Resolution of isomeric multi-ruthenated porphyrins by travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

Catalytic properties of supramolecular polymetallated porphyrins

Supramolecular polymetallated pyridylporphyrins have been specially designed for exploring the binding and synergism between the macrocyclic system and the peripheral metal complexes. Their chemistry has been reviewed, focusing on the outstanding behavior in solution or as thin organized films generated with several nanomaterials, for application as molecular devices and in energy conversion processes.

Self-assembly of triangular metallomacrocycles using unsymmetrical bisterpyridine ligands: isomer differentiation via TWIM mass spectrometry

Three unsymmetrical, 60°-bended bisterpyridine ligands with varying phenylene spacer lengths have been synthesized via the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. Their self-assembly processes were found to be strongly dependent on the ligand geometry. Upon complexation with Zn(II) ions, only 2,4''-di(4'-terpyridinyl)-1,1':4',1''-terphenyl underwent self-selection to give a trinuclear metallomacrocycle with perfect heteroleptic connectivity and the other two afforded a mixture of constitutional isomers. The metallosupramolecular assemblies were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI MS), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In particular, the identification of isomeric architecture was accomplished using tandem mass spectrometry (MS(2)) coupled with traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM MS).

Separation of glycosidic catiomers by TWIM-MS using CO2 as a drift gas

Traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS) is shown to be able to separate and characterize several isomeric forms of diterpene glycosides stevioside (Stv) and rebaudioside A (RebA) that are cationized by Na(+) and K(+) at different sites. Determination and characterization of these coexisting isomeric species, herein termed catiomers, arising from cationization at different and highly competitive coordinating sites, is particularly challenging for glycosides. To achieve this goal, the advantage of using CO2 as a more massive and polarizable drift gas, over N2, was demonstrated. Post-TWIM-MS/MS experiments were used to confirm the separation. Optimization of the possible geometries and cross-sectional calculations for mobility peak assignments were also performed.

Adventures in corrole features by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry studies

In this short review the importance of electrospray mass spectrometry in corrole chemistry is highlighted.

Baseline resolution of isomers by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry: investigating the effects of polarizable drift gases and ionic charge distribution

We have studied the behavior of isomers and analogues by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS) using drift-gases with varying masses and polarizabilities. Despite the reduced length of the cell (18 cm), a pair of constitutional isomers, N-butylaniline and para-butylaniline, with theoretical collision cross-section values in helium (ΩHe ) differing by as little as 1.2 Å(2) (1.5%) but possessing contrasting charge distribution, showed baseline peak-to-peak resolution (Rp-p ) for their protonated molecules, using carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ethene (C2H4 ) as the TWIM drift-gas. Near baseline Rp-p was also obtained in CO2 for a group of protonated haloanilines (para-chloroaniline, para-bromoaniline and para-iodoaniline) which display contrasting masses and theoretical ΩHe , which differ by as much as 15.7 Å(2) (19.5%) but similar charge distributions. The deprotonated isomeric pair of trans-oleic acid and cis-oleic acid possessing nearly identical theoretical ΩHe and ΩN2 as well as similar charge distributions, remained unresolved. Interestingly, an inversion of drift-times were observed for the 1,3-dialkylimidazolium ions when comparing He, N2 and N2O. Using density functional theory as a means of examining the ions electronic structure, and He and N2-based trajectory method algorithm, we discuss the effect of the long-range charge induced dipole attractive and short-range Van der Waals forces involved in the TWIM separation in drift-gases of differing polarizabilities. We therefore propose that examining the electronic structure of the ions under investigation may potentially indicate whether the use of more polarizable drift-gases could improve separation and the overall success of TWIM-MS analysis.

Ion mobility spectrometry focusing on speciation analysis of metals/metalloids bound to carbonic anhydrase

In the present work, traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (TWIMS-MS) was applied to speciation analysis of metalloproteins. The influence of pH on complexation conditions between some metals and bovine carbonic anhydrase was evaluated from pH 6 to 9, as well as the time involved in their complexation (0-24 h). Employing TWIMS-MS, two conformational states of bovine carbonic anhydrase were observed with charge states of +12 and +11; these configurations being evaluated in terms of the folded state of the apo form and this protein (at charge state +11) being linked to barium, lead, copper, and zinc in their divalent forms. Metalloprotein speciation analysis was carried out for copper (Cu(+) and Cu(2+)), lead (Pb(2+) and Pb(4+)), and selenium (Se(4+) and Se(6+)) species complexed with bovine carbonic anhydrase. Mobilities of all complexed species were compared, also considering the apo form of this protein.

Separation of isomeric disaccharides by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry using CO2 as drift gas

The use of CO(2) as a massive and polarizable drift gas is shown to greatly improve peak-to-peak resolution (R(p-p) ), as compared with N(2) , for the separation of disaccharides in a Synapt G2 traveling wave ion mobility cell. Near or baseline R(p-p) was achieved for three pairs of sodiated molecules of disaccharide isomers, that is, cellobiose and sucrose (R(p-p)  = 0.76), maltose and sucrose (R(p-p)  = 1.04), and maltose and lactose (R(p-p)  = 0.74). Ion mobility mass spectrometry using CO(2) as the drift gas offers therefore an attractive alternative for fast and efficient separation of isomeric disaccharides.

Protomers: formation, separation and characterization via travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

Travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS) with post-TWIM and pre-TWIM collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments were used to form, separate and characterize protomers sampled directly from solutions or generated in the gas phase via CID. When in solution equilibria, these species were transferred to the gas phase via electrospray ionization, and then separated by TWIM-MS. CID performed after TWIM separation (post-TWIM) allowed the characterization of both protomers via structurally diagnostic fragments. Protonated aniline (1) sampled from solution was found to be constituted of a ca. 5:1 mixture of two gaseous protomers, that is, the N-protonated (1a) and ring protonated (1b) molecules, respectively. When dissociated, 1a nearly exclusively loses NH(3) , whereas 1b displays a much diverse set of fragments. When formed via CID, varying populations of 1a and 1b were detected. Two co-existing protomers of two isomeric porphyrins were also separated and characterized via post-TWIM CID. A deprotonated porphyrin sampled from a basic methanolic solution was found to be constituted predominantly of the protomer arising from deprotonation at the carboxyl group, which dissociates promptly by CO(2) loss, but a CID-resistant protomer arising from deprotonation at a porphyrinic ring NH was also detected and characterized. The doubly deprotonated porphyrin was found to be constituted predominantly of a single protomer arising from deprotonation of two carboxyl groups.