Quantitative electrospray ionization mass spectrometric studies of ternary complexes of amino acids with Cu(2+) and phenanthroline

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of ternary complexes of Cu(2+) and 1,10-phenanthroline with the 20 essential amino acids (AA) were investigated quantitatively. Non-basic amino acids formed singly charged complexes of the [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) type. Lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) formed doubly charged complexes of the [Cu(HAA - H)phen](2+) type. Detection limits were determined for the complexes of phenylalanine (Phe), glutamic acid (Glu) and Arg, which were at low micromolar or submicromolar concentrations under routine conditions. Detection limits of low nanomolar concentrations are possible for amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains (Phe, Tyr, Trp, Leu, Ile) as determined for Phe. The efficiencies for the formation by ESI of gaseous [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) ions were determined and correlated with the acid-base properties of the amino acids, ternary complex stability constants and amino acid hydrophobicities expressed as the Bull-Breese indices (DeltaF). A weak correlation was found between DeltaF and the ESI efficiencies for the formation of gaseous [Cu(AA - H)phen](+) [Cu(HAA - H]phen](2+) and [AA + H](+) ions that showed that amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains were ionized more efficiently. In the ESI of binary and ternary amino acid mixtures, the formation of gas-phase Cu-phen complexes of amino acids with hydrophobic side-chains was enhanced in the presence of complexes of amino acids with polar or basic side-chains. An interesting enhancement of the ESI formation of [Cu(Glu - H)phen](+) was observed in mixtures. The effect is explained by ion-cluster formation at the droplet interface that results in enhanced desorption of the glutamic acid complex.     

Mass spectrometric studies on pyridine-piperazine-containing ligands and their complexes with transition metals formed in solution

Electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) methods were used to study open-chain piperazine-containing ligands (L) and their complexes formed with transition-metal salts. ESI and MALDI measurements were performed with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) and a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, respectively. Only singly charged complexes, between one ligand and one or several metal ions, were formed in the ESI measurements. Because the net charge was always one, one or several counterions were attached to the complex. Under ESI conditions, the complexes formed between the ligands and metal (Co, Ni, Cu, and Cd) salts were [L + M + X](+), [L + H + M + X(2)](+) and [L + M(2) + X(3)](+) (M = metal ion, X = counterion). In collision induced dissociation reactions the [L + H + M + X(2)](+) complexes easily eliminated one proton and one counterion. Fragmentation pathways were more dependent on the metal ion than the ligand, and elimination of the second counterion occurred with one proton from copper and nickel complexes and with one proton and one hydrogen from cobalt complexes. Differences in the fragmentation of the complexes could be due to electronic configuration of the metal ion. In the MALDI measurements the ratio between the [L + H](+) and [L - H](+) ions varied with the matrix. Fragmentation of the ligands through elimination of 2-methylpyridine end groups occurred with the aromatic matrices containing carboxylic acid and hydroxyl substituents. Ionization of the complexes was not successful with MALDI as the matrix molecules were also attached to the complexes.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization studies on transition metal complexes of benzimidazole thiosemicarbazones

The transition metal (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg) complexes of 2- acetylbenzimidazolethiosemicarbazone (L(1)) and 1-methyl 2-acetylbenzimidazole-thiosemicarbazone (L(2)) are analyzed by MALDI using HCCA, THP, MMNPD and DMN as the matrices. All the MALDI spectra are clean without any contribution from the complex ions resulted by multiple proton addition/removal. All the complexes, except Cu, irrespective of the matrix used, show 1:2 complex ions wherein two ligands (neutral or deprotonated) complex with the metal ion depending on the nature and stable oxidation state of the central metal ion viz., [M + 2L - 2H](+) ion for Fe and Co complexes (+3 oxidation state) and [M + 2L - H](+) ion for Ni, Zn, Cd and Hg (+2 oxidation state). The Cu complex show 1:1 complex ion corresponding to [2M + 2L - 2H](+) ions. When HCCA is used as a matrix, the complex ions due to ligand exchange by matrix are also found, and this process is relatively more if a neutral ligand is bound to the metal ion in the original complex ion. The type of complex ions found under MALDI experiments are similar to those found under ESI experiments. However, the complex ions due to reduction of Cu are found only in the MALDI analysis of Cu complexes.     

Analysis of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and TATP synthetic intermediates by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) has been analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) on a linear quadrupole instrument, giving a 62.5 ng limit of detection in full scan positive ion mode. In the ESI interface with no applied fragmentor voltage the m/z 245 [TATP + Na](+) ion was observed along with m/z 215 [TATP + Na - C(2)H(6)](+) and 81 [(CH(3))(2)CO + Na](+). When TATP was ionized by ESI with an applied fragmentor voltage of 75 V, ions at m/z 141 [C(4)H(6)O(4) + Na](+) and 172 [C(5)H(9)O(5) + Na](+) were also observed. When the precipitates formed in the synthesis of TATP were analyzed before the reaction was complete, a new series of ions was observed in which the ions were separated by 74 m/z units, with ions occurring at m/z 205, 279, 353, 427, 501, 575, 649 and 723. The series of evenly spaced ions is accounted for as oligomeric acetone carbonyl oxides terminated as hydroperoxides, [HOOC(CH(3))(2){OOC(CH(3))(2)}(n)OOH + Na](+) (n = 1, 2 ... 8). The ESI-MS spectra for this homologous series of oligoperoxides have previously been observed from the ozonolysis of tetramethylethylene at low temperatures. Precipitates from the incomplete reaction mixture, under an applied fragmentor voltage of 100 V in ESI, produced an additional ion observed at m/z 99 [C(2)H(4)O(3) + Na](+), and a set of ions separated by 74 m/z units occurring at m/z 173, 247, 321, 395, 469 and 543, proposed to correspond to [CH(3)CO{OOC(CH(3))(2)}(n)OOH + Na](+) (n = 1,2 ... 5). Support for the assigned structures was obtained through the analysis of both protiated and perdeuterated TATP samples.     

Effects of transition metal ion coordination on the collision-induced dissociation of polyalanines

Transition metal-polyalanine complexes were analyzed in a high-capacity quadrupole ion trap after electrospray ionization. Polyalanines have no polar amino acid side chains to coordinate metal ions, thus allowing the effects metal ion interaction with the peptide backbone to be explored. Positive mode mass spectra produced from peptides mixed with salts of the first row transition metals Cr(III), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), and Cu(II) yield singly and doubly charged metallated ions. These precursor ions undergo collision-induced dissociation (CID) to give almost exclusively metallated N-terminal product ions whose types and relative abundances depend on the identity of the transition metal. For example, Cr(III)-cationized peptides yield CID spectra that are complex and have several neutral losses, whereas Fe(III)-cationized peptides dissociate to give intense non-metallated products. The addition of Cu(II) shows the most promise for sequencing. Spectra obtained from the CID of singly and doubly charged Cu-heptaalanine ions, [M + Cu - H](+) and [M + Cu](2+) , are complimentary and together provide cleavage at every residue and no neutral losses. (This contrasts with [M + H](+) of heptaalanine, where CID does not provide backbone ions to sequence the first three residues.) Transition metal cationization produces abundant metallated a-ions by CID, unlike protonated peptides that produce primarily b- and y-ions. The prominence of metallated a-ions is interesting because they do not always form from b-ions. Tandem mass spectrometry on metallated (Met = metal) a- and b-ions indicate that [b(n) + Met - H](2+) lose CO to form [a(n) + Met - H](2+), mimicking protonated structures. In contrast, [a(n) + Met - H](2+) eliminate an amino acid residue to form [a(n-1) + Met - H](2+), which may be useful in sequencing.     

Distinction and quantitation of leucine-isoleucine isomers and lysine-glutamine isobars by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n), n = 2, 3) of copper(II)-diimine complexes

Electrospray ionization of mixtures of isomeric and isobaric amino acids was investigated with the goal of distinguishing and quantifying the components. Isomeric amino acids leucine and isoleucine were readily distinguished and quantified in 90 : 10 to 10 : 90 binary mixtures using two-stage (MS(2)) and three-stage (MS(3)) tandem mass spectrometric dissociations of ternary Cu(2+)-2, 2'-bipyridyl (bpy) complexes, [Cu(AA - H)bpy](+). The complexes self-assembled in solution upon mixing the components and provided a convenient means of efficient derivatization that increased the efficiency of amino acid ionization by electrospray and shifted the mass of the analytes to a region which was free of solvent interferences. Low-energy dissociations of [Cu(AA - H)bpy](+) complexes in a quadrupole ion trap were achieved at >90% conversions and >80% trapping efficiencies for the MS(2) and MS(3) precursor and fragment ions. Isobaric amino acids glutamine and lysine were also distinguished through MS(2) and MS(3) of their ternary complexes with Cu(2+) and bpy. ESI of [Cu(Gln - H)bpy](+) was enhanced in the presence of [Cu(Lys - H)bpy](+), which resulted in non-linear response at low Lys concentrations.     

Characterisation of a series of acetals/ketals of bis(2-nitrophenyl) ethanediol and bis(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl) ethanediol under APCI mass spectrometric conditions

A series acetals/ketals of aldehydes and ketones formed by the reaction of two photolabile protecting groups, bis(2-nitrophenyl) ethanediol and bis(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl) ethanediol (I and II, respectively), were analysed under EI, LSIMS, ESI and APCI conditions to obtain molecular weights as well as structural information. The EI and LSIMS techniques failed to give molecular weight information. The positive ESI yielded [M + H](+) ions only for I; however, with added Na(+) both I and II formed [M + Na](+) adducts. But upon decomposition, the [M + Na](+) ions yielded Na(+) ion as the only product ion. Similarly, under negative ion ESI conditions both I and II gave molecular weight information by forming adduct ions with halide anions (F(-), Cl(-), Br(-) and I(-)); however, they did not give structural information as they resulted in only the halide anion as the abundant fragment ion upon dissociation. All the compounds formed abundant M(-*) ions under negative ion APCI conditions, and their MS/MS spectra showed characteristic fragment ions; hence the acetals/ketals of I and II could be successfully characterized under negative ion APCI conditions.     

Tale of a twist: magnetic and optical switching in copper(II) semiquinone complexes

An intermediate (C) that is observed in both phenol hydroxylation and catechol oxidation with the side-on peroxide species [Cu(2)O(2)(DBED)(2)](2+) (DBED = N(1),N(2)-di-tert-butylethane-1,2-diamine) is identified as a copper(II) semiquinone species ([1](+)) through independent synthesis and characterization. The reaction of the redox-active 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone ligand with [(DBED)Cu(I)(MeCN)](+) yields a copper(II) semiquinone [1](+) complex with a singlet ground state and an intense purple chromophore (ε(580) ~ 3500 M(-1) cm(-1)). All other copper(II) semiquinone complexes characterized to date are paramagnetic and weakly colored (ε(800) ~ 500 M(-1) cm(-1)). Antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) center and the semiquinone radical in [1](+) is characterized by paramagnetic (1)H NMR and SQUID magnetometry. Comparative X-ray crystal structures along with density functional theory calculations correlate the geometric structures of copper(II) semiquinone complexes with their magnetic and optical properties. The unique observable properties of [1](+) originate from an increase in the overlap of the Cu 3d and semiquinone π orbitals resulting from a large rhombic distortion in the structure with a twist of 51°, attributable to the large isotropic demands of the tert-butyl substituents of the DBED ligand. Independent characterization of [1](+) allows the spectroscopic yields of intermediate C to be quantified in this intriguing hydroxylation reaction.     

Detection of binuclear copper-caffeine complexes under electrospray ionization condition

A number of copper salts, Cu(OOCCH(3))(2), Cu(ClO(4))(2), Cu(NO(3))(2), CuCl(2) and CuSO(4) have been tested for their ability to form binuclear copper-caffeine complexes. The electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of methanol solution containing caffeine and CuCl(2) or CuSO(4) show signals of two copper atom containing ions, so the signals correspond to binuclear complexes: [2Caf + Cu(2)SO(4)](+), [2Caf + Cu(2)](+), [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl](+), [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl(2)](+) and [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl(3)](+). Sulfate and chloride anion are characterized by charge densities higher than those of the carboxylate, nitrate and perchlorate anion. Thus, due to the electrostatic forces, the binuclear complexes containing SO(4)(2-) or Cl(-) can survive the transfer from solution to the gas phase and then can successfully be observed on ESI mass spectra. The ion [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl(3)](+) is present in solution and could be detected when using methanol/chloroform as solvent. The ions [2Caf + Cu(2)](+), [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl](+) and [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl(2)](+) are formed from the [2Caf + Cu(2)Cl(3)](+) ion (by subsequent loss of Cl atoms) on transfer from the solution to the gas phase or in the gas phase. The ion [2Caf + Cu(2)](+) does not contain a bridging agent, thus it is reasonable to assume that it contains a Cu-Cu bond.     

Complexation between the fungicide tebuconazole and copper(II) probed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is used to probe the complex formation between tebuconazole (1) and copper(II) salts, which both are commonly used fungicides in agriculture. Experiments with model solutions containing 1 and CuCl(2) reveal the initial formation of the copper(II) species [(1)CuCl](+) and [(1)(2)CuCl](+) which undergo reduction to the corresponding copper(I) ions [(1)Cu](+) and [(1)(2)Cu](+) under more drastic ionization conditions in the ESI source. In additional experiments, copper/tebuconazole complexes were also detected in samples made from soil solutions of various origin and different amount of mineralization. The direct sampling of such solutions via ESI-MS is thus potentially useful for understanding of the interactions between copper(II) salts and tebuconazole in environmental samples.     

Differentiation of isomeric 2-aryldimethyltetrahydro-5-quinolinones by electron ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A series of isomeric 2-aryl-6,6-dimethyltetrahydro-5-quinolinones (set I) and 2-aryl-7,7-dimethyltetrahydro-5-quinolinones (set II) were studied under positive ion electron ionization (EI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) techniques. Under EI conditions, the molecular ions were found to be less stable in set I isomers, and they resulted in abundant fragment ions, i.e., [M-CH(3)](+), [M-CO](+.), [M-HCO](+), [M-(CH(3),CO)](+), and [M-(CH(3),CH(2)O)](+), when compared with set II isomers. In addition, the set I isomers showed specific fragment ions corresponding to [M-OH](+) and [M-OCH(3)](+). The retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) product ion was always higher in set II isomers. The ESI mass spectra produced [M + H](+) ions, and their decomposition showed favorable loss of CH(3) radical, CH(4) and C(2)H(6) molecules in set I isomers. The set II isomers, however, showed predominant RDA product ions, and specific loss of H(2)O. The selectivity in EI and ESI was attributed to the instability of set I isomers by the presence of a gem-dimethyl group at the α-position, and it was supported by the data from model compounds without a gem-dimethyl group. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations successfully corroborated the fragmentation pathways for diagnostic ions. This study revealed the effect of a gem-dimethyl group located at the α-position to the carbonyl having aromatic/unsaturated carbon on the other side of the carbonyl group.     

Spectral and electrochemical studies of bis(diimine)copper(II) complexes in anionic, cationic and nonionic micelles

The spectral and redox behavior of bis(diimine)copper(II) complexes, where diimine is bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 4-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and dipyrido-[3,2-d:2',3'-f]-quinoxaline, are significantly different in aqueous and in aqueous SDS, CTAB and Triton X-100 micellar solutions. The (1)H NMR spectral study in aqueous (D(2)O) and aqueous micelles reveals that the Cu(II) complexes interact more strongly with SDS than with CTAB and Triton X-100 micelles and at sites on SDS micelles different from those on the latter. Ligand Field spectral studies reveal that the complexes exist as the dicationic aquated species [Cu(diimine)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2+), which interacts strongly with the anionic SDS micelles through columbic forces. However, they exist as [Cu(diimine)(2)(H(2)O)Cl](+) and/or [Cu(diimine)(2)H(2)] located in the hydrophobic microenvironments in Triton X-100 and CTAB micelles. The attainment of reversibility of the redox systems in the micellar microenvironments is remarkable and this illustrates that the Cu(II) and Cu(I) species undergo stereochemical changes suitable for reversible electron-transfer. The remarkable differences in spectral and electrochemical properties of Cu(II) complexes in aqueous and aqueous micellar solutions illustrate that the complexes are nestled largely within the micellar environments and imply that the accessibilities of the complexes to electron-transfer are different and are dependent on the nature of micelles as well as the nature and hydrophobicity of the diimine ligands.     

Collisionally-induced dissociation of substituted pyrimidine antiviral agents: Mechanisms of ion formation using gas phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

ESI and CID mass spectra were obtained for four pyrimidine nucleoside antiviral agents and the corresponding compounds in which the labile hydrogens were replaced by deuterium using gas-phase exchange. The number of labile hydrogens, x, was determined from a comparison of ESI spectra obtained with N(2) and with ND(3) as the nebulizer gas. CID mass spectra were obtained for [M + H](+) and [M - H](-) ions and the exchanged analogs, [M(D(x)) + D](+) and [M(D(x)) - D](-), produced by ESI using a SCIEX API-III(plus) mass spectrometer. Protonated pyrimidine antiviral agents dissociate through rearrangement decompositions of base-protonated [M + H](+) ions by cleavage of the glycosidic bonds to give the protonated bases with a sugar moiety as the neutral fragment. Cleavage of the glycosidic bonds with charge retention on the sugar moiety eliminates the base moiety as a neutral molecule and produces characteristic sugar ions. CID of protonated pyrimidine bases, [B + H](+), occurs through three major pathways: (1) elimination of NH(3) (ND(3)), (2) loss of H(2)O (D(2)O), and (3) elimination of HNCO (DNCO). Protonated trifluoromethyl uracil, however, dissociates primarily through elimination of HF followed by the loss of HNCO. CID mass spectra of [M - H](-) ions of all four antiviral agents show NCO(-) as the principal decomposition product. A small amount of deprotonated base is also observed, but no sugar ions. Elimination of HNCO, HN(3), HF, CO, and formation of iodide ion are minor dissociation pathways from [M - H](-) ions.     

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of beta-nitroalkenyl meso-tetraphenylporphyrins

Beta-nitroalkenyl meso-tetraphenylporphyrins [beta-TPPCHC(NO(2))R)], as free-bases and Zn(II) complexes, were studied by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Under this ionisation condition the [M + H](+) ions are formed. The fragmentation pattern of the resulting [M + H](+) ions were studied by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The ESI-MS/MS of beta- nitroalkenylporphyrins, either as free-bases or as Zn(II) complexes, show several interesting features, distinct from the typical behaviour of nitro compounds. For the studied compounds, common main fragmentation patterns are observed, namely characteristic losses of NO(2), HNO(2), 2OH, RNO(2), RCNO, RCNO(2), RCH(2)NO(2), C(6)H(5) plus NO(2) and the formation of the protonated macrocycle, [TPP + H](+) or [ZnTPP + H](+). However, depending on the presence or absence of the metal and the nature of the R substituent, important differences are observed on the relative abundances of the ions formed by the same fragmentation pathway. The presence of bromine in the alkenyl group leads to a peculiar behaviour, since the main fragmentation pattern corresponds to the combined elimination of the bromine atom with the typical nitro group fragments. When R = Br, the loss of the nitro group occurs in low relative abundance (11-16%). However, when R = CH(3), the relative abundance of the ion due to the loss of HNO(2) changes drastically from 100%, observed for the free-base porphyrin, to 29% in the case of the Zn(II) complex. These variations of the relative abundance of the fragment corresponding to the loss of the nitro moiety (typically considered as a diagnostic fragment) can induce to an erroneous interpretation of their MS/MS spectra. Some fragmentations are observed only for the free-base porphyrins, namely the loss of CH(NO(2)R and HNO(2) plus C(2)H(2), while the loss of OH, H(2)O, OH plus H(2)O and RCCH plus H(2)O is observed only for the complexes. Unusual and unexpected fragmentations are also observed, namely the losses of RCNO, RCNO(2) and HNO(2) plus C(2)H(2). This work demonstrates that valuable structural information about the beta-nitroalkenyl substituents linked to meso- tetraarylporphyrins can be achieved using MS/MS. These results can also be useful for the interpretation of the mass spectra of other nitroalkenyl substituted compounds.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, EPR spectra of Cu2+ doped [Zn(methylisonicotinate)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2 single crystal

The tetraaquabis(methylisonicotinate)zinc(II) disaccharinate [hereafter, [Zn(mein)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2], complex has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic IR, EPR and X-ray diffraction technique. The octahedral Zn(II) ion, which rides on a crystallographic centre of symmetry, is coordinated by two monodentate mein ligands through the ring nitrogen and four aqua ligands to form discrete [Zn(mein)2(H2O)4] unit, which captures two saccharinate ions in up and down positions, each through intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The magnetic environments of Cu2+ doped [Zn(mein)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2 complex have been identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. EPR spectra of Cu2+ doped [Zn(mein)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2 single crystals have been studied between 113 and 300 K in three mutually perpendicular planes. The calculated results of the Cu2+ doped [Zn(mein)2(H2O)4]·(sac)2 indicate that Cu2+ ion contains two different complexes and each complexes are located in different chemical environments and each environment contains two magnetically inequivalent Cu2+ sites in distinct orientations occupying substitutional positions in the lattice. The vibrational spectra of this compound were discussed in relation to other compounds containing methyl isonicotinate and saccharinate complexes. The assignments of the observed bands were discussed.     

Differentiation of the diastereomeric synthetic precursors of isofebrifugine and febrifugine by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Febrifugine is an alkaloid with potent antimalarial activity isolated from Dichroa febrifuga and Hydrangea umbellate, and it exists naturally with its diastereomeric component, isofebrifugine. Here we report the differentiation of diastereomeric synthetic precursors of isofebrifugine (1, cis) and febrifugine (2, trans) and a structurally similar model diastereomeric pair without a halogen substituent (3 and 4) by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry. Compounds 1-4 contain a tert-butoxycarbonyl (BOC) substituent, and the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of the [M+H](+), [M+Na](+) and [M+Li](+) ions of 1-4 include the expected product ions corresponding to the loss of C(4)H(8) (isobutene) and of C(5)H(8)O(2) (BOC-H). Loss of C(5)H(8)O(2) is dominant in cis isomers (1 and 3) and/or loss of C(4)H(8) ions is dominant in trans isomers (2 and 4). The decomposition of [M+H](+) ions shows stereoselectivity in the formation of the [M+H-(BOC-H)-C(3)H(5)OBr](+) and [M+H-(BOC-H)-C(6)H(5)CH(2)OH](+) ions. The [M+Cat](+) ions (where Cat = Na or Li) additionally show loss of NaBr and HBr from [M+Cat-(BOC-H)](+), and these product ions are constantly more abundant in cis isomers than in trans isomers. The stereoselectivity for the product ion corresponding to the loss of [(BOC-H)+C(3)H(5)OBr] from [M+H](+) ions differs from that from [M+Cat](+) ions.     

Liquid chromatography with dual parallel mass spectrometry and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for analysis of sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin. I. Bovine brain and chicken egg yolk

Liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), in parallel, was used for detection of bovine brain and chicken egg sphingolipids (SLs). APCI-MS mass spectra exhibited mostly ceramide-like fragment ions, [Cer-H(2)O+H](+) and [Cer-2H(2)O+H](+), whereas ESI-MS produced mostly intact protonated molecules, [M+H](+). APCI-MS/MS and MS(3) were used to differentiate between isobaric SLs. APCI-MS/MS mass spectra exhibited long-chain base related fragments, [LCB](+) and [LCB-H(2)O](+), that allowed the sphinganine backbone to be differentiated from the sphingenine backbone. Fragments formed from the fatty amide chain, [FA(long)](+) and [FA(short)](+), allowed an overall fatty acid composition to be determined. The presence of both dihydrosphingomyelin (DSM) and sphingomyelin (SM) sphingolipid classes was confirmed using (31)P NMR spectroscopy.     

Gas phase ion chemistry of charged silver(I) adenine ions via multistage mass spectrometry experiments and DFT calculations

Electrospray ionization (ESI) of solutions containing adenine and AgNO(3) yields polymeric [Ad(x)+ Ag(y)-zH]((y-z)+) species. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to examine potential structures for several of the smaller ions while multistage mass spectrometry experiments have been used to probe their unimolecular reactivity (via collision-induced dissociation (CID)) and bimolecular reactivity (via ion-molecule reactions with the neutral reagents acetonitrile, methanol, butylamine and pyridine). DFT calculations of neutral adenine tautomers and their silver ion adducts provide insights into the binding modes of adenine. We find that the most stable [Ad + Ag](+) ion does not correspond to the most stable neutral adenine tautomer, consistent with previous studies that have shown that transition metal ions can stabilize rare tautomeric forms of nucleobases. Both the charge and the stoichiometry of the [Ad(x)+ Ag(y)-zH]((y-z)+) complexes play pivotal roles in directing the types of fragmentation and ion-molecule reactions observed. Thus, [Ad(2)+ Ag(2)](2+) is observed to dissociate to [Ad + Ag](+) and to react with butylamine via proton transfer, while [Ad(2)+ Ag(2)- H](+) fragments via loss of neutral adenine to form the [Ad + Ag(2)- H](+) ion and does not undergo proton transfer to butylamine. DFT calculations on several isomeric [Ad(2)+ Ag(2)](2+) ions suggest that planar centrosymmetric cations, in which two adjacent silver atoms are bridged by two N7H adenine tautomers via N(3),N(9)-bidentate interactions, are the most stable. The [Ad + Ag(2)-H](+) ion adds two neutral reagents in ion-molecule reactions, consistent with the presence of two vacant coordination sites. It undergoes a silver atom loss to form the [Ad + Ag - H](+) radical cation, which in turn fragments quite differently to the even electron [Ad + Ag](+) ion. Several other pairs of radical cation/even electron adenine-silver complexes were also found to undergo different fragmentation reactions.     

Selenadiazolopyridine: a synthon for supramolecular assembly and complexes with metallophilic interactions

The synthesis and characterization of the complexes of Cu(I), Ag(I), Cu(II), and Co(II) ions with 1,2,5-selenadiazolopyridine (psd) is reported. The following complexes have been prepared: [Cu(2)(psd)(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+)2(PF(6)(-)); [(CuCl)(2)(psd)(3)]; [Cu(2)(psd)(6)](2+)2(ClO(4))(-); [Ag(2)(psd)(2)](2+)2(NO(3))(-); [Ag(2)(psd)(2)](2+)2(CF(3)COO)(-); [Cu(psd)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](2+)2(ClO(4))(-)·(psd)(2); [Cu(psd)(4)(H(2)O)](2+)2(ClO(4))(-)·(CHCl(3)); [Cu(psd)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](2+)2(NO(3))(-)·(H(2)O)·(psd)(2), and [Co(psd)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](2+)2(ClO(4))(-)·(psd)(2). The electronic structure of ligand psd, in particular the bond order of Se-N bonds, has been probed by X-ray diffraction, (77)Se NMR, and computational studies. A detailed analysis of the crystal structures of the ligand and the complexes revealed interesting supramolecular assembly. The assembly was further facilitated by the presence of neutral ligands for some complexes (Cu(II) and Co(II)). The molecular structure of the ligand showed that it was present as a dimer in the solid state where the monomers were linked by strong secondary bonding Se···N interactions. The crystal structures of Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes revealed the dinuclear nature with characteristic metallophilic interactions [M···M] (M = Cu, Ag), while the Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes were mononuclear. The presence of M···M interactions has been further probed by Atoms in Molecules (AIM) calculations. The paramagnetic Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes have been characterized by UV-vis, ESI spectroscopy, and room temperature magnetic measurements.     

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange reactions of cis- and trans-cyclopropane derivatives with D(2)O and CD(3)OD in the gas phase

Gas-phase hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange reactions involving four isomeric cyclopropane derivatives were investigated under chemical ionization (CI) conditions, using D(2)O and CD(3)OD as reagent gases. There are abundant ions at [M + 1](+), [M + 2](+) and [M + 3](+) in the D(2)O and CD(3)OD positive-ion CI mass spectra of the two isomer pairs 1, 2 and 3, 4. Their CI mass spectra are identical with each pair, and so are the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of ions [M + 1](+), [M + 2](+) and [M + 3](+) of each of the two isomer pairs. The CID spectra of [M + 1](+) ions indicate that they have common D/H exchange reactions within each pair, which take place between molecular ions and deuterium-labeling reagents to form the [M - H + D](+) ions. Those of their [M + 2](+) ions show that they have common D/H exchange reactions within each pair, which form the [M(d1) + H](+) ions. Those of their [M + 3](+) ions show that they have common D/H exchange reactions within each pair, which take place between the [M(d1)] and deuterium-labeling reagents to produce [M(d2) + H](+) for the isomer pair 1, 2 and [M(d1) + D](+) for the isomer pair 3, 4. The number and position, and active order of the active hydrogen atoms of the isomer pairs 1, 2 and 3, 4 were determined. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.