Parent anion radical formation in coenzyme Q0: Breaking ubiquinone family rules

We report electron attachment (EA) measurements for the parent anion radical formation from coenzyme Q₀ (CoQ₀) at low electron energies (<2 eV) along with quantum chemical calculations. CoQ₀ may be considered a prototype for the electron withdrawing properties of the larger CoQ _n molecules, in particular ubiquinone (CoQ₁₀), an electron carrier in aerobic cell respiration. Herein, we show that the mechanisms for the parent anion radical formation of CoQ₀ and CoQ _n (n = 1,2,4) are remarkably distinct. Reported EA data for CoQ₁, CoQ₂, CoQ₄ and para-benzoquinone indicated stabilization of the parent anion radicals around 1.2-1.4 eV. In contrast, we observe for the yield of the parent anion radical of CoQ₀ a sharp peak at ∼ 0 eV, a shoulder at 0.07 eV and a peak around 0.49 eV. Although the mechanisms for the latter feature remain unclear, our calculations suggest that a dipole bound state (DBS) would account for the lower energy signals. Additionally, the isoprenoid side chains in CoQ _n (n = 1,2,4) molecules seem to influence the DBS formation for these compounds. In contrast, the side chains enhance the parent anion radical stabilization around 1.4 eV. The absence of parent anion radical formation around 1.4 eV for CoQ₀ can be attributed to the short auto-ionization lifetimes. The present results shed light on the underappreciated role played by the side chains in the stabilization of the parent anion radical. The isoprenoid tails should be viewed as co-responsible for the electron-accepting properties of ubiquinone, not mere spectators of electron transfer reactions.

Negative ion formation and fragmentation upon dissociative electron attachment to the nicotinamide molecule

Nicotinamide (C₆H₆N₂O) is a biologically relevant molecule. This compound has several important roles related to the anabolic and metabolic processes that take place in living organisms. It is also used as a radiosensitizer in tumor therapy. As a result of the interaction of high-energy radiation with matter, low-energy electrons are also released, which can also interact with other molecules, forming several types of ions. In the present investigation, dissociative electron attachment to C₆H₆N₂O has been studied in a crossed electron-molecular beams experiment in the electron energy range of about 0-15 eV. In the experiment, six anionic species were detected: C₆H₅N₂O^-, C₅H₄N^-, NCO^-, O^-/NH₂ ^-, and CN^-, with NCO^- being the most prominent anion. We also provide detailed computational results regarding the energetic thresholds and pathways of the respective dissociative electron attachment (DEA) channels. The experimental results are compared with the theoretical ones and on this basis, the possible DEA reactions for the formation of anions at a given resonance energy were assigned as well as the generation of neutrals fragments such as pyridine and its several derivatives and radicals are predicted. The pyridine ring seems to stay intact during the DEA process.

Ring-Selective Fragmentation in the Tirapazamine Molecule upon Low-Energy Electron Attachment

We investigate dissociative electron attachment to tirapazamine through a crossed electron-molecule beam experiment and quantum chemical calculations. After the electron is attached and the resulting anion reaches the first excited state, D₁, we suggest a fast transition into the ground electronic state through a conical intersection with a distorted triazine ring that almost coincides with the minimum in the D₁ state. Through analysis of all observed dissociative pathways producing heavier ions (90-161 u), we consider the predissociation of an OH radical with possible roaming mechanism to be the common first step. This destabilizes the triazine ring and leads to dissociation of highly stable nitrogen-containing species. The benzene ring is not altered during the process. Dissociation of small anionic fragments (NO₂^-, CN₂^-, CN^-, NH₂^-, O^-) cannot be conclusively linked to the OH predissociation mechanism; however, they again do not require dissociation of the benzene ring.

Formation of resonances and anionic fragments upon electron attachment to benzaldehyde

Benzaldehyde is a simple aromatic aldehyde and has a wide range of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. The positive electron affinity of this compound suggests that low-energy electrons can be easily trapped by neutral benzaldehyde. In the present study, we investigated the formation of negative ions following electron attachment to benzaldehyde in the gas-phase. Calculations on elastic electron scattering from benzaldehyde indicate a π* valence bound state of the anion at -0.48 eV and three π* shape resonances (0.78, 2.48 and 5.51 eV). The excited state spectrum of the neutral benzaldehyde is also reported to complement our findings. Using mass spectrometry, we observed the formation of the intact anionic benzaldehyde at ∼0 eV. We ascribe the detection of the benzaldehyde anion to stabilization of the π* valence bound state upon dissociative electron attachment to a benzaldehyde dimer. In addition, we report the cross sections for nine fragment anions formed through electron attachment to benzaldehyde. Investigations carried out with partially deuterated benzaldehyde show that the hydrogen loss is site-selective with respect to the incident electron energy. In addition, we propose several dissociation pathways, backed up by quantum chemical calculations on their thermodynamic thresholds. The threshold calculations also support that the resonances formed at higher energies lead to fragment anions observable by mass spectrometry, whereas the resonances at low electron energies decay only by electron autodetachment.

An intense source for cold cluster ions of a specific composition

The demand for nanoscale materials of ultra-high purity and narrow size distribution is addressed. Clusters of Au, C₆₀, H₂O, and serine are produced inside helium nanodroplets using a combination of ionization, mass filtering, collisions with atomic or molecular vapor, and electrostatic extraction, in a specific and novel sequence. The helium droplets are produced in an expansion of cold helium gas through a nozzle into vacuum. The droplets are ionized by electron bombardment and subjected to a mass filter. The ionic and mass-selected helium droplets are then guided through a vacuum chamber filled with atomic or molecular vapor where they collide and "pick up" the vapor. The dopants then agglomerate inside the helium droplets around charge centers to singly charged clusters. Evaporation of the helium droplets is induced by collisions in a helium-filled radio frequency (RF)-hexapole, which liberates the cluster ions from the host droplets. The clusters are analyzed with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. It is demonstrated that using this sequence, the size distribution of the dopant cluster ions is distinctly narrower compared to ionization after pickup. Likewise, the ion cluster beam is more intense. The mass spectra show, as well, that ion clusters of the dopants can be produced with only few helium atoms attached, which will be important for messenger spectroscopy. All these findings are important for the scientific research of clusters and nanoscale materials in general.

Low-energy electron-induced decomposition of 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-uracil: A potential radiosensitizer

5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-uracil (OTfU), a recently proposed radiosensitizer, is decomposed in the gas-phase by attachment of low-energy electrons. OTfU is a derivative of uracil with a triflate (OTf) group at the C₅-position, which substantially increases its ability to undergo effective electron-induced dissociation. We report a rich assortment of fragments formed upon dissociative electron attachment (DEA), mostly by simple bond cleavages (e.g., dehydrogenation or formation of OTf^-). The most favorable DEA channel corresponds to the formation of the triflate anion alongside with the reactive uracil-5-yl radical through the cleavage of the O-C₅ bond, particularly at about 0 eV. Unlike for halouracils, the parent anion was not detected in our experiments. The experimental findings are accounted by a comprehensive theoretical study carried out at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The latter comprises the thermodynamic thresholds for the formation of the observed anions calculated under the experimental conditions (383.15 K and 3 × 10^-11 atm). The energy-resolved ion yield of the dehydrogenated parent anion, (OTfU-H)^-, is discussed in terms of vibrational Feshbach resonances arising from the coupling between the dipole bound state and vibrational levels of the transient negative ion. We also report the mass spectrum of the cations obtained through ionization of OTfU by electrons with a kinetic energy of 70 eV. The current study endorses OTfU as a potential radiosensitizer agent with possible applications in radio-chemotherapy.