoelectric point [pI], mass-to-charge ratio [m/z]) method by combining a capillary isoelectric focusing chip sealed with removable resin tape and a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Sample proteins are separated in a meandering channel on the chip and immediately frozen. The tape is then removed and the proteins are freeze-dried. The freeze-drying maintains the separation state of the proteins and prevents movement of the sample solution, which can reduce pI resolution. A matrix solution is then applied and mass spectrometry is carried out by laser irradiation. The whole process takes less than 70 min, more than 10 times faster than with two-dimensional, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Interaction and rearrangement of trimethylsilyloxy functional groups. The structural significance of the m/e 147 ion in the mass spectra of trimethylsil steroidal ethers

Requirements for trimethylsilyloxy group interaction and rearrangement are discussed. It is evident that formation of the m/e 147 ion is a function of the stereochemistry, steric hindrance and separation of the trimethylsilyloxy groups and reflects the stereochemistry of the steroid itself. It is postulated that ring cleavage is not necessarily a prerequisite for the formation of this ion. The occurrence of the m/e 147 ion can be structurally informative in trimethylsilyl derivatives of steroidal alcohols.     

Interpretation of electrospray/ion trap mass spectra of bile acids and other surfactants

Electrospray spectra of various bile acids and other surfactants were obtained using an ion trap instrument. Bile acids and bile acid derivatives such as 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) self associate to form micelles in a stepwise process. Their spectra show a distinct pattern of aggregation, with ions evenly separated in the m/z space. A new parameter, n/z, can be used to characterize such ions, where n is the number of molecules and z is the charge of the aggregate. The values of z were determined using multi-stage mass spectrometry (MS(n)) and high resolution in the ion trap.     

Rearrangement reactions in the positive and negative ion mass spectra of clausmarin A

The positive and negative ion mass spectra of clausmarin A, a naturally occurring tetracyclic coumarin, have been studied. The base peaks in the positive and negative ion spectra correspond to the complementary ions at m/z 143 and m/z 255, respectively, formed by a rearrangement reaction. The fragmentation pathways have been elucidated with the help of exact mass measurements and in situ deuterium labelling.     

Deconvolution of mass spectra measured with a non-uniform detector array to give accurate ion abundances

Array detectors are under active development since they offer large improvements in the efficiency of mass spectrum measurements. High quality is always a requirement whether array detectors are used for ions, electrons, UV, x-rays, etc., but in mass spectrometry the very high accuracy frequently needed in ion abundance measurements for isotope ratios is unique. These demands necessitate modelling the measurement process and careful deconvolution of the measured data. A linear model in terms of matrix algebra is presented in which the incident spectrum (unknown) and the measured spectrum are represented by column matrices and the action of the detector array on the incident spectrum is represented by an experimentally measurable square 'A' matrix. Residual noise in this matrix can be minimized following a singular value decomposition procedure and its use in 'forward deconvolution' of measured spectra is discussed. The random error in the incident ion counts is accounted for after the deconvolution since this is not an error from the perspective of the detector. The microchannel plate electron multiplier gain distribution is an important feature of the deconvolution.     

The formation of the styryl ion in the mass spectra of cinnamyl compounds

The formation of the styryl ion \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm PhCH = }\mathop {\rm C}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm H} $\end{document} in the mass spectra of some cinnamic compounds is shown to occur via the intermediate formation of the cinnamoyl ion \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm Ph} - {\rm CH} = {\rm CH} - {\rm C} \equiv \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document} rather than by direct cleavage of the bond α to the double bond.     

Fragmentation in doubly charged ion mass spectra of anhydropisatin and related compounds

The doubly charged ion mass spectra of anhydropisatin, 4-methoxyanhydropisatin, 3, 8, 9-trimethoxypterocarpen and 3, 4, 8, 9-tetramethoxypterocarpen were determined, and the fragmentation was explained by assuming that the paired electrons were partially localized in the fragmentations and by comparing the spectra with that of 3-(CD₃)-anhydropisatin. Conventional mass spectra of these compounds were very simple, but the doubly charged ion spectra were sufficiently characteristic for the reliable identification.     

Recognition of cyclic, acyclic, exocyclic, and spiro acetals via structurally diagnostic ion/molecule reactions with the (CH3)2N-C(+)=O acylium ion

Reactions of the model acylium ion (CH3)2N-C(+)=O with acyclic, exocyclic, and spiro acetals of the general formula R(1)O-CR(3)R(4)-OR(2) were systematically evaluated via pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry. Characteristic intrinsic reactivities were observed for each of these classes of acetals. The two most common reactions observed were hydride and alkoxy anion [R(1)O(-) and R(2)O(-)] abstraction. Other specific reactions were also observed: (a) a secondary polar [4(+) + 2] cycloaddition for acetals bearing alpha,beta-unsaturated R(3) or R(4) substituents and (b) OH(-) abstraction for exocyclic and spiro acetals. These structurally diagnostic reactions, in conjunction with others observed previously for cyclic acetals, are shown to reveal the class of the acetal molecule and its ring type and substituents and to permit their recognition and distinction from other classes of isomeric molecules.     

Fragment-molecule adduct ion formation in the mass spectra of cyclic N-acetylamines and related nitramines

Mass spectra of seven related N-heterocyclics, introduced by direct exposure probe, were determined in electron impact (EI) and positive- and negative-ion chemical ionization (PCI and NCI) modes. Proton adducts were the predominant molecular ion species in the EI and PCI modes. In addition, a variety of fragment–molecule adduct ions were observed for each compound in one or more of the modes. The propensity of 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine for fragment–molecule adduct formation was high in all three ionization modes. Fragmentation processes were documented by collision-induced dissociation experiments.