Investigation of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins by liquid matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry

Investigation of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Diverse Synthetic Metalloporphyrins, Phthalocyanines and Multiporphyrin Arrays

We investigated the utility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for analyzing porphyrinic compounds using a variety of different synthetic porphyrins, azaporphyrins, phthalocyanines and multiporphyrin arrays. Comparisons of spectra obtained from these analytes deposited either as neat samples or codeposited with neutral or acidic matrices have been made with the goal of identifying conditions that yield minimal demetalation, transmetalation, adduct formation and fragmentation. It was found that the molecular masses of many porphyrins can be successfully measured from neat sample preparations and do not require a matrix to facilitate desorption and ionization, although the measurement of large multiporphyrin arrays was facilitated by the use of matrices. Demetalation of magnesium porphyrins occurred in the presence of acidic matrices, but not with neutral matrices such as 1,4-benzoquinone. Positive ion spectra were obtained for each compound and negative ion spectra were also collected for the azaporphyrins and phthalocyanines. Examination of selected samples (prepared neat, with 1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) showed that the dominant process of ionization involved oxidation yielding the radical cation M+· rather than the protonated molecule [M+H]+. MALDI-TOF-MS is shown to be a powerful analytical tool for the characterization of diverse synthetic porphyrinic compounds.

Unexpected fragmentation of beta-substituted meso-tetraphenylporphyrins induced by high-energy collisional activation

The protonated molecules and radical cations of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins with beta-pyrrolic substituents, when formed by fast atom bombardment (FAB) and subjected to high-energy collisions, give rise to unexpected fragment ions. The reaction involves hydrogen migration from the ortho position of the phenyl ring to the a atom of the substituent, with formation of an intramolecular, six-membered ring. The process is analogous to condensed-phase cyclizations described for the same type of compounds. The fragmentation requires the presence of a double bond in the substituent group attached to the pyrrolic ring. A rearrangement process involving anchimeric assistance by the phenyl group (analogous to an ortho effect) is proposed for the formation of these ions.

Investigation of a series of synthetic cationic porphyrins using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was used to study a series of synthetic cationic porphyrins as the perchlorate and bromide salts. This work presents the analytical results for the porphyrins obtained using 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and 1,8,9-anthratriol as matrices. The selective use of matrix affects ion formation from these porphyrins. By using DHB as the matrix, we not only observed [M - nClO(4)](+) (n = 1-4) ions, but also obtained [2M - nClO(4)](+) (n = 2-7) ions from the synthetic cationic porphyrins. The space volume of the side chains (R groups) and the nature of the anions (Br(-) or ClO(4)(-)) affected the relative importance of monomeric and dimeric ions of the porphyrin. The possible mechanisms of desorption and ionization of these cationic porphyrins were also considered in this study. MALDI-TOFMS proved to be a very useful method for obtaining structural information on these synthetic cationic porphyrins. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.