An alternative sampling algorithm for use in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry experiments

In liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analyses of complex peptide mixtures, dynamic exclusion functions are used to minimize repeat selections of identical precursors for collision induced dissociation (CID). We describe a new algorithm for the dynamic exclusion of m/z values during LC/MS/MS. Full-scan based peak exclusion (Fulspec) uses a simplified model of chromatographic peak formation to detect and exclude contaminants present throughout the run or that lead to broad peaks. Therefore, instead of excluding peptides from fragment analysis according to a rigidly predefined time window, the chromatographic properties of the detected analytes are used. The algorithm was tested on two datasets derived from previously published experiments. Fulspec achieves a distribution of CID spectra with minimal tailing on the retention time axis, without resorting to rigid exclusion of m/z values. The procedure further excludes intensities with a bias towards low-quality CID spectra. This combination frees up valuable analytical capacity. The underlying intensity vs. quality analyses challenge the assumption that abundant precursors automatically give the best identifications. Further validation of the algorithm will require its incorporation by equipment manufacturers into the instrument control programs.     

Phenylsulfonyl ene-allenes as efficient precursors to bicyclic systems via intramolecular [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions

Various phenylsulfonyl allene derivatives were prepared with double bonds tethered either to the alpha-position or the gamma-position of the allene. These substrates underwent a highly regio- and stereospecific thermal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition across the nonactivated cumulene double bond, forming distal cycloadducts (i.e., 57) in the case of alpha-tethered allenes and proximal adducts (i.e., 25) in the case of gamma-tethered allenes. The mechanistic rationale for the observed stereospecificity involves initial diradical formation, followed by a rapid ring closure to the more stable cis-fused ring system. The tether may be equipped with heteroatoms, allowing for the formation of fused heterocycles (e.g., 61), and the cycloaddition can be facilitated by the introduction of sterically bulky groups and/or by conformational rigidity to the tether. Other modes of cyclization were observed in the presence of sodium benzenesulfinate or Lewis acids, in which cases polar mechanisms prevail. The chemoselectivity is reversed for [4 + 2]-cycloadditions, which prefer instead to engage the vinyl sulfone moiety, independent of whether the tether is attached to the alpha- or gamma-position of the allene.     

Zur Synthese von fungizid wirksamen Isocamphanderivaten: Synthesen in der Isocamphanreihe, 34. Mitt.

Summary Some esters of isocamphenilanic acid (4) have been prepared and tested for their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. Esters of various acids with isocamphanyl ethylalcohol (5) have also been synthesized and included in the fungicidal/acaricidal/insecticidal screening programme. All esters bear a geminal dimethyl group at C-3 of the bicyclus which is important because of its shielding effect.

     

Gaseous alkyne ions

Using the relative abundance of metastable ions, collisional activation spectra, field ionization kinetic measurements, isotopic labelling, appearance energy and kinetic energy release data, it is shown that linear alkyne radical cations with more than six carbon atoms do not isomerize to equilibrating structures prior to decomposition. At the shortest ion lifetimes the molecular ions of linear alkynes decompose mainly by simple β-bond fission which allows an unequivocal localization of the triple bond. At medium ion lifetimes fragmentation occurs predominantly via a McLafferty rearrangement, while at long ion lifetimes competing alkyl losses prevail. These alkyl losses occur via cyclic intermediates leading to thermochemically stable cycloalkenyl ions. All these reactions occur with a high specificity with respect to the carbon and hydrogen atoms involved and are preceded by little or no hydrogen exchange reactions.     

2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene as a probe for homoaromatic molecules of the Dewar-Hoffman type

The 2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene (2d) synthesized via the bicyclo[3.3.0]octanedione 7 exists as a classical ground state which is lower in energy by less than 5 kcal/mole than the homoaromatic transition of the Cope rearrangement of 2d.     

Computational study on mechanistic details of the aminoethanol rearrangement catalyzed by the vitamin B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia lyase: His and Asp/Glu acting simultaneously as catalytic auxiliaries

The rearrangement of aminoethanol catalyzed by ethanolamine ammonia lyase is investigated by computational means employing DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) and ab initio molecular orbital theory (QCISD/cc-pVDZ). The study aims at providing a detailed account on various crucial aspects, in particular a distinction between a direct intramolecular migration of the partially protonated NH(2) group vs elimination of NH(4)(+). Three mechanistic scenarios were explored: (i) According to the calculations, irrespective of the nature of the protonating species, intramolecular migration of the NH(3) group is energetically less demanding than elimination of NH(4)(+). However, all computed activation enthalpies exceed the experimentally derived activation enthalpy (15 kcal/mol) associated with the rate-determining step, i.e., the hydrogen abstraction from the 5'-deoxyadenosine by the product radical. For example, when imidazole is used as a model system for His interacting with the NH(3) group of the substrate, the activation enthalpy for the migration process amounts to 27.4 kcal/mol. If acetic acid is employed to mimic Asp or Glu, the activation enthalpy is somewhat lower, being equal to 24.2 kcal/mol. (ii) For a partial deprotonation of the substrate 2 at the OH group, the rearrangement mechanism consists of the dissociation of an NH(2) radical from C(2) and its association at C(1) atom. For all investigated proton acceptors (i.e., OH(-), HCOO(-), CH(3)COO(-), CH(2)NH, imidazole), the activation enthalpy for the dissociation step also exceeds 15 kcal/mol. Typical data are 20.2 kcal/mol for Ac(-) and 23.8 kcal/mol for imidazole. (iii) However, in a synergistic action of partial protonation of the NH(2) group and partial deprotonation of the OH group by the two conceivable catalytic auxiliaries Asp/Glu and His, the activation enthalpy computed is compatible with the experimental data. For imidazole and acetate as model systems, the activation enthalpy is equal to 13.7 kcal/mol. This synergistic action of the two catalytic groups is expected to take place in a physiologically realistic pH range of 6-9.5, and the present computational findings may help to further characterize the yet unknown structural details of the ethanolamine ammonia lyase's active site.     

Dehydration of Alkanones by Bare FeO+ Involves the ω/(ω − 1) Positions: Exclusion of Iron Carbenes as Intermediates. Preliminary Communication

Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry has been used to uncover the mechanisms by which FeO⁺ dehydrates heptan-4-one ( 5a ) and nonan-5-one ( 6a ) in the gas phase. The study of isotopomeric ketones provides evidence that H₂O loss is not due to a 1,1-elimination, thus ruling out the intermediacy of high-valent iron-carbene species. Rather, H₂O is generated in a formal 1,2-elimination involving the ω/ω ? 1 positions of the alkyl chain (‘remote C? H bond activation’). In the consecutive alkene/H₂O elimination, the olefins (ethylene from 5a and propene from 6a ) originate from the terminal part of one alkyl chain, and the H-atom is transferred to the FeO⁺ moiety in the course of this process, builds up together with an H-atom from the ω/ω-1 position of the other alkyl chain the H₂O molecule. In either case, the O-atom of H₂O is provided by the FeO⁺ species.     

Preparation,Characterisation, and Structure of N-Methylated Derivatives of 1,3,5-Triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol: Polyalcohols with Unusual Acidity

1,3,5-Trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(dimethylamino)-cis-inositol (TDCI) and 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(trimethylammonio)-cis-inositol (TTCI) were prepared by methylation of 1,3,5-triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol (TACI). The ability of TDCI to form both intermolecular and intramolecular H-bonds, as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, is probably responsible for the good solubility of TDCI in almost every common solvent. TTCI was found to be a polyol of unusual high acidity (pK₁ = 8.14 ± 0.02, pK₂ = 13.0 ± 0.2). This phenomenon could be explained by electrostatic interactions between the charged substituents of the cyclohexane residue.     

Elektronenstruktur,Spektren und Magnetismus von Chinon-π-Komplexen des Nickels

Zusammenfassung Die Elektronenstrukturen von Bis-durochinon-nickel(0) und der Komplexe vom Typ Olefin-Ni(0)-Chinon werden im Rahmen der LCAO-MO-Näherung diskutiert und zur Deutung der Absorptionsspektren herangezogen. Den im freien Durochmon auftretenden Übergängen lassen sich in den Komplexspektren jeweils nur wenig verschobene Banden zuordnen. Darüber hinaus wird eine intensive Charge-Transfer-Bande beobachtet, die einem Übergang vom höchsten besetzten Nickelzustand zum tiefsten unbesetzten Chinon-Orbital entspricht. Aus der Intensität der Bande, die im freien Chinon dem b _3g 2b ₂ g-Übergang zugeordnet wird, ergibt sich für das gelöste Bis-durochinon-nickel(0)-Molekül die Symmetrie D _2h . Während die Komplexe mit Durochinon in Übereinstimmung mit der Theorie diamagnetisch sind, weisen die analogen Verbindungen der Dimethylchinone magnetische Momente von 1,52 bzw. 2,75 B. M. auf, woraus auf eine Mitbeteiligung polarer Strukturen am Grundzustand dieser Komplexe geschlossen wird.

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The electronic structures of bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) and complexes of the type olefine-Ni(0)-quinone are discussed in the MO-LCAO approximation and used for an interpretation of the absorption spectra. The transitions of the free duroquinone can be correlated with transitions of the complexes at nearly the same wavelengths. In addition, an intense charge transfer band is observed which corresponds to a transition from the highest occupied nickel orbital to the lowest unoccupied quinone orbital. From the intensity of the band which corresponds to b _3g 2b_2g in the free quinone, the symmetry D _2h for the dissolved bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) molecule is deduced. Whereas the duroquinone complexes are diamagnetic in agreement with theory, analogous compounds of the diméthylquinones exhibit magnetic momenta of 1.52 and 2.75 B. M. suggesting the participation of polar structures in the ground state of these complexes.

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Résumé Les structures électroniques du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) et des complexes du type oléfine-Ni(0)-quinone sont discutées dans le cadre del'approximationMO-LCAO et utilisées pour l'interprétation des spectres d'absorption. Aux transitions de la duroquinone libre peuvent être attribuées des bandes peu déplacées dans les spectres des complexes. En outre on observe une bande intense correspondant à une transition de la plus haute orbitale occupée du nickel à la plus basse orbitale libre de la quinone. L'intensité de la bande nommée b _3g 2b _2g dans la quinone libre indique la symétrie D _2h pour la molécule dissoute du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0). Tandis que les complexes de la duroquinone sont diamagnétiques en accord avec la théorie, des composés analogues des diméthylquinones présentent des moments magnétiques de 1,52 et de 2,75 B. M. d'où l'on infère la participation de structures polaires à l'état fondamental de ces complexes.

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6. Mitteilung über Komplexe vom Typ des Bis-durochinon-nickel(0). 5. Mitt. vgl. [11].