Analysis of complex mixtures by photoionization mass spectrometry with a vacuum-ultraviolet hydrogen-laser source

Trace organic analysis of a complex matrix presents one of the most challenging problems in analytical mass spectrometry. Inselective electron-impact ionization often requires extensive sample clean-up to isolate the analyte from the matrix. Sample preparation can be greatly reduced when a hydrogen laser is used for selective photoionization of only a small fraction of the compounds introduced into the ion source. This device produces parent ions only for all compounds with ionization potentials that lie below a threshold value limited by the photon energy of 7.8 eV. The only observed interference arises from electron-impact ionization when scattered laser radiation interacts with metal surfaces, producing electrons which are then accelerated by potential fields inside the source. These can be suppressed to levels acceptable for practical analysis through proper instrumental design. Results are presented which indicate the ability of this ion source to discriminate against interfering matrix components in simple extracts from real samples such as brewed coffee, beer, and urine.     

Investigation of Structural Relationships between Racemic Alkali and Ammonium Hydrogen Tartrates and their Chiral Counterparts

Single crystals of racemic anhydrous alkali and ammonium hydrogen tartrates of the composition M(C₄H₅O₆) with M = K, Rb, Cs, NH₄ as well as M_xM′_1?x(C₄H₅O₆) with {M = K, M′ = Rb, x = 0.5}, {M = K, M′ = NH₄, x = 0.56} and {M = Rb, M′ = NH₄, x = 0.61} were obtained from the reaction of D,L‐tartaric acid with the corresponding hydroxides MOH and / or M′OH. These compounds form an isostructural series (monoclinic, P2₁/c, Z = 4). The structures consist of alternating tartrate anion layers and cation layers. Each tartrate layer is held together by a number of hydrogen bonds and contains exclusively either the D or the L‐form of the tartrate. Structural analogies between these crystals and their chiral counterparts are investigated. The smilarity of cell parameters between racemic and chiral structures is shown to be a consequence of certain packing features that occur in both groups.     

Ultrafast exciton relaxation in microcrystalline pentacene films

The exciton dynamics in microcrystalline pentacene films is investigated by transient absorption measurements with 30 fs time resolution. It is found that the emission from photoexcited Frenkel excitons decays within 70 fs due to the ultrafast formation of an excitonic species with a strongly reduced transition dipole to the ground state and an absorption dipole in the plane of the film. We propose that an excimer exciton is formed and stabilized by changes of the local crystal structure. The subsequent dynamics is dominated by diffusion controlled annihilation and trapping.     

Insertion of Amides into a Polyoxometalate

POM alert : The incorporation of an amide oxygen atom into the framework of the Dawson‐type polyoxometalate (POM) cluster [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₂]^9? (see picture) allows the communication of electronic effects between the organic and the inorganic parts of the molecule, including fine‐tuning of the redox properties of the entire hybrid POM by the organic components, and transmission of the POM's electron‐attracting properties to the organic moiety.