Characterisation of selected hypnotic drugs and their metabolites using electrospray ionisation with ion trap mass spectrometry and with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and their determination by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-ion trap mass spectrometry

The electrospray ionisation-ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MSⁿ) of selected hypnotic drugs, i.e. zopiclone, zolpidem, flunitrazepam and their metabolites have been investigated. Sequential product ion fragmentation experiments (MSⁿ) have been performed in order to elucidate the degradation pathways for the [M+H]⁺ ions and their predominant fragment ions. These MSⁿ experiments show certain characteristic fragmentations in that functional groups are generally cleaved from the ring systems as neutral molecules such as H₂O, CO, CO₂, NO₂, amines and HF. When an aromatic entity is present in a drug molecule together with a nitrogen-containing saturated ring structure as with zopiclone and its N-desmethyl metabolite fragmentation initially occurs at the latter ring with the former being resistant to fragmentation. The structures of fragment ions proposed for ESI-MSⁿ can be supported by electrospray ionisation-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS).These molecules can be identified and determined in mixtures at low ng/ml concentrations by the application of liquid chromatography (LC)-ESI-MSⁿ which can be used for their analysis in saliva samples.This paper includes a tabulation of mass losses/signals at low m/z values for these hypnotic drugs and many others in recent publications which will be of value in the characterisation of drug metabolites of unknown structure and also natural product pharmaceuticals isolated from plants, etc.     

The structure and fragmentation of B n (n≥3) ions in peptide spectra

The unimolecular and low energy collision-induced fragmentation reactions of the MH⁺ ions of N-acetyl-tri-alanine, N-acetyl-tri-alanine methyl ester, N-acetyl-tetra-alanine, tetra-alanine, penta-alanine, hexa-glycine, and Leu-enkephalin have been studied with a particular emphasis on the formation and fragmentation of B _n (n=3,4,5) ions. In addition, the metastable ion fragmentation reactions of protonated tetra-glycine, penta-glycine, and Leu-enkephalin amide have been studied. B _n ions are prominent stable species in all spectra. The B _n ions fragment, in part, by elimination of CO to form A _n ions; this reaction occurs on the metastable ion time scale with a substantial release of kinetic energy (T _1/2=0. 3–0. 5 eV) that indicates that a stable configuration of the B _n ion fragments by way of a reacting configuration that is higher in energy than the fragmentation products, A _n + CO. Ab initio calculations strongly suggest that the stable configuration of the B₃ and B₄ ions is a protonated oxazolone formed by interaction of the developing charge with the next-nearest carbonyl group as HX is lost from the protonated species H-(Yyy) _n -X · H⁺. The higher B _n ions also fragment, in part, to form the next-lower B ion, presumably in its stable protonated oxazolone form. This reaction is rationalized in terms of the three-dimensional structure of the B _n ions and it is proposed that the neutral eliminated is an α-lactam.     

Structure,Stability, and Fragmentation of Sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)Sulfosuccinate Negatively Charged Aggregates In Vacuo by MD Simulations

Negatively charged supramolecular aggregates formed in vacuo by n bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT^–) anions and n + n _c sodium counterions (i.e., [AOT _n Na _n+nc ] ^nc ) have been investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for n = 1 to 20 and n _c = –1 to –5. By comparing the maximum excess charge values of negatively and positively charged AOTNa aggregates, it is found that the charge storage capability is higher for the latter systems, the difference decreasing as the aggregation number increases. Statistical analysis of physical properties like gyration radii and moment of inertia tensors of aggregates provides detailed information on their structural properties. Even for n _c = –5, all stable aggregates show a reverse micelle-like structure with an internal core, including sodium counterions and surfactant polar heads, surrounded by an external layer consisting of the surfactant alkyl chains. Interestingly, the reverse micelle-like structure is retained also in proximity of fragmentation. Moreover, the aggregate shapes may be approximated by elongated ellipsoids whose longer axis increases with n and |n _c |. The fragmentation patterns of a number of these aggregates have also been examined and have been found to markedly depend on the aggregate charge state. The simulated fragmentation patterns of a representative aggregate show good agreement with experimental data obtained using low collision voltages. Figure

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Resonant laser mass spectrometry: fragmentation patterns from 13C1 naturally labeled molecules

The potential of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) mass spectrometry to pick out the fragmentation pattern due to ¹³C₁-isotopomers from the fragmentation pattern due to the unlabeled molecule, in non-isotope-enriched samples, has been explored. Toluene, n-propylbenzene, ortho-diethylbenzene, and tert-butylbenzene have been used as testing samples. The fragmentation patterns of the unlabeled molecule and of the natural abundance ¹³C₁-isotopomer have been measured in a time-of-flight mass analyzer by exciting successively the S₁ ← S₀ origins of the ¹²C-monoisotopic molecule and ¹³C₁-isotopomers. Fragmentation mechanisms are not completely clear from the comparison of these mass spectra, but the method can be applied to low concentration enriched compounds labeled in known positions.     

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry of brassinosteroid analogs

Positive ion fast-atom bombardment mass spectra of brassinosteroid analogs have been systematically obtained for the first time. The spectra of six brassinosteroid analogs and their corresponding 22S,23S isomers included the protonated molecule in medium to high relative intensity. The fragmentation pattern is dominated by side chain cleavage. There is a marked preferential loss of acetic acid from the [M + H]⁺ ion of 5α-hydrogen-3β-acetylated derivatives compared to the 5α-hydroxy-3β-acetylated analogs.     

Peculiarities of the effects of trifluoromethyl and alkoxycarbonyl groups on the structure and reactivity of acrylates

Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of molecules of CF₃-substituted acrylates and their non-fluorinated analogs were carried out by the restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) method and at the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) level of perturbation theory using the 6–31G^* basis set with full geometry optimization. Peculiarities of their molecular and electronic structure were revealed and the dipole moments, the polarizability and first molecular hyperpolarizability tensors, harmonic vibrational frequencies, electrostatic potentials, and local electron densities in the vicinity of the carbon atoms of the C=C bond were calculated. It was shown that CF₃-substituted acrylates are conjugated systems similar to their nonfluorinated analogs. Peculiarities of the structure and properties of CF₃-substituted acrylates are explained by p-π-interaction between the CF₃ group and the conjugated system.     

Synthesis, properties, and hepatic metabolism of strongly fluorescent fluorodipyrrinones

From non-fluorescent 8-H fluorophenyldipyrrinones, highly fluorescent (?_F 0.4-0.6) analogs have been synthesized by reaction with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole to bridge the dipyrrinone nitrogens and form an N,N′-carbonyldipyrrinone (3H,5H-dipyrrolo[1,2-c:2′,1′-f]pyrimidine-3,5-dione). Amphiphilic, water-soluble 8-sulfonic acid derivatives are then obtained by reaction with concd H₂SO₄. The resulting fluorinated and sulfonated N,N′-carbonyl-bridged dipyrrinones, isolated as their sodium salts, are potential cholephilic fluorescence and ¹⁹F MRI imaging agents for use in probing liver and biliary metabolism. After intravenous injection in the rat they were excreted rapidly and largely unchanged in bile. ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy of a pentafluorophenyl-tosylpyrrolinone synthetic precursor exhibited rarely seen diastereotopicity.     

Mass spectrometry of γ-Complexes of transition metals : XXII. Fragmentations of ferrocenyl-substituted pyrazolines-2 under electron impact

The mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl- and 1-N-phenyl-3-ferrocenyl-5-arylpyrazolines-2, their 5-ferrocenyl-3-aryl isomers and their 3,5-diferrocenyl analogues have been studied. The “pyrazoline” type of the molecular ion fragmentation involves various processes of heterocyclic nucleus destruction and elimination of the substituents or their fragments. The directions and intensifies of the processes observed are interpreted in terms of preferred positive charge localization on the transition metal atom. Interactions between the acetyl and ferrocenyl groups manifest themselves by the appearance of intense [P  C₅H₅]⁺ ions (ferrocenyl type fragmentation products) in the mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl-3-aryl-5-ferrocenylpyrazolines-2 only. The fragmentation mechanism leading from [P  C₅H₅]⁺ to C₇H₇OFe⁺ is discussed.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of a series of adenosylated peptides acting as bisubstrate analogs of protein kinases

We are currently developing strategies to synthesize bisubstrate analogs as potential inhibitors of serine and tyrosine protein kinases; several such analogs have been synthesized. The initial target proteins were the cAMP dependent protein kinase (cAPK) and the Ca⁺²/calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaM kiiase II). These bisubstrate analogs were based on either known peptide substrates such as kemptide, a seven amino acid peptide substrate of cAPK, or on inhibitory peptides such as a seventeen amino acid peptide encompassing the autoinhibitory domain of CaM kinase II. Peptides containing a single phosphoserine group were first synthesized and then adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), or adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) was coupled through the serine phosphate with prior activation by 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole using either a solution or solid phase reaction scheme. In this current study, we report the characterization of the bisubstrate analogs by liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS), matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In the positive-ion mode, the LSIMS spectra of the bisubstrate analogs yielded a series of molecular ions containing mono-, di-, and trivalent cation adducts. Cation adducts were absent in the negative-ion mode where the dominant species were deprotonated molecular ions, [M ? H]^?, making this latter technique more useful for confirming product identity and assessing purity. Analysis of these compounds by MALDI in both the positive- and negative-ion modes yielded molecular ions which also contained metal ion adducts, although they were limited primarily to Fe⁺² adducts. Unlike LSIMS, the MALDI spectra showed no evidence for the elimination of the phosphoadenosine or other structural moieties. When these compounds were subjected to high energy collision-induced dissociation (CID), the dominant fragmentation pathways under positive-ion MS/MS conditions resulted from cleavage of the phosphate linkages to the adenosine moiety with charge retention on the peptide, although a major peak for 5′-deoxyadenosine was also seen at m/z 250. Charge retention in the negative-ion mode was most pronounced for ion fragments containing the highly acidic phosphate moieties and yielded phosphoadenosine related ions, for example, (AMP-H)^?, (AMP-H-H₂O)^?, (ADP-H)^?, etc., as well as ions originating from the phosphate linker such as PO₃ ^?, H₂PO₄ ^?, HP₂O₆ ^?, H₃P₂O₇ ^?, and H₂P₃O₉ ^?. The largest phosphoadenosine ion in the negative-ion CID spectra for each bisubstrate analog, for example, m/z 426 (ADP-H)^?, m/z 506 (ATP-H)^?, or m/z 586 (AP₄-H)^?, indicated that the desired covalent modification had been formed between the phosphoserine and AP_n moieties.     

Complexes with Atomic Gold Ions: Efficient Bis-Ligand Formation

Complexes of atomic gold with a variety of ligands have been formed by passing helium nanodroplets (HNDs) through two pickup cells containing gold vapor and the vapor of another dopant, namely a rare gas, a diatomic molecule (H₂, N₂, O₂, I₂, P₂), or various polyatomic molecules (H₂O, CO₂, SF₆, C₆H₆, adamantane, imidazole, dicyclopentadiene, and fullerene). The doped HNDs were irradiated by electrons; ensuing cations were identified in a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Anions were detected for benzene, dicyclopentadiene, and fullerene. For most ligands L, the abundance distribution of AuL_n⁺ versus size n displays a remarkable enhancement at n = 2. The propensity towards bis-ligand formation is attributed to the formation of covalent bonds in Au⁺L₂ which adopt a dumbbell structure, L-Au⁺-L, as previously found for L = Xe and C₆₀. Another interesting observation is the effect of gold on the degree of ionization-induced intramolecular fragmentation. For most systems gold enhances the fragmentation, i.e., intramolecular fragmentation in AuL_n⁺ is larger than in pure L_n⁺. Hydrogen, on the other hand, behaves differently, as intramolecular fragmentation in Au(H₂)_n⁺ is weaker than in pure (H₂)_n⁺ by an order of magnitude.     

Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate calculations for dimethyltelluride-d0, -d6 and dimethyltellurium difluoride-d0, -d6

The i.r. (4000-30 cm⁻¹) and Raman (4000-O cm⁻¹) spectra of dimethyltelluride, dimethyltellurium difluoride and their deuterated analogs have been obtained. All the active fundamentals of these compounds except methyl torsions were assigned, assuming a C_2υ molecular symmetry for both the tellurides. Normal coordinate calculations have been made in order to confirm the proposed assignments. The skeletal bond strength of the tellurides together with that of TeF₄ are discussed, using the valence stretching force constants.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of [(diars)Fe(CO)2(C(O)Me)(P-donor)]+ BF4− salts

Characteristic fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra (8 keV, argon, glycerol matrix) have been obtained for an isostructural series of organometallic cations of the form cis,trans[(diars)Fe(CO)₂(C(O)Me)L]⁺ Bf₄ (L = phosphorus donor). The fast atom bombardment mass spectra (FABMS) obtained show relatively abundant fragments corresponding to the cationic portion of the complex [C⁺]. Extensive fragmentation also occurs via successive CO loss, phosphorus donor ligand cleavage, and ligand decomposition. Evidence for a rearrangement fragmentation corresponding to the process [Fe(C(O)Me)]⁺ → [FeMe]⁺ + CO is presented.     

Electronic structure and stability of charged beryllium clusters

Electronic structure studies on neutral, singly and doubly ionized Be _n clusters (n≤5) have been carried out in order to investigate the stability and observability of charged clusters. Our studies employ wave function expansion in terms of gaussian type orbitals and have been carried out within local spin density formalism. It is shown that although small doubly ionized clusters are unstable, they are protected from fragmentation by energy barriers. We illustrate this explicitly for trimers by presenting a Born-Oppenheimer surface of Be₃, Be ₃ ⁺ and Be ₃ ⁺⁺ . It is argued that depending on their geometries, the observable doubly charged clusters can be generated through a one or two photons ionization. We also present results on the distribution of “hole charge” in doubly ionized clusters and show that a small cluster exhibits metallic like behaviour in regard to distribution of missing electronic charge.     

Skeletal and hydrogen rearrangements in the electron impact mass spectrum of propene

The mass spectrum of propene-2-[¹³C] shows 81% retention of C-2 in the [C₂H₃]⁺ fragment ion at 70 eV electron energy, decreasing to 75% C-2 retention at low electron energies. The mass spectra of propene-2-d₁, propene-1,1,3,3,3-d₅, propene-1,1,2-d₃ and propene-3,3,3-d₃ also have been examined at a resolution sufficient to resolve H₂-D doublets. The results at 70 eV electron energy show complete H/D randomization prior to fragmentation to form [C₃(H, D)₅]⁺ but, in agreement with the ¹³C labelling data, incomplete H/D interchange prior to fragmentation to form [C₂(H, D)₃]⁺. The results are interpreted in terms of a reversible isomerization of the propene molecular ion to a cyclopropane structure in competition with fragmentation.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CLXXIV:1 Electron-impact induced fragmentation of some aryl- and alkylsulfonylthioureas

The mass spectra of five aryl (I to V) and four alkylsulfonylthioureas (VI toIX) have been recorded and mechanistic rationalizations are suggested for their principal fragmentation processes. The aryl analogs exhibited peaks in their mass spectra corresponding to skeletal rearrangements with elimination of SO₂ from their molecular ions but this fragmentation was absent in those alkylsulfonylthioureas (VI to IX) examined.     

Effect of fullerene C60 branching center on the conformational properties of arms and the structure of star-shaped polystyrenes in solutions

The effect of the fullerene C₆₀ branching center on the structure and conformation of star-shaped polystyrenes with different arm lengths at equal concentrations in deuterotoluene (c = 1 g/dL) is studied by the method of small-angle neutron scattering. The analysis of neutron scattering for linear PS precursors and stars (the molecular masses of arms are ～7 × 10³ and ～4 × 10⁴) shows that the stars have ～6 arms that form a dense excluded-volume zone around a core inaccessible to other macromolecules. In low-molecular-mass stars (the molecular mass of the arm is ～7 × 10³), strengthening of the static rigidity of arms is observed; as a result, the size of arms increases relative to the size of free PS chains in a good solvent. At a greater length of arms (M ～ 4 × 10⁴), their individual properties are weakly pronounced in the correlation spectrum of the arm because of the interpenetration of arms, thereby demonstrating similarity in the structures of stars and their linear analogs. The mechanism controlling the effect of fullerene C₆₀ on the conformations of stars via solvent structuring by fullerene is discussed.     

4,5-Dicyanoimidazole-promoted synthesis of dinucleoside polyphosphates and their analogs

A general and efficient P(V)–N activation method for the preparation of symmetrical and asymmetrical dinucleoside polyphosphates (Np_nN′s, n=2–4) and P²,P³-CX₂-dinucleoside tetraphosphates (X=H, F, and Cl) has been established. Twenty-two dinucleoside polyphosphates and their phosphonate analogs were synthesized from nucleoside 5′-phosphoropiperidates with 4,5-dicyanoimidazole as the activator in good to high yields.     

Synthesis of dinucleoside phosphates and their analogs by the boranophosphotriester method using azido-based protecting groups

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides and their backbone-modified analogs were synthesized in good yields by the boranophosphotriester method in solution. The oligodeoxyriobonucleoside boranophosphates, fully protected with 2-(azidomethyl)benzoyl groups, were converted to the various backbone-modified DNA analogs via the corresponding H-phosphonate intermediates. A new efficient protecting group for the O⁶-position of 2′-deoxyguanosine, 4-[(2-azidomethyl)benzoyloxy]benzyl (AZBn) group, was also developed. The AZBn group was found to be quickly removed by treatment with MePPh₂ in dioxane-2-mercaptoethanol-H₂O.     

Preparation and properties of La1−xCaxCoO3 (0,2 ≤ x ≤ 0,6)

The preparatory conditions for the oxide compositions La_1?xCa_xCoO_3?δ have been determined along with their crystallographic, thermochemical, and electrical properties. Single phase solid solutions of the perovskite structure form atx < 0.6. It has been established that the compounds obtained in the open air atmosphere are oxygen deficient, the deficit increasing withx and temperature. The specific resistivity atx = 0.2–0.6 is (1–2)·10^?3 ohm·cm; it increases with the concentration of oxygen vacancies. At 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.6 thep-type conductivity is metallic in character with low temperature resistivity coefficients of the order (1–5)·10^?4 K^?1 in the interval 20–700°C.     

Practical synthesis and applications of benzoboroxoles

A convenient one-pot synthesis of benzoboroxoles has been developed via the reaction of o-bromobenzyl alcohols with NaH, ⁿBuLi, and B(OⁱPr)₃ followed by acidic hydrolysis. Applications of these benzoboroxoles have been demonstrated in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and the protocol has been extended for the synthesis of a chiral benzoboroxole. Exceptionally short synthesis of a potent antifungal agent AN2690 and several of its analogs has also been realized.