Hidden rearrangement processes in short-lived negative molecular ions

The study of resonant electron capture by nitrobenzene molecules showed that some fragmentary negative ions are unstable toward electron autodetachment. The measured appearance energy of the neutral component of an [M — H]⁻ ion beam does not agree with the energetics of direct dissociation in a molecular ion. The estimation calculations show that the low appearance energy of [M — H]⁰ neutral components is caused by isomerization of a molecular ion of nitrobenzene to the 2-nitrobenzene structure followed by the formation of a phenoxide ion in the autodetachment state. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 367–370, February, 2006.     

Processes of dissociative electron capture by 20-hydroxyecdysone molecules

The peculiarities of dissociative electron capture by 20-hydroxyecdysone molecules with the formation of fragment negative ions were studied. In the region of high electron energies (5–10 eV), processes of skeleton bond rupture are accompanied by the elimination of H₂O and H₂ molecules. In the region of thermal energies of electrons (≈0 eV), the mass spectrum is formed mainly by the [M−nH₂O]^.− (n=1–3) and [M−H₂−nH₂O]^.− (n=0−3) ions that are generated exclusively by the rearrangement. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 709–712, April, 2000.     

On the structure of negative ions formed by dissociative electron attachment by monochlorophenol molecules

The energetics of negative ion formation by resonant dissociative electron attachment by o-, m-, and p-chlorophenol molecules was studied. The structures of some fragment ions and their neutral partners were established. Hidden rearrangement processes leading to the formation of oxy anions by the detachment of chlorine atoms from molecular ions were found. The O—H bond dissociation energies for o-, m-, and p-chlorophenol molecules were 3.74±0.11, 3.72±0.17, and 3.94±0.11 eV, respectively.     

Specific features of resonance electron capture mass spectra of ecdysteroid molecules

Specificity of the dissociative attachment of low-energy electrons to ecdysteroid molecules (viz., 20-hydroxyecdysone 2,3:20,22-diacetonide, 20-hydroxyecdysone 20,22-acetonide, and poststerone 2-acetate) was found, which is manifested as the formation of long-lived pseudo-molecular negative ions that appeared due to the elimination of the H₂ and H₂O molecules. These rearrangements are resulted from the formation of the system of conjugated double bonds in the ecdysteroid skeleton, stabilizing the lowest vacant molecular orbital.     

Competitive homolytic and heterolytic decomposition pathways of gas‐phase negative ions generated from aminobenzoate esters

An alkyl‐radical loss and an alkene loss are two competitive fragmentation pathways that deprotonated aminobenzoate esters undergo upon activation under mass spectrometric conditions. For the meta and para isomers, the alkyl‐radical loss by a homolytic cleavage of the alkyl‐oxygen bond of the ester moiety is the predominant fragmentation pathway, while the contribution from the alkene elimination by a heterolytic pathway is less significant. In contrast, owing to a pronounced charge‐mediated ortho effect, the alkene loss becomes the predominant pathway for the ortho isomers of ethyl and higher esters. Results from isotope‐labeled compounds confirmed that the alkene loss proceeds by a specific γ‐hydrogen transfer mechanism that resembles the McLafferty rearrangement for radical cations. Even for the para compounds, if the alkoxide moiety bears structural motifs required for the elimination of a more stable alkene molecule, the heterolytic pathway becomes the predominant pathway. For example, in the spectrum of deprotonated 2‐phenylethyl 4‐aminobenzoate, m/z 136 peak is the base peak because the alkene eliminated is styrene. Owing to the fact that all deprotonated aminobenzoate esters, irrespective of the size of the alkoxy group, upon activation fragment to form an m/z 135 ion, aminobenzoate esters in mixtures can be quantified by precursor ion discovery mass spectrometric experiments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectra of the negative ions of some dioxanes

It was established by mass spectrometry of negative ions that fragmentation of some 1,3- and 1,4-dioxanes proceeds through intermediate [M-H]⁻ ions. The fragmentation pathway depends on the site of negative charge localization in these ions. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2199–2201, November, 1999.     

Mass spectrometric characteristics of decabromodiphenyl ether and the application of isotopic dilution in the electron capture negative ionization mode for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

The mass spectrometric properties of (12)C-and (13)C-labeled decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in the low-resolution mass spectrometry electron capture negative ionization mode (ECNI-MS) is described in detail and are compared with those of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with a lower degree of bromination. The mass spectrometric properties of BDE-209 make it possible to apply (13)C-labeled BDE-209 as an internal surrogate standard for the determination of BDE-209 by isotopic dilution. A combination of the [Br](-) and [C(6)Br(5)O](-) fragment ions is proposed for the detection with ECNI-MS in the selected ion monitoring mode to increase selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy in the determination of decabromodiphenyl ether together with other polybrominated diphenyl ethers. The importance of optimizing the instrument parameters to obtain optimal response from the mass spectrometer in the analysis of PBDEs is discussed in detail.     

Resonance capture of electrons by cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese and -rhenium derivatives

Negative ion mass spectra of cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese and-rhenium derivatives RC₅H₄M(CO)₃ (R=H, CN, COOH, COMe, COOMe, CH₂OH, CHO; M=Mn, Re) were studied. The subsequent detachment of carbonyl groups is the main process of the fragmentation of these compounds under the conditions of the resonance capture of electrons. On going fron the rhenium complexes to manganese derivatives, the maxima of the yields of the ions [M-nCO]⁻ (n=1–3) shift to the lower energy region indicating that the stability of the Re−CO bond is higher than that of Mn−CO. The average lifetimes of the molecular negative ions relative to the autodetachment of an electron (τ_a) and to dissociation (τ_d) were measured. It was found that electron-accepting substituents increase the τ_a value and decrease τ_d. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1161–1164, June, 1997.     

Resonance capture of electrons by substituted pyrazoline molecules

The negative ion mass spectra and photoelectron spectra of substituted pyrazolines were studied. A correlation between the ionization energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the yield of [MeNHNH₂ ⁻] ions was found. Isomerization of molecular negative ions was studied by resonance electron capture mass spectrometry. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 701–704, April, 2000.     

Sulfur ylides

The mass spectra of negative ions of keto-stabilized sulfur and phosphorus ylides (obtained from amino acids) and products of their thermal conversion are studied. The most characteristic peaks in the mass spectra of ylides belong to negative molecular ions and to [M−H]⁻ ions. Peaks of fragment ions in the mass spectra of ylides and products of their thermal conversion coincide both in mass numbers and resonance energies. For Part 8, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2100–2103, November, 1999.     

The reactions between negative hydrogen ions and silane

Contracted CI-calculations have been performed in order to find out the mechanisms of the reactions involved when negative hydrogen ions react with silane. There were initially severe problems to find a balanced basis set to describe the reactions including correlation, particularly for the choice of diffuse functions. Finally, in agreement with earlier calculations, SiH ₅ ^– was found to be more stable than SiH₄+H^– by 21 kcal/mol but less stable than SiH ₃ ^– and H₂ by 6 kcal/mol. A barrier in the S _N2 reaction SiH₄+H^– SiH₅ has previously been predicted by calculations, which was not confirmed by the present CI calculations. The lack of a barrier is in agreement with experimental evidence. Contrary to what is expected from the orbital symmetry rules, which predict two allowed pathways, SiH ₅ ^– does not dissociate easily to the lower lying SiH ₃ ^– + H₂. A barrier of 57 kcal/mol, which was very difficult to locate, was finally found. In order to explain the experimental observation of SiH ₃ ^– and the lack of observation of SiH ₅ ^– a different mechanism for the reaction SiH₄+H^– SiH ₃ ^– + H₂ is suggested. For a direct proton transfer a barrier of less than 10 kcal/mol is predicted.     

Low-energy collision-induced fragmentation of negative ions derived from diesters of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids made with hydroxybenzoic acids

Diesters of ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) made with glutaric, adipic, and pimelic acids are the monomers of some potential drug candidates for aspirin patches. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of negative ion derived from these compounds show a 120-Da 'neutral loss' specific to the ortho isomers. In contrast, the anions derived from diesters of meta- and para-hydroxybenzoic acids show a 138-Da loss for an elimination of elements of hydroxybenzoic acid by a charge-remote mechanism. Deuterium labeling studies confirmed that the hydrogen atom transferred for hydroxybenzoic acid loss originates specifically from the alpha position of the dicarboxylic acid moiety. Although all spectra showed a peak at m/z 137, a charge-mediated process specific for the ortho compounds renders it the most prominent peak in the spectra of ortho compounds. Appropriate deuterium labeling experiments demonstrated that the hydrogen atom transferred for the formation of the m/z 137 ion in ortho compounds is specifically derived from the alpha position of the dicarboxylic acid moiety.     

Low-energy collision-induced fragmentation of negative ions derived from ortho-, meta-, and para-hydroxyphenyl carbaldehydes, ketones, and related compounds

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra of anions derived from several hydroxyphenyl carbaldehydes and ketones were recorded and mechanistically rationalized. For example, the spectrum of m/z 121 ion of deprotonated ortho-hydroxybenzaldehyde shows an intense peak at m/z 93 for a loss of carbon monoxide attributable to an ortho-effect mediated by a charge-directed heterolytic fragmentation mechanism. In contrast, the m/z 121 ion derived from meta and para isomers undergoes a charge-remote homolytic cleavage to eliminate an *H and form a distonic anion radical, which eventually loses CO to produce a peak at m/z 92. In fact, for the para isomer, this two-step homolytic mechanism is the most dominant fragmentation pathway. The spectrum of the meta isomer on the other hand, shows two predominant peaks at m/z 92 and 93 representing both homolytic and heterolytic fragmentations, respectively. (18)O-isotope-labeling studies confirmed that the oxygen in the CO molecule that is eliminated from the anion of meta-hydroxybenzaldehyde originates from either the aldehydic or the phenolic group. In contrast, anions of ortho-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, both of which show two consecutive CO eliminations, specifically lose the carbonyl oxygen first, followed by that of the phenolic group. Anions from 2-hydroxyphenyl alkyl ketones lose a ketene by a hydrogen transfer predominantly from the alpha position. Interestingly, a very significant charge-remote 1,4-elimination of a H(2) molecule was observed from the anion derived from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. For this mechanism to operate, a labile hydrogen atom should be available on the hydroxyl group adjacent to the carbaldehyde functionality.     

Novel Rearrangement of Small Peptides in Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a powerful method for sequencing peptides. A novel fragmentation pattern with the loss of a neutral fragment of 45 Da was observed with the dipeptides, tripeptides,tetrapeptides and pentapeptides containing phenylalanine or histidine residues. A novel rearrangement reaction with the extrusion of a formamide piece was studied and the rearrangement mechanism was proposed and confirmed by deuterium labeling experiments with ESI-MS^n and high-resolution mass spectrometry. These findings are potentially helpful in identifying the specific sequence pattern in the peptide sequencing.     

Radical Stability Directs Electron Capture and Transfer Dissociation of β‐Amino Acids in Peptides

We report on the characteristics of the radical‐ion‐driven dissociation of a diverse array of β‐amino acids incorporated into α‐peptides, as probed by tandem electron‐capture and electron‐transfer dissociation (ECD/ETD) mass spectrometry. The reported results demonstrate a stronger ECD/ETD dependence on the nature of the amino acid side chain for β‐amino acids than for their α‐form counterparts. In particular, only aromatic (e.g., β‐Phe), and to a substantially lower extent, carbonyl‐containing (e.g., β‐Glu and β‐Gln) amino acid side chains, lead to N? C_β bond cleavage in the corresponding β‐amino acids. We conclude that radical stabilization must be provided by the side chain to enable the radical‐driven fragmentation from the nearby backbone carbonyl carbon to proceed. In contrast with the cleavage of backbones derived from α‐amino acids, ECD of peptides composed mainly of β‐amino acids reveals a shift in cleavage priority from the N? C_β to the C_α? C bond. The incorporation of CH₂ groups into the peptide backbone may thus drastically influence the backbone charge solvation preference. The characteristics of radical‐driven β‐amino acid dissociation described herein are of particular importance to methods development, applications in peptide sequencing, and peptide and protein modification (e.g., deamidation and isomerization) analysis in life science research.     

气相色谱-质谱法同时测定番茄制品中拟除虫菊酯类农药残留

番茄制品经乙腈提取,盐析,氟罗里硅土固相萃取小柱净化,微池电子捕获检测器(μECD)负化学源质谱(NCI—MS)并联对净化液进行检测,一次进样可对番茄制品中的9种拟除虫菊酯类农药残留准确定量和确证。μECD回收率为87．6％～107．0％;相对标准偏差为5．5％～11．3％;检出限为0．0005～0．005mg／kg;负化学源选择离子(NCI-SIM)模式回收率为91．9％～109．7％;相对标准偏差为5．2％～12．7％;检出限为0．0005～0．005mg／kg(氯菊酯除外),两者之问没有显著的差别。该法快速、灵敏、准确,各项技术指标均满足农药残留检测的要求。     

Collision-induced dissociation of the negative ions of simvastatin hydroxy acid and related species

Simvastatin hydroxy acid (1) is a well-known, potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Its lactone, simvastatin (commercial name Zocor) (a prodrug of 1), has been widely prescribed in the USA and throughout the world. In this work, collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the negative ion of 1 (m/z 435), a carboxylic anion, was analyzed in detail. The major fragmentation pathway of this ion is a novel de-esterification to form the negative product ions at m/z 319 and 115. The ion at m/z 319 undergoes further collision-induced rearrangements to form the negative ions at m/z 215, 159 and 85. Possible mechanisms of the de-esterification are discussed in terms of both charge-initiated and charge-remote fragmentations. The de-esterification of the negative ion of 1 and the rearrangements of the ion at m/z 319 are rationalized by charge transfer and negative-charge initiated fragmentation. This study deepens our understanding of collision-induced fragmentations of carboxylic anions with multi-functional groups. A comparison of the CID data for the negative ions of 1 and 5 (a major oxidation degradate of 1) indicates that the analysis of the CID data for 1 can serve as a basis for identification of oxidation degradation products or metabolites of 1. The analysis of the CID data for the negative ion of 1 also reveals the fundamental characteristics of the CID data for the negative ions of other statin hydroxy acids such as lovastatin (3) and pravastatin (4).     

Determination of dimetridazole and metronidazole in poultry and porcine tissues by gas chromatography-electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective method using gas chromatography-electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI-MS) for analysis of dimetridazole (DMZ) and metronidazole (MNZ) in poultry muscles, porcine kidney and liver, and chicken liver, was developed and validated for the purpose of food surveillance testing of the residues of these two nitroimidazoles in various types of animal tissues in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Before homogenization and extraction with toluene, [2H₃]dimetridazole-(DMZ-d³) and secnidazole (SNZ) were added to tissue samples as internal standards. The organic extracts were mixed with n-hexane and subject to solid-phase extraction cleanup by amine extraction columns. MNZ and SNZ were derivatized with BSA prior to GC-ECNI-MS determination. Good recovery and precision were obtained and the limit of detection was below parts per billion levels for poultry and porcine tissues. The method could also be applied for the detection of the hydroxylated metabolite of DMZ.     

Feasibility of electron impact and electron capture negative ionisation mass spectrometry for the trace determination of tri- to deca-brominated diphenyl ethers in human samples

The applicability of two different MS ionisation modes (EI and ECNI) for the determination of PBDEs at low-trace levels in small-size (up to 1 mL) human samples was compared. The instrumental precision, expressed as R.S.D., obtained for both ionisation modes was similar and lower than 6% (repeatability) and 12% (intermediate precision) for all congeners investigated, except PBDE 209. The LODs obtained when using the ECNI-MS operation mode (6-507 fg) were lower than those found in EI-MS experiments (9 and 10,909 fg), mainly for those congeners with a high bromination degree, i.e., hepta- to deca-BDEs. The selectivity of the ECNI-MS method proposed in the present work was improved by using two ions of the [M−H_xBr_y]⁻ cluster as both qualifier and quantifier ions. For the final validation of the methods, serum and breast milk samples from two different inter-laboratory exercises were analysed. A good agreement was found between the results obtained using the proposed methods and the results provided by the different inter-laboratory organisations, but only ECNI-MS provided the low-LODs necessary for the quantification of high brominated congeners (mainly, PBDEs 196, 197 and 209) at low concentration levels in small-size human samples. Finally, the ECNI-MS method was applied to real-life samples obtained from the Spanish population and the preliminary results obtained were in the same range as those found in other European and Asian regions and lower than the concentrations reported in USA populations.