International Mass Spectrometry Society (IMSS)

This paper gives a brief description of the recently formalized International Mass Spectrometry Society (IMSS). It is presented here in order to increase awareness of the opportunities for collaboration in mass spectrometry in an international context. It also describes the recent 15th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, held August/September 2000, in Barcelona. Each of the authors is associated with the IMSS. The 15th Conference, which covers all of mass spectrometry on a triennial basis, was chaired by Professor Emilio Gelpi of the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Barcelona. The outgoing and founding President of the IMSS is Professor Graham Cooks, Purdue University, and the incoming President is Professor Nico Nibbering, University of Amsterdam. Similar material has been provided to the Editors of other journals that cover mass spectrometry.

Metal-assisted esterification: glutaric acid-iron(II) complexes in the gas phase

Transition metal ions are routinely used to assist organic reactions; however, direct detection of the intermediates in such reactions is uncommon. Here, we demonstrate a transition metal ion-assisted reaction between glutaric acid (L) and methanol, using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Esterification of glutaric acid does not occur in aqueous methanol solution under ESI conditions, but the FeII-bound acid cluster, [FeII L2 - H]+, adds methanol and dehydrates to give rise to an abundant product ion with a 14 Da increased mass. The occurrence of methyl esterification is supported by collision-induced dissociation and isotopic labeling data, which indicate that the sequence by which the product ion is generated is loss of water, followed by the addition of methanol. Electrospray ionization conditions, specifically the tube lens offset voltage, strongly affect the reaction efficiency, presumably through control of the dehydration process. Other transition metal ions, such as NiII, ZnII, CoII and CuII, also show distinctive metal-assisted reactions.

External interface for trap-and-release membrane introduction mass spectrometry applied to the detection of inorganic chloramines and chlorobenzenes in water

Construction and evaluation of an external configuration trap-and-release membrane introduction system for mass spectrometry is described. This novel interface allows independent control of the temperature of the membrane and eliminates the dependence of membrane heating efficiency on its position in the ion source. The external trap-and-release MIMS configuration is successfully applied to detection of inorganic chloramines and chlorobenzenes. The method is shown to give temporal resolution of volatile vs. semi-volatile compounds, which increases its sensitivity for semi-volatiles in the presence of volatiles and provides an additional selectivity parameter. Further selectivity is provided by tandem mass spectrometry.

Surface modification using a commercial triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

We report instrumental modifications to a commercial mass spectrometer that allow surface modification experiments to be performed using low-energy (electronvolt range) mass-selected ion beams. The design of the detector housing allows placement of the surface on the ion optical axis and some distance beyond the off-axis detector. Manipulation of the potentials applied to the final lens, detector housing, conversion dynode, and electron multiplier allow the ions to pass through the detector housing and impinge upon the surface without loss of the normal mode of detector operation. Ex situ analysis of the modified surface is performed using a home-built multisector mass spectrometer. The ability to modify organic thin films is demonstrated by a number of soft landing and surface modification experiments including (i) soft landing of (CH3)2SiNCS+ ions formed from trimethylsilyl isothiocyanate upon a fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (F-SAM) surface, (ii) soft landing and dissociative soft landing of the pseudomolecular cation of triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate, viz. the triphenylpyrylium cation, upon an F-SAM surface, (iii) dissociative soft landing of 35ClCH2(CH3)2SiOSi(CH3)2+ formed from 1,3-bis(chloromethyl)disiloxane upon an F-SAM surface, (iv) surface passivation by reaction of the trimethylsilyl cation, Si(CH3)3+, with a hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer (OH-SAM), and (v) transhalogenation by reaction of CCl3+ (m/z 119) with an F-SAM surface.

Denitration of nitroaromatic compounds by arylnitrile radical cations

Substituted nitrobenzenes react with substituted benzonitrile radical cations in an ion trap mass spectrometer by a novel ion/molecule reaction involving NO2 elimination. Formation of an arylated nitrile, Ar1+N identical to CAr2 (where Ar1, Ar2 = aryl), is indicated by collision induced dissociation and comparison with the behavior of the authentic ion. Ab initio calculations (MP2/6-31G*/ /HF/6-31G*) show the reaction of the unsubstituted compounds (Ar1, Ar2 = phenyl) to be exothermic by 48 kcal/mol, consistent with the experimental observation that the reaction rate decreases as the collision energy is increased. Electron withdrawing and donating substituents on either the ionic or the neutral reagent have little effect on the relative amount of product observed, pointing to a radical mechanism. Related denitration reactions were found to occur, between nitrobenzene and its radical cation and between phenylisonitrile and ionized nitrobenzene. These reactions are suggested to yield Ar1+N(= O)OAr2 and Ar2+N identical to CAr1, respectively. The denitration reaction was applied to trinitrotoluene (TNT) as a possible diagnostic reaction for the presence of nitroaromatic explosives.

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry: trends and applications

Recent advances in membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) are reviewed. On-line monitoring is treated by focusing on critical variables, including the nature and dimensions of the membrane, and the analyte vapor pressure, diffusivity, and solubility in the membrane barrier. Sample introduction by MIMS is applied in (i) on-line monitoring of chemical and biological reactors, (ii) analysis of volatile organic compounds in environmental matrices, including air, water and soil, and (iii) in more fundamental studies, such as measurements of thermochemical properties, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics. New semipermeable membranes are discussed, including those consisting of thin polymers, low vapor pressure liquids, and zeolites. These membranes have been used to monitor polar compounds, selectively differentiate compounds through affinity-binding, and provide isomer differentiation based on molecular size. Measurements at high spatial resolution, for example, using silicone-capped hypodermic needle inlets, are also covered, as is electrically driven sampling through microporous membranes. Other variations on the basic MIMS experiment include analyte preconcentration through cryotrapping (CT-MIMS) or trapping in the membrane (trap-and-release), as well as differential thermal release methods and reverse phase (i.e., organic solvent) MIMS. Method limitations center on semivolatile compounds and complex mixture analysis, and novel solutions are discussed. Semivolatile compounds have been monitored with thermally assisted desorption, ultrathin membranes and derivatization techniques. Taking advantage of the differences in time of membrane permeation, mixtures of structurally similar compounds have been differentiated by using sample modulation techniques and by temperature-programmed desorption from a membrane interface. Selective ionization techniques that increase instrument sensitivity towards polar compounds are also described, and comparisons are made with other direct sampling (nonchromatographic) methods that are useful in mixture analysis.

Differential non-destructive image current detection in a fourier transform quadrupole ion trap

Dual-detector differential non-destructive Fourier transform detection in a quadrupole ion trap is shown to improve signal intensity and reduce noise compared with spectra recorded using a single detector. A larger area detector in each end-cap electrode is machined to fit its hyperbolic shape and so minimize field imperfections on the z-axis. Argon, acetophenone and bromobenzene spectra were recorded to allow a comparison between single- and dual-detector (differential) modes of detection and to demonstrate the improvement achieved with differential detection. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Characterization of a serial array of miniature cylindrical ion trap mass analyzers

Two small (5 mm internal radius) cylindrical ion traps (CITs) are arranged in series and operated using a single ion source, detector and radio frequency (rf) trapping signal. Ions are trapped in the first CIT and later transferred to the second by applying a direct current (dc) pulse to the endcap electrode of the first trap. This process is facilitated if a second, appropriately timed, retarding dc pulse is applied to the exit endcap electrode of the second trap. Mesh endcaps are used for the CITs to increase the number of ionizing electrons entering the trap and to maximize the transfer efficiency and detected signal. The transfer efficiency is dependent on the amplitude of the dc potential applied to eject the ions from the first trap, the amplitude of the dc potential applied to retain the ions in the second trap, and the period during which the retarding potential is applied. The amplitude and phase of the rf also affect the transfer process. Ions that readily dissociate upon collision have low transfer efficiencies; more stable ions can be transferred with up to 50% efficiency. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SiCl 3 (+) and SiCl (+) affinities for pyridines determined by using the kinetic method with multiple stage mass spectrometry: Agostic effects in the gas phase

Cluster ions, Py1SiCl 3 (+) Py2 and Py1SiCl(+)Py2, where Py1 and Py2 represent substituted pyridines, formed upon reactive collisions of mass-selected SiCl 3 (+) or SiCl(+) cations with a mixture of pyridines, are shown to have loosely bound structures by multiple stage mass spectrometry experiments in a pentaquadrupole mass spectrometer. The fragment ion abundance ratio, ln([Py1SiCl n (+) ]/[Py2SiCl n (+) ]) (n=1 or 3) is used to estimate the relative SiCl 3 (+) or SiCl(+) affinities of the constituent pyridines by the kinetic method. In the case of clusters comprised of meta- and/or para-substituted pyridines (unhindered pyridines), the SiCl 3 (+) and SiCl(+) affinities are shown to display excellent linear correlations with the proton affinities (PAs). On the assumption that the effective temperatures of the SiCl 3 (+) - and SiCl(+)-bound dimers are 555 K (i. e., the same as those of the corresponding Cl(+)-bound dimers), SiCl 3 (+) and SiCl(+) affinities of the substituted pyridines, relative to pyridine, are estimated to be 3-MePy (2.1 kcal/mol), 4-MePy (3.2 kcal/mol), 3-EtPy (3.7 kcal/mol), 4-EtPy (4.2 kcal/mol), 3,5-diMePy (4.8 kcal/mol), and 3,4-diMePy (5.4 kcal/mol). The SiCl 3 (+) and SiCl(+) cation affinities are related to the proton affinities by the expressions: relative (SiCl 3 (+) ) affinity = 0.95 ΔPA and relative (SiCl(+)) affinity = 0.60 ΔPA. The smaller constant in the relationship between the relative SiCl affinity and the relative proton affinity is the result of weaker bonding.Steric effects between the ortho-substituted alkyl group and the central SiCl 3 (+) cation reduce the SiCl 3 (+) affinities of dimers that contain ortho-substituted pyridines. The magnitude of the steric acceleration of fragmentation is used to measure a set of gas-phase steric parameters (S (k)). The steric effects in the SiCl 3 (+) dimers are similar in magnitude to those in the corresponding Cl(+)-bound dimers but weaker than those produced by the bulky [OCNCO](+) group. An inverted steric effect is observed in those SiCl(+)-bound dimers that incorporate ortho-substituted pyridines and is ascribed to auxiliary Si-H-C bonding, which stabilizes the ortho-substituted pyridine-SiCl(+) bond. This auxiliary bonding appears to correspond to agostic bonding, which is well characterized in solution and occurs in competition with steric effects that weaken the pyridine-SiCl(+) interaction.Ion-molecule reactions of pyridines with halosilicon radical cations SiCl 2 (+) and SiCl 4 (+) as well as alkylated halosilicon cations Si(CH3)2Cl(+) and Si(CH3)Cl 2 (+) also are investigated. In these cases, charge exchange and associated reactions are the main reaction channels, and clustering is not observed.

Chemical modification of fluorinated self-assembled monolayer surfaces by low energy reactive ion bombardment

Reactive collisions of low energy (<100-eV) mass-selected ions are used to chemically modify fluorinated self-assembled monolayer surfaces comprised of alkanethiolate chains CF3(CF2)11(CH2)2S- bound to Au. Typical experiments were done by using 1-nA/cm(2) beams and submonolayer doses of reactant ions. Characterization of the modified surface was achieved by in situ chemical sputtering (60-eV Xe(+·)) and by independent high mass resolution time-of-flight-secondary ionization mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) (15-25-keV, Ga(+)) experiments. Treatment with Si(35)C1 4 (+·) produced a surface from which Xe(+) sputtering liberated CF2 (35)C1(+) ions, which suggested Cl-for-F halogen exchange at the surface. Isotopic labeling studies that used Si(35)Cl2 (37)Cl 2 (+·) ; and experiments with bromine-containing and iodine-containing projectiles, confirmed this reaction. High mass resolution TOF-SIMS spectra, as well as high spatial resolution images, provided further evidence as to the existence of halogen-exchanged species at the bombarded surface. Analogous Cl-for-F halogen substitution was observed in a model gas-phase reaction. The ion-surface reaction is suggested to proceed through an intermediate fluoronium ion in which the projectile is bonded to the target molecule. The most significant conclusion of the study is that selective chemical modification of monolayer surfaces can be achieved by using reactive ion beams, which lead to new covalent bonds at the surface and in the scattered ions.

Multiparticle simulation of ion motion in the ion trap mass spectrometer: Resonant and direct current pulse excitation

A PC-based program that simulates the behavior of a collection of ions is extended to include the effects of collisions with the buffer gas and enhanced visualization methods. The simulations are based on the quadrupole field associated with the actual ion trap electrode structure. Ionization is simulated in such a way as to distribute ionization events randomly over rf phase angles and yield a realistic collection of stored ions. The effects of buffer gas collisions on ion motion during both mass-selective instability and resonance ejection scans are found to include the expected dampening of spatial excursions as well as limitation of the kinetic energy of trapped ions. In both experiments, ion ejection occurs over a number of secular cycles in the vicinity of the theoretical instability point. Activation via a resonant ac signal or a short dc pulse is shown to result in phase-locking of the ions as well as the expected increase in the size of the excursions in the z direction and in ion kinetic energy. Collisions cause dephasing and loss of kinetic energy. Radial dc activation is compared with activation in the axial direction. Experimental data for dc pulse activation of the n-butylbenzene molecular ion are analyzed in phase space and the onset of surface-induced dissociation is correlated with changes in the experimental m/z 91 to m/z 92 fragment ion ratio. Poincaré sections are shown for resonantly excited ions and their value in demonstrating improvement of the resolution of these experiments over conventional mass-selective instability scans is shown.

Polar [4+2(+)] diels-alder cycloaddition to nitrilium and immonium ions in the gas phase: Applications of multiple stage mass spectrometry in a pentaquadrupole instrument

Multiple stage MS(2) and MS(3) mass spectrometric experiments, performed using a pentaquadrupole instrument, are employed to explore the gas-phase ion-molecule chemistry of several nitrilium [R-C≡N(+)-H (1), R-C≡N(+)-CH3 (2), and H-C≡N(+)-C2H5 (3)] as well as immonium ions RR(1)C=N(+)R(2)R(3) (4) with the neutral diene isoprene. Polar [4+2(+)] Diels-Alder cycloaddition is observed for nitrilium ions when the energy gap between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the ion and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the isoprene is small and the competing proton transfer reaction is endothermic. Thus, C-protonated methyl isonitrile H-C≡N(+)-CH3 (2a) and its higher homolog H-C≡N(+)-C2H5 (3a) form abundant [4+2(+)] cycloadducts with isoprene, but several protonated nitriles 1 do not; instead they show exothermic proton transfer as the main ion-molecule reaction. Replacement of the methyne hydrogen in 2a by a methyl, ethyl, or phenyl group (2b-d) raises the LUMO-HOMO gap, which greatly decreases the total yield of ion-molecule products and precludes cycloaddition. On the other hand, the electron-withdrawing acetyl and bromine substituents in 2e and 2f substantially lower the LUMO energy of the ions and cycloaddition reaction occurs readily. The simplest member of the immonium ion series, CH2=NH 2 (+) (4a), reacts readily by cycloaddition, whereas alkyl substitution on either the carbon or nitrogen (4b-f) dramatically lowers the overall reactivity, which substantially decreases or even precludes cycloaddition. In strong contrast, the N-phenyl (4g) and N-acetyl (4h) ions and the N-vinyl-substituted immonium ion, N-protonated 2-aza-butadiene (4i), react extensively with isoprene, mainly by [4+2(+)] cycloaddition. However, the isomeric C-vinyl-substituted ion (4j) displays only modest reactivity in both the proton-transfer and the cycloaddition channels.Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the cycloadducts performed by on-line MS(3) experiments demonstrates that they are covalently bound and supports their assignments as cycloaddition products. Retro Diels-Alder fragmentation is a major process for cycloadducts of both the immonium and the nitrilium ions, but other fragmentation processes also are observed. The cycloadduct of 4a with butadiene displays CID fragmentation identical to that of the authentic ion produced by protonation of 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, which thus strengthens the [4+2(+)] cycloaddition proposal. AM1 calculations also support the formation of the [4+2(+)] cycloadducts, which are shown in several cases to be much more stable than the products of simple addition, that is, the ring-open isomers.

Analysis of nucleotides and oligonucleotides immobilized as self-assembled monolayers by static secondary ion mass spectrometry

Nucleic acid constituents can be bound to a metal surface in the form of self-assembled monolayers. Binding is achieved either through ionic interactions with a self-assembled 2-aminoethanethiol monolayer or by direct covalent binding of a dithiophosphate oligonucleotide to a metal surface through a sulfur-metal bond. Nucleotides, polynucleotides (both normal and a dithiophosphate analog) and double-stranded DNA have all been bound to surfaces. When the surfaces are interrogated using static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), the surface-bound nucleic acid constituents are observed in the form of the characteristic protonated nucleic acid base ions (BH2+). While a silver foil substrate was found to provide the highest absolute signal, vapor-deposited gold yields the best signal-to-noise ratio for ionically bound deoxyguanosine monophosphate. Under comparable conditions, a Cs+ projectile produces a 10-fold increase in the secondary ion signal relative to a Ga+ projectile. The experiment has been extended to a triple-quadrupole instrument where tandem mass spectrometric experiments on ionically immobilized dGMP showed the characteristic loss of ammonia from the released BH2+ ion. When a 'biomimetic' surface formed by ionically immobilizing double-stranded DNA is exposed to a solution containing ethidium bromide, ions corresponding to the non-covalent adduct are readily detectable using SIMS. This adduct and the nucleic acid constituents can be monitored at levels below 10 fmol.

Conformer selection of protein ions by ion mobility in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

Electrospray mass spectra of multiply charged protein molecules show two distinct charge state distributions proposed to correspond to a more highly charged, open conformational form and a lower charged, folded form. Elastic collisions carried out in the radiofrequency-only collision cell of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer have dramatic effects on the appearance of the mass spectra. The different cross sectional areas of the conformers allow preferential selection of one charge state distribution over the other on the basis of ion mobility. Preferential selection is dependent on the nature and pressure of the target gas as well as the nature of the protein. In the case of positively charged horse heart apomyoglobin (MW 16,951 da), a high charge state distribution centered around (M + 20H)(20+) predominates at low target gas pressures and a second distribution centered around (M + 10H)(10+) predominates at high target gas pressures. Bimodal distributions are observed at intermediate pressures and, remarkably, charge states between the two distributions are not effectively populated under most of the conditions examined. Hard sphere collision calculations show large differences in collision frequencies and in the corresponding kinetic energy losses for the two conformational states and they demonstrate that the observed charge state selectivity can be explained through elastic collisions.

Determination of taxanes in Taxus brevifolia extracts by tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography

A tandem mass spectrometric (ms/ms) method using desorption chemical ionization is described for the quantitation of taxol [1], cephalomannine [2], and baccatin III [3] found in Taxus brevifolia bark and needle extracts. A parent ion scan was used to simultaneously determine the weight percentages of 1-3 in bark and needle samples by the method of standard addition. In an alternative experiment, the concentration of 1 in the same samples was determined by ms/ms using trideuterated 10-acetyltaxol [7a] as an internal standard. High-performance liquid chromatography (hplc) was also used to determine the weight percentages of 1-3 in the same T. brevifolia bark and needle extracts with an external standard. The ms/ms method of quantitation by internal standard is the best overall method of analysis examined. With this method, 1 was quantitated in the T. brevifolia extracts at the low picomole level with a relative standard deviation of 17% or better for all samples analyzed with an analysis time of less than five min per sample. The precision, level of quantitation, and speed of analysis of the three methods of taxane quantitation are compared.

XeF(+), IF (+), and other unusual ions generated by reactions of hyperthermal ion beams at self-assembled monolayer surfaces

Collisions of atomic and molecular ions (I(+), Xe(+); CH3I(+), I 2 (+) ) with self-assembled fluoroalkyl-monolayer surfaces result in reactions involving the net transfer of fluorine atoms or fluorocarbon radicals from the surface to the projectile ions. The scattered products, which include unusual ionic species such as IF(+), IF 2 (+) CFI(+); CF2I(+), I2F(+), and XeF(+), are generated in endothermic ion-surface reactions. These reactions are not observed when the collision partner is a gas-phase (rather than a surface-bound) perfluoroalkane. Evidence is presented which suggests that in some cases molecular projectiles undergo surface-induced dissociation to yield atomic species which subsequently react with the surface. Fluorine abstraction is favored for projectiles containing highly polarizable elements.

Surface-Induced dissociation from a liquid surface

Mass-selected projectile ions in the tens of electronvolt energy range undergo surface-induced dissociation upon collision with a liquid perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) surface. The efficiency of translational-to-vibrational (T-V) energy transfer is similar to that observed for a fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface. The thermometer ion W(CO)^' was used to detenrrine an average T-V conversion efficiency of 18% in the collision energy range of 30-50 eV. The surface can be bombarded for several hours without displaying any change in the scattered ion products. Ion-surface reactions occur with some projectiles and are analogous to those seen with the fluorinated SAM surface. For example, WF ▪ (+) (m=1-5) and W(CO)nF ▪ (+) (n=1-2, m=1-2) are generated upon collisions of W(CO) 6 (+) with the PFPE liquid surface. The ion-surface reactions observed suggest that F atoms and/or CF3 groups are accessible for reaction while the oxygen atoms lie below the outermost surface layer. Chemical sputtering of the liquid surface also occurs and yields common fluorocarbon fragment ions, including CF 3 (+) , C2F 5 (+) , and C3F 7 (+) and the oxygenated product CFO(+). The liquid surface is remarkably free of hydrocarbon impurities. Collisions of the pyrazine and benzene molecular ions, both probes for hydrocarbon impurities, resulted in very little protonated pyrazine or protonated benzene.

Determination of positions, velocities, and kinetic energies of resonantly excited ions in the quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer by laser photodissociation

The effects on ion motion caused by the application of a resonance AC dipole voltage to the end-cap electrodes of the quadrupole ion trap are described. An excimer laser is used to photodissociate benzoyl ions, and its triggering is phase locked to the AC voltage to follow the motion of the ion cloud as a function of the phase angle of the AC signal. Resonantly excited ions maintain a coherent motion in the presence of He buffer gas, which dissipates energy from the ions via collisions. Maximum ion displacements, which depend upon the potential well depth (q z value), occur twice each AC cycle. Axial components of ion velocities are determined by differentiating the displacements of the distributions with respect to time. The experimental data show that these velocities are maximized when the ion cloud passes through zero axial displacement, and they compare favorably with results calculated using a simple harmonic oscillator model. Axial components of ion kinetic energies are low (<5 eV) under the chosen experimental conditions. At low values of q2 (≈ 0.2), the width of the ion distribution increases as the ion cloud approaches the center of the trap and decreases as it approaches the end-cap electrodes. This effect is created by compaction of the ion trajectories when ion velocities are decreased.

A rapid screening method for artemisinin and its congeners using ms/ms: search for new analogues in Artemisia annua

A rapid screening method based on tandem mass spectrometry (ms/ms) is described for artemisinin-related compounds present in complex matrices. These compounds produce abundant ammonium adducts, [M + NH4]+, using ammonia desorption chemical ionization (dci), and dissociation of the mass-selected adducts yields the protonated molecules, [M + H]+, which subsequently eliminate characteristic neutral molecules (H2O, CO, HCO2H, HOAc). Neutral loss ms/ms scans which are selective for different elimination reactions were used in order to screen for groups of related analogues present in a crude hexane extract of Artemisia annua. Comparison of ms/ms product spectra of known Artemisia compounds with those of the new analogues provided information on the functional groups and the molecular weights of the new compounds present in the plant, and tentative structures are suggested.

Energy deposition during electron-induced dissociation

We report studies of the internal energy deposited during activation of mass-selected ions through electron-ion collisions. Characteristic fragmentations of the molecular ion of limonene and W(CO) (n/+) (n = 1-6) indicate that electron-induced dissociation in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer proceeds via multiple collisions and that the average internal energy deposited during the activation process can be selected to be similar to that associated with electron-impact ionization. Control of the degree of ion excitation through selection of the electron energy, flux, and interaction time with the ions of interest is demonstrated, and advantages of this promising activation technique are discussed.

Ion-molecule reactions and collision-activated dissociation of C4H 4 (+.) isomers: A case study in the use of the MS (3) capabilities of a pentaquadrupole mass spectrometer

Isomeric C4H 4 (+.) radical cations vinylacetylene (a), butatriene (b), methylene cyclopropene (c), and the nonaromatic cyclobutadiene (d), generated, respectively, from the neutral precursors 3-butyn-1-ol (1), 1,4-dichloro-2-butyne (2), benzene (3), and 7,8-benzotricyclo [4.2.2.0(2,5)]deca-3,7,9-triene (4), undergo diagnostically different ion-molecule reactions with allene, isoprene, furan, and thiophene. It is speculated that adducts are generated by [2 + 2] cycloadditions with the first reagent and [4 + 2] Dials-Alder cycloadditions with isoprene, furan, and thiophene. The initially formed cycloaddition adducts fragment rapidly, isomerize, or undergo further addition of neutral reagent to yield a complex set of products. With a pentaquadrupole mass spectrometer, MS(3) experiments that employ three stages of ion mass analysis are used to help elucidate the ion-molecule reactions and to distinguish the isomeric C(4)H 4 (+.) ions. Among these experiments, the reaction intermediate spectrum reveals the nature of the intermediates connecting the reactant to a selected product while the sequential product spectrum provides mechanistic and structural information on the adducts and other ion-molecule products. The unique combination of ion-molecule reactions with collision-activated dissociation employed here provides valuable information on the chemistry of ionized cyclobutadiene, including its proclivity to undergo [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cyc1oadditions.

Surface-induced dissociation of molecular ions in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

A method is reported by which surface-induced dissociation is used to activate ions stored in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The method employs a short (< 5 /-Is), fast-rising (< 20-ns rise time), high voltage direct current (dc) pulse, which is applied to the endcaps of a standard Paul-type quadrupole ion trap. This is in contrast to the application of an alternating current (ac) signal normally used to resonantly excite and dissociate ions in the trap. The effect of the de pulse is to cause the ions rapidly to become unstable in the radial direction and subsequently to collide with the ring electrode. Sufficient internal energy is acquired in this collision to cause high energy fragmentations of relatively intractable molecular ions such as pyrene and benzene. The dissociations of limonene are used to demonstrate that high energy demand processes increase in relative importance in the dc pulse experiment compared with the usual resonance excitation method used to cause activation. The fragments are scanned out of the ion trap using the conventional mass-selective instability scan mode. Simulations of ion motion in the trap provide evidence that surface collisions occur at kinetic energies in the range of tens to several hundred electronvolts. The experiments also demonstrate that production of fragment ions is sensitive to the phase of the main radiofrequency drive voltage at the point when the dc is initiated.