The modern mass spectrometer—a complete chemical laboratory

Using nitrobenzene as an example, various ways in which a contemporary mass spectrometer can be utilized to yield a wealth of information about the compound studied are reviewed. Applying a variety of different techniques and procedures, in addition to the conventional low resolution mass spectrum, the following nitrobenzene spectra have been obtained: collision induced dissociation mass spectrum, mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, collision induced dissociation mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, spectra obtained at constant B/E, spectra obtained at constant B²/E, high voltage scans of metastable ion fragmentation processes, consecutive fragmentations in different field free regions, charge exchange mass spectra, charge stripping mass spectra, doubly charged ion mass spectra, chemical ionization mass spectra, negative ion mass spectra, negative ion mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, negative ion mass analysed ion kinetic energy collision induced dissociation spectra, charge inversion spectra, etc. The complementary types of information available from the above studies are discussed to show the unique versatility of mass spectrometry as a technique for the examination of organic compounds.     

Rapid analysis of phthalic acid esters in environmental water using fast elution gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and adaptive library spectra

A method for the fast determination of the components in a complex sample by using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was developed and used for the quantitative analysis of phthalic acid esters in environmental water. In the method, the adaptively corrected mass spectra were used to compensate for the differences between the library spectra and the measured ones in the experiment. The correction was obtained by the iterative transformation of the library spectra using iterative target transformation factor analysis, and the resolution was performed by non‐negative immune algorithm using the corrected spectra. Rapid analysis of 16 phthalic acid esters in water samples was achieved using fast elution gas chromatography with mass spectrometry measurements. The results show that the mass spectra and chromatographic profiles of the phthalic acid esters can be obtained from the overlapping signal of 13 min elution, and accurate quantitative analysis can be obtained. The recoveries of the phthalic acid esters obtained by standard addition are between 90.3 and 107.4%, and the relative standard deviations obtained in repeated measurements are less than 9%.     

Software algorithm for automatic interpretation of mass spectra of glycerolipids

A new software algorithm for automatic interpretation of mass spectra of glycerolipids has been developed. The algorithm utilizes a user-specified list of parameters needed to process the spectra. The compounds in mass spectra are identified according to range of measured m/z values, after which the spectra are automatically corrected by the content of naturally occurring isotopes and ion intensities of identified compounds by response correction factors. Automatic processing of the spectra was shown to be accurate and reliable by testing with numerous spectra of glycerophospholipids obtained by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and by comparing the results with manual interpretation of the spectra. If quantitative analysis using internal standards is performed, all the identified compounds in the sample are quantified automatically. A dilution factor may be defined for each sample and is applied to correct the alterations in sample concentration during sample preparation. Processing of several replicate spectra simultaneously produces mean results with standard deviations. The software may also be used to subtract the results of two analyses and to calculate the mean result of replicate subtractions. The algorithm was shown to save time and labor in repetitive processing of mass spectra of similar type. It may be applied to processing of spectra obtained by various mass spectrometric methods.     

Mass spectrometry of DNA mixtures by laser ablation from frozen aqueous solution.

We report time-of-flight mass spectra of test mixtures of six single-stranded DNA segments. The segments range in size from 8 to 60 nucleotides (molecular weight range 2413 to 18,602 Da). The best mass spectra were obtained by pulsed laser ablation of thin frozen films of an aqueous solution of the mixture from an oxidized copper substrate. These mass spectra are dominated by the molecular-ion peak for each DNA segment, and show little evidence of fragmentation, peak broadening or cluster formation. In contrast, mass spectra obtained using UV laser ablation from an anthranilic acid matrix yield broad peaks with evidence of fragmentation, and DNA segments longer than 26 nucleotides are difficult to detect.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of involatile sulphonated azo dyestuffs

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of a range of involatile mono and disazo sulphonated dyestuffs are presented. Excellent spectra are obtained for dyestuffs containing up to five sulphonate groups. The fragmentations are discussed with special reference to the ions formed by cleavage of the azo linkage. The negative ion spectra are shown to be superior to those obtained in the positive ion mode.     

Use of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for the characterization of nitroaromatic isomers

Positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of some monosubstituted nitroaromatic isomers are reported. Generally ions carresponding to [M + H]⁺ and M⁺ are observed in the positive ion FAB spectra; ions such as [M ? H] ^? and M^?˙ are observed in the negative ion FAB spectra. The use of FAB mass spectra to distinguish the isomers is discussed. Comparisons of FAB, chemical ionization and electron impact mass spectra of the same isomers (wherever possible) are reported. The structural information obtained in the negative ion FAB spectra complement those obtained in the positive ion FAB spectra.     

Charge exchange using a double quadrupole mass spectrometer

Charge exchange mass spectra obtained on a double quadrupole (QQ) mass spectrometer are compared with those obtained by other methods. The effects of reagent ion recombination energies and of axial ion translational energy on these spectra are followed.     

Mass analysed collisional activation mass spectra of organic salt cations produced by field desorption linked magnetic and electric field scanning

The collisional activation mass spectra of some organic salt cations produced by field desorption are reported. The principal fragmentations of these ions are discussed. The collisional activation mass spectra were obtained, with good mass resolution, by linked scanning of the electric and magnetic fields in a double focusing mass spectrometer.     

Silver nitrate chemical ionization for analysis of hydrocarbon polymers by laser desorption fourier transform mass spectrometry

Addition of silver nitrate to nonpolar hydrocarbon polymer solutions prior to their analysis by laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry is shown to allow efficient silver ion chemical ionization. High-quality mass spectra are thus obtained for polymers, such as polystyrene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and polyethylene, that previously failed to yield useful mass spectra using conventional laser desorption. Accurate mass measurement experiments and isotopic ratios verify that the spectra are those of silver-attached oligomer ion distributions. Mass measurement errors for complete oligomer distributions average between 3 and 12 ppm for oligomers with masses between 400 and 6000 D whereas unit mass resolution is maintained throughout the entire spectral range.     

Metabolic studies of explosives. II. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of metabolites of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

A series of metabolites of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene were studied by combined high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These metabolites are formed mainly by oxidation and reduction processes. Separations were done on a C8 reversed-phase column, using acetonitrile-water at various relative concentrations as mobile phases, followed by ultraviolet and on-line mass spectrometry with a direct liquid insertion probe liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer interface. The mass spectra obtained were chemical-ionization spectra with the mobile phase as reagent. Mass spectra obtained included mainly reduced ions, adduct ions and typical fragment ions. The combination of high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with on-line mass spectrometry was found to be a suitable method for the identification of the investigated metabolites.     

Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry identification of cyclic ethers formed from reference fuels combustion

Summary The major cyclic ethers formed in the cool flame oxidation of reference fuels (normal heptane, isooctane, and normal decane) have been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The spectra obtained by electronic ionization are presented. Since these ethers are not available commercially and their mass spectra are missing from standard mass spectrometry libraries the present mass spectra could be used as references in future work.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of a range of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs are presented. Good spectra are obtained and the fragmentations are discussed with special reference to the ions formed by cleavage of the azo linkage. The negative ion spectra are shown to be superior in terms of signal to background and structural information to those obtained in the positive ion mode. The results are compared with those obtained from sulphonated azo dyestuffs.     

顺,反式环丙烷衍生物异构体的区分

在化学电离条件下，研究了４种顺、反式环丙烷衍生物与丙酮和醋酸乙烯酸乙烯酯的分子离子反应。异构体１，２的丙酮ＣＩ谱及其加合离子「Ｍ＋Ｈ＋Ａ」的ＣＩＤ谱都 可以区分该对异构体。化合物２，３和４可以和质子化丙酮及质子化二聚体发生加合反应，但化合物１仅能与质子化丙酮发生加合反应。在醋酸乙烯酯的ＣＩ谱中，观察到４个化合物的质子化二聚体，其中异构体１，２的质子化二聚体的ＣＩＤ谱也能反映它们立体结构的差异。     

Mass spectrometric separation and quantitation of overlapping isotopologues. Deuterium containing hydrides of As,Sb, Bi,Sn, and Ge

Mass spectra of fully and partially deuterated As, Sb, Bi, Ge, and Sn hydrides have been obtained using several mathematical approaches aimed at signal extraction and reconstruction. Study of such hydride mixtures is important for the elucidation of hydride generation mechanisms. In this approach, mass spectra of partially deuterated isotopomers, i.e., AsH₂D and AsHD₂, are extracted using the weighted two-band target entropy minimization method. Alternatively, these mass spectra were constructed from the mass spectra of fully deuterated and hydrogenated hydrides using the statistical approach in fragmentation pathways. Concentration profiles of all deuterated hydrides were obtained from their overlapping mixture mass spectra using least-squares deconvolution.     

Identification of polymers by library search of pyrolysis mass spectra and pattern recognition analysis

A library of mass spectra of polymers containing about 200 entries is described. These spectra were obtained by direct pyrolysis-electron-impact mass spectrometry, i.e., by heating the polymers in the direct insertion probe for solid samples at a constant heating rate and recording repetitive mass spectra during the temperature rise. The library can be used both as a data base for library searches and as a training set for a pattern recognition analysis. The algorithm used to generate and search the files and a few applications of the library search and pattern recognition analysis are presented.     

Interpretation Automatique des Spectres de Masse de Composes Organiques. Mise au Point

Computerized methods for interpretation of mass spectra are increasing and many papers have now been published. Three different approaches can be used to identify an unknown compound. These methods are reviewed and discussed. First, the heuristic technique which tries to simulate the reasoning of the chemist and deduce the formulae. The only information needed are the mass spectra, the empirical formulae and the n.m.r. spectra. Some promising results have been obtained but the method has important restrictions. Another approach represents the mass spectra as points in a hyperspace. By developing decision surfaces it is possible to classify an unknown compound. This is called pattern recognition and the different empirical methods for recognizing patterns in mass spectral data are explained and reported. The last and simplest technique is to match an unknown spectrum against a library of standard references. When the unknown spectrum is in the library, this approach gives the best results.     

Vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization and mass spectrometric characterization of lignin monomers coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols

The fragmentation mechanisms of monolignols under various energetic processes are studied with jet-cooled thermal desorption molecular beam (TDMB) mass spectrometry (MS), 25 keV Bi(3)(+) secondary ion MS (SIMS), synchrotron vacuum-ultraviolet secondary neutral MS (VUV-SNMS) and theoretical methods. Experimental and calculated appearance energies of fragments observed in TDMB MS indicate that the coniferyl alcohol photoionization mass spectra contain the molecular parent and several dissociative photoionization products. Similar results obtained for sinapyl alcohol are also discussed briefly. Ionization energies of 7.60 eV ± 0.05 eV for coniferyl alcohol and <7.4 eV for both sinapyl and dihydrosinapyl alcohols are determined. The positive ion SIMS spectrum of coniferyl alcohol shares few characteristic peaks (m/z = 137 and 151) with the TDMB mass spectra, shows extensive fragmentation, and does not exhibit clear molecular parent signals. VUV-SNMS spectra, on the other hand, are dominated by the parent ion and main fragments also present in the TDMB spectra. Molecular fragmentation in VUV-SNMS spectra can be reduced by increasing the extraction delay time. Some features resembling the SIMS spectra are also observed in the desorbed neutral products. The monolignol VUV-SNMS peaks shared with the TDMB mass spectra suggest that dissociative photoionization of ion-sputtered neutral molecules predominate in the VUV-SNMS mass spectra, despite the extra internal energy imparted in the initial ion impact. The potential applications of these results to imaging MS of biomolecules are discussed.     

Stereochemical effects in the mass spectra of 2-hydroxy-, 5-hydroxy- and 2,5-dihydroxyprotoadamantanes

Electron ionization and methane and isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra have been obtained for the four configurationally isomeric 2,5-protoadamantanediols and the corresponding model monoalcohols. Although the electron impact (both 70 and 15 eV) and methane chemical ionization mass spectra of the 2,5-protoadamantanediols are distinct, the variations are not large and in general they are difficult to rationalize in terms of specific structural features. In contrast, the isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra of these diols show significant differences which can easily be correlated with sterochemical orientations of the substituents.     

Electrospray mass spectrometry of lanthanide β-diketone complexes. II-Ligand-exchange processes involving acetate ions and Ln(tfc)3 complexes

Electrospray ionization on Ln(tfc)₃ complexes (Ln = Eu, Yb; tfc = D -3-trifluoroacetylcamphorate) was performed with samples dissolved in methanol–water containing acetic acid. The spectra were obtained with a four-sector mass spectrometer. The mass spectra exhibit ions containing tfc ligand in addition to ions with acetato ligand. Electro-spray and tandem mass spectra are presented.     

An evaluation of atmospheric pressure ionization techniques for the analysis of N-Methyl carbamate pesticides by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) techniques are evaluated for the mass spectral analysis of N-methyl carbamate pesticides. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) using a heated nebulizer interface provided both protonated molecules and abundant, characteristic fragment ions. With ion spray (ISP; pneumatically assisted electrospray ionization), which utilizes a milder “ion evaporation” process, primarily protonated molecules were obtained, although fragment ions similar to those observed in APCI could be induced by variation of the API orifice voltage. Product ion spectra of ISP-derived protonated molecules, generated by tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced dissociation, are also presented. The APCI and ISP spectra of the carbamates are compared to those obtained with a thermospray interface and also to their electron ionization and methane CI spectra obtained with a particle beam interface. For all four interfaces, combined liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods using conventional (4.6 mm i.d.) columns are described for the separation and detection of pesticide mixtures. These methods are applied to the confirmatory analysis of three representative carbamate pesticides, spiked at the 0.1-ppm level in green peppers. For those carbamates amenable to gas chromatography mass spectrometry, comparative results are presented.