Structurally diagnostic ion-molecule reactions: acylium ions with alpha-, beta- and gamma-hydroxy ketones

Modification of a Quadrupole/Orbitrap/Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap Tribrid Mass Spectrometer for Diagnostic Gas-Phase Ion-Molecule Reactions

Tandem mass spectrometry based on diagnostic gas-phase ion-molecule reactions represents a robust method for functional group identification in unknown compounds. To date, most of these reactions have been studied using unit-resolution instruments, such as linear quadrupole ion traps and triple quadrupoles, which cannot be used to obtain elemental composition information for the species of interest. In this study, a high-resolution mass spectrometer, a quadrupole/orbitrap/linear quadrupole ion trap tribrid, was modified by installing a portable reagent inlet system to obtain high-resolution data for ion-molecule reactions. Examination of a previously published test system, the reaction between protonated 1,1'-sulfonyldiimizadole with 2-methoxypropene, demonstrated the ability to perform ion-molecule reactions on the modified tribrid mass spectrometer. High-resolution data were obtained for ion-molecule reactions of three isobaric ions (protonated glycylalanine, protonated glutamine, and protonated lysine) with diethylmethoxyborane. On the basis of these data, the isobaric ions can be differentiated based on both their measured accurate mass as well as the different product ions they generated upon the ion-molecule reactions. In a different experiment, analyte ions were subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID), and the structures of the resulting fragment ions were examined via diagnostic ion-molecule reactions. This experiment allows for the functional group interrogation of fragment ions and can be used to improve the understanding of the structures of fragment ions generated in the gas phase.

Conversion of benzoic acid into phenol in an ITMS under CI-MSn conditions. Recognition of ortho-chlorobenzoyl derivatives

Isomeric chlorobenzoyl cations (m/z 139), under collision-induced experiments, fragment identically. Chlorobenzoyl cations can be efficiently converted into cholorophenol radical cations by the reaction with methanol in the ion trap analyzer under CI-MSn conditions. The substitution of the carbonyl group with a hydroxyl moiety is able to induce an ortho effect, which is absent in the startingortho-chlorobenzoyl cation. This transformation could be useful to recognize ortho-chlorinated benzoyl derivatives without the need of MS spectrum comparison of the whole set of isomers. The method reported in this study could be applicable to biologically active molecules that dissociate to form the chlorobenzoyl cations under CI or CI collision-induced dissociation conditions, such as indomethacin, the degradation products from the insect growth regulator 1-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl) urea, and lorazepam.

Loss of benzaldehyde in the fragmentation of protonated benzoylamines: Benzoyl cation as a hydride acceptor in the gas phase

In electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of protonated 1-benzoylamines (1-benzoylpiperadine, 1-benzoylmorpholine, and 1-benzoyl-4-methylpiperazine), the dominant fragmentation pathway was amide bond cleavage to form benzoyl cation and neutral amine. Meanwhile, in their fragmentations, an interesting loss of benzaldehyde (106 Da) was observed and identified to derive from hydride transfer reaction between the benzoyl cation and amine. A stepwise mechanism for loss of 106 Da (benzene and CO) could be excluded with the aid of deuterium labeling experiment. Theoretical calculations indicated that hydride transfers from amines (piperadine, morpholine, and 1-methylpiperazine) to benzoyl cation were thermodynamically permitted, and 1-methylpiperazine was the best hydride donor among the 3 amines. The mass spectrometric experimental results were consistent with the computational results. The relative abundance of the iminium cation (relative to the benzoyl cation) in the fragmentation of protonated 1-benzoyl-4-methylpiperazine was higher than that in the fragmentation of the other 2 protonated 1-benzoylamines. By comparing the fragmentations of protonated 1-benzyl-4-methylpiperazine and protonated 1-benzoyl-4-methylpiperazine and the energetics of their hydride transfer reactions, this study revealed that benzoyl cation was a hydride acceptor in the gas phase, but which was weaker than benzyl cation.

Anomerization of Acrylated Glucose During Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Anomerization of simple sugars in the liquid phase is known as an acid- and base-catalyzed process, which highly depends on solvent polarity. This reaction is reported here to occur in the gas phase, during traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) experiments aimed at separating α- and β-anomers of penta-acrylated glucose generated as ammonium adducts in electrospray ionization. This compound was available in two samples prepared from glucose dissolved in solvents of different polarity, namely tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and analyzed by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) as well as traveling wave ion mobility (ESI-TWIMS-MS). In MS/MS, an anchimerically-assisted process was found to be unique to the electrosprayed α-anomer, and was only observed for the THF sample. In ESI-TWIMS-MS, a signal was measured at the drift time expected for the α-anomer for both the THF and DMAC samples, in apparent contradiction to the MS/MS results, which indicated that the α-anomer was not present in the DMAC sample. However, MS/MS experiments performed after TWIMS separation revealed that ammonium adducts of the α-anomer produced from each sample, although exhibiting the same collision cross section, were clearly different. Indeed, while the α-anomer actually present in the THF sample was electrosprayed with the ammonium adducted at the C2 acrylate, its homologue only observed when the DMAC sample was subjected to TWIMS hold the adducted ammonium at the C1 acrylate. These findings were explained by a β/α inter-conversion upon injection in the TWIMS cell, as supported by theoretical calculation and dynamic molecular modeling.

Unusual mass spectrometric dissociation pathway of protonated isoquinoline-3-carboxamides due to multiple reversible water adduct formation in the gas phase

The study of the collision-induced dissociation behavior of various substituted isoquinoline-3-carboxamides, which are amongst a group of drug candidates for the treatment of anemic disorders (e.g., FG-2216), allowed for the formulation of the general mechanisms underlying the unusual fragmentation behavior of this class of compounds. Characterization was achieved with high-resolution/high accuracy LTQ-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry of the protonated precursor ions. Presented data were substantiated by the synthesis and analysis of proposed gas-phase intermediate structures and stable isotope labeled analogues, as well as by density functional theory calculations. Exemplary, CID of protonated N-[(1-chloro-4-hydroxy-7-isopropoxy-isoquinolin-3-yl)carbonyl]glycine gives rise to the isoquinoline-3-carboxy-methyleneamide product ion which nominally eliminates a fragment of 11 u. This was attributed to the loss of methyleneamine (-29 u) and a concomitant spontaneous and reversible water addition (+18 u) to the resulting acylium ion to yield the protonated isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid. The same water addition pattern is observed after loss of propylene (-42 u). A further nominal loss of 10 u is explained by the elimination of carbon monoxide (-28 u) followed by another water adduct formation (+18 u) to yield the protonated 1-chloro-3,4,7-trihydroxy-isoquinoline. The source of the multiple gas-phase water addition remained unclear. This atypical fragmentation pattern proved to be highly characteristic for all studied and differentially substituted isoquinoline-3-carboxamides, and offers powerful analytical tools for the establishment of a LC/MS(/MS) based screening procedure for model HIF-stabilizers and their potential metabolites in clinical, forensic and sports drug testing.

The atmospheric pressure Meerwein reaction

We have already shown that the in-vacuum gas-phase Meerwein reaction of (thio)acylium ions is general in nature and useful for class-selective screening of cyclic (thio)epoxides. Herein we report that this gas-phase reaction can also be performed efficiently at atmospheric pressure under both electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) conditions. This alternative expands the range of molecules that can be reacted by gas-phase Meerwein reaction. Phenyl epoxide, thiirane, 3-methoxy-2,2-dimethyloxirane, propylene oxide, 2,2'-bioxirane, trans-1,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxypropan-1-one, epichloridrine and propylene oxide are shown to react efficiently in both ESI and APCI conditions. Tetramethylurea (TMU) and (thio)TMU were both used as dopants, being co-injected with either toluene, acetonitrile or methanol solutions of the (thio)epoxides, with similar results. In both ESI and APCI, (thio)TMU is protonated preferentially, and these labile species dissociate promptly to yield (CH3)2N-C+=O and (CH3)2NCS+, which are the least acidic and most reactive (thio)acylium ions so far tested in the gas-phase Meerwein reaction. Under the low-energy ESI conditions set to favor both the formation of the (thio)acylium ion and ion/molecule reactions, (CH3)2NCO(S)+ react competitively with (thio)TMU to form acylated (thio)TMU and with the (thio)epoxide to form the characteristic Meerwein products. Enhanced selectivity in structural characterization or for the screening of (thio)epoxides is achieved by performing on-line collision-induced dissociation of Meerwein products, particularly for the more structurally complex (thio)epoxides.

Structurally diagnostic ion/molecule reactions: class and functional-group identification by mass spectrometry

This article discusses the application of gas-phase ion/molecule reactions for fine structural elucidation in mass spectrometry. This approach is illustrated via a representative collection of class- and functional group-selective reactions, a few of historical relevance as well as by more recent and instructive examples, and their applications. The focus is on reactions performed under well-controlled conditions of sequential mass spectrometry, discussing key mechanistic details and potential applications. Recent and innovative strategies that allow these reactions to be performed under ambient conditions, making this fast, selective and sensitive approach for structural investigation much more generally applicable, are also discussed.

Protonation Thermochemistry of Selected Hydroxy- and Methoxycarbonyl Molecules

The gas-phase basicities of a representative set of hydroxy- and methoxycarbonyl compounds (hydroxyacetone, 1, 3-hydroxybutanone, 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanone, 3, 1-hydroxy-2-butanone, 4, 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, 5, 5-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 6, methoxyacetone, 7, 3-methoxy-2-butanone, 8, 4-methoxy-2-butanone, 9, and 5-methoxy-2-pentanone, 10) were experimentally determined by the equilibrium method using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance and high-pressure mass spectrometry techniques. The latter method allows the measurement of proton transfer equilibrium constants at various temperatures and thus the estimate of both the proton affinities and the protonation entropies of the relevant species. Quantum chemical calculations at the G3 and the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//6-31G(d) levels of theory were undertaken in order to find the most stable structures of the neutrals 1-10 and their protonated forms. Conformational and vibrational analyses have been done with the aim of obtaining a theoretical estimate of the protonation entropies.

Cyclization reactions of acylium and thioacylium ions with isocyanates and isothiocyanates: gas phase synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-2H-1,3,5-oxadiazinium ions

Gas-phase reactions of several acylium and thioacylium ions, that is H2C=N-C+=O, H2C=N-C+=S, O=C=N-C+=O, S=C=N-C+=O, H3C-C+=O, and (CH3)2N-C+=O, with both a model isocyanate and isothiocyanate, that is, C2H5-N=C=O and C2H5-N=C=S, were investigated using tandem-in-space pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry. In these reactions, the formation of mono- and double-addition products is observed concurrently with proton transfer products. The double-addition products are far more favored in reactions with ethyl isocyanate, whereas the reactions with ethyl isothiocyanate form, preferentially, either the mono-addition product or proton transfer products, or both. Retro-addition dominates the low-energy collision-induced dissociation of the mono- and double-addition products with reformation of the corresponding reactant ions. Ab initio calculations at Becke3LYP//6-311 + G(d,p) level indicate that cyclization is favored for the double-addition products and that products equivalent to those synthesized in solution, that is, of 3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-2H-1,3,5-oxadiazinium ions and sulfur analogs, are formed.

Meerwein reaction of phosphonium ions with epoxides and thioepoxides in the gas phase

Phosphonium ions are shown to undergo a gas-phase Meerwein reaction in which epoxides (or thioepoxides) undergo three-to-five-membered ring expansion to yield dioxaphospholanium (or oxathiophospholanium) ion products. When the association reaction is followed by collision-induced dissociation (CID), the oxirane (or thiirane) is eliminated, making this ion molecule reaction/CID sequence a good method of net oxygen-by-sulfur replacement in the phosphonium ions. This replacement results in a characteristic mass shift of 16 units and provides evidence for the cyclic nature of the gas-phase Meerwein product ions, while improving selectivity for phosphonium ion detection. This reaction sequence also constitutes a gas-phase route to convert phosphonium ions into their sulfur analogs. Phosphonium and related ions are important targets since they are commonly and readily formed in mass spectrometric analysis upon dissociative electron ionization of organophosphorous esters. The Meerwein reaction should provide a new and very useful method of recognizing compounds that yield these ions, which includes a number of chemical warfare agents. The Meerwein reaction proceeds by phosphonium ion addition to the sulfur or oxygen center, followed by intramolecular nucleophilic attack with ring expansion to yield the 1,3,2-dioxaphospholanium or 1,3,2-oxathiophospholanium ion. Product ion structures were investigated by CID tandem mass spectrometry (MS(2)) experiments and corroborated by DFT/HF calculations.

Ionic Transacetalization with Acylium Ions: A Class-Selective and Structurally Diagnostic Reaction for Cyclic Acetals Performed under Unique Electrospray and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization In-Source Ion−Molecule Reaction Conditions

Ionic transacetalization of cyclic acetals with the gaseous (CH3)2NCO+ acylium ion has been performed under unique in-source ion-molecule reaction (in-source IMR) conditions of electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). In-source IMR under ESI and APCI greatly expands the range of neutral molecules that can be brought to the gas phase to react by ionic transacetalization, a general, class-selective and structurally diagnostic reaction for cyclic acetals (Moraes, L. A. B.; Gozzo, F. C.; Vainiotalo, P.; Eberlin, M. N. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 5096). Heavier, more polar, and less volatile cyclic acetals than those previously employed in quadrupole collision cells are shown to react efficiently by ionic transacetalization under the ESI and APCI in-source IMR conditions. Tetramethylurea (TMU) acts as an efficient dopant, being co-injected with the acetal in either benzene, toluene, methanol, or water/methanol solutions. Under APCI or ESI, the basic TMU dopant is protonated preferentially, and the labile protonated TMU then undergoes dissociation to (CH3)2NCO+, the least acidic and the most transacetalization-reactive acylium ion so far tested. Under the relatively high-pressure, low-energy collision conditions set to favor associative reactions, (CH3)2NCO+ reacts competitively both with TMU to form acylated TMU and with the acetal via ionic transacetalization to form the respective cyclic ionic acetals. Spectrum subtraction removes the ionic products of the dopant (TMU) self-reactions, thus providing clean ion-molecule reaction product ion mass spectra, which are used for the selective, structurally diagnostic detection of cyclic acetals. Information on ring substituents comes from characteristic mass shifts resulting from aldehyde/ketone by acylium ion replacement. Enhanced selectivity in structural characterization or chemical recognition for cyclic acetal monitoring is gained by performing on-line collision-induced dissociation via tandem mass spectrometric experiments. Most cyclic ionic acetals dissociate exclusively or nearly exclusively to re-form the reactant (CH3)2NCO+ acylium ion whereas the presence of additional functional groups with increased structural complexity tends to favor other specific but likewise selective dissociation channels.

Reactions of gaseous acylium ions with 1,3-dienes: further evidence for polar [4 + 2+] Diels-Alder cycloaddition

A novel reaction of acylium and thioacylium ions, polar [4 + 2(+)] Diels-Alder cycloaddition with 1,3-dienes and O-heterodienes, has been systematically investigated in the gas phase (Eberlin MN, Cooks RG. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993; 115: 9226). This polar cycloaddition, yet without precedent in solution, likely forms cyclic 2,5-dihydropyrylium ions. Here we report the reactions of gaseous acylium ions [(CH(3))(2)N-C(+)=O, Ph-C(+)=O, (CH(3))(2)N-C(+)=S, CH(3)-C(+)=O, CH(3)CH(2)-C(+)=O, and CH(2)=CH-C(+)=O] with several 1-oxy-substituted 1,3-dienes of the general formula RO-CH=CH-C(R(1))=CH(2), which were performed to collect further evidence for cycloaddition. In reactions with 1-methoxy and 1-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadiene, adducts are formed to a great extent, but upon collision activation they mainly undergo structurally unspecific retro-addition dissociation. In reactions with Danishefsky's diene (trans-1-methoxy-3-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadiene), adducts are also formed to great extents, but retro-addition is no longer their major dissociation; the ions dissociate instead mainly to a common fragment, the methoxyacryl cation of m/z 85. This fragment ion is most likely formed with the intermediacy of the acyclic adduct, which isomerizes prior to dissociation by a trimethylsilyl cation shift. Theoretical calculations predict that meta cycloadducts bearing 1-methoxy and 1-trimethylsilyloxy substituents are unstable, undergoing barrierless ring opening induced by the charge-stabilizing effect of the 1-oxy substituents. In contrast, for the reactions with 1-acetoxy-1,3-butadiene, both the experimental results and theoretical calculations point to the formation of intrinsically stable cycloadducts, but the intact cycloadducts are either not observed or observed in low abundances. Both the isomeric ortho and meta cycloadducts are likely formed, but the nascent ions dissociate to great extents owing to excess internal energy. The ortho cycloadducts dissociate by ketene loss; the meta cycloadducts undergo intramolecular proton transfer to the acetoxy group followed by dissociation by acetic acid loss to yield aromatic pyrylium ions. Either or both of these dissociations, ketene and/or acetic acid loss, dominate over the otherwise favored retro-Diels-Alder alternative. The pyrylium ion products therefore constitute compelling evidence for polar [4 + 2(+)] cycloaddition since their formation can only be rationalized with the intermediacy of cyclic adducts.

Ketalization of phosphonium ions by 1,4-dioxane: selective detection of the chemical warfare agent simulant DMMP in mixtures using ion/molecule reactions

Phosphonium ions CH(3)P(O)OCH(3)(+) (93 Th) and CH(3)OP(O)OCH(3)(+) (109 Th) react with 1,4-dioxane to form unique cyclic ketalization products, 1,3,2-dioxaphospholanium ions. By contrast, a variety of other types of ions having multiple bonds, including the acylium ions CH(3)CO(+) (43 Th), CH(3)OCO(+) (59 Th), (CH(3))(2)NCO(+) (72 Th), and PhCO(+) (105 Th), the iminium ion H(2)C[double bond]NHC(2)H(5)(+) (58 Th) and the carbosulfonium ion H(2)C[double bond]SC(2)H(5)(+) (75 Th) do not react with 1,4-dioxane under the same conditions. The characteristic ketalization reaction can also be observed when CH(3)P(OH)(OCH(3))(2)(+), viz. protonated dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), collides with 1,4-dioxane, as a result of fragmentation to yield the reactive phosphonium ion CH(3)P(O)OCH(3)(+) (93 Th). This novel ion/molecule reaction is highly selective to phosphonium ions and can be applied to identify DMMP selectively in the presence of ketone, ester, and amide compounds using a neutral gain MS/MS scan. This method of DMMP analysis can be applied to aqueous solutions using electrospray ionization; it shows a detection limit in the low ppb range and a linear response over the range 10 to 500 ppb.