Solvent-free MALDI investigation of the cationization of linear polyethers with alkali metals

The MALDI technique with solvent-free sample preparation has been applied to evaluate relative gas-phase affinities of polyether chain polymers with alkali metal cations. The study is performed on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(propylene glycol) polymers of different lengths (PEG600, PEG1000, PPG425, PPG750) and the alkali metal cations Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Cs(+). The experiments show that the lattice energy of the alkali metal salts employed as cation precursors can have a strong influence on the outcome of conventional MALDI measurements. With the solvent-free method, these crystal binding effects can be made negligible by combining in the same sample alkali metal salts with different counterions. The recorded MALDI spectra show that the polyether-cation aggregation efficiencies decrease systematically with growing cation size. This cation size selectivity is considerably enhanced for the polymers with the shorter chains, which can be attributed to the reduced ability of the polymer to build a coordination shell around the larger cations. The steric effects introduced by the side CH3 group of propylene glycol with respect to ethylene glycol also enhance the preference for cationization of the polymer by the smaller cations. These observations correct some qualitative trends derived from previous studies, which did not account for lattice energy effects of the cation precursors.     

芳香环状聚膦酸酯齐聚物的基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱分析

用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱方法对一系列芳香环状聚膦酸酯低聚物进行了结构分析。比较了不同基质及阳离子剂对芳香环状聚膦酸酯分析结果的影响。1,8,9-蒽三酚基质仅对含有羰基基团聚膦酸酯环状齐聚物分析有效,而视黄酸基质则对所有聚膦酸酯环状剂聚物有效,是这类新型芳香环状齐聚物的适宜基质。环状聚膦酸酯齐聚物的阳离子齐分析表明,氯化锂是这种环状齐聚物的适宜的阳离子添加剂。     

Matrix-dependent cationization in MALDI mass spectrometry

The matrix dependence in cationization processes, the competition between cationization and protonation and the question of whether gas-phase cation transfer or attachment of free cations dominates in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry were studied. Two different sample preparation methods were employed, the dried-droplet sample preparation and a mixture of solid matrix, analyte and salt. The latter ensures that the formation of cation adducts takes place in the gas phase. By monitoring the suppression of matrix signals for different matrices, it was found that matrices with high gas-phase metal ion binding energies require high analyte concentrations for matrix suppression to occur. By comparing the mass spectra obtained using sinapinic acid or sinapinic methyl ester as a matrix, a correlation between cationization and deprotonation of matrix molecules was found. It is also demonstrated that attachment of free gas-phase cations, rather than cation transfer from the cationized matrix, is the predominant process in cationization.     

The cationization mechanism study of novel oligo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenyleneethynylene)s

Two series of new oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)s (OPEs) O1-O4 and O5-O8, which have been proven to be one of the chief classes of molecules mainly used as the wires and other potential backbones of molecular electronic devices, have been synthesized by stepwise synthetic approach. The characterization of these oligomers was performed on MALDI TOF MS. Different cationization salts have been applied to investigate the ionization processes of these series of oligomers under MALDI conditions. The experimental results show that these oligomers display a strong tendency to undergo radical cationization and varied ionization efficiency with different cationization agents attributable to their difference in cationic diameters. Furthermore, we found that these two series of oligomers differed in ionization properties because of their different end-groups even when the same cationization agent was used.     

Copper(I) chloride: a simple salt for enhancement of polystyrene cationization in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The possibility of using copper(I) chloride as a doping salt to enhance the cationization of polystyrene in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was investigated. It was shown that copper(I) chloride possesses sufficient solubility in tetrahydrofuran. The parameters of the MALDI mass spectra of different polystyrene samples, such as the number-average (M(n)) and mass-average (M(w)) molecular mass values, obtained by copper(I) cationization were compared with those obtained by means of silver(I) cationization, and good agreement was found. It was also shown that application of copper(I) chloride as a doping salt, and dithranol as a matrix, ensured good MALDI mass spectra of the sample spots even after storage for 1 month.     

Solvent selection for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometric analysis of synthetic polymers employing solubility parameters

The principle relating to the selection of a proper matrix, cationization reagent, and solvent for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) of synthetic polymers is still a topic of research. In this work we focused on the selection of a suitable MALDI solvent. Polystyrene PS7600 and poly(ethylene glycol) PEG4820 were analyzed by MALDI‐TOF MS using various solvents which were selected based on the Hansen solubility parameter system. For polystyrene (PS), dithranol was used as the matrix and silver trifluoroacetate as the cationization reagent whereas, for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), the combination of 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid and sodium trifluoroacetate was used for all experiments. When employing solvents which dissolve PS and PEG, reliable MALDI mass spectra were obtained while samples in non‐solvents (solvents which are not able to dissolve the polymer) failed to provide spectra. It seems that the solubility of the matrix and the cationization reagent are less important than the polymer solubility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The analysis of industrial synthetic polymers by electrospray droplet impact/secondary ion mass spectrometry

Electrospray droplet impact (EDI)/secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a new desorption/ionization technique for mass spectrometry in which highly charged water clusters produced from the atmospheric‐pressure electrospray are accelerated in vacuum by several kV and impact the sample deposited on the metal substrate. In this study, several industrial synthetic polymers, e.g. polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were analyzed by EDI/SIMS mass spectrometry. For higher molecular weight analytes, e.g. PS4000 and PEG4600, EDI/SIMS mass spectra could be obtained when cationization salts are added. For the polymers of lower molecular weights, e.g. PEG300 and PEG600, they could be readily detected as protonated ions without the addition of cationization agents. Anionized PS was also observed in the negative ion mode of operation when acetic acid was added to the charged droplet. Compared to matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), ion signal distribution with lower background signals could be obtained particularly for the low‐molecular weight polymers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The cationization of synthetic polymers in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry: Investigations of the salt‐to‐analyte ratio

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is a soft ionization technique that when used to analyze synthetic polymer analytes often requires the addition of a metal cationization agent (herein termed the “salt”). The choice of both the matrix and the cationization agent needs to be taken into account when considering the polymer under study; different polymers have shown different affinities toward different cationization agents, and their selectivity can change as the matrix changes. Salt‐to‐analyte ratio (S/A) plots are used in this work to investigate the effect of the quantity of cationization agent employed in the analysis of a poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) analyte with different MALDI matrices. The point at which analyte signal stops increasing with the added cationization agent is termed the “cation saturation point,” and it was found to occur around a S/A of 1. When the analyte signal after this point remains constant, it is termed an “ideal case.” The “non‐ideal case” occurs when the analyte signal decreases after the cation saturation point. The amount of matrix present (measured as the matrix‐to‐analyte molar ratio, M/A) and the use of different counterions for the salt are also found to affect the intensity of the analyte signal. In non‐ideal cases, changes in the counterion or an increase in the M/A are found to increase the analyte signal, often converting an initially observed non‐ideal case into an ideal case. Several experiments attempting to uncover the reason for observation of the non‐ideal S/A behavior are also described.     

A study of gas-phase cationization in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A specially constructed split sample probe was used to unequivocally demonstrate that gas-phase cationization occurs within the desorption plume during a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization experiment. Two separate samples were prepared for analysis: on side A, a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 1500 analyte and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix, and on side B a mixture of DHB matrix and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), the cationization reagent. Analysis of the data showed that when the ionization laser was focused on the split (so that both sides were illuminated), Li(+)-cationized PEG peaks were observed. Since the PEG analyte did not come into contact with Li(+) in either the solution or solid phase, the only possibility for the observed cationization was a reaction in the gas phase. Due to the difficulty in completely removing the adventitious cations (Na(+) and K(+)) present in DHB and on sample surfaces, gas-phase cationization could not be demonstrated to be either the only or most important mechanism operating in the MALDI experiment.     

重金属离子敏感型聚合物胶体晶体的研究

以含有双硫键的二丙烯酰胱胺与双丙烯酰胺作为交联剂, 与单体丙烯酰胺紫外光引发聚合, 嵌入聚苯乙烯胶体晶体, 制备了聚丙烯酰胺胶体晶体水凝胶. 将水凝胶中双硫键打断形成巯基, 利用巯基可与重金属离子偶合的作用, 水凝胶体积收缩而改变胶体晶体中胶粒之间的距离, 根据胶体晶体带隙位移, 可分析水中重金属离子的浓度. 紫外可见光反射图谱表明, 胶体晶体带隙最大可蓝移约80 nm. 带隙移动与时间的关系曲线表明, 胶体晶体水凝胶对重金属离子有较好的灵敏度. 该体系可用于分析铅、锌等重金属离子.     

Solvent effect on complexation reactions

The inclusion complexation of aromatic amines with cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) capped with alkali metal cations was studied spectrophotometrically. We showed that CB[6] capped with alkali metal cations forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with the aromatic amine guests (neutral organic molecules), independent of the length of guest molecules. The effects of salts on the inclusion constants of CB[6] in the presence of different alkali salts were examined and it was found that the inclusion constants increased in the order of alkali cation Cs⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺, suggesting the interaction of amine guests with the capped alkali metal cation. Further, the structures of the inclusion complexation of aromatic amines with CB[6] were characterized by ¹H NMR measurements. Based on the results, the inclusion abilities of CB[6] capped with alkali metal cations are discussed.     

Studies in cluster ion formation. Part IV. Characterization of cluster ions formed during the fast atom bombardment of solutions of mixed tetraalkylammionium salts. A. Concentration effects and the influence of ionic size

Cluster ion formation by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of 15 binary mixtures of tetraalkylammonium halide salts in liquid matrices has been studied. In some instances the replacement of even one of the cations in the pure cluster ion by a different cation to yield mixed cation cluster ions has a destabilizing effect on the clusters, and results in the disappearance of the ion intensity anomalies. The effect of the anion and cation sizes and also the matrix composition on the stability of mixed cluster ions is discussed.     

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.     

Microphase separation in sulfonated polystyrene ionomers

Small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering results for a series of un-neutralized and neutralized sulfonated polystyrenes are presented for the range of sulfonation from 0 to 7.26 mol %. From the small-angle scattering it is shown that above the 3 mol % level for both the zinc and sodium salts, a Bragg spacing (37 Å) and diameter (6.9–8.4 Å) of the scattering unit can be calculated. When the concentration of salt is increased, there is no appreciable change in the latter two measurements. The wide-angle data indicate that the cations do not influence to any large extent the basic intramolecular and intermolecular structure of polystyrene. All the data are consistent with the onset of clustering above a critical ion concentration.     

Cation binding properties of photodimerizable polymers bearing benzodiglyme units

The polymers which have glyme units as alkali cation binding sites and photodimerizable cinnamoyl units were prepared by the radical polymerization of corresponding monomers. The alkali cation binding ability and selectivity of the polymers, which were studied by a method of picrate salts extraction, were strongly dependent on the length of glyme chains. When irradiated with ultraviolet light, the cinnamoyl groups caused dimerization in dilute solutions. Although the photodimerization of the polymers with relatively short glyme chains enhanced their cation binding ability, the photodimerization of the polymers bearing long glyme chains reduced their cation binding ability. The use of alkali metal cations as templates emphasized the effect of photodimerization on the cation binding properties. The effect of alkali metal cations on the quantum yields of the photodimerization of the polymers showed that two or more benzodiglyme units took part in the binding of one cation. The polymers bearing benzodiglymes, crown ethers, and cinnamoyl moieties were also prepared by the radical copolymerization of the corresponding monomers. It was found that the crown ether units of the copolymers predominantly participated in the cation binding. The photodimerization of the copolymers with suitable alkali metal cations as templates strongly enhanced their cation binding ability.     

Study of cationization of saccharides by laser mass spectrometry

Summary Metal ions introduced in the +1 oxidation state are better for the cationization of saccharides than cations in other oxidation states. This effect is related to the ease of formation of singly charged adduct ions by reaction with singly charged metal ions. Sample preparation had little effect on the reproducibility of the spectra. Use of a nitrocellulose matrix can introduce competition between the matrix and saccharide for cations, leading to lower ion intensities. The concentration of the salt and saccharide had little effect on cationization signal intensity once a threshold concentration was exceed: 0.1 M metal ion and 0.5 M saccharide.

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Untersuchung der Kationisierung von Sacchariden durch Laser-Massenspektrometrie

     

Field desorption mass spectrometry of quaternary ammonium salts: Cluster ion formation

The field desorption mass spectra of salts such as quaternary ammonium and carbenium salts with organic cations in addition to high cation intensities show signals for cluster ions composed of the salt cation + salt molecule, i.e. [C + nM]⁺, n = 1–5, thus allowing determination of the molecular weights of salts. In some cases cluster ions of the type [nM – 1]⁺ are detected. Conditions for the formation of cluster ions are discussed.     

Structural effects on polyether cationization by alkali metal ions in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Structural effects on polyether cationization in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are investigated using three different polyethers: PEG (polyethylene glycol), PPG (polypropylene glycol), and PTHF (polytetrahydrofuran). This study was performed using equimolar cesium and lithium chlorides as the cationizing agent. It was observed that the polyether structure variation led to a substantial change in polyether selectivity for alkali metal ion complexation. Moreover, it was found that like PEG, PPG displays a different selectivity for Cs⁺ and Li⁺ with different matrices. Discussion of these results and their implication in MALDI are given.     

Silver cluster interferences in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry of nonpolar polymers

Potential difficulties associated with background silver salt clusters during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of nonpolar polymers are reported. Silver salt cluster ions were observed from m/z 1500 to 7000 when acidic, polar matrices, such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), all-trans-retinoic acid (RTA) or 2-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid (HABA), were used for the analysis of nonpolar polymers. These background signals could be greatly reduced or eliminated by the use of nonpolar matrices such as anthracene or pyrene. Representative examples of these background interferences are demonstrated during the analysis of low molecular weight nonpolar polymers including polybutadiene and polystyrene. Nonpolar polymers analyzed with acidic, polar matrices (e.g., RTA) and silver cationization reagents can yield lower quality mass spectral results when interferences due to silver clusters are present. Replacing the polar matrices with nonpolar matrices or the silver salts with copper salts substantially improved the quality of the analytical results. In addition, it was found that silver contamination cannot be completely removed from standard stainless steel sample plates, although the presence of silver contamination was greatly reduced after thorough cleaning of the sample plate with aluminum oxide grit. Carry-over silver may cationize polymer samples and complicate the interpretation of data obtained using nonpolar matrices in the absence of added cationization reagents.     

Deep ultraviolet and visible crystalloluminescence of sodium chloride

A protocol has been developed for production of intense crystalloluminescence (XTL) from sodium chloride in aqueous solution by selective doping with transition metal salts (Ag(+), Cu(2+), and Dy(3+)). The method was used to record complete, fully dispersed deep UV-visible (200-650 nm) XTL spectra of sodium chloride for the first time. The results show conclusively that the emissions are due to dopant cations in the NaCl lattice, with no evidence for emission directly from NaCl, e.g., by triboluminescence resulting from crystalline fracture. The UV components of the XTL spectrum are attributed to single cation substituents (Ag(+) and Cu(+)), and a strong visible component (~415 nm) of the XTL is attributed to emission from silver-pair centers, (Ag(+))(2). The nature of the electronic transitions of the dopant cations is discussed. The results suggest that the timescale for transformation of a cluster to the crystalline phase is rapid, with efficient relaxation to the lowest excited electronic states of the dopant cation. This transformation is followed by photoemission of the cation in the nascent crystal.