Successful MALDI-MS analysis of synthetic polymers with labile end-groups: the case of nitroxide-mediated polymerization using the MAMA-SG1 alkoxyamine

A sample pretreatment was evaluated to enable the production of intact cationic species of synthetic polymers holding a labile end-group using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. More specifically, polymers obtained by nitroxide-mediated polymerization involving the MAMA-SG1 alkoxyamine were stirred for a few hours in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to induce the substitution of a tert-butyl group on the nitrogen of nitroxide end-group by a hydrogen atom. Nuclear magnetic resonance, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations were combined to scrutinize this sample pretreatment from both mechanistic and energetic points of view. The substitution reaction was found to increase the dissociation energy of the fragile C-ON bond to a sufficient extent to prevent this bond to be spontaneously cleaved during MALDI analysis. This TFA treatment is shown to be very efficient regardless of the nature of the polymer, as evidenced by reliable MALDI mass spectrometric data obtained for poly(ethylene oxide), polystyrene and poly(butylacrylate).     

Successful MALDI‐MS Analysis of Synthetic Polymers with Labile End‐Groups: The Case of Nitroxide‐Mediated Polymerization Using the MAMA‐SG1 Alkoxyamine

A sample pretreatment was evaluated to enable the production of intact cationic species of synthetic polymers holding a labile end‐group using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. More specifically, polymers obtained by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization involving the MAMA‐SG1 alkoxyamine were stirred for a few hours in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to induce the substitution of a tert‐butyl group on the nitrogen of nitroxide end‐group by a hydrogen atom. Nuclear magnetic resonance, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations were combined to scrutinize this sample pretreatment from both mechanistic and energetic points of view. The substitution reaction was found to increase the dissociation energy of the fragile C? ON bond to a sufficient extent to prevent this bond to be spontaneously cleaved during MALDI analysis. This TFA treatment is shown to be very efficient regardless of the nature of the polymer, as evidenced by reliable MALDI mass spectrometric data obtained for poly(ethylene oxide), polystyrene and poly(butylacrylate).     

Peroxy and alkoxy radicals from 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol

Quantum mechanical calculations were used to determine the structure and energetics of peroxy radicals (P1 and P2) and alkoxy radicals (A1-A3) formed in the atmospheric degradation of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. At the level of theory employed (B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)) low energy conformers were identified with zero, one, or two hydrogen bonds. The beta C-C scission (decomposition) reactions are computed to occur with low barriers, and the 1,5 H-shift (isomerization) reaction of A2 is computed to be of negligible importance. Scission 2 of A2 is computed to be about 93% of the fate of A2, with the balance being scission 1. The new BB1K functional of Truhlar was employed to investigate activation barriers for single intramolecular H-atom transfers across the OH...O* hydrogen bonds, but the barriers to these reactions appear to be too high for these reactions to be important. Extensive searches for transition states for simultaneous double intramolecular H-atom transfer across OH...OH...O* hydrogen bond pairs were unsuccessful.     

One Pot Synthesis of Surface PEGylated Core–Shell Microparticles by Suspension Polymerization with Surface Enrichment of Biotin/Avidin Conjugation

Core–shell microparticles that consist of poly(vinyl neodecanoate) (VND) crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) as the core and poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA) ( = 360 or = 526 g · mol^?1) as the shell have been synthesized using suspension polymerization by a conventional free radical polymerization process. Interfacial tension and stability tests show that PEGMA acts as an amphiphilic macromonomer and is located on the oil/water interface of the suspension system, thus forming an outer layer during the polymerization. Kinetic studies of the monomers' conversion of VND, EGDMA, and PEGMA have been carried out using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. EGDMA and PEGMA were found to have faster reaction rates compared to VND. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy showed that the polymerization of these particles starts from the shell and finishes towards the core. Consequently, the resulting microsphere is found to have a multi‐layer structure. Biotin was covalently bound to the surface by the PEGMA hydroxy groups. Conjugation of biotin with streptavidin PE (phycoerythrin) was subsequently carried out. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the presence of fluorescing streptavidin. The amount of avidin conjugated to the microspheres was calculated by the release of a 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid/avidin complex using UV/vis spectroscopy. One avidin molecule was found to occupy 7 nm² on the surface of the microspheres.