Giving Gold Wings: Ultrabright and Fragmentation Free Mass Spectrometry Reporters for Barcoding,Bioconjugation Monitoring,and Data Storage

The widespread application of laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) highlights the need for a bright and multiplexable labeling platform. While ligand-capped Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a promising LDI-MS contrast agent, the predominant thiol ligands suffer from low ion yields and extensive fragmentation. In this work, we develop a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand platform that enhances AuNP LDI-MS performance. NHC scaffolds are tuned to generate barcoded AuNPs which, when benchmarked against thiol-AuNPs, are bright mass tags and form unfragmented ions in high yield. To illustrate the transformative potential of NHC ligands, the mass tags were employed in three orthogonal applications: monitoring a bioconjugation reaction, performing multiplexed imaging, and storing and reading encoded information. These results demonstrate that NHC-nanoparticle systems are an ideal platform for LDI-MS and greatly broaden the scope of nanoparticle contrast agents.     

Sustainable Design of Structural and Functional Polymers for a Circular Economy

To achieve a sustainable circular economy, polymer production must start transitioning to recycled and biobased feedstock and accomplish CO₂ emission neutrality. This is not only true for structural polymers, such as in packaging or engineering applications, but also for functional polymers in liquid formulations, such as adhesives, lubricants, thickeners or dispersants. At their end of life, polymers must be either collected and recycled via a technical pathway, or be biodegradable if they are not collectable. Advances in polymer chemistry and applications, aided by computational material science, open the way to addressing these issues comprehensively by designing for recyclability and biodegradability. This Review explores how scientific progress, together with emerging regulatory frameworks, societal expectations and economic boundary conditions, paint pathways for the transformation towards a circular economy of polymers.     

A Simple Scan- and Display-Control for Magnetic Sector Mass Spectrometers

Abstract

Magnetically scanned sector mass spectrometers yield excellent spectra, covering a wide mass range. The spectral display is most reproducible if the magnet is cycled continuously in order to establish a constant hysteresis history.

We have adapted a single sweep spectrometer to continuous cycling. A simple and flexible control initiates and times the magnetic up- and down-sweep, erases and triggers a storage oscilloscope, advances and arrests the photographic recording chart and actuates an event marker on the recorder of the associated gas chromatograph.     

Acid-Cleavable Aromatic Polymers for the Fabrication of Closed-Loop Recyclable Plastics with High Mechanical Strength and Excellent Chemical Resistance

Although closed-loop recycling of dynamic covalent bond-based plastics does not require catalysts, their mechanical strength and chemical stability remain a major concern. In this study, closed-loop recyclable poly(aryl imine) (PAI) plastics with high mechanical strength and excellent chemical resistance are fabricated by copolymerizing aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes through dynamic imine bonds. The resulting PAI plastic with a tensile strength of 58.2 MPa exhibits excellent chemical resistance and mechanical stability in acidic and basic aqueous solutions and various organic solvents. The PAI plastics can be depolymerized in a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF)/HCl aqueous solution through the dissociation of imine bonds, and the monomers can be facilely recovered with high purity and isolated yields due to the solubility difference between the aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes in selective solvents. The efficient closed-loop recycling of the PAI plastic can also be realized through monomer conversion because the hydrolysis of the aromatic aldehydes generates aromatic amines. The recovered monomers can be used to re-fabricate original PAI plastics. This PAI plastic can be selectively recovered from complicated mixed polymer waste streams due to the mild depolymerization conditions of the PAI plastic and its high stability in most organic solvents.     

A Simple and Rapid Method for the Identification of Amphetamine and Metamphetamine Hydrochlorides by Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

In order to determine amphetamine and metamphetamine, we have used a method never used before in the legal practice. The aim of our work was to optimize the measurement conditions for the rapid and accurate determination of amphetamine and metamphetamine. We have developed a method which makes possible the unambiguous identification of the hydrochlorides of the hallucinogens amphetamine and metamphetamine, even when these two are present simultaneously. In our work we have used the ammonium salt technique. The information available from the mass spectra (molecular ion, appearance of characteristic fragments) are dependent on the temperature of the direct sample and the ionisation energy. As a consequence, we have primarily studied the influence of the above two parameters upon the mass spectra.     

Azide Ionic Liquids for Safe,Green, and Highly-Efficient Azidation Reactions to Produce Azide Polymers

Azide compounds are widely used and especially, polymers bearing pendant azide groups are highly desired in numerous fields. However, harsh reaction conditions are always mandatory to achieve full azidation, causing severe side reactions and degradation of the polymers. Herein, we report the design and preparation of two azide ionic liquids (AILs) with azide anion and triethylene glycol (E₃)-containing cation, [P_444E3][N₃] and [MIM_E3][N₃]. Compared with the traditional sodium azide (NaN₃) approach, both AILs showed much higher reaction rates and functional-group tolerance. More importantly, they could act as both reagents and solvents for the quantitative azidation of various polymeric precursors under mild conditions. Theoretical simulations suggested that the outstanding performance of AILs originated from the existence of ion pairs during the reaction, and the E₃ moieties played a crucial role. Lastly, after the reaction, the AILs could be easily regenerated, presenting a safer, greener, and highly efficient synthesis route for azide polymers.     

Complexes of a New N3S2 Macrocycle: Synthesis,Structure and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

The silver(I) complex of a 15-membered macrocyclic ligand with an N₃S₂ donor set (L¹) has been prepared by the reaction of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dithiaoctane in the presence of silver(I) ions. A reduced form (L²) of the ligand, in which the imine groups are converted to amines, was prepared by the reduction of the silver(I) complex by sodium borohydride. The ligand L² has been characterised by various spectroscopic techniques and the copper(II) complex has been prepared. The metal complexes of L¹ and L² have been characterised by electrospray mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectroscopy. The copper(II) complex of L¹ has been synthesised from [AgL¹]⁺ via metal exchange. [CuL¹](ClO₄)₂ crystallises in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ with a = 14.374(5) Å, b = 12.947(3) Å, c = 11.824(3) Å with Z= 4. The geometry about the metal centre approximates trigonal bipyramidal with the pyridinyl nitrogen and the sulfur donors in the equatorial positions and the imine nitrogen donors in the axial positions. Metal ion exchange and the relative stabilities of metal complexes of the macrocyclic ligands were studied by electrospray mass spectrometry.     

Frontispiece: The Effect of the Axle End Structure and Number of Through-Space Bonds on the Properties of Rotaxane Crosslinked Polymers

A rotaxane crosslinker (RC) is known to toughen the resulting rotaxane crosslinked polymer (RCP) via a stress dispersion effect that is attributed to the movable nature of the crosslinking structure. To evaluate this toughening mechanism in detail, a series of structure-definite RCs equipped with different axle end structures or different numbers of wheel components were synthesized, and subjected to free radical polymerization with a vinyl monomer to obtain RCPs. Analyses of the obtained RCPs revealed that the size of the axle end structure should be well-balanced to produce a strong toughening effect, and a [3]rotaxane crosslinker works more effectively than [2]rotaxane to toughen RCPs. The mobility of the crosslinking points, in terms of rotational and flipping movements, was more crucial to toughening the RCP than that of translational movement along the axle. The first observation of the above crucial findings proved the utility of the systematic molecular design used in this study.     

Analysis of organic aerosols collected on filters by Aerosol Mass Spectrometry for source identification

Aerosol Mass Spectrometers (AMS) are powerful tools in the analysis of the chemical composition of airborne particles, particularly organic aerosols which are gaining increasing attention. However, the advantages of AMS in providing on-line data can be outweighed by the difficulties involved in its use in field measurements at multiple sites. In contrast to the on-line measurement by AMS, a method which involves sample collection on filters followed by subsequent analysis by AMS could significantly broaden the scope of AMS application. We report the application of such an approach to field studies at multiple sites. An AMS was deployed at 5 urban schools to determine the sources of the organic aerosols at the schools directly. PM₁ aerosols were also collected on filters at these and 20 other urban schools. The filters were extracted with water and the extract run through a nebulizer to generate the aerosols, which were analyzed by an AMS. The mass spectra from the samples collected on filters at the 5 schools were found to have excellent correlations with those obtained directly by AMS, with r² ranging from 0.89 to 0.98. Filter recoveries varied between the schools from 40 to 115%, possibly indicating that this method provides qualitative rather than quantitative information. The stability of the organic aerosols on Teflon filters was demonstrated by analysing samples stored for up to two years. Application of the procedure to the remaining 20 schools showed that secondary organic aerosols were the main source of aerosols at the majority of the schools. Overall, this procedure provides accurate representation of the mass spectra of ambient organic aerosols and could facilitate rapid data acquisition at multiple sites where AMS could not be deployed for logistical reasons.     

Noncovalent Modulation of Chemoselectivity in the Gas Phase Leads to a Switchover in Reaction Type from Heterolytic to Homolytic to Electrocyclic Cleavage

In the gas phase, thermal activation of supramolecular assemblies such as host–guest complexes leads commonly to noncovalent dissociation into the individual components. Chemical reactions, for example of encapsulated guest molecules, are only found in exceptional cases. As observed by mass spectrometry, when 1-amino-methyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBOA) is complexed by the macrocycle β-cyclodextrin, its protonated complex undergoes collision-induced dissociation into its components, the conventional reaction pathway. Inside the macrocyclic cavity of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), a competitive chemical reaction of monoprotonated DBOA takes place upon thermal activation, namely a stepwise homolytic covalent bond cleavage with the elimination of N₂, while the doubly protonated CB7⋅DBOA complex undergoes an inner-phase elimination of ethylene, a concerted, electrocyclic ring-opening reaction. These chemical reaction pathways stand in contrast to the gas-phase chemistry of uncomplexed monoprotonated DBOA, for which an elimination of NH₃ predominates upon collision-induced activation, as a heterolytic bond cleavage reaction. The combined results, which can be rationalized in terms of organic-chemical reaction mechanisms and density-function theoretical calculations, demonstrate that chemical reactions in the gas phase can be steered chemoselectively through noncovalent interactions.     

一种有机质谱谱图的库检索新算法

一种有机质谱谱图的库检索新算法律祥俊，林少凡，张金碚，张法义（南开大学中心实验室，天津，３０００７１）关键词检索，算法，质谱，数据库利用计算机匹配技术识别有机质谱谱图中的库检索方法仅需用低分辨质谱图即可识别未知化合物，似为最成功的方法［１～３］．质谱...     

Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry of Complex Anions Containing Rhenium and Technetium

Abstract

Field desorption mass spectra of Technetium and Rhenium anionic coordinate complexes have been obtained. lonization was principally by electron extraction from the anion, cation or neutral anion-cation pair, or by cation attachment to the intact molecule. The spectra were generally simple and allowed confirmation of known of proposed coordinate complex structures.     

Dual Tunability for Uncatalyzed N-Alkylation of Primary Amines Enabled by Plasma-Microdroplet Fusion

The fusion of non-thermal plasma with charged microdroplets facilitates catalyst-free N-alkylation for a variety of primary amines, without halide salt biproduct generation. Significant reaction enhancement (up to >200×) is observed over microdroplet reactions generated from electrospray. This enhancement for the plasma-microdroplet system is attributed to the combined effects of energetic collisions and the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS (e.g., O₂⋅⁻) act as a proton sink to increase abundance of free neutral amines in the charged microdroplet environment. The effect of ROS on N-alkylation is confirmed through three unique experiments: (i) utilization of radical scavenging reagent, (ii) characterization of internal energy distribution, and (iii) controls performed without plasma, which lacked reaction acceleration. Establishing plasma discharge in the wake of charged microdroplets as a green synthetic methodology overcomes two major challenges within conventional gas-phase plasma chemistry, including the lack of selectivity and product scale-up. Both limitations are overcome here, where dual tunability is achieved by controlling reagent concentration and residence time in the microdroplet environment, affording single or double N-alkylated products. Products are readily collected yielding milligram quantities in eight hours. These results showcase a novel synthetic strategy that represents a straightforward and sustainable C−N bond-forming process.     

Development of Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometer for detection of unstable species in flames

Results are presented here on the detection of unstable species formed in flames using a novel Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LIMS) system. The chemical species generated in atmospheric pressure flames were directly introduced into a mass spectrometer operated at high vacuum conditions using a newly developed interface, in which the ionization was induced by laser irradiation. Optimum conditions for the experimental conditions were investigated in order to obtain mass spectra with adequate signal to noise (S/N) ratios. In addition, the distribution profiles of various species in the flame was measured and visualized. The distribution of OH profiles was also measured under the same conditions using Planer Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) diagnostics. The results showed that the profiles of OH distribution by LIMS were in good agreement with those obtained using PLIF diagnostics.     

sn-1 Specificity of Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase-1 Revealed by a Mass Spectrometry-Based Assay

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase-1 (LPCAT1) plays a critical role in the remodeling of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) in cellular lipidome. However, evidence is scarce regarding its sn-selectivity, viz. the preference of assembling acyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) at the C1 or C2-hydroxyl on a glycerol backbone because of difficulty to quantify the thus-formed PC sn-isomers. We have established a multiplexed assay to measure both sn- and acyl-chain selectivity of LPCAT1 toward a mixture of acyl-CoAs by integrating isomer-resolving tandem mass spectrometry. Our findings reveal that LPCAT1 shows exclusive sn-1 specificity regardless of the identity of acyl-CoAs. We further confirm that elevated PC 18 : 1/16:0 relative to its sn-isomer results from an increased expression of LPCAT1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue as compared to normal liver tissue. MS imaging via desorption electrospray ionization of PC 18 : 1/16:0 thus enables visualization of HCC margins in human liver tissue at a molecular level.     

Polymers for the Extraction of Chromium—Role of Polymers in the Removal and Recovery of Chromium from Wastewater

The present review discusses different possible routes of removal and recovery of chromium from industry and laboratory wastewater with special emphasis on the role of polymers in this context. Polymers can play a vital role in the easy, rapid and cost effective separation of chromium from aqueous solutions. Such studies of separation are important from the standpoint of identifying selective hosts and extractors for chromium. The use of suitable polymers in the removal and recovery of chromium from solutions is discussed.     

Synthesis of Chiral Resorcinarene-based Hosts and a Mass Spectrometric Study of their Chemistry in Solution and the Gas Phase

The syntheses and characterization of new chiral tetrabenzoxazine and tetrakis-(dialkylaminomethyl) resorcinarenes can be achieved through the reaction of resorcinarene with chiral amines and formaldehyde. In order to examine their host–guest chemistry, chiral quaternary ammonium guests were synthesized by methylation of different amines and amino acid methyl esters through a reductive methylation followed by addition of methyl iodide. Subsequent anion exchange of the iodide against tetraphenylborate helps to improve solubility of the salts in organic solvents. After characterization in solution, mass spectrometry is used to examine the resorcinarenes’ chemistry in the gas phase. Interesting implications of the fragmentation behavior for their solution phase chemistry arise, for which a first example is presented. Ammonium ion binding is indicated by mass spectrometry. Nevertheless, chiral recognition between the chiral hosts and pseudoracemic 1:1 mixtures of appropriately deuterium-labeled chiral guest cations is however not observed.     

Determination of Abnormal Hemoglobins by the Combined use of Reversed-Phase high Performance Liquid Chromatography and Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Separation by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of peptide mixtures obtained from tryptic digestion of abnormal human hemoglobins and subsequent analysis by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) of selected peptides allow unambiguous, rapid identification of the hemoglobin variants. By this method two varied hemoglobins, Hb D Punjab and Hb J Sardegna, have been determined. The methodology described, which is simple and reliable, could be used for the detection and structural identification of known and unknown Hb variants, without amino acid (a.a.) or sequence analysis.     

A Comparison Of Measurement of Homovanillic Acid in Brain Tissue by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

A comparison of liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LCEC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) has been made for analysis of homovanillic acid (HVA) in rat brain tissue. The LCEC procedure gave slightly higher average values of HVA in the samples measured; however, the HVA content determined by both methods related significantly. Rat brain meostriatum was used as representative samples for comparison of the two analytical procedures.     

双柱固相萃取净化-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛奶和奶粉中链霉素和双氢链霉素残留量

建立了双柱固相萃取净化-液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)测定牛奶和奶粉中链霉素和双氢链霉素残留量的分析方法。样品用H3PO4溶液提取,三氯乙酸沉淀蛋白,苯磺酸型和羧酸型固相萃取柱净化,经Atlantis C18色谱柱分离,以电喷雾离子源在正离子多反应监测(MRM)模式下进行测定。牛奶中链霉素和双氢链霉素的方法检出限均为4μg/kg,定量限均为10μg/kg,奶粉中链霉素和双氢链霉素的方法检出限均为30μg/kg,定量限均为80μg/kg,方法回收率为80%~86%,相对标准偏差为5.9%~11.5%。本方法适用于牛奶和奶粉中链霉素和双氢链霉素残留量的测定。