Factors affecting reactivity in ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Gas phase H+, H3O+ and NH4+ affinities of oxygen-bearing volatile organic compounds; DFT calculations for soft chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

Quantum chemistry calculations were performed using the density functional theory, DFT, to understand the structures and energetics of organic ions relevant to gas phase ion chemistry in soft chemical ionisation mass spectrometry analytical methods. Geometries of a range of neutral volatile organic compound molecules and ions resulting from protonation, the addition of H3O+ and the addition of NH4+ were optimised using the B3LYP hybrid DFT method. Then, the total energies and the normal mode vibrational frequencies were determined, and the total enthalpies of the neutral molecules and ions were calculated for the standard temperature and pressure. The calculations were performed for several feasible structures of each of the ions. The proton affinities of several benchmark molecules agree with the accepted values within ±4 kJ mol-1, indicating that B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) provides chemical accuracy for oxygen-containing volatile organic compounds. It was also found that the binding energies of H3O+ and NH4+ to molecules correlate with their proton affinities. The results contribute to the understanding of ligand switching ion-molecule reactions important for secondary electrospray ionisation, SESI, and selected ion flow tube, SIFT, mass spectrometries.

Kinetics of reactions of NH4 + with some biogenic organic molecules and monoterpenes in helium and nitrogen carrier gases: A potential reagent ion for selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

To assess the suitability of NH₄ ⁺ as a reagent ion for trace gas analysis by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS, its ion chemistry must be understood. Thus, rate coefficients and product ions for its reactions with typical biogenic molecules and monoterpenes need to be experimentally determined in both helium, He, and nitrogen, N₂ , carrier gases.

METHODS

NH₄ ⁺ and H₃ O⁺ were generated in a microwave gas discharge through an NH₃ and H₂ O vapour mixture and, after m/z selection, injected into He and N₂ carrier gas. Using the conventional SIFT method, NH₄ ⁺ reactions were then studied with M, the biogenic molecules acetone, 1-propanol, 2-butenal, trans-2-heptenal, heptanal, 2-heptanone, 2,3-heptanedione and 15 monoterpene isomers to obtain rate coefficients, k, and product ion branching ratios. Polarisabilities and dipole moments of the reactant molecules and the enthalpy changes in proton transfer reactions were calculated using density functional theory.

RESULTS

The k values for the reactions of the biogenic molecules were invariably faster in N₂ than in He but similar in both bath gases for the monoterpenes. Adducts NH₄ ⁺ M were the dominant product ions in He and N₂ for the biogenic molecules, whereas both MH⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ M product ions were observed in the monoterpene reactions; the monoterpene ratio correlating (R²  = 0.7) with the proton affinity, PA, of the monoterpene molecule as calculated. The data indicate that this adduct ion formation is the result of bimolecular rather than termolecular association.

CONCLUSIONS

NH₄ ⁺ can be a useful reagent ion for SIFT-MS analyses of molecules with PA(M) < PA(NH₃ ) when the dominant single product ion is the adduct NH₄ ⁺ M. For molecules with PA(M) > PA(NH₃ ), such as monoterpenes, both MH⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ M ions are likely products, which must be determined along with k by experiment.

An Arabidopsis GCMS chemical ionization technique to quantify adaptive responses in central metabolism

We present a methodology to survey central metabolism in 13CO2-labeled Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) rosettes by ammonia positive chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This technique preserves the molecular ion cluster of methyloxime/trimethylsilyl-derivatized analytes up to 1 kDa, providing unambiguous nominal mass assignment of >200 central metabolites and 13C incorporation rates into a subset of 111 from the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, photorespiratory pathway, amino acid metabolism, shikimate pathway, and lipid and sugar metabolism. In short-term labeling assays, we observed plateau labeling of ∼35% for intermediates of the photorespiratory cycle except for glyoxylate, which reached only ∼4% labeling and was also present at molar concentrations several fold lower than other photorespiratory intermediates. This suggests photorespiratory flux may involve alternate intermediate pools besides the generally accepted route through glyoxylate. Untargeted scans showed that in illuminated leaves, noncyclic TCA cycle flux and citrate export to the cytosol revert to a cyclic flux mode following methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatment. MJ also caused a block in the photorespiratory transamination of glyoxylate to glycine. Salicylic acid treatment induced the opposite effects in both cases, indicating the antagonistic relationship of these defense signaling hormones is preserved at the metabolome level. We provide complete chemical ionization spectra for 203 Arabidopsis metabolites from central metabolism, which uniformly feature the unfragmented pseudomolecular ion as the base peak. This unbiased, soft ionization technique is a powerful screening tool to identify adaptive metabolic trends in photosynthetic tissue and represents an important advance in methodology to measure plant metabolic flux.

Mapping Glyceride Species in Biodiesel by High-Temperature Gas Chromatography Combined with Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Accurate and comprehensive identification of residual glycerides in biodiesel is an important part of fuel characterization due to the impact of glycerides on the fuel physicochemical properties. However, analysis of bound glycerol in biodiesel samples faces challenges due to lack of readily available standards of structurally complex glyceride species in nontraditional biodiesel feedstocks and a risk of misannotation in the presence of impurities in gas chromatographic separations. Here, we evaluate methane and isobutane chemical ionization-single quadrupole mass spectrometry combined with high-temperature gas chromatography separations for mapping monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, and triacylglycerols in biodiesel. Unlike electron impact ionization, which produces mostly in-source fragments, isobutane chemical ionization spectra of tetramethylsilyl-derivatized monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols are dominated by molecular ions and M-SiO(CH₃)₃⁺ ions, which provide important diagnostic information. We demonstrate the utility of isobutane chemical ionization in identifying structurally complex glycerolipid standards as well as species in biodiesel samples from different plant and animal feedstocks.

NH 4 + Association and Proton Transfer Reactions With a Series of Organic Molecules

In this study, we present reactions of NH4+ with a series of analytes (A): acetone (C₃H₆O), methyl vinyl ketone (C₄H₆O), methyl ethyl ketone (C₄H₈O), and eight monoterpene isomers (C₁₀H₁₆) using a Selective Reagent Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (SRI-ToF-MS). We studied the ion-molecule reactions at collision energies of 55 and 80 meV. The ketones, having a substantially lower proton affinity than NH₃, produce only cluster ions NH4+(A) in detectable amounts at 55 meV. At 80 meV, no cluster ions were detected meaning that these adduct ions are formed by strongly temperature dependent association reactions. Bond energies of cluster ions and proton affinities for most monoterpenes are not known and were estimated by high level quantum chemical calculations. The calculations reveal monoterpene proton affinities, which range from slightly smaller to substantially higher than the proton affinity of NH₃. Proton affinities and cluster bond energies allow to group the monoterpenes as a function of the enthalpy for the dissociation reaction NH4+A→AH++NH3. We find that this enthalpy can be used to predict the NH4+(A) cluster ion yield. The present study explains product ion formation involving NH4+ ion chemistry. This is of importance for chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) utilizing NH4+ as well as NH4+(H₂O) as reagent ions to quantitatively detect atmospherically important organic compounds in real-time.

Detection of Low Molecular Weight Adulterants in Beverages by Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry

Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) has been used to detect the presence of non-narcotic adulterants in beverages. The non-narcotic adulterants that were examined in this work incorporated a number low molecular weight alcohols, acetone, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite. Analysis of the adulterants was completed by pipetting 1 µL deposits onto glass microcapillaries along with an appropriate dopant species followed by introduction into the DART gas stream. It was found that detection of these compounds in the complex matrices of common beverages (soda, energy drinks, etc.) was simplified through the use of a dopant species to allow for adduct formation with the desired compound(s) of interest. Other parameters that were investigated included DART gas stream temperature, in source collision induced dissociation, ion polarity, and DART needle voltage. Sensitivities of the technique were found to range from 0.001 % volume fraction to 0.1 % volume fraction, comparable to traditional analyses completed using headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS). Once a method was established using aqueous solutions, , fifteen beverages were spiked with each of the nine adulterants, to simulate real world detection, and in nearly all cases the adulterant could be detected either in pure form, or complexed with the added dopant species. This technique provides a rapid way to directly analyze beverages believed to be contaminated with non-narcotic adulterants at sensitivities similar to or exceeding those of traditional confirmatory analyses.

Qualitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses using amines as chemical ionization reagent gases

Ammonia is a very useful chemical ionization (CI) reagent gas for the qualitative analyses of compounds by positive ion gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). The gas is readily available, inexpensive, and leaves no carbon contamination in the MS source. Compounds of interest to our laboratory typically yield abundant protonated or ammoniated species, which are indicative of a compound's molecular weight. Nevertheless, some labile compounds fragment extensively by substitution and elimination reactions and yield no molecular weight information. In these cases, a CI reagent gas mixture of methylamine in methane prepared dynamically was found to be very useful in obtaining molecular weight data. Likewise, deuterated ammonia and deuterated methylamine are useful CI reagent gases for determining the exchangeable protons in organic compounds. Deuterated methylamine CI reagent gas is conveniently prepared by dynamically mixing small amounts of methylamine with excess deuterated ammonia.

Secondary ozonides of substituted cyclohexenes: a new class of pollutants characterized by collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization

Recent studies indicate that secondary ozonides of cyclic alkenes are formed in atmospheric reactions and may be relatively stable. The secondary ozonides (SOZs) of cyclohexene (1), 1-methylcyclohexene (2), 4-isopropyl-1-methylcyclohexene (3) and 4-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene (limonene) (4) have been characterized by rapid gas chromatography electron ionization (EI), negative and positive chemical ionization (CI: ammonia, isobutane and methane) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectrometry. Both EI and positive CI spectra were found unsuitable for reproducible analysis. However, negative CI showed stable (M-H)(-) ions with minor fragmentation. CID of the (M-H)(-) ions resulted in simple and reproducible fragmentation patterns for all four SOZs with loss of m/z 18, 44 and 60, tentatively assigned as H(2)O, CO(2) and C(2)H(4)O(2) or CO(3), respectively. Thus, negative CI-MS-MS in combination with rapid gas chromatography is the preferred method for identification of secondary ozonides of cyclohexenes.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric investigation of ammonium ion complexes with anomeric 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1alpha- and -1beta-D-ribofuranosyl azides: anomeric and kinetic isotope effects in ammonium affinities

[Methanol + ammonium acetate] solutions of anomeric 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1alpha- and 1beta-ribofuranosyl azides were investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The compounds included d6-labeled and/or unlabeled isopropylidene groups that enable the identification of peaks characteristic of the ammonium-attached monomeric (MNH4(+)), ammonium-bound homodimeric ([M]2NH4(+)) and heterodimeric ([MNH4M1](+)) complex ions in ESI mass spectra of solutions of a pair of compounds. The intensities of the product ion peaks obtained by the collisionally activated ammonium-bound dimeric ions are related to the secondary isotope effect k(alpha)/k(alphad6) = 0.88 and k(beta)/k(betad6) = 1.25 or to isotope plus anomeric effects k(alpha)/k(betad6) = 1.43 and k(beta)/k(alphad6) = 0.59 in the ammonium affinities of these compounds. The calculations of solely anomeric effects in the ammonium affinities of alpha and beta anomeric compounds obtained from the data presented previously give two series of values: k(alpha)/k(beta) = (k(alpha)/k(alphad6))(k(alphad6)/k(beta)) = 1.49 and k(alphad6)/k(betad6) = (k(alphad6)/k(beta))(k(beta)/k(betad6)) = 2.12 or k(alpha)/k(beta) = (k(alpha)/k(betad6))(k(betad6)/k(beta)) = 1.14 and k(alphad6)/k(betad6) = (k(alphad6)/k(alpha))(k(alpha)/k(betad6)) = 1.63. The disparities of these results indicate the different structures of hydrogen bonding in ammonium-bound dimeric complexes which decompose to monomeric ions with different rate constants. Comparison of experimental results obtained by the qualitative approach of the kinetic method and ammonium affinities of these compounds calculated by the semi-empirical molecular orbital method (AM1) show that the [MNH4M1](+) dimeric complex ions dissociate to the most stable MNH4(+) and M1NH4(+) monomeric ions. The obtained relative order of ammonium affinities of these compounds is: alphad6 > alpha > beta > betad6.

Reactivity of anomeric 1alpha- and 1beta-pentofuranosyl azide derivatives in ammonia chemical ionization

Electron impact (EI), fast atom bombardment (FAB) and ammonia chemical ionization [CI(NH3)] mass spectrometry were applied with the aim of differentiating between the anomeric 1alpha- and 1beta-azidopentofuranosyl derivatives. Calculated ammonium affinities [AA(M)] and proton affinities [PA(M)] show that beta-anomers have higher affinities for H+ and NH4+ ions than alpha-azides. Protonated molecules, obtained by CI(NH3) of azidofuranosyl derivatives, lose HN3 giving abundant furanosyl (S+) ions. Ammonia solvation of MH+ ions competes with the previous reaction producing the [SNHN2NH3]+ ion, a competitive product to the ammonium-attached [SN3NH4]+ ion. The fragmentation pathways of the stable and metastable [MNH4]+, MH+ ions, and several other important fragment ions, were determined using mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry (MIKES). The abundance of the [SN3NH4]+ and/or [SNHN2NH3]+ ions was found to correlate inversely with the exothermicity of ammonia solvation of the MH+ ion. The abundance of the fragment ions [SNHNH3]+, [SNH3]+ and SNH+ in some examples correlates with the exothermicity of the corresponding [MNH4]+ and MH+ parent ion formation. The fragment ions SNH3+ and SNHNH3+ can be formed, at least in part, in the ammonia solvation reaction of the S+ and SNH+ ions taking place within the high-pressure region of the CI ion source.

Application of gas chromatography coupled to chemical ionisation mass spectrometry following headspace solid-phase microextraction for the determination of free volatile fatty acids in aqueous samples

Gas chromatography coupled to positive and negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry was evaluated for the determination of free volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from aqueous samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction. Negative ion chemical ionisation in the selected ion monitoring mode using ammonia as reagent gas provided acceptable sensitivity and the highest selectivity for the determination of C2-C7 fatty acids using a polydimethylsiloxane-Carboxen fibre. Detection limits in the range of 150 microg l(-1) for acetic acid and from 2 to 6 microg l(-1) for the remaining carboxylic acids were achieved. The reproducibility of the method was between 9 and 16%. The developed analytical procedure was applied to the analysis of VFAs in raw sewage. The absence of interfering peaks provided a more accurate determination of acetic, propionic, butyric and isovaleric acids than a similar analytical scheme but using a flame ionisation detector.

Identification of trichothecenes by thermospray, plasmaspray and dynamic fast-atom bombardment liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Thermospray, plasmaspray and dynamic fast-atom bombardment liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry are compared for the identification of six trichothecenes. Thermospray spectra of the trichothecenes exhibit only a very abundant ammonium adduct ion. Plasmaspray, which provides a more energetic ionization process than thermospray, produces some fragment ions in addition to an abundant ammonium adduct ion. The spectra obtained by dynamic fast-atom bombardment exhibit a protonated molecule, a glycerol adduct ion and numerous fragment ions formed by the losses of functional groups as neutrals in various combinations. Thermospray and plasmaspray are suitable only for monitoring of the trichothecenes, whereas dynamic fast-atom bombardment is suitable for monitoring and for structure characterization.

Characterization of trichothecenes by ammonia chemical ionization and tandem mass spectrometry

Ammonia and deuterated ammonia chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra and collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) mass spectra of ammonium adduct ions are presented for ten trichothecenes. The samples were introduced by direct exposure probe. Effects of ion source temperature and pressure on the ammonia CI gas plasma and the formation of the ammonium adduct ion were studied. The CI conditions were optimized to produce a maximal yield for the ammonium adduct ion of trichothecenes, i.e. the parent ion for tandem mass spectral analysis. Besides source temperature and pressure, proton affinity and the stability of the ammonium adduct ion affect the relative abundance ratio of [M + H]+:[M + NH4]+ in ammonia CI and CAD mass spectra. The ratio [M + H]+:[M + NH4]+, and hence the stability of the ammonium adduct ion, are largely determined by the functional groups (hydroxy, carbonyl, acetoxy, and isovaleroyloxy) and their location in the trichothecene nucleus. The most abundant fragment ions in the ammonia CI spectra and the most abundant daughter ions in the CAD spectra of the ammonium adduct ions are formed by the losses of ammonia and functional groups as neutrals in various combinations.

High sensitivity assay for the alpha 2 antagonist 6-chloro-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine and its desmethyl metabolite in plasma using gas chromatography mass spectrometry with ammonia/CCl4 chemical ionization

A rapid and highly sensitive assay for quantifying the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist SK&F 86466 and a desmethyl metabolite has been developed, using capillary column gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry. This assay uses deuterium-labeled analogs of the analytes as internal standards, and has a lower limit of quantification of 100 pg ml-1. A novel reagent gas, consisting of carbon tetrachloride in anhydrous ammonia, was used to achieve maximal sensitivity.