Interpretation of TOF-SIMS data based on information entropy of spectra

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), when used for the analysis of complex material samples, typically provides data that are complicated and challenging to understand. Therefore, additional data analysis techniques, such as multivariate analysis, are often required to facilitate the interpretation of TOF-SIMS data. In this study, a new method based on the information entropy (Shannon entropy) is proposed as an indicator of the outline characteristics of an unknown sample, such as changes in the material within the sample and mixing conditions. The Shannon entropy values are calculated using the relative intensity of every secondary ion normalized to the total ion count and reflect the diversity of secondary ions in the spectrum. Mixed samples containing two organic electroluminescence materials of different ratios, multilayers of Irganox 1010, and other organic materials were employed to evaluate the utility of Shannon entropy in the analysis of TOF-SIMS data. The findings demonstrate that the Shannon entropy of a spectrum indicates differences in materials and changes in the conditions of a material in a sample without the need for peak identification or the knowledge of specific peaks corresponding to the materials in the sample.     

Food metabolomics: Latest hardware—developments for nontargeted food authenticity and food safety testing

The analytical requirements for food testing have increased significantly in recent years. On the one hand, because food fraud is becoming an ever-greater challenge worldwide, and on the other hand because food safety is often difficult to monitor due to the far-reaching trade chains. In addition, the expectations of consumers on the quality of food have increased, and they are demanding extensive information. Cutting-edge analytical methods are required to meet these demands. In this context, non-targeted metabolomics strategies using mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers (mass spectrometry [MS]) have proven to be very suitable. MS-based approaches are of particular importance as they provide a comparatively high analytical coverage of the metabolome. Accordingly, the efficiency to address even challenging issues is high. A variety of hardware developments, which are explained in this review, have contributed to these advances. In addition, the potential of future developments is highlighted, some of which are currently not yet commercially available or only used to a comparatively small extent but are expected to gain in importance in the coming years.     

Origin of the different reactivity of the high-valent coinage-metal complexes [RCuiiiMe3]− and [RAgiiiMe3]− (R=allyl)**

High-valent tetraalkylcuprates(iii ) and -argentates(iii ) are key intermediates of copper- and silver-mediated C−C coupling reactions. Here, we investigate the previously reported contrasting reactivity of [RMⁱⁱⁱ Me₃]⁻ complexes (M=Cu, Ag and R=allyl) with energy-dependent collision-induced dissociation experiments, advanced quantum-chemical calculations and kinetic computations. The gas-phase fragmentation experiments confirmed the preferred formation of the [RCuMe]⁻ anion upon collisional activation of the cuprate(iii ) species, consistent with a homo-coupling reaction, whereas the silver analogue primarily yielded [AgMe₂]⁻, consistent with a cross-coupling reaction. For both complexes, density functional theory calculations identified one mechanism for homo coupling and four different ones for cross coupling. Of these pathways, an unprecedented concerted outer-sphere cross coupling is of particular interest, because it can explain the formation of [AgMe₂]⁻ from the argentate(iii ) species. Remarkably, the different C−C coupling propensities of the two [RMⁱⁱⁱ Me₃]⁻ complexes become only apparent when properly accounting for the multi-configurational character of the wave function for the key transition state of [RAgMe₃]⁻. Backed by the obtained detailed mechanistic insight for the gas-phase reactions, we propose that the previously observed cross-coupling reaction of the silver complex in solution proceeds via the outer-sphere mechanism.     

气驱油油气混相过程的界面传质特性及其分子机制

油气混相过程的界面传质特性对气驱提高原油采收率技术非常重要。本文针对吉林某油田的实际油组分,采用分子动力学模拟研究了气驱油过程,分析了不同气体和驱替压力下油气两相的状态变化以及界面特性,获得不同驱替气体的最小混相压力(MMP)。结果表明,随着驱替气体压力的升高,气相的密度逐渐增大,油相膨胀密度降低,气相与油相的混合程度增强,油气两相界面厚度增加,界面张力随之减小。同时发现,驱替相中二氧化碳浓度越高,在同等气体压力下,油气界面更厚,油气混合程度更高。纯CO₂驱油得到的MMP远远小于纯N₂驱油,当这两种气体摩尔比为1 : 1混合时MMP介于两种纯气体之间,说明要达到同样的驱油效果二氧化碳需要的压力更小。最后,本文从分子微观作用力角度解释了驱替气体不同时影响油气混相程度的机制,通过分子平均作用势曲线发现油相分子对CO₂的吸引力要大于N₂分子,因此CO₂分子更容易与油相混合,驱替效果更明显。     

Quantum Chemistry-based Molecular Dynamics Simulations as a Tool for the Assignment of ESI-MS/MS Spectra of Drug Molecules

In organic mass spectrometry, fragment ions provide important information on the analyte as a central part of its structure elucidation. With increasing molecular size and possible protonation sites, the potential energy surface (PES) of the analyte can become very complex, which results in a large number of possible fragmentation patterns. Quantum chemical (QC) calculations can help here, enabling the fast calculation of the PES and thus enhancing the mass spectrometry-based structure elucidation processes. In this work, the previously unknown fragmentation pathways of the two drug molecules Nateglinide (45 atoms) and Zopiclone (51 atoms) were investigated using a combination of generic formalisms and calculations conducted with the Quantum Chemical Mass Spectrometry (QCxMS) program. The computations of the de novo fragment spectra were conducted with the semi-empirical GFNn-xTB (n=1, 2) methods and compared against Orbitrap measured electrospray ionization (ESI) spectra in positive ion mode. It was found that the unbiased QC calculations are particularly suitable to predict non-evident fragment ion structures, sometimes contrasting the accepted generic formulation of fragment ion structures from electron migration rules, where the “true” ion fragment structures are approximated. For the first time, all fragment and intermediate structures of these large-sized molecules could be elucidated completely and routinely using this merger of methods, finding new undocumented mechanisms, that are not considered in common rules published so far. Given the importance of ESI for medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and metabolomics, this approach can significantly enhance the mass spectrometry-based structure elucidation processes and contribute to the understanding of previously unknown fragmentation pathways.     

液相色谱-四极杆/飞行时间质谱法分析29种芬太尼类物质及其碎裂机理北大核心CSCD

芬太尼类物质品种繁多,自我国整类列管后,整类检测是该领域的重点和难点。该文详细研究了29种化合物的二级质谱碎片离子碎裂机理,总结出芬太尼类物质的碎裂规律和特点,为芬太尼物质的整类筛查检测提供参考。建立了分析29种芬太尼类物质的一级和二级质谱库的定性方法,建立了液相色谱-四极杆/飞行时间质谱(LC-QTOF-MS)检测29种芬太尼类物质的定量方法。药品和白色粉末类、蛋白质和乳饮料类样品经乙腈提取,含糖固体或粉末类、饮用水类、果蔬饮料类、保健饮料类、茶饮料类、酒类样品经10%乙腈水溶液提取,提取液经涡旋、离心和过膜后,采用Kinetex C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,2.6μm)分离,以乙腈和0.08%甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,采用四极杆/飞行时间质谱,在正离子模式下,外标法定量检测。结果表明,29种芬太尼类物质在1~20μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.995,检出限(LOQ)均为0.01 mg/kg,定量限(LOQ)均为0.05 mg/kg,在降糖药、露露、葡萄糖粉、珍露保健饮料和巧克力样品中3个加标水平平均回收率为85.2%~112.9%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.9%~19.8%(n=6)。该方法操作简单,耗时短,灵敏度高,稳定性好,检测品种覆盖范围广,适用于药品类、含糖固体或粉末类、饮料类、饮用水类和酒类等样品中29芬太尼类物质的定性和定量检测。     

基于共价有机骨架材料的磁固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定水中4种杀菌剂

杀菌剂在环境中长期富集后会引起土壤和植物病害,并能借助雨水或灌溉渗透到深层土壤和地下水中,威胁水体环境和人体健康。因此针对水中杀菌剂开发简单快速、高效灵敏的分析方法至关重要。该研究通过原位合成法制备了磁性共价有机骨架材料Fe₃O₄@TpBD,将其作为萃取吸附剂,富集环境水体中苯并咪唑杀菌剂(噻菌灵、麦穗宁、多菌灵)和有机硫杀菌剂(稻瘟灵)。利用Fe₃O₄@TpBD与杀菌剂之间的π-π共轭、氢键和静电作用进行吸附,结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(UHPLC-MS/MS)进行检测,建立了测定水中4种痕量杀菌剂的分析方法。通过透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射及傅里叶变换红外光谱等方式对Fe₃O₄@TpBD进行表征,以证明材料的成功合成。对萃取条件进行一系列的优化(Fe₃O₄@TpBD的磁性比例及用量、水样pH、吸附时间、洗脱液的种类及体积、洗脱时间、NaCl含量),确定了最佳萃取条件。4种杀菌剂在3~1200 ng/L的范围内线性关系良好,线性相关系数均大于0.998,方法的检出限和定量限分别为0.06~0.28 ng/L和0.20~0.92 ng/L。在15、150和600 ng/L 3个加标水平下进行加标回收试验,日内和日间精密度分别为2.8%~10.0%和4.4%~15.7%。将该方法用于实际水样的检测,4种杀菌剂的加标回收率为77.1%~119.1%,在水库水中检测出多菌灵,含量为27.5 ng/L。该方法灵敏度高,准确度和精密度良好,操作简单,耗时短。     

高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱法快速分析三子散的入血成分及代谢产物

蒙药三子散由诃子、川楝子、栀子3味药材等比例组成,其临床用药主要采用口服给药方式,药物在体内的吸收、分布、代谢、排泄过程与药物发挥药理作用和疗效的产生密切相关,因此考察灌胃给药后的入血成分有助于阐明三子散的药效物质基础。研究采用血清药物化学研究思路,将Wistar大鼠分成空白组和给药组,给药组给予三子散水提物,腹主动脉取血,离心制备血清样品,采用高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱(HPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS),在SHIMADZU GIST C₁₈色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm)上进行色谱分离;以甲醇和0.1%(v/v)甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,柱温30 ℃,流速0.5 mL/min,进样量10 μL,采用加热电喷雾电离(HESI)源,正、负离子同时扫描。通过比对三子散含药血清和空白血清的图谱差异,查阅数据库、各类成分体内代谢途径、三子散成分的相关文献,采用Xcalibur 3.0软件进行峰提取、峰匹配等质谱数据处理,结合Compound Discover 3.0软件对化合物代谢途径的预测分析和裂解规律的推断,解析三子散水提液经大鼠灌胃后血清中的原型成分和代谢产物。结果表明,在给药大鼠血清样品中鉴定出55种入血成分,其中41种原型成分,14种代谢产物。入血的原型成分主要为鞣质类、环烯醚萜类和小分子酚酸类。该研究较为全面地阐释了三子散水提液在大鼠血中的移行成分,有助于揭示三子散的药效物质基础,为该药的临床应用提供参考。     

加速溶剂提取-同位素稀释-高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱法测定生物样品中82种多氯联苯

我国水产品中多氯联苯(PCBs)的检测方法,主要以6种指示性PCBs和12种二噁英类共平面PCBs为主,仅涵盖有限的PCBs。为更全面地获得生物体中PCBs的浓度水平,深入探讨PCBs在生物体内的代谢和富集特征,进而准确评价PCBs对人类的暴露水平及风险,以鱼和贝类作为生物样品代表,建立了加速溶剂提取-同位素稀释-高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱(ASE-ID-HRGC-HRMS)测定生物样品中82种PCBs的方法。比较了振荡提取和加速溶剂提取两种提取方式的回收率和重复性,最终采用正己烷-二氯甲烷(1∶1, v/v)对PCBs进行加速溶剂提取。考察了各流分淋洗液对PCBs的回收率,确定了样品提取液经8 g 44%酸性硅胶层析柱(内径15 mm), 90 mL正己烷洗脱的净化方式。样品提取液净化浓缩后进行HRGC-HRMS分析,色谱柱采用DB-5MS超低流失石英毛细管柱(60 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)。通过优化后的升温程序对化合物进行分离,以保留时间和两个特征离子精准定性,采用同位素内标法定量。结果表明,在0.1~200 μg/L范围内,平均相对响应因子(RRF)的相对标准偏差值(RSD, n=7)均≤20%,相关系数(r²)>0.99。生物样品中PCBs的方法检出限为0.02~3 pg/g;鱼类中PCBs平均加标回收率为71.3%~141%, RSD(n=7)为2.1%~14%;贝类中PCBs平均加标回收率为76.9%~143%, RSD为1.4%~11%。该方法灵敏、准确、可靠,可以更加全面具体地分析鱼和贝类等水产品受PCBs的污染情况,为国内外开展生物监测提供有效的技术支持,从而服务于相关生态环境管理及履行《斯德哥尔摩公约》。     

分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定水产品中5种硝基咪唑类和6种苯二氮卓类药物北大核心CSCD

建立了分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定水产品中5种硝基咪唑类和6种苯二氮卓类药物残留的方法。样品用1%(v/v)氨水乙腈提取,提取液经十八烷基键合硅胶(C18)和N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)吸附剂净化,在45℃下用氮气吹至近干,用1 mL甲醇-水(1∶9,v/v)溶液复溶,过0.22μm尼龙-66滤膜后用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱测定。目标化合物采用Kinetex F5色谱柱(100 mm×3.0 mm,2.6μm)分离,以0.1%(v/v)甲酸水溶液和甲醇作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源(ESI)、正离子扫描和多反应监测(MRM)模式下进行测定,基质匹配外标法定量。结果表明,5种硝基咪唑类和6种苯二氮卓类药物在8.5 min内完成色谱分离分析,目标物在0.5~20μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.995,检出限和定量限分别为0.2~0.5μg/kg和0.5~1.0μg/kg。以草鱼、对虾和大黄鱼为样品基质,在3个不同的添加水平下,5种硝基咪唑类和6种苯二氮卓类药物的平均回收率为73.2%~110.6%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于15%。本研究建立的方法具有简单、快速、灵敏度高和成本低等优势,可用于水产品中5种硝基咪唑类和6种苯二氮卓类药物的快速检测。该方法的建立为我国水产品质量安全相关监管部门同时监控水产品中硝基咪唑类和苯二氮卓类药物残留提供了技术支持。