Methylene substitution reactions in a quadrupole ion trap selectivity of ethylene, ethylene oxide, and dimethyl ether reactive ions

Comparing differentiation of xylene isomers by electronic ionization, chemical ionization and self-ion/molecule reactions and the first observation of methyne addition ions for xylene isomers in self-ion/molecule reactions for non-nitrogenated compounds

This study presents the self-ion/molecule reaction (SIMR) spectra of three xylene isomers, and proposes an approach to differentiating them based on observed differences in relative abundances of ions formed by SIMR in an internal source ion trap instrument. It also demonstrates the applicability of SIMR for isomer discrimination, which is better than electron ionization (EI) and dimethyl ether chemical ionization (DME CI) in an ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS) since no CI reagent, metal ions or internal standards are required to perform SIMR. The merits of the new method for distinguishing isomers are that it is simple, rapid and economic. To date, methyne addition products ([M+13](+) ions) have been observed for several nitrogenated compounds including aza-crown ethers, aniline and dopamine from SIMR in the ITMS. The xylene isomers are, however, the first three non-nitrogenated compounds that have been shown to produce the methyne addition ions in SIMR.

Examination of the best pressure range for ion/molecule reactions of anthraquinones in an external source ion trap mass spectrometer

This study outlines some observations of the pressure effect for gas phase ion-molecule reactions of anthraquinone derivatives with dimethyl ether in an external source ion trap mass spectrometer. At the reagent pressure of 7.998 x 10(-2) Pa, formation of the protonated ions, [M + 13]+, [M + 15]+, and [M + 45]+ ions, of anthraquinones can be observed. However, at the pressure of 1.066 x 10(-2) Pa, formation of molecular ions and many fragment ions of the M+. or [M + H]+ ions have been observed. Since the pressure effect is notable within a small range of pressures for many compounds, it is important to draw attention to the use of the ion trap with an external source where other factors such as ion source residence time may play a role. This can also provide some information for better and more careful controls of the reagent pressure in order to obtain fair CI spectra in an external source ion trap mass spectrometer.

Probing reactive sites for ion-molecule reactions of anthraquinones with dimethyl ether using an external source ion trap tandem mass spectrometer and computational chemistry

Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of anthraquinone derivatives with dimethyl ether (DME) were investigated using an external source ion trap mass spectrometer. Semi-empirical calculations were executed to determine possible reactive sites for the product ions. Collision activated dissociation (CAD) was successfully performed for very low abundance of ion-molecule products. Even for product ions with a relative intensity below 1%, CAD experiments can be successfully performed. Significantly more structural information could be elucidated based on this special feature. Importantly, the CAD spectra of very minor ions could be measured by this ion trap instrument, which significantly enhances the future role of the ion trap as a powerful analytical instrument. CAD of all product ions on anthraquinone compounds typically eliminates neutral molecules such as CO or H(2)O. A hydration phenomenon in the CAD processes resulting from the precursor ions incorporating one molecule of H(2)O and then eliminating one molecule of CO was observed in this study.

Ion-molecule reactions of oxygenated chemical ionization reagents with vincamine

The ion-molecule reactions of ions from acetone, dimethyl ether, 2-methoxyethanol, and vinyl methyl ether with vincamine were investigated. Reactions with dimethyl ether result in [M+13](+) and [M+45](+) products, reactions with 2-methoxyethanol produce [M+13](+) and [M+89](+) ions, and reactions with acetone or vinyl methyl ether ions generate predominantly [M+43](+) ions. Collision-activated dissociation and deuterium labeling experiments allowed speculation about the product structures and mechanisms of dissociation. The methylene substitution process was shown to occur at the hydroxyl oxygen and the phenyl ring of vincamine for dimethyl ether reactions, but the methylene substitution process was not favored at the hydroxyl oxygen for the 2-methoxyethanol reactions, instead favored at the 12 phenyl position. The reaction site is likely different for the 2-methoxyethanol ion due to its capability for secondary hydrogen-bonding interactions. For the [M+45](+) and [M+89](+) ions, evidence suggests that charge-remote fragmentation processes occur from these products. In general, the use of dimethyl ether ions or 2-methoxyethanol ions for ionmolecule reactions prove highly diagnostic for the characterization of vincamine; both molecular weight and structural information are obtained. Limits of detection for vincamine with dimethyl ether chemical ionization via this technique on a benchtop ion trap gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer are in the upper parts per trillion range.

Evaluation of steric and substituent effects in phenols by competitive reactions of dimethyl ether ions in a quadrupole ion trap

Competitive reactions of dimethyl ether ions are used to probe the steric and substituent effects of substituted phenols and anisoles in a quadrupole ion trap. The relative percentages of protonation and methylene substitution from the reactions of dimethyl ether ions show a correlation with size, location, and number of subsrituents on the aromatic ring. Although gas-phase basicity measurements of the phenols show no discernible correlation with the percentages of competitive reactions, semiempirical calculations show a good correlation between the trend in heats of formation and the trend in methylene substitution percentage. Reactions with deuterated compounds show that the methylene substitution reaction occurs on the ring.

Negative chemical ionization in quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry: Effects of applied voltages and reaction times

The effects of applied voltages and reaction times on negative ion chemical ionization in the quadrupole ion trap are investigated. Mass-selected ejection of undesired reagent ions and selective mass storage of only negative ions are required for practical negative ion chemical ionization. This is achieved by application of rf and dc voltages to the ring electrode to control the mass-to-charge ratios one polarity) of ions stored, as well as by application of a supplemental rf voltage applied across the endcap electrodes to selectively eject ions of a particular mass-to-charge ratio. Even with careful control of these parameters, negative chemical ionization is not as sensitive as electron ionization and positive chemical ionization because of the lack of thermal electrons in the ion trap. Mass selection of the hydroxide anion as a reagent ion and exclusion of all positive ions provide [M - H](-) ions with little or no fragmentation for a wide variety of compounds.