The elimination of carbon monoxide from molecular ions of phenol and other [C6H6O]+˙ isomers

Phenol and five acyclic isomeric compounds have been investigated using electron impact and field ionization techniques, mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and collision induced dissociation mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. The kinetic energy release data corresponding to the elimination of carbon monoxide from the molecular ions show that at least two structures of the reactant ion are involved. The electron impact and field ionization collision induced dissociation mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra indicate that under electron impact conditions, the phenol ion partially isomerizes to another ion structure. An isomerization of about 40% to the structure of cis-2-hexen-4-yn-1-al is in good accordance with the spectral data.     

The mass spectra and ionization potentials of the neutral fragments produced during the electron bombardment of aromatic compounds

A mass spectrometer equipped with a dual ionization chamber ion source has been used to characterize directly the neutral species produced in the dissociative ionization of gases by electron impact. Neutral fragment mass spectra have been obtained for the electron ionization and fragmentation of benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, mesitylene and isotopically labeled toluene. The neutral fragment mass spectra correlate well with the structures of the molecules. The abundant species in the neutral fragment mass spectra also correlate reasonably well with the abundant complementary positive ions of the normal mass spectra. Ionization potentials have been determined for the abundant neutral species produced. Where comparisons with values reported elsewhere are possible, the agreement is usually within ±0.2 eV or less.     

Behaviour of salts of very strong proton-sponge bases in the gas phase: Extended proximity effects and maintenance of the hydrogen bridge under soft ionization. An electron impact and liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric/collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometric study

The liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry and electron impact ionization fragmentation pathways of 1,9-bis(dimethylamino)-2,8-dimethoxy-dibenzofuran (1), a new proton-sponge base with increased steric compression (buttressing) and much higher basicity (pK_a = 14.3), and of its monoprotonated (2) and monodeuterated (3) salts were invetigated in a collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometric study supported by unimolecular linked scans at constant B/E, CID mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and accurate mass measurements. They show an ‘extended’ proximity effect, involving the stepwise participation of all the four functional groups, in addition to the ‘normal’ proximity effect involving loss of Me₂NH and H˙. The behaviour of 1 appears to differ in some ways from that of its protonated (2) or deuterated (3) salts. The unprecedented observation of the maintenance of the hydrogen (or deuterium) bridge under soft ionization in the salts of very strong proton-sponge bases, which show buttressing effects in solution, is strong experimental support for the conservation of these buttressing effects in the gas phase, where the protonated (or deuterated) cations of salts such as 2 (or 3) are very stable, H⁺ (or D⁺) being completely ‘sequestered.’     

Thermolysis of 1,2-dithiolylium salts in the ion source of the mass spectrometer

1,2-Dithiolylium salts are thermolysed in the ion source of a mass spectrometer; some salts (group I) undergo thermolysis to give a stable dithiolyl radical where subsequent ionization gives rise to a mass spectrum in which the parent ion corresponds to the dithiolyl ion. The radical may be stabilized before ionization by expulsion of a hydrogen atom to form a neutral dithiole derivative, and then mass spectra exhibit abundant molecular ions corresponding to such dithiole derivatives.Other salts (group II) may expel a proton with formation of a carbene and subsequent dimerization to a tetrathiafulvalene.The thermolytic behaviour of 1,2-dithiolylium salts is compared with their electrochemical behaviour and several analogies are found.     

Methyl transfer in field desorption mass spectrometry of ammonioalkanecarboxylate hydrochloride salts

Intramolecular methyl transfer has been observed previously in pyrolysis electron impact mass spectra of complex ammonioalkanecarboxylates. We present here field desorption mass spectra results of more simple N,N,N-trimethylammoniocarboxylate hydrochloride salts and their N,N,N-perdeuterotrimethylammonium analogs in which we observe methyl transfer. We demonstrate that mechanisms for this and other fragmentation and rearrangement processes are dependent on anode heating current. Addition of the protonating agent p-toluenesulfonic acid suppresses most ions except the protonated molecular ion.     

The mass spectrometry of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins

The negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins using oxygen, methane and methane/oxygen are reported together with their methane positive ion chemical ionization mass spectra and conventional electron impact spectra. The methane/oxygen negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra proved to be the most useful of the negative ion spectra for structure determination.     

Ammonia chemical ionization mass spectra of esters and amides of oxyacids of phosphorus

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry using ammonia as the reagent gas has been carried out with esters and amides of a variety of oxyacids of phosphorus (phosphates, phosphonates, phosphites and phosphoramidates). In all cases, the protonated molecular ion is a major species in the spectrum and the percentage of the total ion current carried by these protonated molecular ions is always considerably greater than that carried by the molecular ions in the corresponding electron impact mass spectra. In the chemical ionization mass spectra only limited fragmentation of the protonated molecular ion occurs from which useful information on the structure of phosphorus derivatives may be inferred.     

Measuring salty samples without adducts with MALDI MS

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) has been used for the discovery of hundreds of novel cell to cell signaling peptides. Beyond its advantages of sensitivity and minimal sample preparation requirements, MALDI MS is attractive for biological analyses as high quality mass spectra may be obtained directly from specific locations within prepared tissue sections. However, due to the large quantity of salts present in physiological tissues, these mass spectra often contain many adducts of cationic salts such as sodium and potassium, in addition to the molecular ion [M + H]⁺. To reduce the presence of cation adducts in MALDI mass spectra obtained directly from tissues, we present a methodology that uses a slow condensation procedure to enable the formation of distinct regions of matrix/analyte crystals and cation (salt) crystals. Secondary ion mass spectrometric imaging suggests that the salts and MALDI matrix undergo a mutually exclusive crystallization process that results in the separation of the salts and matrix in the sample.     

Laser microprobe mass spectrometry of quaternary phosphonium salts: Direct versus matrix-assisted laser desorption

The use of laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) for the structural characterization of thermolabile quaternary phosphonium salts has been evaluated. A comparison has been made between LM mass spectra obtained by direct analysis of “neat” organic salts and the corresponding “matrix-assisted” LM mass spectra. Main limitations of LMMS for the direct analysis of neat organic salts (i.e., no matrix) result from (1) formation of artifact ions that originate from thermal degradation and surface recombination reactions and (2) poor shot-to-shot reproducibility of the spectra. Dilution of the organic salts in a suitable, UV-absorbing matrix (e.g., nicotinic acid) significantly enhances the quality of the LM mass spectra. Improvements are: (1) an increase of the ion yield of preformed cations, (2) reduction or elimination of thermal decomposition and other deleterious surface reactions, and (3) a much better shot-to-shot spectral reproducibility. An interesting analytical feature is that these LM mass spectra, which contain only a few matrix peaks, can be obtained for subnanogram amounts of sample. The results also show that triphenylphosphonium salts with polycyclic aromatic substituents can be used as “molecular thermometers” to probe both the temperatures experienced by the sample molecules during the laser-induced desorption ionization process and the internal energies of the desorbed ion species. In this way, quaternary phosphonium salts can be used for evaluating whether improvements have been achieved by applying different sample treatments. Comparison of four different matrices (i.e., nicotinic acid, ammonium chloride, glycerol, and 3-nitrobenzylalcohol) indicates that the effectiveness of a matrix to reduce thermal degradation and to decrease the internal energies of the ions depends on the UV-absorption characteristics and the volatilization/sublimation temperature of the matrix material.     

Hot cell based time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been designed and is presently being installed within a radiological controlled hot cell at Argonne National Laboratory-West. Direct solid sampling is performed by laser ablation or glow discharge sputtering followed by supersonic expansion into the TOFMS source chamber. Once the atom/ion beam enters the source chamber, enhanced ionization can be accomplished by laser ionization or electron impact. An assortment of samples may be analyzed ranging from irradiated nuclear fuel elements and cladding materials to eutectic salts, radioactive waste materials and environmental samples.     

Field ionization and electron impact mass spectra of cycloolefins

The field ionization mass spectra of monosubstituted cyclopentenes and cyclohexenes with C₁-C₇ n-alkyl and C₄-C₅ isoalkyl substituents in positions 1 and 3 have been investigated and compared with the previously reported electron impact mass spectra of these compounds. The cleavage of the C? C bond β to the double bond in the non-isomerized molecular ion was found to be a typical degradation reaction of the higher homologues in the strong electric field. So, by means of the field ionization mass spectra, the >C₁ alkyl substituent can be readily located in the parent molecule. The electron impact mass spectra exhibit a less specific fragment ion distribution for positional isomers due to the extensive molecular ion isomerization prior to decomposition, but provide useful information on the ring size. For structure determination it is appropriate to use both ionization techniques.     

Mass spectral fragmentation of metal dithiocarbamate complex salts

A summary of the mass spectra of metal dithiocarbamate complex salts (ML₂ and ML₃) is presented. Only divalent metal dithiocarbamate ions without an electronic configuration containing an inert s-orbital electron pair exhibited both expulsion of a ligand radical (L) and the neutral even electron species (L–H) generated from the ligand via hydrogen transfer to the metal-containing fragment ion. Divalent metal dithiocarbamate ions can be generated either by direct electron impact ionization of gas phase ML₂ molecules or ionization of ML₃ molecules followed by loss of a ligand radical. A highly stable sp² hybridized, gas phase ion of a monobidentate lead dithiocarbamate complex is proposed.     

Mass Spectrometric Fragmentation of 2a,4-Disubstituted 2,2a,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-phenyl-1H-azeto[2,1-d]- [1,5]benzothiazepin-1-ones Under Electron Impact Ionization Conditions and Comparison with their 2-Heteroatom Substituted Analogues

The mass spectrometric behavior of seven 2a,4-disubstituted 2,2a,3,4-tetrahydro-2-phenyl-1H-azeto[2,1-d][1,5]benzothiazepin-1-ones has been studied with the aid of mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and accurate mass measurements under electron impact ionization. All compounds show a tendency to eliminate a phenylketene molecule, an ethyl or benzyl radical, or a phenylketene molecule plus an SH radical. The mass spectrometric behavior of the title compounds was compared to those of 2-heteroatom-substituted analogues.     

Mass spectral identification of isomeric fluoronitroanilines

The electron impact and methane chemical ionization mass spectra of 2-fluoro-5-nitroaniline and 4-fluoro-3-nitroaniline have been investigated. Similar fragment ions were observed for both compounds under electron impact conditions, but the difference in the relative ion intensities of two key fragment ions allowed the positive identification of these two isomers. The difference can be attributed to an ortho effect involving fluorine and the amino substituent. A fragmentation pathway consistent with this observation is suggested.     

Determination of the Structures of Organic Molecules and Quantitative Analyses with the Field Ionization Mass Spectrometer

Field ionization and electron impact mass spectrometry complement each other well. Whereas bombardment of organic molecules with 70 eV electrons yields many characteristic fragment ions, which give valuable information about the structure of the molecules, the “soft” field ionization even of very unstable substances leads to the formation of relatively intense molecular ions which are often undetectable on ionization by electron bombardment. Field ionization also gives fragment ions that, though not very intense, are often very characteristic, and yield further information about the structure. The field desorption technique greatly reduces the degree of thermal decomposition of solid organic samples. New activation methods for field ion emitters lead to more intense ion beams and prolong the life of the emitters. Quantitative analyses using the field ionization mass spectrometer are of interest for hydrocarbon mixtures containing a very large number of components (e.g. several hundred). Simplified analyses are possible in particular for high-boiling petroleum fractions.     

Stereochemical applications of mass spectrometry: 1—The utility of electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry in the differentiation of stereoisomeric benzoin oximes and phenylhydrazones

A study of the electron impact and chemical ionization (H₂, CH₄, and iso-C₄H₁₀) mass spectra of stereoisomeric benzoin oximes and phenylhydrazones indicates that while the former can be distinguished only by their chemical ionization mass spectra the latter are readily distinguishable by both their electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra. The electron impact mass spectra of the isomeric oximes are practically identical; however, the chemical ionization spectra show that the E isomer forms more stable [MH]⁺ and [MH? H₂O]⁺ ions than the Z isomer for which both the [MH]⁺ and [MH? H₂O]⁺ ions are relatively unstable. In electron impact the Z-phenylhydrazone shows a lower [M]⁺˙ ion abundance and more facile loss of H₂O than does the E isomer. This more facile H₂O loss also is observed for the [MH]⁺ ion of the Z isomer under chemical ionization conditions.     

手性化合物在质谱中光学稳定性的研究

反应质谱法自创立以来 ,已广泛应用于有机立体化学的研究领域 .其方法是在质谱离子源中引入反应试剂 ,使之与分析物发生立体选择性反应产生特征离子 ,通过这些特征离子可获得待分析样品的立体化学信息 [1] .我们 [2～ 5 ] 在前期工作中 ,通过在质谱中引入手性反应试剂造成手性环境 ,成功地研究了对映体的绝对构型 .由于质谱过程中常伴随着高温、质子酸催化等因素 ,因而随着反应质谱在对映体构型方面研究的深入进行 ,手性反应试剂及手性样品在质谱过程中是否会发生变旋这一问题日益引起我们的重视 .当对映异构体手性中心连接一个氢原子和一个…     

Conversion of acetamido- and nitro-substituted ortho-azidonitro derivatives of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo [b][1,4]dioxocin to the corresponding furoxans and furazans in the gas phase

Electron impact ionization of the five isomeric 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-9-azido-7,8-dinitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8-azido-7,9-dinitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8-azido-7,10-dinitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7-azido-8,9-dinitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7-azido-8,10-dinitro- and the related 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7-acetamido-8-azido-9-nitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7-acetamido-9-azido-8-nitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-9-acetamido-7-azido-8-nitro-, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-10-acetamido-7-azido-8-nitrobenzo[b] [1,4]dioxocin derivatives furnished, after elimination of nitrogen, the corresponding nitro and acetamido dioxocino-annelated benzofuroxans. Further loss of oxygen from the latter afforded the corresponding benzofurazans. It was shown in two cases that these processes occur primarily upon electron impact ionization, without excluding some small fraction undergoing a thermal degradation process. The proposed fragmentation patterns are supported by high-resolution and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectroscopic data. Similar work on the unsubstituted 6,7-dihydro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-f]- and 7,8-dihydro-6H-[1,4]dioxepino[2,3-f]-2,1,3-benzoxa-diazole 1-oxide reveal that loss of oxygen from the molecular ion to furnish the corresponding benzofurazans is the result of electron impact ionization (at least in part).     

Investigation of some pentasubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridines by means of fast ion bombardment,chemical ionization and electron impact mass spectrometry

Positive fast ion bombardment, positive chemical ionization (CI⁺) and positive electron impact (EI) ionization mass spectrometry were used to investigate a number of relatively large and structurally related organic molecules. Some of the major dissociation pathways observed in the CH₄-CI⁺ mass spectra are not present under NH₃-CI⁺ conditions, but are obtained in the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectrum of the 50 eV MH⁺ molecular ion, formed in the latter reaction. The resemblance between the EI mass spectra and their fast ion bombardment counterparts, the effect of changing the energy of the bombarding Cs⁺ ion beam over the range 2–16 keV and the different degrees of internal excitation of ions formed in different CI reagent gases are discussed.     

Characterization of a glow discharge ion source for the mass spectrometric analysis of organic compounds

A glow discharge ion source has been constructed for the mass spectrometric analysis of organic compounds. Characterization of the source has been made by studying the effect of pressure and discharge current on ionic distributions by anodic ion sampling along the discharge axis. Ion and electron densities and electronic temperatures have been calculated by using the single Langmuir probe technique to correlate the extraction efficiency with measured ion distributions and gain some insight into the ionization of organic molecules. The spectra obtained for several classes of organic compounds show that formation of parent-molecular ions by proton transfer, resulting partly from the background water molecules, is a major low energy process while charge transfer, Penning ionization, and electron ionization ace probably responsible for the fragmentation observed. The spectra result from the simultaneous occurrence of high and low energy reactions, and their structural information content is very high, yielding both molecular and extensive fragment ion information. The glow discharge ion source has proved to be essentially maintenance-free, easy to operate, stable, and can be used at reasonable mass resolution (up to 70001. The source also provides picogram range detection limits and has a linear response range of about six orders of magnitude, which makes it an interesting ion source for routine analysis. Preliminary work conducted with chromatographic interfaces indicates that its use can be easily extended to both gas and liquid chromatography.