Iodine-Containing Mass-Defect-Tuned Dendrimers for Use as Internal Mass Spectrometry Calibrants

Mass spectrometry of dendrimers

Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an essential technique to characterize dendrimers as it proved efficient at tackling analytical challenges raised by their peculiar onion-like structure. Owing to their chemical diversity, this review covers benefits of MS methods as a function of dendrimer classes, discussing advantages and limitations of ionization techniques, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) strategies to determine the structure of defective species, as well as most recently demonstrated capabilities of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) in the field. Complementarily, the well-defined structure of these macromolecules offers major advantages in the development of MS-based method, as reported in a second section reviewing uses of dendrimers as MS and IMS calibration standards and as multifunctional charge inversion reagents in gas phase ion/ion reactions.

Poly(2-vinylpyridine) as a reference compound for mass calibration in positive-ion matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry on different instrumental platforms

Butyl-terminated poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP), C₄H₉(C₇H₇N)_nH, is evaluated for use as an external and internal mass calibrant in positive-ion matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). P2VP oligomers covering the m/z 450-4500 range are employed to calibrate a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer in linear and reflector mode, an ion mobility-quadrupole-time-of-flight (IM-Q-TOF) mass spectrometer, and a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. The proton affinity of P2VPs introduced by the numerous pyridyl groups leads to the almost exclusive formation of [M + H]⁺ ions with common acidic matrices like α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as well as with the non-acidic and aprotic matrices 1,8-dihydroxy-10H-anthracen-9-on (dithranol) and 2-[(2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2-enylidene]malonitrile (DCTB). This prevalence of [M + H]⁺ ions evenly spaced at Δ(m/z) = 105.0578 renders butyl-terminated P2VP oligomers as convenient mass calibrants. The mass accuracies achieved across various m/z ranges with different mass analyzers and modes of operation are evaluated by using established standard compounds. Results as obtained by internal or external calibration are presented. Further, the compilation of mass reference lists tailored to suit the respective analyzer modes is discussed and those reference files are provided.

SpheriCal® -ESI: A dendrimer-based nine-point calibration solution ranging from m/z 273 to 1716 for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry peptide analysis

RATIONALE

A calibration solution for mass spectrometry needs to cover the range of interest with intense and sufficiently narrowly spaced peaks. Limited options fulfilling this may lead to compromises between performance and ease of use. SpheriCal^® -ESI was designed to combine high calibration performance for electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric analysis of peptides in positive mode with quick and easy use.

METHODS

The developed calibration solution was tested using three mass spectrometers: two ion traps and one tandem quadrupole. The m/z errors of SpheriCal^® -ESI itself and of a tryptic digest of cytochrome C were measured after calibration. The results were compared with those achieved with ESI Tuning Mix. The memory effects of the dendrimers, and contamination from Na⁺ in the calibration solution, were evaluated.

RESULTS

SpheriCal^® -ESI showed good shelf life as powder and was quickly reconstituted for use. Achieving intense and stable signals was straightforward. The accuracies and precisions were as expected for the instruments. SpheriCal^® -ESI was more precise and at least as accurate as ESI Tuning Mix. The memory effects and Na⁺ contamination were found to be negligible in typical peptide solvents. In addition, the dendrimers showed predictable dissociations with product ions common to collision-induced dissociation in both ion trap and tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers.

CONCLUSIONS

SpheriCal^® -ESI provided easily accessible calibration by showing intense signals at low infusion rates and at source settings equal or similar to those used in peptide analysis. Nine calibration points in the range of interest gave precise and accurate results. Memory effects and contamination were negligible even without rinsing.

Solution size variation of linear and dendritic bis-MPA analogs using DOSY-1H NMR

The size and size variability of bis-MPA dendrimers is shown to be smaller by DOSY-¹H NMR than their linear analog, PBBM. This was accomplished using five different solvents and for the first time confirms, experimentally, what has been theorized.

Syntheses and crystal structures of 2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-carb-oxy-lic acid and 2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-carb-oxy-lic anhydride

In 2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-carb-oxy-lic acid, C8H14O4, the carboxyl group occupies an equatorial position on the 1,3-dioxane ring. In the crystal, O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form chains of mol-ecules, which are linked into a three-dimensional network by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The asymmetric unit of 2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-carb-oxy-lic anhydride, C16H26O7, consists of two independent mol-ecules, which are linked by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, these units are connected into corrugated layers two mol-ecules thick and parallel to the ab plane by additional C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.