On-Line Monitoring of Reactions of Epichlorohydrin in Water Using Liquid Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry

CHEMICAL REACTION MONITORING BY AMBIENT MASS SPECTROMETRY

Chemical reactions conducted in different media (liquid phase, gas phase, or surface) drive developments of versatile techniques for the detection of intermediates and prediction of reasonable reaction pathways. Without sample pretreatment, ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has been applied to obtain structural information of reactive molecules that differ in polarity and molecular weight. Commercial ion sources (e.g., electrospray ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, and direct analysis in real-time) have been reported to monitor substrates and products by offline reaction examination. While the interception or characterization of reactive intermediates with short lifetime are still limited by the offline modes. Notably, online ionization technologies, with high tolerance to salt, buffer, and pH, can achieve direct sampling and ionization of on-going reactions conducted in different media (e.g., liquid phase, gas phase, or surface). Therefore, short-lived intermediates could be captured at unprecedented timescales, and the reaction dynamics could be studied for mechanism examinations without sample pretreatments. In this review, via various AMS methods, chemical reaction monitoring and mechanism elucidation for different classifications of reactions have been reviewed. The developments and advances of common ionization methods for offline reaction monitoring will also be highlighted.

Mass Spectrometry Based Approach for Organic Synthesis Monitoring

Current mass spectrometry-based methodologies for synthetic organic reaction monitoring largely use electrospray ionization (ESI), or other related atmospheric pressure ionization-based approaches. Monitoring of complex, heterogeneous systems may be problematic because of sampling hardware limitations, and many relevant analytes (neutrals) exhibit poor ESI performance. An alternative monitoring strategy addressing this significant impasse is condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry using liquid electron ionization (CP-MIMS-LEI). In CP-MIMS, a semipermeable silicone membrane selects hydrophobic neutral analytes, rejecting particulates and charged chemical components. Analytes partition through the membrane, and are then transported to the LEI interface for sequential nebulization, vaporization, and ionization. CP-MIMS and LEI are both ideal for continuous monitoring applications of hydrophobic neutral molecules. We demonstrate quantitative reaction monitoring of harsh, complex reaction mixtures (alkaline, acidic, heterogeneous) in protic and aprotic organic solvents. Also presented are solvent-membrane compatibility investigations and, in situ quantitative monitoring of catalytic oxidation and alkylation reactions.

Accelerated hydrazone formation in charged microdroplets

RATIONALE

Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is an emerging tool for reaction monitoring. It can be accompanied by reaction acceleration in charged droplets.

METHODS

The time course of the bulk reaction of indoline-2,3-dione with phenylhydrazine in methanol to produce 3-(2- phenylhydrazono)indolin-2-one was monitored by ESI. Both nanoESI and electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI) were used for this study as representing two common forms of ionization for reaction monitoring. The effect on product yield of the distance the droplets travel between the source and the MS inlet was varied and product/starting material ratios were examined.

RESULTS

Product yield is dramatically increased by increasing the distance. At short distances reaction monitoring can be performed without acceleration and at greater distances reaction acceleration occurs. This distance effect over the course of the reaction roughly parallels the time dependence of the bulk-phase reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Reaction acceleration in droplets is attributed to solvent evaporation leading to increased surface to volume ratios. An acceleration factor of 10(4) , measured relative to the bulk reaction at short times, is readily achieved by simply increasing the droplet distance of flight showing that the same ionization source can be used to monitor reactions with or without acceleration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Delicate polydimethylsiloxane hollow fibre membrane interfaces for condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP-MIMS)

RATIONALE

On-line analytical techniques such as condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP-MIMS) permit direct and rapid analyte measurements in complex samples. Direct, rapid analytical methods are desirable because they eliminate potential contamination and/or dilution from sample workup steps, facilitate rapid sample screening and allow 'real-time' monitoring applications.

METHODS

PDMS hollow fibre membrane (HFM) flow cell interfaces (215 µm, 35 µm, and 0.5 µm thick composite) were coupled with an electrospray ionization (ESI) triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. A simultaneous push/pull methanol acceptor phase delivery system and membrane mounting via epoxy potting ensured that the delicate membranes were not ruptured during construction or sample measurements. Both flow cell and direct insertion 'J-Probe' interfaces using the 0.5 µm thick composite PDMS HFM were utilized for direct naphthenic acid measurements.

RESULTS

Delicate HFM CP-MIMS interfaces were used for the rapid screening and continuous, on-line monitoring of carboxylic acids and hydroxylated compounds directly in complex sample matrices under ambient conditions at pptr - ppb detection limits. Push/pull acceptor phase (methanol) delivery maintained ambient hydrostatic pressures within the HFMs, improving ESI stability and analytical sensitivity, especially with stopped acceptor flow operation. Signal response times less than 2 min were achieved for thin, composite PDMS HFMs at 30°C. The continuous monitoring of naphthenic acid degradation was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Delicate PDMS HFM CP-MIMS interfaces were developed and used for the direct, on-line detection of low volatility, polar analytes in complex aqueous samples. Composite PDMS HFM interfaces yielded the best overall analytical performance improvements, and were used to demonstrate the direct measurement of naphthenic acids in complex aqueous samples.

A rapid and sensitive GC–MS method for determination of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol in water

A rapid analytical method for sensitive determination of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) in river water has been developed. 1,3-DCP is extracted from water with ethyl acetate. After filtration through sodium sulfate the ethyl acetate phase is analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method uses 1,3-DCP-d5 as internal standard. Different extraction solvents, concentrations of ammonium sulfate in the water samples, and the effect of humic acid were tested and their influence on the recovery of DCP has been evaluated. The method quantification limit was 0.1 microg L(-1). For spiked water samples (0-5.2 microg L(-1), n=21) a repeatability coefficient of variation of 5.4% was obtained. The average recovery rate of 1,3-DCP was 105+/-3% (n=21). Stability tests, which were carried out with Danube river water, led to an estimated 1,3-DCP degradation rate of 0.008+/-0.0008 day(-1) at 6 degrees C.

Application of quantitative chemometric analysis techniques to direct sampling mass spectrometry

This paper explores the use of direct sampling mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate chemometric analysis techniques for the analysis of sample mixtures containing analytes with similar mass spectra. Water samples containing varying mixtures of toluene, ethyl benzene, and cumene were analyzed by purge-and-trap/direct sampling mass spectrometry. Multivariate calibration models were built using partial least-squares regression (PLS), trilinear partial least-squares regression (tri-PLS), and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), with the latter two methods taking advantage of the differences in the temporal profiles of the analytes. The prediction errors for each model were compared to those obtained with simple univariate regression. Multivariate quantitative methods were found to be superior to univariate regression when a unique ion for quantitation could not be found. For prediction samples that contained unmodeled, interfering compounds, PARAFAC outperformed the other analysis methods. The uniqueness of the PARAFAC model allows for estimation of the mass spectra of the interfering compounds, which can be subsequently identified via visual inspection or a library search.

On-line monitoring by membrane introduction mass spectrometry of chlorination of organics in water. Mechanistic and kinetic aspects of chloroform formation

Chloroform formation during the chlorination of simple organic molecules modeling humic substances, such as phenol and di- and trihydroxybenzenes, was studied by on-line membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS). Under the reaction conditions employed, chloroform was rapidly formed from 1,3-dihydroxybenzene, 1, 4-dihydroxybenzene, phenol and 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene with yields of 17, 13, 7 and 5%, respectively. With the exception of aniline, which afforded a 17% chloroform yield, non-phenolic compounds, such as nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, benzene and cyclohexanol, furnished low yields. Mechanistic studies showed that phenol is chlorinated consecutively and produces initially chlorophenol. It is suggested that chloroform might be formed mainly from chlorinated 3, 5-cyclohexadienone-type intermediates. MIMS was also used to determine the reaction rates and to study the kinetics of the chlorination. A good Hammett linear correlation for an electrophilic substitution mechanism was found for the compounds C(6)H(5)X (X = NH(2), OH, CH(3), H, Cl and NO(2)).

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry: trends and applications

Recent advances in membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) are reviewed. On-line monitoring is treated by focusing on critical variables, including the nature and dimensions of the membrane, and the analyte vapor pressure, diffusivity, and solubility in the membrane barrier. Sample introduction by MIMS is applied in (i) on-line monitoring of chemical and biological reactors, (ii) analysis of volatile organic compounds in environmental matrices, including air, water and soil, and (iii) in more fundamental studies, such as measurements of thermochemical properties, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics. New semipermeable membranes are discussed, including those consisting of thin polymers, low vapor pressure liquids, and zeolites. These membranes have been used to monitor polar compounds, selectively differentiate compounds through affinity-binding, and provide isomer differentiation based on molecular size. Measurements at high spatial resolution, for example, using silicone-capped hypodermic needle inlets, are also covered, as is electrically driven sampling through microporous membranes. Other variations on the basic MIMS experiment include analyte preconcentration through cryotrapping (CT-MIMS) or trapping in the membrane (trap-and-release), as well as differential thermal release methods and reverse phase (i.e., organic solvent) MIMS. Method limitations center on semivolatile compounds and complex mixture analysis, and novel solutions are discussed. Semivolatile compounds have been monitored with thermally assisted desorption, ultrathin membranes and derivatization techniques. Taking advantage of the differences in time of membrane permeation, mixtures of structurally similar compounds have been differentiated by using sample modulation techniques and by temperature-programmed desorption from a membrane interface. Selective ionization techniques that increase instrument sensitivity towards polar compounds are also described, and comparisons are made with other direct sampling (nonchromatographic) methods that are useful in mixture analysis.