Electron-capture Negative-ion Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Structural Characterization of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes by GC/MS is Dependent upon Ionization Method

alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes are toxic products of lipid peroxidation. Detection and characterization of these aldehydes is important in many human disease states as well as in the food industry. Our study shows that electron ionization-mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and positive-ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (PICI-MS), but not electron capture negative ionization-mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), can be used to detect the C4-hydroxylation state of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes derivatized with pentafluorobenzyl hydroxylamine alone. EI-MS and PICI-MS spectra of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals contained a fragment with m/z 252, whereas spectra of 2-alkenals contained a fragment with m/z 250. These fragments are consistent with fragmentation between C3 and C4 with transfer of two hydrogens from C4 and the C4 hydroxyl group in the case of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals. In addition, EI-MS and PICI-MS were able to distinguish 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals and 2-alkenals from 4-keto-2-alkenals and 4-hydroxyalkanals. On the other hand, ECNI-MS provided complex spectra regarding C4-hydroxylation state. Furthermore, the syn- and anti-configurations of PFB-oximes had different resultant spectra using ECNI-MS, but not with EI-MS or PICI-MS. These data indicate that EI-MS and PICI-MS are more amenable for structural analysis of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes than ECNI-MS.

Simultaneous determination of bisphenol A, triclosan, and tetrabromobisphenol A in human serum using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-electron capture negative-ionization mass spectrometry

This study aimed at optimizing and validating a sensitive method for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in human serum using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography coupled to electron-capture negative-ionization mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI/MS). Sample preparation involved denaturation of serum proteins with formic acid followed by SPE on an Oasis HLB cartridge. Fractionation was performed on Florisil from which the phenolic compounds were eluted with methanol-dichloromethane (DCM) (5:1, v/v). The phenolic fraction was further derivatized with pentafluoropropionic acid anhydride (30 min at 70 degrees C). Further liquid-liquid partitioning using hexane-DCM (4:1, v/v) and K(2)CO(3) 3% aqueous solution was used to eliminate excess reagent and acidic by-products formed during derivatization. The cleaned extract was injected into a GC-ECNI/MS system operated in selected ion monitoring mode. For thorough method validation, each step of the procedure was rigorously optimized. The method limits of quantitation for BPA, TCS, and TBBPA were 0.28 ng mL(-1), 0.09 ng mL(-1) and 0.05 ng mL(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the method was applied to 21 Belgian human serum samples. The median concentrations obtained for BPA (0.71 ng mL(-1)) and TCS (0.52 ng mL(-1)) in Belgian human serum samples were similar to previously reported data for human fluids. Slightly higher levels of TBBPA (0.08 ng mL(-1)) were found in Belgium samples compared to Norwegian serum.

Highly selective and sensitive gas chromatography–electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry method for the indirect enantioselective identification of 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids in food and biological samples

A gas chromatographic (GC) method is described for the indirect enantioresolution of 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (OH-FAs). It combines the derivatization of each alkylated enantiomer and the subsequent transfer with ( R)-(−)- α-methoxy- α-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride [( R)-(−)-MTPA-Cl, Mosher's reagent] into a diastereomeric ( S)-MTPA derivative. The enantiomers of each derivatized OH-FA were well separated on three non-chiral GC-columns (CP-Sil 2, CP-Sil 8/20% C18 and VF-5 ms). The derivatives were detected with high sensitivity by GC with electron-capture detection (GC/ECD) and electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS) because of their enhanced electron-capturing properties. When applied to sunflower oil spiked with a small amount of a racemic 2-OH-FA, the present method allowed for a highly selective identification without influence from the sample matrix. For more complex samples such as wool wax, GC/ECNI-MS was superior to GC/ECD, since the high sensitivity of this method was linked with high selectivity. Using GC/ECNI-MS in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, 16 enantiopure 2-OH-FAs were detected in a wool wax sample.

Fast gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of diuretics and masking agents in human urine: Development and validation of a productive screening protocol for antidoping analysis

An analytical procedure was developed for the fast screening of 16 diuretics (acetazolamide, althiazide, amiloride, bendroflumethiazide, bumetanide, canrenoic acid, chlorthalidone, chlorthiazide, clopamide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorthiazide, hydroflumethiazide, indapamide, triamterene, trichlormethiazide) and a masking agent (probenecid) in human urine. The whole method involves three analytical steps, including (1) liquid/liquid extraction of the analytes from the matrix, (2) their reaction with methyl iodide at 70 °C for 2 h to form methyl derivatives, (3) analysis of the resulting mixture by fast gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry (fast GC/EI-MS). The analytical method was validated by determining selectivity, linearity, accuracy, intra and inter assay precision, extraction efficiencies and signal to noise ratio (S/N) at the lowest calibration level (LCL) for all candidate analytes. The analytical performances of three extraction procedures and five combination of derivatization parameters were compared in order to probe the conditions for speeding up the sample preparation step. Limits of detection (LOD) were evaluated in both EI-MS and ECNI-MS (electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry) modes, indicating better sensitivity for most of the analytes using the latter ionization technique. The use of short columns and high carrier gas velocity in fast GC/MS produced efficient separation of the analytes in less than 4 min, resulting in a drastic reduction of the analysis time, while a resolution comparable to that obtained from classic GC conditions is maintained. Fast quadrupole MS electronics allows high scan rates and effective data acquisition both in scan and selected ion monitoring modes.

Congener group patterns of chloroparaffins in marine sediments obtained by chloride attachment chemical ionization and electron capture negative ionization

Congener group patterns of technical short chain and medium chain chloroparaffins (SCCP and MCCP) were determined by electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) and chloride attachment chemical ionization (CACI) mass spectrometry (MS). In contrast to CACI–MS, congener patterns obtained by ECNI showed always a shift to the next higher chlorinated congener and carbon chain length group. Consequently, the calculated molecular masses and chlorine contents were higher for ECNI (factor 1.10 ± 0.03 and 1.09 ± 0.03, respectively). ECNI/CACI ratios in sediment samples from the North and Baltic Sea were also slightly higher. However, a more pronounced shift of the congener pattern for a given carbon chain length to congeners with 2–3 more chlorine atoms was observed. SCCP and MCCP concentrations obtained by ECNI–MS were in the range of 8–63 ng g −1 (North Sea) and 22–149 ng g −1 dry weight (Baltic Sea). MCCP levels were highest in all samples (MCCP/SCCP factor 1.1–3.2).

The role of free electrons in MALDI: electron capture by molecules of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid.

Low-energy (0-12 eV) electron attachment to molecules of a typical matrix substance used for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS), namely alpha-cyano-4-hydroxicynnamic acid, has been investigated in the gas phase at different temperatures ranging from 140 degrees C to 260 degrees C by means of electron capture negative-ion mass spectrometry (ECNI MS). The yield of negative ions, formed by electron capture, was measured as a function of incident electron energy for four different temperatures. The long-lived parent molecular anion, [M]- (m/z 189), was observed in the negative-ion mass spectra of the substance under investigation. Its autodetachment lifetime was estimated to be approximately 600 micros. It was found that at 140 degrees C the main decay channel of the long-lived temporary molecular anion of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxicynnamic acid is a formation of the [M-COOH]-; fragment negative ion (m/z 144) with an intensity of 37.2% in percentage terms in respect of the total anion current. There are also [M-H]-, [M-CO2]- and [CN]- fragments in the spectra with intensities of about 7.7%, 21.6% and 3.1% at 140 degrees C. It was shown that the escape of the CO2 molecule from the parent molecular anion is a slow process. It takes [M]- about 10 micros to decay on carbon dioxide molecules and [M-CO2]- fragment anions. Increasing the temperature of the target molecule alters the negative-ion mass spectra of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxicynnamic acid significantly. A possible role for the findings in typical MALDI MS experiments is discussed.

Detection and quantitation of fatty acid acyl conjugates of triamcinolone acetonide via gas chromatography–electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry

The inherent electron-capture properties of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) fatty acid conjugates were exploited for development of a GC–MS technique for quantitation of C21 long-chain fatty esters of TAA synthesized in BEAS-2B cells, an immortalized airway epithelium cell line. TAA esters extracted from BEAS-2B cells were purified and detected via selected ion monitoring of the molecular anions generated from the TAA esters under electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometric conditions. Standard curves were linear over a range of 0.0 to >4.5 ng/mg protein with r 2 values = 1. Levels of TAA conjugates extracted from BEAS-2B treated with 10 −5 M TAA for 24 h ranged from 0.024 to 0.301 ng/mg protein. Further evidence for confirmation of the identity of TAA fatty esters formed in BEAS-2B cells was obtained via selected reaction monitoring. The transition monitored was formation of the carboxy anion generated from each of the respective molecular anions of the TAA esters during collision-induced decomposition. These findings indicate that the GC–MS analysis is suitable for studies of the kinetics of the TAA fatty acid conjugates formation in vitro and may be directly applicable to determination of the kinetics of TAA fatty acid conjugation in vivo.

Temperature dependence of dissociative electron attachment to molecules of gentisic acid, hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone

The temperature dependence of dissociative electron attachment to molecules of gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) as well as to the products of its decomposition, namely molecules of hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone, has been investigated by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS). We have obtained the negative ion yield as a function of incident electron energy for decay channels corresponding to m/ z 108 which are [M−CO 2−H 2] − anion in the spectrum of gentisic acid, [M−H 2] − anion in the spectrum of hydroquinone and [M] − parent long-lived anion in the spectrum of p-benzoquinone. It was shown that molecules of carbon dioxide may be formed at high temperature not only by decarboxylation of gentisic acid but also by capture of low-energy electrons (about 1 eV). Such a fact has a great importance for understanding of the problem of analyte desorption in matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry in according to CO 2-MALDI model where the desorption of large biomolecules is explained in terms of gas-bubbles formation by thermal decomposition of molecules of MALDI matrix.

ECNI GC-MS analysis of picolinic and quinolinic acids and their amides in human plasma, CSF, and brain tissue.

To study the complex inter-relationships between inflammatory and apoptotic responses and the kynurenine pathway, we have utilized electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry to develop trace analyses to concurrently quantify nicotinic acid (NIC), picolinic acid (PIC) and quinolinic acid (QUIN) in biological samples. We have shown that NIC and its amide nicotinamide (NAM) can be separately quantified by analyzing samples pre- and post-acid hydrolysis. We have now examined human plasma, CSF and brain tissue samples for the presence of putative picolinamide (PAM) and quinolinamide (QAM) by comparing PIC and QUIN concentrations pre- and post- gas phase hydrolysis. We report for the first time that, with respect to the free acids, relatively high concentrations of the amides (or, at least, hydrolysable precursors of the acids) are present in plasma and brain with marked relative increases in CSF. In normal control subjects (n=22) pre-hydrolysis plasma levels (+/- sem) of PIC and QUIN were 0.299 +/- 0.034 and 0.47 +/- 0.047 micromol/L respectively. Following hydrolysis the concentrations rose more than 4-fold to 1.33 +/- 0.115 and 2.2 +/- 0.27 micromol/L respectively. In CSF samples from patients with no sign of brain injury or pathology (n=10) pre-hydrolysis concentrations of PIC and QUIN were 0.017 +/- 0.005 and 0.018 +/- 0.006 micromol/L, respectively, which rose to 0.30 +/- 0.06 and 0.06 +/- 0.008 micromol/L respectively, after hydrolysis. In CSF samples from patients with a range of brain oedema or injury (eg subdural haemorrage, motor vehicle accident) (n=6) pre-hydrolysis concentrations of PIC and QUIN were 0.053 +/- 0.03 and 0.29 +/- 0.12 micromol/L, respectively. Following hydrolysis the concentrations were markedly increased to 6.06 +/- 1.5 and 0.94 +/- 0.63 micromol/L, respectively. The present investigation has shown for the first time that PAM and QAM are present endogenously with PAM being relatively higher than QAM, especially in CSF samples from patients with presumed brain inflammation. The site and mechanism of amidation of PIC and QUIN needs investigation.

Chromatographic enrichment and enantiomer separation of axially chiral polybrominated biphenyls in a technical mixture

The separation properties of different chromatographic methods regarding the enantioselective separation of axially chiral (atropisomeric) polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) were studied. For this purpose, the technical hexabromobiphenyl product Firemaster BP-6 ® was characterised by gas-chromatography coupled to electron capture detection (GC/ECD) and electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS) as well as by liquid chromatographic fractionating on active carbon and celite. Twelve individual PBBs including potential atropisomeric PBBs were isolated from Firemaster BP-6 by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on three serially coupled octadecylsilane columns. Six of the 12 isolated PBBs (three tri- ortho and di- ortho substituted PBBs, respectively) were separated into atropisomers on a HPLC column containing permethylated β-cyclodextrin on silica. Moreover, the temperature dependency of the enantiomer separations is discussed. Gas chromatographic enantiomer separation of PBBs is a very demanding task due to high elution temperatures. However, the atropisomers of one tri- ortho substituted PBB congener (PBB 149) could be resolved on a column coated with randomly modified heptakis(6- O- tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-2,3-di- O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin in OV 1701.

Electron capture negative ion mass spectra of some typical matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization matrices.

A series of seven typical matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) matrices has been investigated by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS). It has been shown that the most effective matrices form deprotonated negative ions predominantly in the low-energy region. Relative dissociative cross sections have been measured for all molecules under investigation. The relative integrated abundance of [M - H](-) ion formation in the series changes by four orders of magnitude. It has been shown that 2,5-DHB (gentisic acid), one of the most effective MALDI matrices, has maximal relative intensity of [M - H](-) formation at the energy approximately equal 0.8 eV. This result is in accordance with a finding of Frankevich and Zenobi [Book of Abstracts, Workshop-school "Mass spectrometry in chemical physics, bio-physics and environmental sciences", Zvenigorod, Russia, April, 25-26, 2002, p. 40] that a probable origin of negative ions in MALDI is the process of low-energy (0.5-1 eV) dissociative electron capture by matrix molecules.

Determination and mass spectrometric investigation of a new mixed halogenated persistent component in fish and seal.

An unknown component that caused an intense signal in sample extracts of fish tissue was enriched and investigated using a variety of mass spectrometric techniques coupled to gas chromatographic separation. With the help of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS) and electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) it was established that the component carries 2Br and 3Cl atoms and forms a molecular ion at m/z 396. A concentrated solution of this mixed halogenated compound (MHC-1) was investigated by gas chromatography interfaced to electron impact high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/EI-HRMS). Using full scan and SIM techniques, the molecular formula of MHC-1 was established to be C10H13Br2Cl3. This points toward MHC-1 having a monoterpene backbone. No chemical with this molecular formula has been synthesized, but two components with this composition have been earlier isolated from marine algae.

Quantitative Determination of Plasma C8–C26 Total Fatty Acids for the Biochemical Diagnosis of Nutritional and Metabolic Disorders

We have developed a capillary gas chromatography–electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the quantitative determination of C8–C26 total fatty acids in plasma. Following hydrolysis, hexane extraction, and derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide, fatty acid esters are analyzed in two steps: a splitless injection and a second, split injection (1:100) for the quantitation of the more abundant long-chain species. Fourteen saturated and 25 unsaturated fatty acids are quantified by selected ion monitoring in ratio to 13 stable-isotope-labeled internal standards. Calibrations exhibit consistent linearity and reproducibility. Intraassay (n = 17) and interassay (n = 12) CVs ranged from 2.5 to 13.2% and from 4.6 to 22.9%, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 76 to 106%. Reference ranges were established for four age groups (<1 month, 1 month to 1 year, 1–17 years, >18 years) and compared to specimens from patients with nutritional deficiency of ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inborn errors of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and peroxisomal disorders. Retrospective evaluation of the concentration of linoleic acid in 35 cases with a diagnosis of essential fatty acid deficiency previously made by gas chromatographic analysis with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) found a specificity and sensitivity of only 55 and 50%, respectively, for the GC/FID method when compared to GC/MS.

Determination of Q1, an unknown organochlorine contaminant, in human milk, Antarctic air, and further environmental samples

Q1, an organochlorine component with the molecular formula C9H3Cl7N2 and of unknown origin was recently identified in seal blubber samples from the Namibian coast (southwest of Africa) and the Antarctic. In these samples, Q1 was more abundant than PCBs and on the level of DDT residues. Furthermore, Q1 was more abundant in seals from the Antarctic than the Arctic. To prove this assumption, gas chromatography–electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI–MS), which is sensitive and selective for Q1, allowed for screening of traces of Q1 even in samples with particularly high levels of other organochlorine contaminants. Q1 was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from a skua liver sample. A 1:1 mixture with trans-nonachlor in electron-capture detectors (ECDs) was used to determine the relative response factor with ECNI–MS. The ECNI–MS response of Q1 turned out to be 4.5 times higher than that of trans-nonachlor in an ECD. With GC/ECNI–MS in the selected ion-monitoring mode, four Antarctic and four Arctic air samples were investigated for the presence of Q1. In the Antarctic air samples, Q1 levels ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 fg/m3. In Arctic air samples, however, Q1 was below the detection limit (<0.06 fg/m3 or 60 ag/m3). We also report on high Q1 levels in selected human milk samples (12–230 μg/kg lipid) and, therefore, suggested that the unknown Q1 is an environmental compound whose origin and distribution should be investigated in detail. Our data confirm that Q1 is a bioaccumulative natural organochlorine product. Detection of a highly chlorinated natural organochlorine compound in air and human milk is novel.

Electron Affinity for the Most Toxic 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD): A Density Functional Theory Study

The electron affinity (EA) of the most toxic dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), has been obtained along with that of two other toxic TCDDs using density functional theory (DFT) for the first time. The vertical electron affinity calculated for 1,2,3,4- TCDD at the B3LYP/aug‘-cc-pVDZ level agrees with the recently obtained (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 2561) experimental electron energy, which produced a maximum anion intensity in electron-capture negative-ion mass spectrometry. The adiabatic EAs of 0.259 and 0.265 eV for 2,3,7,8-TCDD obtained using B3LYP and B3PW91 functionals, respectively, suggest that anionic TCDDs are stable with respect to the detachment of electrons and indicate that TCDDs act as electron acceptors in the reaction with receptors in living cells. Because of the large difference in geometry between the neutral and the anionic 1,2,3,4-TCDD, the calculated adiabatic EA differs considerably from the vertical electron affinity. Anionic 1,3,6,8- and 2,3,7,8-TCDD are p...

Discrimination and thermal degradation of toxaphene compounds in capillary gas chromatography when using split/splitless and on-column injection

Technical toxaphene and a 22-component Reference Mixture were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography with split/splitless injection (SSL) and on-column injection (OC). In both techniques, electron-capture, negative ionization mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS) was used for detection of chlorobornanes, chlorocamphenes and related compounds. Significant discrimination of highly chlorinated congeners was observed as a result of incomplete transfer of these compounds from the vaporizer to the analytical column when using SSL. This resulted in a much lower response for nona- and decachloro congeners than when using OC. In addition, several toxaphene components, especially the chlorobornanes with gem dichloro substitution on the six-member carbon ring, undergo thermal degradation when using SSL. Some of these congeners are major components of technical toxaphene, but generally are not present, except at low concentrations, in environmental and biological samples. Therefore, technical toxaphene may be discriminated and/or degraded differently than toxaphene compounds in environmental samples when using SSL. This results in significant bias of the quantitative data when using the technical material as a reference. OC suffers much less from these deficiencies and, therefore, is a preferable technique for toxaphene analysis.

Frozen shell approximation violation in negative ion formation from halogenated benzenes via dissociative attachment

A series of benzene derivatives (R(1)C(6)H(4)R(2)) has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), and PM3 quantum chemical calculations. The dissociation channel M(-.) --> Hal(-) + (M - Hal). is analysed from the point of view of symmetry conservation. Generally, a symmetry ban on dissociation may be avoided in at least two ways: (i) out-of-plane vibrations of the halogen atom in the molecular negative ion (MNI), mixing pi- and sigma-states of the anion; (ii) symmetrical in-plane vibration of the C-Hal bond, changing the order of the empty levels in the MNI with subsequent radiationless conversion into a sigma-state. Our analysis shows that neither of them provides a satisfactory explanation of the ECNI mass spectra for chlorobenzene, if one retains the usual assumption that an additional electron goes into the LUMO of the neutral molecule. Thus, it may be concluded that in this case electron capture causes a significant perturbation of the energy ordering of vacant orbitals, thus making the frozen shell approximation inapplicable. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives.

A series of anthraquinone (C(14)O(2)H(8)) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M(-.) (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy approximately 0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1-2.10(-13) s in the f-partial wave (l = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy approximately 1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet npi* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives

A series of anthraquinone (C14O2H8) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M−· (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy ∼0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1–2·10−13 s in the f-partial wave (ℓ = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy ∼1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet nπ* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Internal energy distribution of carboxylate negative-ions of the herbicide diclofop acid in the gas-phase

Unimolecular dissociations of diclofop acid and three of its esters were studied using electron capture negative-ion mass spectrometry, to determine to what extent the gas-phase chemistry correlated with transformation products reported for the herbicide in soils and microbial biofilms. Electron capture of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) and pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) esters along with H + abstraction of diclofop acid were used to form the carboxylate ion at m / z 325. The degree of dissociation of this ion was strongly dependent on the relative distribution of internal energies, chemical nature and size of the ester group. For carboxylate ions formed with relatively low distribution of internal energies (PFB ester), elimination of HCl only was the preferred pathway. In contrast, m / z 325 from the TMS ester and diclofop acid, underwent loss of Cl, followed by loss of HCl to give m / z 254 with some direct loss of HCl for the TMS ester. For carboxylate ions formed with little or no internal energy under electrospray ionization, no unimolecular dissociations were observed. However, a wide range of product-ions were observed for the latter using collision-induced dissociations. For the methyl ester there was a preponderance for initial formation of a chlorodibenzofuran oxide ion ( m / z 217) instead of electron attachment on the carbonyl function. The ion ( m / z 217) was also prevalent for fragmentation of m / z 253 produced directly by electron capture of diclofop acid and the TMS ester. In general, the gas-phase ion chemistry correlated well with the distribution of some transformation products reported in the literature for the herbicide in soils and microbial biofilms.