Electron ionization compound

Chemical ionization produces quasi-molecular or protonated molecular ions that do not fragment as readily as the molecular ions formed by electron ionization. Therefore, Cl spectra are normally simpler than El spectra in that they contain abundant quasi-molecular ions and few fragment ions. It is advantageous to run both Cl and El spectra on the same compound to obtain complementary information. 

Arguably the ultimate LC-MS interface would be one that provides El spectra, i.e. a spectrum from which structural information can be extracted by using famihar methodology, and this was one of the great advantages of the moving-belt interface. There is, however, an incompatibility between the types of compound separated by HPLC and the way in which electron ionization is achieved and therefore such an interface has restricted capability, as previously discussed with respect to the moving-belt interface (see Section 4.2 above). 

The range of compounds from which electron ionization spectra may be obtained using the particle-beam interface is, like the moving-belt interface, extended when compared to using more conventional methods of introduction, e.g. the solids probe, or via a GC. It is therefore not unusual for specffa obtained using this type of interface not to be found in commercial libraries of mass spectra. 

Chromatographic Characterization of TTXs. The vast majority of reports have identified TTX and anhydro-TTX in bacterial cultures using HPLC, TLC, and GC-MS. Yasumoto et al. (30) showed that TTX-like substances extracted from a Pseudomonas sp. culture could bind to activated charcoal at pH 5.5 and be eluted with 20% ethanol in 1% acetic acid. In addition, HPLC analysis demonstrated TTX and anhydro-TTX-like fluorophors following strong base treatment. These compounds migrated on silica gel comparably to TTX and anhydro-TTX. Furthermore, when analyzed by electron ionization (EI)-MS and fast atom... 

The method using GC/MS with selected ion monitoring (SIM) in the electron ionization (El) mode can determine concentrations of alachlor, acetochlor, and metolachlor and other major corn herbicides in raw and finished surface water and groundwater samples. This GC/MS method eliminates interferences and provides similar sensitivity and superior specificity compared with conventional methods such as GC/ECD or GC/NPD, eliminating the need for a confirmatory method by collection of data on numerous ions simultaneously. If there are interferences with the quantitation ion, a confirmation ion is substituted for quantitation purposes. Deuterated analogs of each analyte may be used as internal standards, which compensate for matrix effects and allow for the correction of losses that occur during the analytical procedure. A known amount of the deuterium-labeled compound, which is an ideal internal standard because its chemical and physical properties are essentially identical with those of the unlabeled compound, is carried through the analytical procedure. SPE is required to concentrate the water samples before analysis to determine concentrations reliably at or below 0.05 qg (ppb) and to recover/extract the various analytes from the water samples into a suitable solvent for GC analysis. 

Of particular interest when considering ionizable compounds is the difference of lipophilicity between the neutral species and one of its ionic forms, because ionization dramatically alters intramolecular interactions (such as electronic conjugation, internal ionic and hydrogen bonds, polarity, hydrophilic folding, and shielding). In a given solvent system, diff (log is approximately constant for compounds with similar chemical... 

Electron ionization (El) mass spectra of 1,3,4-oxadiazole itself and its 2-mono- and 2,5-disubstituted derivatives, including the proposed main fragmentation pathways have already been discussed in CHEC(1984) and CHEC-11(1996) <1984CHEC(6)427, 1996CHEC-II(4)268>. Molecular ions of the compounds are usually of high intensity and the most important fragmentation pathways of the molecular ions involve loss of respective HCN, RCN molecules, or RCO cations. Loss of HNCO is significant in the spectra of 2-amino derivatives. 

Most nitrile oxides are unstable, some of them are explosive. This fact hinders the study of their physical properties. Nevertheless, there are a number of publications concerning not only stable but also unstable nitrile oxides. In particular, mass spectral data for nitrile oxides among other unstable compounds containing an N+-X bond are summarized in a review (9). In such studies, the molecular ions must be generated using indirect procedures, including dissociative electron ionization, online flash-vacuum pyrolysis mass spectrometry, or ion-molecular reactions. Their characterization is mainly based on collisional activation and ion-molecular reactions. 

Electron ionization (earlier called electron impact) (see Chapter 2, Section 2.1.6) occupies a special position among ionization techniques. Historically it was the first method of ionization in mass spectrometry. Moreover it remains the most popular in mass spectrometry of organic compounds (not bioorganic). The main advantages of electron ionization are reliability and versatility. Besides that the existing computer libraries of mass spectra (Wiley/NIST, 2008) consist of electron ionization spectra. The fragmentation mles were also developed for the initial formation of a radical-cation as a result of electron ionization. 

Unfortunately many compounds do not have a peak for their M+ in electron ionization mass spectra, as it is unstable. That is why it is of primary importance to be able to identify M+ correctly. There are four necessary but not sufficient conditions to name an ion peak molecular. If at least one of these conditions fails the ion is not molecular. If all four statements are fulfilled, the ion can be molecular. 

Electron ionization is a perfect method for the analysis of labeled molecules as in this case ion-molecular reactions are suppressed. It is better to use for the calculations the most intense spectral peaks with the highest m/z values. Molecular ion is the best choice. However, if notable [M + H]+ or [M — H]+ peaks are present in the spectrum of the unlabeled compound the correct calculation will be problematic. To eliminate [M + H]+ peaks it is helpful to record a spectrum with the minimum quantity of sample. To consider interference with [M — H]+ ions one should know from what position the hydrogen atom is lost and whether deuterium could be in this position. 

Fig. 11.4. Electron ionization mass spectrum of nonanal. Unlike the previous example (toluene, Fig. 11.3), this 9-carbon alkyl aldehyde displays extensive fragmentation and a very low abundance molecular ion at mlz 142. The extensive degree of fragmentation exhibited by many compounds under El conditions makes manual interpretation complex and tedious. Consequently, computerized searches of spectral libraries find extensive use in compound identification.

In addition to the searchable library compilations, several compendial books on the electron ionization fragmentation behavior of compounds have been published [34-36]. They are dated, but nevertheless effectively capture the collective fragmentation information prior to their publication. All of these information sources discuss electron ionization spectra. El fragmentation rules, however, can be of limited assistance in interpreting soft ionization and MS-MS product ion spectra. 

If high-resolution measurements are performed in order to assign elemental compositions, internal mass calibration is almost always required. The calibration compound can be introduced from a second inlet system or be mixed with the analyte before the analysis. Mixing calibration compounds with the analyte requires some operational skills in order not to suppress the analyte by the reference or vice versa. Therefore, a separate inlet to introduce the calibration compound is advantageous. This can be achieved by introducing volatile standards such as PFK from a reference inlet system in electron ionization, by use of a dual-target probe in fast atom bombardment, or by use of a second sprayer in electrospray ionization. 

Classical organic chemistry provides a wide variety of potential analytes for electron ionization, the only limitation being that the analyte should be accessible to evaporation or sublimation without significant thermal decomposition. These requirements are usually met by saturated and unsaturated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives such as halides, ethers, acids, esters, amines, amides etc. Heterocycles generally yield useful El spectra, and flavones, steroids, terpenes and comparable compounds can successfully be analyzed by El, too. Therefore, El represents the standard method for such kind of samples. 

Cl in conjunction with a direct exposure probe is known as desorption chemical ionization (DCI). [30,89,90] In DCI, the analyte is applied from solution or suspension to the outside of a thin resistively heated wire loop or coil. Then, the analyte is directly exposed to the reagent gas plasma while being rapidly heated at rates of several hundred °C s and to temperatures up to about 1500 °C (Chap. 5.3.2 and Fig. 5.16). The actual shape of the wire, the method how exactly the sample is applied to it, and the heating rate are of importance for the analytical result. [91,92] The rapid heating of the sample plays an important role in promoting molecular species rather than pyrolysis products. [93] A laser can be used to effect extremely fast evaporation from the probe prior to CL [94] In case of nonavailability of a dedicated DCI probe, a field emitter on a field desorption probe (Chap. 8) might serve as a replacement. [30,95] Different from desorption electron ionization (DEI), DCI plays an important role. [92] DCI can be employed to detect arsenic compounds present in the marine and terrestrial environment [96], to determine the sequence distribution of P-hydroxyalkanoate units in bacterial copolyesters [97], to identify additives in polymer extracts [98] and more. [99] Provided appropriate experimental setup, high resolution and accurate mass measurements can also be achieved in DCI mode. [100]... 

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