Thomas Drewello

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of amphiphilic fullerene derivatives

Abstract Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) coupled with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been applied to the analysis of fullerene derivatives. As a common structural feature, the derivatised fullerenes comprised a long chained, organic ligand connected via a methylene bridge to the [60]fullerene. Using a structurally similar model analyte, this investigation includes the screening of fourteen different compounds regarding their suitability as MALDI matrices. The appearance of positive- and negative-ion mass spectra has been detailed, and the analysis has been supported by post source decay experiments. It was found that the performance of 9-nitroanthracene, which is currently one of the most universally used matrices for the analysis of fullerene derivatives, is exceeded by some of these materials. In the negative-ion mode, excellent performance has been achieved using the two structurally related β-carboline alkaloids, harmane and nor-harmane, as matrices. However, the best results for the analytes investigated here have been obtained employing 2-[(2 E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2-enylidene]malononitrile (DCTB). This matrix provides analyte signals in both ion modes at comparatively lower threshold laser fluences, leading to mass spectra, which display a very low degree of unwanted dissociations of the analyte. The formation of molecular analyte ions prevails, rather than ionization occurring via protonation or deprotonation. DCTB also efficiently promotes metal ion attachment to suitably ligated fullerene derivatives.

Characterization of fullerenes and fullerene derivatives by nanospray

Abstract Nanospray has been shown to be a viable ionization method for analysis of fullerenes and fullerene derivatives by mass spectrometry. The sample quantities required have been comparable to those used for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, which is currently considered to be amongst the most sensitive techniques. No modification of the fullerene sample solution was required. Neither protonation nor deprotonation were ever observed during nanospray of fullerenes, leading to the conclusion that an alternative to the traditionally accepted ionization mechanism is required. The spectra were free of fragmentation, allowing the molecular ion to be identified beyond doubt.

Reactions of nitric oxide on Rh6+ clusters: abundant chemistry and evidence of structural isomers

We report the first results of a new instrument for the study of the reactions of naked metal cluster ions using techniques developed by Professor Bondybey to whom this issue is dedicated. Rh6+ ions have been produced using a laser vaporization source and injected into a 3 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer where they are exposed to a low pressure (< 10(-8) mbar) of nitric oxide, NO. This system exhibits abundant chemistry, the first stages of which we interpret as involving the dissociative chemisorption of multiple NO molecules, followed by the liberation of molecular nitrogen. This yields key intermediates such as [Rh6O2]+ and [Rh6O4]+. The formation of the latter, after adsorption of four NO molecules, marks a change in the chemistry observed with further NO molecules adsorbed (presumably molecularly) without further N2 evolution until saturation is apparently reached with the [Rh6O4(NO)7]+ species. We analyse the data in terms of a simple 12-stage reaction mechanism, and we report the relative rate constants for each step. The trends in reactivity are assessed in terms of conceivable structures and the results are discussed where appropriate by comparison with extended surface studies of the same system. Particular attention is paid to the first step in the reaction (Rh6(+) + NO --> [Rh6NO]+) which exhibits distinctly bi-exponential kinetics, an observation we interpret as evidence for two different structural isomers of the Rh6+ cluster with one reacting more than an order of magnitude faster than the other.

Organic Reactions in Ionic Liquids Studied by in Situ XPS

We demonstrate the application of in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to monitor organic, liquid-phase reactions. By covalently attaching ionic head groups to the reacting organic molecules, their volatility can be reduced such that they withstand ultra high vacuum conditions. The applied method, which is new for the investigation of organic reactions, allows for following the fate of all elements present in the reaction mixture--except for hydrogen--in a quantitative and oxidation-state-sensitive manner in one experiment. This concept is demonstrated for the alkylation of a tertiary amine attached to an imidazolium or phosphonium moiety by the anion 4-chlorobutylsulfonate ([ClC(4)H(8)SO(3)](-)). In the course of the reaction, the covalently bound chlorine is converted to chloride and the amine to ammonium as reflected by the distinct shifts in the N 1s and Cl 2p binding energies.

MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER-INDUCED GAS-PHASE AGGREGATION OF C60 OXIDES

Abstract Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation of C 60 oxides, in conjunction with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry, leads to an unprecedented gas-phase aggregation resulting in the formation of C 120 O n − · . products. The analysis of the product distribution obtained for oxides of varying oxygen content strongly suggests that the structures of these species are closely related to oxo-bridged isolated fullerene cages rather than to species featuring a fused giant fullerene core.

Polyoxopalladates Encapsulating 8-Coordinated Metal Ions, [MO8PdII12L8]n− (M = Sc3+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Lu3+; L = PhAsO32–, PhPO32–, SeO32–)

A total of 16 discrete polyoxopalladates(II) [MO(8)Pd(II)(12)L(8)](n-), with a metal ion M encapsulated in a cuboid-shaped {Pd(12)O(8)L(8)} cage, have been synthesized: the phenylarsonate-capped series (1) L = PhAsO(3)(2-), M = Sc(3+) (ScPhAs), Mn(2+) (MnPhAs), Fe(3+) (FePhAs), Co(2+) (CoPhAs), Ni(2+) (NiPhAs), Cu(2+) (CuPhAs), Zn(2+) (ZnPhAs); the phenylphosphonate-capped series: (2) L = PhPO(3)(2-), M = Cu(2+) (CuPhP), Zn(2+) (ZnPhP); and the selenite-capped series (3) L = SeO(3)(2-), M = Mn(2+) (MnSe), Fe(3+) (FeSe), Co(2+) (CoSe), Ni(2+) (NiSe), Cu(2+), (CuSe), Zn(2+) (ZnSe), Lu(3+) (LuSe)). The polyanions were prepared in one-pot reactions in aqueous solution of [Pd(3)(CH(3)COO)(6)] with an appropriate salt of the metal ion M, as well as PhAsO(3)H(2), PhPO(3)H(2), and SeO(2), respectively, and then isolated as hydrated sodium salts Na(n)[MO(8)Pd(II)(12)L(8)]·yH(2)O (y = 10-37). The compounds were characterized in the solid state by IR spectroscopy, single-crystal XRD, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. The solution stability of the diamagnetic polyanions ScPhAs, ZnPhAs, ZnPhP, ZnSe, and LuSe was confirmed by multinuclear ((77)Se, (31)P, (13)C, and (1)H) NMR spectroscopy. The polyoxopalladates ScPhAs, MnPhAs, CoPhAs, and CuPhAs were investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Electrochemical studies on the manganese- and iron-containing derivatives demonstrated that the redox properties of the Mn(2+), Fe(3+), and Pd(2+) centers in the polyanions are strikingly influenced by the nature of the capping group. These results have subsequently been verified by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Interestingly, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements suggest that the coordination geometry around Mn(2+) is dynamically distorted on the EPR time scale (∼10(-11) s), whereas it appears as a static ensemble with cubic symmetry on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) time-scale (10(-15) s). The octacoordinated Cu(2+) cuboid is similarly distorted, in good agreement with DFT calculations. Interestingly, g(∥) is smaller than g(⊥), which is quite unusual, needing further theoretical development.

Studies on an iron(III)-peroxo porphyrin. Iron(III)-peroxo or iron(II)-superoxo?

We demonstrate that a one electron reduced product of the heme iron dioxygen adduct exists in solution not only as the commonly accepted iron(iii)-peroxo species, but coexists with its isomeric iron(ii)-superoxo form. This unusual reduced metal-superoxide adduct [M(ii)-O(2)(-)] is recently reported as a reactive intermediate in the case of non-heme extradiol dioxygenases and could also be generated by cryoreduction of a heme Fe(II)-O(2) adduct. The existence of iron(ii)-superoxo species in solution is consistent with IR, EPR, mass and Mössbauer spectra. The equilibrium between heme iron(iii)-peroxo and iron(ii)-superoxo forms is supported by density functional theory and explains our previous finding that upon release of coordinated (su)peroxide a corresponding iron(ii) complex remains. These results shed new light on the nature of heme iron(iii)-peroxo species that are key intermediates in the metalloenzyme-catalyzed dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide activation.

Superbenzene-porphyrin conjugates.

A free-base porphyrin carrying two hexabenzocoronene (HBC) substituents in a trans arrangement and its zinc complex have been prepared. The compounds were characterized extensively and found to form tricationic dimers in the gas phase. X-ray crystallography confirms for the zinc complex a profound π-stacking of the HBC moieties. In contrast, the free-base porphyrin incarcerates n-heptane which essentially prevents π-stacking. Upon excitation of the HBC substituents, efficient energy transfer to the central porphyrin is observed.

Alkali cation attachment to derivatized fullerenes studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

The complexation of alkali metal ions with amphiphilic fullerene derivatives has been investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The formation of analyte ions occurs via two competing mechanisms including electron transfer from matrix-derived ions and metal ion attachment. The interplay of these processes has been examined by laser fluence dependent sample activation and by variation of the target composition. The attachment of metal ions has been established as the gentler and thus more efficient route towards the formation of intact analyte ions. Investigations into the metal ion complexation have been conducted to reveal the reactivity order of the alkali metals in these reactions and to elucidate the influence of structural differences of the analytes, as well as to unravel effects caused by the anionic counter ion of the metal. The experimental data have been derived by two complementary approaches. Competing reactants were either studied simultaneously, so that the product distribution would provide direct insight into the reactivity pattern, and/or product distributions were obtained in a large variety of separate experiments and normalized for reliable comparison. It has been found that the extent to which complexation is observed follows the charge density order of the alkali metal ions. The structural features of the fullerene-attached ligands were of profound influence on the attachment of the metal ion, inducing enhanced selectivity for the complexation with less reactive metals. The metal ion attachment is reduced with the use of smaller anionic counter ions. Rationalization of these findings is provided within the framework of the mechanisms of ion formation in MALDI.

Specific formation of (M-H)− ions from OH-group-containing molecules

Abstract The formation of (M-H) − ions from OH-containing benzene derivatives, covering azobenzenes and phenols, has been investigated by resonant electron-capture mass spectrometry. A vibrational fine structure in the effective ion yield curves, at threshold energies for the formation of these ions through OH-bond cleavage, has been observed. This vibrational progression has been assigned to the ν(OH) stretching mode. It has been supposed that the formation of these ions occurs by a predissociation of the vibrationally excited ground state of the parent anion.