Characterization of Nα-Fmoc-protected dipeptide isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)): effect of protecting group on fragmentation of dipeptides

A series of positional isomeric pairs of Fmoc-protected dipeptides, Fmoc-Gly-Xxx-OY/Fmoc-Xxx-Gly-OY (Xxx=Ala, Val, Leu, Phe) and Fmoc-Ala-Xxx-OY/Fmoc-Xxx-Ala-OY (Xxx=Leu, Phe) (Fmoc=[(9-fluorenylmethyl)oxy]carbonyl) and Y=CH(3)/H), have been characterized and differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS(n)). In contrast to the behavior of reported unprotected dipeptide isomers which mainly produce y(1)(+) and/or a(1)(+) ions, the protonated Fmoc-Xxx-Gly-OY, Fmoc-Ala-Xxx-OY and Fmoc-Xxx-Ala-OY yield significant b(1)(+) ions. These ions are formed, presumably with stable protonated aziridinone structures. However, the peptides with Gly- at the N-terminus do not form b(1)(+) ions. The [M+H](+) ions of all the peptides undergo a McLafferty-type rearrangement followed by loss of CO(2) to form [M+H-Fmoc+H](+). The MS(3) collision-induced dissociation (CID) of these ions helps distinguish the pairs of isomeric dipeptides studied in this work. Further, negative ion MS(3) CID has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. The MS(3) of [M-H-Fmoc+H](-) of isomeric peptide acids produce c(1)(-), z(1)(-) and y(1)(-) ions. Thus the present study of Fmoc-protected peptides provides additional information on mass spectral characterization of the dipeptides and distinguishes the positional isomers.     

Structure and fragmentation of dimethyl methylphosphonate and trimethyl phosphite

The structures and fragmentation pathways of two isomeric organophosphorus esters, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and trimethyl phosphite (TMP) have been determined. The long-lived, low-energy molecular ions of DMMP were found to undergo a keto-to-enol isomerization prior to collision-induced dissociation. This isomerization was established through the comparison of the collision spectra from DMMP, TMP, isotopically labeled DMMP and a model precursor ion. Electron ionization and charge exchange reactions were used to study the isomerization as a function of the internal energy of the molecular ion. The structure of the TMP molecular ion retained the structure of the neutral molecule. The daughter ion spectra of the isomeric fragment ions from DMMP and TMP were used to infer the fragment ion structures. Negative ions of DMMP and TMP were also studied, and their collision spectra were found to be indistinguishable.     

Differentiation of 2-alkylthioorotic acids, methyl and ethyl 2-alkylthioorotates and hydrazides of 2-alkylthioorotic acids by using electron ionization mass spectra

Electron ionization mass spectra of 12 derivatives of 2-thioorotic acid have been discussed and general fragmentation routes of their molecular ions have been proposed. The compounds under discussion were three groups of four chemical species (2-alkylthioorotic acid, methyl 2-alkylthioorotate, ethyl 2-alkylthioorotate and 2- alkylthioorotic hydrazide) each with the same relative molecular mass. The comparison of selected ions relative abundances and their correlation with the abundance of molecular ions enable differentiation between isomeric or isobaric species in this class of compounds.     

Gas phase reactivity of isomeric arylglycosides towards amines. A chemical ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry study

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments have been performed for the structural characterization and isomeric differentiation of two series of C- and O-linked arylglycosides with potential antioxidant activity. Different amines have been used for producing gas phase chemical ionization. Depending on their proton affinity and steric hindrance, adduct ions with different stability are formed. The most stable adducts are produced by ethylamine and they have been extensively structurally characterized by experimental and theoretical approaches. Energy resolved chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometric experiments have allowed unambiguous characterization and differentiation of both the anomers differing at the configuration of the glycosidic C(1) atom, and regio- and structural isomers at extremely low concentrations, typical of mass spectrometry. This study has shown that amine chemical ionization mass spectrometry and MS/MS are powerful and versatile tools for the structural characterization of arylglycosides.     

两种氨基酸中[MH-CO_2H_2]~ 的特征质谱碎裂

运用低能碰撞诱导解离（CID）研究了电子轰击（EI）、快原子轰击（FAB）电离条件下质子化亮氨酸与异亮氨酸解高产生亚稳离子［MH－CO2H2］＋的单分子质谱碎裂，二种异构体呈现出了各自不同的解离特征，根据CID的特征碎片离子和氘代同位素标记实验，提出了其碎裂过程存在离子／中性（碎片）复合物中间体碎裂机理，并对有关的特征离子的形成进行了讨论．     

两种氨基酸中[MH-CO2H2]+的特征质谱碎裂

运用低能碰撞诱导解离（ＣＩＤ）研究了电子轰击（ＥＩ）、快原子轰击（ＦＡＢ）电离条件下质子化亮氨酸与异亮氨酸解离产生亚稳离子「ＭＨ－ＣＯ２Ｈ２」的单分子质谱破裂，二种异构体呈现出了各自不同的解离特征，根据ＣＩＤ的特征碎片离子和氘代同位素标记实验，提出了其破裂过程的存在离子／中性（碎片）复合物中间体机理，并对有关的特征离子的形成进行了讨论。     

Separation of isomeric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by GC-MS: Differentiation between isomers by positive chemical ionization with ammonia and dimethyl ether as reagent gases

Summary Sixteen PAHs have been separated by GC-MS and some isomeric PAHs were differentiated by positive-ion chemical ionization (PICI) using two different reagent gases, ammonia and dimethyl ether. Differentiation, which was better with DME, was possible on the basis of the identities and relative abundances of the adduct ions.     

Charged and neutral NO3 isomers from the ionization of NOx and O3 mixtures

Mass spectrometric techniques have been utilized in conjunction with theoretical methods to detect and characterize new species formed upon ionization of gaseous mixtures containing ozone and an NOx oxide. NO5+ as well as isomeric NO4+ and NO3+ ions have been identified. Moreover, utilization of neutralization reionization mass spectrometry (NRMS) has provided strong evidence for, if not a conclusive demonstration of, the existence of a new NO3 isomer, in addition to the long-known trigonal radical, as a gaseous species with a lifetime in excess of approximately 1 microsecond.     

The gas-phase amino–claisen rearrangement of protonated N-allylaniline

Metastable molecular protonated ions of N-allylaniline dissociate with significant losses of ethene and ammonia in the flight path of a mass spectrometer. The structures of the daughter ions formed on the loss of ethene have been elucidated using collision-induced dissociation and it is postulated that two isomeric structures are formed, one corresponding to molecular protonated ions which have undergone an amino–Claisen rearrangement. The relative proportion of this rearranged species is dependent on the exothermicity of the proton-transfer reaction between the sample molecule and the chemical ionization reagent gas ion. It is proposed that the two isomeric parent species differ in the site of protonation.     

Structural assignment of isomeric 2-(2-quinolinyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione mono- and disulfonic acids by liquid chromatography electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Positionally isomeric 2-(2-quinolinyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione mono- and disulfonic acids give rise to similar electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmosphere pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectra, which show very abundant MH(+) ions and negligible fragmentation. The MH(+) ions of these isomeric acids exhibit notably different behavior under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. The acids with a sulfonic group at position 8' in the quinoline moiety, adjacent to the N-atom, exhibit highly abundant [MH - H(2)SO(3)](+) ions (m/z 272 for the mono- and m/z 352 for the disulfonic acids), which are of lower abundance in the CID spectra of isomers with the SO(3)H group at other positions, remote from the nitrogen atom. The latter isomers undergo efficient eliminations of SO(3) and HSO(3). The isomeric diacids with one SO(3)H group at position 4 of the indene-1,3(2H)-dione moiety, adjacent to one of the carbonyl groups, undergo highly efficient elimination of H(2)O. Mechanistic pathways, involving interactions between adjacent groups, are proposed for the above regiospecific fragmentations. Pronounced different behavior has been also observed in negative ion tandem mass spectrometric measurements of the sulfonic acids. The distinctive behavior of the isomeric acids was strongly pronounced when the measurements were performed with an ion trap mass spectrometer (LCQ), and much less so with a triple-stage quadrupole instrument (TSQ).     

A mass spectrometric investigation on some 3-[2-(Nitroxy)alkyl]-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-(3H)-one derivatives

The electron ionization mass spectrometric behaviour of ten 3-[2-(nitroxy)alkyl]-2H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-(3H)-one derivatives has been studied by means of metastable ion studies. By mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry of the related molecular ions, clear differences have been evidenced between the 5-methyl derivative and the other compounds, consisting of a highly favoured loss of NO₂ radical. The same methodology has allowed easy characterization of isomeric compounds.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization studies of non-polar isomeric hydrocarbons using ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry with different ionization techniques

The ionization pathways were determined for sets of isomeric non-polar hydrocarbons (structural isomers, cis/trans isomers) using ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry with different techniques of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization to assess the influence of structural features on ion formation. Depending on the structural features, different ions were observed using mass spectrometry. Unsaturated hydrocarbons formed mostly [M - 1]+ and [(M - 1)2H]+ ions while mainly [M - 3]+ and [(M - 3)H2O]+ ions were found for saturated cis/trans isomers using photoionization and 63Ni ionization. These ionization methods and corona discharge ionization were used for ion mobility measurements of these compounds. Different ions were detected for compounds with different structural features. 63Ni ionization and photoionization provide comparable ions for every set of isomers. The product ions formed can be clearly attributed to the structures identified. However, differences in relative abundance of product ions were found. Although corona discharge ionization permits the most sensitive detection of non-polar hydrocarbons, the spectra detected are complex and differ from those obtained with 63Ni ionization and photoionization.     

Atmospheric-pressure ionization studies and field dependence of ion mobilities of isomeric hydrocarbons using a miniature differential mobility spectrometer

The ionization pathways and ion mobility were determined for sets of structural isomeric and stereoisomeric non-polar hydrocarbons (saturated and unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons) using a novel miniature differential mobility spectrometer with atmospheric-pressure photoionization (APPI) to assess how structural and stereochemical differences influence ion formation and ion mobility. The analytical results obtained using the differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) were compared with the reduced mobility values measured using conventional time-of-flight ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) with the same ionization technique.The majority of differences in DMS ion mobility spectra observed among isomeric cyclic hydrocarbons can be explained by the formation of different product ions. Comparable differences in ion formation were also observed using conventional IMS and by investigations using the coupling of ion mobility spectrometry with mass spectrometry (APPI-IMS-MS) and APPI-MS. Using DMS, isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons can in the majority of cases be distinguished by the different behavior of product ions in the strong asymmetric radio frequency (rf) electric field of the drift channel. The different peak position of product ions depending on the electric field amplitude permits the differentiation between most of the investigated isomeric aromatics with a different constitution; this stands in contrast to conventional IMS in which comparable reduced mobility values were detected for the isomeric aromatic compounds.     

A fast atom bombardment and field ionization/field desorption study of some isomeric unsaturated dicarboxylic acids

Geometrically isomeric dicarboxylic acids, such as maleic and fumaric acid and their methyl homologues, and the isomeric phthalic acids, have been investigated using fast atom bombardment, field ionization and field desorption mass spectrometry. The most intense peak in the positive ion fast atom bombardment spectra corresponds with the [M + H]⁺ ion. This ion, when derived from the E -acids, tragments either by successive loss of water and carbon monoxide or by elimination of carbon dioxide. In the case of the Z -acids only elimination of water from the [M + H]⁺ ions is observed to occur to a significant extent. The same is true for the [M + H]⁺ ions of the isomeric phthalic acids, that is the [M + H] ions derived from iso- and terephthalic acid exhibit more fragmentation than those of phthalic acid. All these acids undergo much less fragmentation upon field ionization, where not only abundant [M + H]⁺ ions, but also abundant [M]^+· ions, are observed. Upon field desorption only the [M + H]⁺ and [M + Na]⁺ ions are observed under the measuring conditions. Negative ion fast atom bombardment spectra of the acids mentioned have also been recorded. In addition to the most abundant [M? H]^? ions relatively intense peaks are observed, which correspond with the [M]^?˙ ions. The fragmentations observed for these ions appear to be quite different from those reported in an earlier electron impact study and in a recent atmospheric pressure ionization investigation.     

Mass spectra of geometrical isomers: The isomeric 3- and 7-cyclohexyl-2-norbornanols

The mass spectra of isomeric 3- and 7-cyclohexyl-2-norbornanols have been studied. The 3-substituted norbornanols give very similar mass spectra, whereas large differences were observed between the mass spectra of 7-syn and 7-anti isomers. While the mass spectra of these bicyclic alcohols show extensive rearrangements to give rise to many odd-electron ions, the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of the molecular ion prior to fragmentation or during the process of dehydration is not important. The origins and the mechanisms for the formation of some major ions are discussed in terms of low voltage spectra, defocused metastables and their relative abundances, and ionization or appearance potentials of the ions of interest.     

Mass spectral studies of meso-dialkyl, alkyl aryl and cycloalkyl calix(4)pyrroles under positive and negative ion electrospray ionization conditions

A series of meso-dialkyl, alkyl aryl and cycloalkyl calix(4)pyrroles (1-15) are studied under positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions. The positive ion spectra show abundant [M + H](+) and [M + Na](+) ions and the negative ion spectra show the [M + Cl](-) (the Cl(-) ions from the solvent) and [M - H](-) ions. The collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M + H](+), [M + Na](+), [M + Cl](-) and [M - H](-) ions are studied to understand their dissociation pathway and compared to that reported for M(+) under electron ionization (EI) conditions. The beta-cleavage process that was diagnostic to M(+) is absent in all the CID spectra of the ions studied under ESI. Dissociation of all the studied ions resulted in the fragment ions formed by sequential elimination of pyrrole (A) and/or dialkyl/alkyl aryl/cycloalkyl (B) groups involving hydrogen migration to pyrrole ring at each cleavage of A--B bond, which clearly reveals the arrangement of A and B groups in the calix(4)pyrroles. The source of hydrogen that migrates to pyrrole ring during A--B bond cleavage is investigated by the experiments on deuterated compounds and [M + D](+) ions; and confirmed that the hydrogen attached to pyrrole nitrogen, hydrogen on alpha-carbon of alkyl group and the H(+)/Na(+) ion that added during ESI process to generate [M + H](+)/[M + Na](+) ions involve in the migration. The yields of [M + Na](+) ions are found to be different for the isomeric meso-cycloalkyl compounds (cycloheptyl, and 2-, 3- and 4-methyl cyclohexyl) and for normal and N-confused calix(4)pyrroles. The isomeric methyl and 3-hydroxy/4-hydroxy phenyl calix(4)pyrroles show specific fragmentation pattern during the dissociation of their [M - H](-) ions.     

Mass spectrometric studies of structural isomers—II: Mono-and bicyclic C6H10 molecules

The electron-impact-induced ionization and fragmentation of six C₆H₁₀ structural isomers have been studied in order to determine the effect of isomerism upon their mass spectrometric behavior. The 70 eV mass spectra, metastable transitions and appearance potentials of the principal ions are reported. Significant differences between the mass spectra of the six isomers were observed; however, metastable transition and appearance potential data indicate that the fragmentation path-ways are the same for all the C₆H₁₀ molecules. Experimentally determined ionization potentials for the structural isomers are presented and compared to ionization potentials calculated by the bond orbital method. Utilizing fragmentation pathways deduced from general features in the mass spectra and from observed metastable transitions, we calculated heats of formation (ΔH_f) for the observed principal ions and compared these values to ΔH_f values for isomeric ions from other molecules.     

The gas phase structure of some protonated and ethylated aromatic amines

The fundamental processes of protonation and ethylation, occurring in a methane chemical ionization source, have been investigated for a variety of aromatic amines. The positions of protonation and ethylation on the substrate amines were determined by generating isomeric ions either by protonation of neutral ethyl substituted amines or by ethylation of the amines themselves. The product ions were investigated for structural differences via collision induced dissociation and subsequent analysis via mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. Similarities and differences between mass analysed ion kinetic energy/collision induced dissociation spectra of these isomeric ions were used to determine protonation and ethylation sites for imidazole, benzimidazole, indazole, pyrrole, pyridine and aniline.     

Electron ionization mass spectral studies of bridgehead 7,7‐dimethylnorbornane‐based β‐amino alcohols

The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of some new bridgehead 7,7‐dimethylnorbornane‐based β‐amino alcohols have been studied and their fragmentation patterns compared with those of isomeric 3,3‐dimethyl derivatives described by us previously. The dimethyl substitution at C7 results in a significant complication of the spectra, although all compounds show a C1–C2 bond cleavage with charge location at the nitrogen atom that leads to the base peak. Thus, two main fragmentation patterns dominated by cyclopentenylimmonium or methyleneimmonium ions are described depending on the position of the amino group in the norbornane framework (C1 or C2, respectively), as well as other secondary routes that can explain the appearance of the less noticeable fragments. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.