Competitive benzyl cation transfer and proton transfer: collision‐induced mass spectrometric fragmentation of protonated N,N‐dibenzylaniline

Collision‐induced dissociation of protonated N ,N ‐dibenzylaniline was investigated by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Various fragmentation pathways were dominated by benzyl cation and proton transfer. Benzyl cation transfers from the initial site (nitrogen) to benzylic phenyl or aniline phenyl ring. The benzyl cations transfer to the two different sites, and both result in the benzene loss combined with 1,3‐H shift. In addition, after the benzyl cation transfers to the benzylic phenyl ring, 1,2‐H shift and 1,4‐H shift proceed competitively to trigger the diphenylmethane loss and aniline loss, respectively. Deuterium labeling experiments, substituent labeling experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to support the proposed benzyl cation and proton transfer mechanism. Overall, this study enriches the knowledge of fragmentation mechanisms of protonated N ‐benzyl compounds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tautomerizations of 2-, 3-, and 4-formylpyridine semicarbazone conformers in gas and aqueous phases

The search for possible conformations of 2-formylpyridine (H2FoPyS), 3-formylpyridine (H3FoPyS), and 4-formylpyridine (H4FoPyS) semicarbazones was carried out using potential energy surface method at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Thermodynamic quantities of amino-imino tautomerizations of the most stable conformers for H2FoPyS (o-Atctcc), H3FoPyS (m-Acttcc), and H4FoPyS (p-Atttcc) determined via the transition states with and without water-assisted proton transfers, derived from the frequencies calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level in gas and aqueous phases are reported.     

1, 2-二硒方酸气相酸性和芳香性的理论研究

在RHF/6-311G^*^*水平优化得到1,2-二硒方酸(3,4-二羟基-3-环丁烯-1,2-二硒酮)三种平面构象异构体的平衡几何构型。进一步用MP2(full)/6-311G^*//RHF/6-311G^*^*方法计算三种异构体的单点能量,发现ZZ型异构体是能量最低构象,且ZZ和ZE型能量非常接近。用优化的最稳定构象ZZ型异构体在RHF/6-311G^*^*//RHF/6-311G^*^*,RHF/6-311+G^*^*//RHF/6-311+G^*^*,MP2(full)/6-311+G^*^*//RHF/6-311+G^*^*和B3LYP/6-311+G^*^*//B3LYP/6-311+G^*^*水平计算其气相酸性[ΔGⅲ~(~2~9~8~K~)]和同键反应芳香性稳定化能(HASE)。用基团加和法(groupincrementapproach)在RHF/6-311+G^*^*//RHF/6-311+G^*^*和B3LYP/6-311+G^*^*//B3LYP/6-311+G^*^*水平计算其磁化率增量(Λ)。计算结果指出标题化合物的键长发生了平均化,同键反应芳香性稳定化能和磁化率增量均为负值,表明它具有芳香性,实现了标题化合物芳香性的几何、能量和磁性的判定。     

OH-Induced shift from carbon to oxygen acidity in the side-chain deprotonation of 2-, 3- and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol radical cations in aqueous solution: results from pulse radiolysis and DFT calculations

DFT calculations have been carried out for 2-, 3- and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol radical cations (1⁺, 3⁺ and 4⁺, respectively) and the α-methyl derivatives 2⁺ and 5⁺ using the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) method. The theoretical results have been compared with the experimental rate constants for deprotonation of 1⁺-5⁺ under acidic and basic conditions. In acidic solution, the decay of 1⁺-5⁺ proceeds by cleavage of the C-H bond, while in the presence of ⁻OH all the radical cations undergo deprotonation from the α-OH group. This pH-dependent change in mechanism has been interpreted qualitatively in terms of simple frontier molecular orbital theory. The ⁻OH induced α-O-H deprotonation is consistent with a charge controlled reaction, whereas the C-H deprotonation, observed when the base is H₂O, appears to be affected by frontier orbital interactions.     

气相色谱-四极杆高分辨飞行时间质谱分析复杂芳烃体系中的苯甲醛、苯甲醇、苯乙酮与苯乙醛

建立了气相色谱-四极杆高分辨飞行时间串联质谱分析复杂芳烃体系样品中苯甲醛、苯甲醇、苯乙酮与苯乙醛的方法。该方法通过使用高分辨质谱得到目标化合物特征离子的精确质量数,结合色谱保留时间,有效排除了复杂芳烃体系样品本底中碎片离子的干扰,提高了定性与定量分析的准确性。使用目标化合物特征离子的质谱峰面积作为定量计算依据。苯甲醛、苯甲醇、苯乙酮与苯乙醛在各自的质量浓度范围内呈现良好的线性响应,回收率为87.97%~103.01%,定量限分别为0.04、0.10、0.08与0.03 mg/L,检出限分别为0.01、0.03、0.02与0.01 mg/L。对3份实际样品中的苯甲醛、苯甲醇、苯乙酮与苯乙醛进行了定量分析。本研究为气相色谱-四极杆高分辨飞行时间质谱技术应用于复杂体系中的微量杂质分析提供了一种新的思路和手段。通过精确的质量分辨和测定可以降低对色谱分离的依赖,弥补传统气相色谱-四极杆低分辨质谱技术的不足。     

Top‐down mass spectrometry of intact phosphorylated β‐casein: Correlation between the precursor charge state and internal fragments

Phosphorylated proteins play essential roles in many cellular processes, and identification and characterization of the relevant phosphoproteins can help to understand underlying mechanisms. Herein, we report a collision‐induced dissociation top‐down approach for characterizing phosphoproteins on a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. β‐casein, a protein with two major isoforms and five phosphorylatable serine residues, was used as a model. Peaks corresponding to intact β‐casein ions with charged states up to 36⁺ were detected. Tandem mass spectrometry was performed on β‐casein ions of different charge states (12⁺, and 15⁺ to 28⁺) in order to determine the effects of charge state on dissociation of this protein. Most of the abundant fragments corresponded to y, b ions, and internal fragments caused by cleavage of the N‐terminal amide bond adjacent to proline residues (Xxx‐Pro). The abundance of internal fragments increased with the charge state of the protein precursor ion; these internal fragments predominantly arose from one or two Xxx‐Pro cleavage events and were difficult to accurately assign. The presence of abundant sodium adducts of β‐casein further complicated the spectra. Our results suggest that when interpreting top‐down mass spectra of phosphoproteins and other proteins, researchers should consider the potential formation of internal fragments and sodium adducts for reliable characterization.     

Identification of carbonylation sites in apomyoglobin after exposure to 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal by solid‐phase enrichment and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Identification of protein carbonylation because of covalent attachment of a lipid peroxidation end‐product was performed by combining proteolytic digestion followed by solid‐phase hydrazide enrichment and liquid chromatography (LC)–electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using both collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and electron capture dissociation (ECD). To evaluate this approach, we selected apomyoglobin and 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (4‐HNE) as a model protein and a representative end‐product of lipid peroxidation, respectively. Although the characteristic elimination of 4‐HNE (156 Da) in CID was found to serve as a signature tag for the modified peptides, generation of nearly complete fragment ion series because of efficient peptide backbone cleavage (in most cases over 75%) and the capability to retain the labile 4‐HNE moiety of the tryptic peptides significantly aided the elucidation of primary structural information and assignment of exact carbonylation sites in the protein, when ECD was employed. We have concluded that solid‐phase enrichment with both CID‐ and ECD‐MS/MS are advantageous during an in‐depth interrogation and unequivocal localization of 4‐HNE‐induced carbonylation of apomyoglobin that occurs via Michael addition to its histidine residues. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on tetraborane(8) carbonyl, B4H8·CO: its isomeric composition in the gas phase and in solution, and its reactions with alkenes

¹¹B NMR spectra of tetraborane(8) carbonyl, B₄H₈·CO 1, reveal a changeover in the distribution of isomers in going from toluene solution to the gas phase. Fortuitously the distribution is 60:40 in each case, but comparison with published electron diffraction data and ab initio/IGLO computations indicates that the CO group is disposed endo with respect to the B₄ `butterfly' framework in the predominant isomer in the gas phase, and exo in solution. The results also allow conclusions to be drawn about the geometries of other B₄H₈·L isomers on the basis of their reported proton NMR chemical shifts. Reactions of B₄H₈·CO with ethene and propene at ca. 30 bar yield products, R₄B₄H₄·CO (R=Et 2 or Pr³ 3), in which all four wingtip hydrogen atoms of the tetraborane carbonyl have been replaced by alkyl groups. Variable-temperature ¹¹B and ¹H NMR spectra of 2 and 3 reveal interesting fluxional behaviour.     

Determination of 61 organic pollutants in drinking water by solid phase extraction followed by liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry: an analytical strategy for a routine laboratory

A method for determination of 61 organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine, organophosphorous and organonitrogen pesticides) is proposed. It is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) and subsequent analysis of the extract by liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Method validation yielded to the following values: limits of quantification, from 0.005 to 0.020?µg?L^?1; trueness, 95% to 113% and reproducibility (as percent relative standard deviation), 2% to 15%. Additionally, the method performed well in various proficiency tests.     

DFT investigation of sites of protonation of antitumor of 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzazoles in the gas phase and in solution

The proton affinity on each of the possible sites in the antitumor 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzazoles has been calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of theory in the gas phase and in solution. The N₃‐site of protonation is found to be strongly favored over the NH₂‐site for the studied compounds both in gas phase and in solution. The stability of N₃‐protonated species is explained by the resonance interaction of the NH₂‐group with the heterocyclic ring. The potential energy surface (PES) for the protonation process was studied at the density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. Solvent effects on the PES were also examined using two models: Onsager self‐consistent field and polarizable continuum model (PCM). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Gas phase isomeric differentiation of oleanolic and ursolic acids associated with heptakis‐(2,6‐di‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) are isomeric triterpenoid compounds with similar pharmaceutical properties. Usually, modern chromatographic and electrophoretic methods are widely utilized to differentiate these two compounds. Compared with mass spectrometric (MS) methods, these modern separation methods are both time‐ and sample‐consuming. Herein, we present a new method for structural differentiation of OA and UA by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR MS) with the association of heptakis‐(2,6‐di‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin (DM‐β‐CD). Exact MS and tandem MS (MS/MS) data showed that there is no perceptible difference between OA and UA, as well as their β‐cyclodextrin and γ‐cyclodextrin complexes. However, there is a remarkable difference in MS/MS spectra of DM‐β‐CD complexes of OA and UA. The peak corresponding to the neutral loss of a formic acid and a water molecule could only be observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the complex of DM‐β‐CD : OA. Molecular modeling calculations were also employed to further investigate the structural differences of DM‐β‐CD : OA and DM‐β‐CD : UA complexes. Therefore, by employing DM‐β‐CD as a reference reagent, OA and UA could be differentiated with purely MS method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

银离子固相萃取-气相色谱法检测乳脂肪中的反式脂肪酸

建立了分离反式油酸(C18:1)、亚油酸(C18:2)、亚麻酸(C18:3)的银离子固相萃取-气相色谱(Ag+-SPE/GC)方法,并应用于乳脂肪中反式脂肪酸的检测。采用自制的银离子固相萃取柱对样品进行预分离,总脂肪酸甲酯化后上样,依次经9 mL甲苯-正己烷(体积比5:95)、8 mL甲苯-正己烷(体积比17:83)、6 mL甲苯-乙酸乙酯(体积比17:83)、10 mL甲苯-乙酸乙酯(体积比30:70)洗脱并分别收集洗脱液,采用气相色谱分别进行检测。结果显示,除了反式亚麻酸的回收率为69.9%～101.0%、相对标准偏差(RSD)为11.0%～18.1%外,其余的反式脂肪酸的回收率均为88.4%～107.2%、RSD为1.2%～11.9%。该方法通过特异性固相萃取的方法对样品进行前处理,较好地避免了样品中顺式及饱和脂肪酸对反式脂肪酸检测的干扰。     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection: analysis of amino acid and organic acid trimethylsilyl derivatives, with application to the analysis of metabolites in rye grass samples

First, standard mixtures of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of amino acid and organic acid are analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography (GC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOFMS) in order to illustrate important issues regarding application of the technique. Specifically of interest is the extent to which the peak capacity of the 2D separation space has been utilized and the procedure by which the derivative standards are identified in the 2D separations using the mass spectral information. The resulting 2D separation is found to make extensive use of the GC × GC separation space provided by the complementary stationary phases employed.Second, in order to demonstrate GC × GC/TOFMS on two real sample types, trimethylsilyl metabolite derivatives were analyzed from extracts of common lawn grass samples (i.e., perennial rye grass), as a means to provide insight into both the pre and post harvest physiology. Various chemical components in the two rye grass extract samples were found to either emerge or disappear in relation to the trauma response. For example, a significant difference in the peak for the TMS derivative of malic acid was found. The successful analysis of various components was readily facilitated by the 2D separation, while a 1D separation would have produced too much peak overlap, thus impeding the analysis. The importance of using a GC × GC separation approach for the analysis of complex samples, such as metabolite extracts, is therefore demonstrated. The real-time analysis capability of GC × GC/TOFMS for multidimensional metabolite analysis makes this technique well suited to the high-throughput analysis of metabolomic samples, especially compared to slower, stopped-flow type separation approaches.     

Electrophilic aromatic substitution and single-electron transfer (SET) by the phenylium ion in the gas phase: characterization of a long-lived SET intermediate

Gas-phase mass spectrometric studies and calculations were performed for the reaction of naked phenylium ion with several benzene halides. From these reactions, the molecular ion for biphenyl as the predominant product was obtained only from the reaction of phenylium ions with iodobenzene and bromobenzene. Furthermore, through the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the ion at m/z 281, the only dissociation observed is the loss of a phenyl radical, which indicates that a single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism might have occurred within the reaction. Additionally, according to the comparison between the CID experiments of those isomeric compounds of the sigma-complexes and the CID experiment of the ion at m/z 281 captured in the ion trap, we have also defined the captured ion at m/z 281 as an SET-intimate ion pair rather than those of sigma-complexes or the diphenyliodonium.     

Detection of total microcystin in fish tissues based on lemieux oxidation and recovery of 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB) by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS)

Microcystins (MCs) are widespread cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater systems, and have been linked to both acute and chronic health effects. A growing number of studies suggest that MC can bioaccumulate in food webs. Although, several methods (i.e. ELISA, LC-MS) have been developed for analysis of MC in water, extraction (for subsequent analysis) of the toxin from biological matrices (i.e. animal tissues) is impeded owing to covalent binding of toxins and active sites of their cellular targets, i.e. protein phosphatases. As an alternative approach, chromatographic methods for analysis of a unique marker, 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB), the product of the Lemieux oxidation of MCs, have been previously developed, and shown to measure total (bound and unbound) MC. Application, however, has been limited by poor recovery of the analyte. An improved recovery method is proposed – specifically the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The MMPB analogue, 4-phenylbutanoic acid (4PB), and oxidized MC, were used to develop methods, and we specifically investigated several SPME fibres, and post-oxidation steps. Specifically, a method employing post-oxidation methyl esterification, followed by headspace SPME recovery of MMPB, was developed, and subsequently applied to analysis of environmental samples (i.e. fish tissues) previously shown to contain MCs. The method shows high linearity for both water and tissues spiked with MC, and an improved limit of quantitation of approximately 140?ng?g^?1. Evaluation of field samples by SPME-GC/MS detected considerably higher levels of MC, than detected by conventional methods (i.e. ELISA), and it is proposed that this technique reveals MC (particularly in the bound form) that is not detected by these methods. These results indicate that the developed method provides improved detection capability for MC in biological matrices, and will enhance our ability to understand bioaccumulation in freshwater food webs, as well as monitor exposure.     

Brønsted acidic magnetic nano-Fe3O4-adorned calix[n]arene sulfonic acids: synthesis and application in the nucleophilic substitution of alcohols

Three magnetically recoverable Brønsted acidic calix[n]arene derivatives were successfully constructed by immobilizing calix[n]arene sulfonic acids onto silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles, a process, which allows calix[n]arene derivatives to acquire magnetic properties. All of the magnetically recoverable Brønsted acidic calix[n]arenes efficiently catalyze the coupling of electron-rich arenes with some alcohols in water. After separation and recovery from the reaction mixture by a simple magnet, these Brønsted acidic calix[n]arenes can be recycled many times without losing their catalytic activity.     

2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid: An efficient organocatalyst for green synthesis of spirooxindole dihydroquinazolinones and novel 1,2-(dihydroquinazolin-3(4H)isonicotinamides in water

Abstract

A facile and efficient one-pot procedure for the preparation of spirooxindole dihydroquinazolinone derivatives and new N-(4-oxo-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)isonicotinamides from reaction between isatoic anhydride, isoniazid and substituted aldehydes catalyzed by 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine) is describe. This new protocol has the advantages of environmental friendliness, good yields, and convenient operation. The reaction proceeds efficiently using water as green solvent and nontoxic catalysts that could be efficiently reused. Together with this simple workup procedure, use of the organocatalyst, and water as solvent without the need of column chromatographic purification, are the notable features of this methodology, which make this protocol a very efficient and green alternative to the traditional methods.     

Properties of 2-, 3-, and 4-acetylpyridine substituted ruthenium(II) bis(bipyridine) complexes: substituent effect on the electronic structure,spectra, and photochemistry of the complex

Bis(2,2′-bipyridine) complexes of ruthenium(II) with 2-, 3-, and 4-acetylpyridine derivatives were synthesized and structurally characterized. The effect of changing the location of the pyridine's acetyl substituent was studied experimentally and theoretically to clarify the effect of substituent position on the chemical behavior and photochemical properties of the complex. The substituent position on the heterocyclic-pyridine was found to strongly affect the chemical and photochemical properties of the complex. Variation of the position of the substituent, and thus ligand modification brought by as a consequence of this variation, offers possibilities to design complexes of desired structural and photochemical properties.