IRMPD spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations on mono- and bi-metallic complexes of acetylacetonate ligands with aluminum, iron, and ruthenium ions

Metal-ligand cluster ions are structurally characterized by means of gas-phase infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy. The mass-selected complexes consist of one or two metal cations M³⁺ (M = Al, Fe, or Ru) and two to five anionic bidentate acetylacetonate ligands. Experimental IR spectra are compared with different density functional theory calculations, namely, PBE/TZVP, B3LYP/6-31G^*, and M06/6-31+G^**. Frequency analysis was also performed at different levels, namely, scaled static harmonic and unscaled static anharmonic, or with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at the PBE/TZVP level. All methods lead to simulated spectra that fit rather well with experimental data, and the spectral red shifts of several main bands, in the 1200 cm^-1-1800 cm^-1 range, are sensitive to the strength of the metal-ligand interaction and to the spin state of the ion. Due to the rigidity of those complexes, first principles molecular dynamics calculations provide spectra similar to that produced by static calculations that are already able to catch the main spectral signatures using harmonic calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G^* level.

Vibronic spectra of protonated hydroxypyridines: contributions of prefulvenic and planar structures

The UV photofragmentation spectra of cold protonated hydroxypyridines display well resolved vibrational structures, interpreted with calculations at the CC2 level.

Metal-assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry using atomic (Ga+, In+) and fullerene projectiles

The advantages and drawbacks of using either monatomic or buckminsterfullerene primary ions for metal-assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry (MetA-SIMS) are investigated using a series of organic samples including additive molecules, polyolefins, and small peptides. Gold deposition is mostly performed by sputter-coating, and in some cases, the results are compared to those of thermal evaporation (already used in a previous article: Delcorte, A.; Médard, N.; Bertrand, P. Anal. Chem. 2002, 74, 4955). The microstructure of the gold-covered sample surfaces is assessed by scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The merits of the different sets of experimental conditions are established via the analysis of fragment and parent-like ion yields. For most of the analyzed samples, the highest yields of fragment and parent-like ions are already reached with the sole use of C60+ projectiles. Metallization of the sample does not lead to a significant additional enhancement. For polyethylene and polypropylene, however, gold metallization associated with Ga+/In+ projectiles appears to be the only way to observe large cationized, sample-specific chain segments (m/z approximately 1000-2000). A detailed study of the polypropylene mass spectra as a function of gold coverage shows that the dynamics of yield enhancement by metal nanoparticles is strongly dependent on the choice of the projectile, e.g., a pronounced increase with Ga+ and a slow decay with C60+. The cases of Irganox 1010, a polymer antioxidant, and leucine enkephalin, a small peptide, allow us to investigate the specific influence of the experimental conditions on the emission of parent(like) ions such as M+, (M + Na)+, and (M + Au)+. The results show a dependence on both the type of sample and the considered secondary ion. Using theoretical and experimental arguments, the discussion identifies some of the mechanisms underlying the general trends observed in the results. Guidelines concerning the choice of the experimental conditions for MetA-SIMS are provided.