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The structures of sodiated polyalanine peptides containing 8−12 residues are investigated using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and classical and quantum modeling. Calculations indicate that the α-helical structure is the most stable conformation for the peptides whatever their size. The IRMPD spectra provide evidence for the coexistence of helical and globular shapes for Ala8Na + , and possibly for Ala9Na + . The turning point from globule to helix is thus found at Ala8−9Na + . The N−H and O− H stretching region allows identifying a new spectroscopic pattern typical for α-helical structures of polyalanines. SECTION: Biophysical Chemistry and Biomolecules

The metastable dissociation of the methoxymethyl cation and a number of its deuterium and 13C variants was examined using a reverse-geometry double-focusing mass spectrometer. The loss of methane from the methoxymethyl cation clearly showed a composite peak shape which, when deconvoluted, revealed a bimodal kinetic energy release distribution in the resulting formyl cations. Labelling experiments revealed that the two carbon atoms and all hydrogens become equivalent on the time-scale of the unimolecular dissociation lifetime of the decomposing ion. A small deuterium isotope effect was found which can be rationalized on the basis of zero point energy effects. The bimodal kinetic energy release distribution was shown, with the aid of a four-sector instrument, to be due to the production of both formyl cation (with a large kinetic energy release) and isoformyl cation (with a much smaller kinetic energy release). The methoxymethyl cation was also prepared with a precisely defined amount of internal energy in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) spectrometer by the reaction of methyl cation with formaldehyde. Experiments with 13C and deuterium labelling revealed that the dissociation to formyl cation of the methoxymethyl cations formed in the low-pressure FTICR cell by reaction of methyl cation with formaldehyde is accompanied by complete scrambling of the carbons and incomplete scrambling of the hydrogens. Ab initio calculations were carried out which identified and characterized each of the stable minima and transition states for the appropriate reactions. The calculations were fully consistent with the mechanism deduced on the basis of the experimental data.

Ionic hydrogen-bonding interactions have been found in several clusters formed by 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC). The chloride and trimethylammonium cluster ions, along with the cationic (proton-bound) dimer have been characterized by infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations performed at the B2PLYP/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. IRMPD action spectra, in combination with calculated spectra and relative energetics, indicate that it is most probable that predominantly a single isomer exists in each experiment. For the 5-FC-trimethylammonium cluster specifically, the calculated spectrum of the lowest-energy isomer convincingly matches the experimental spectrum. Interestingly, the cationic dimer of 5-FC was found to have a single energetically relevant isomer (Cationic-IV) involving a tridentate ionic hydrogen-bonding interaction. The three sites of intermolecular ionic hydrogen bonds in this isomer interact very efficiently, leading to a significant calculated binding energy of 180 kJ/mol. The magnitude of the calculated binding energy for this species, in combination with the strong correlation between the simulated and IRMPD spectra, suggests that a tridentate-proton-bound dimer was observed predominantly in the experiments. Comparison of the calculated relative Gibbs free energies (298 K) for this species and several of the other isomers considered also supports the likelihood of the dominant protonated dimer existing as Cationic-IV.

The association reactions of methylated acetone with acetone and dimethyl ether were studied over an extended temperature range (30–250°C) by high-pressure mass spectrometry. In addition, the association reactions of various deuterium-substituted analogues of both the reactant ion and neutral molecules were investigated. Two distinct isomeric forms are apparent from the examination of the behaviour of the association equilibrium constant as a function of reaction temperature: (i) a low-temperature, covalently bound isomer characterized by larger −ΔH° and −ΔS° values and significant equilibrium isotope effects on the entropy of association; and (ii) a high-temperature, electrostatically bound isomer of lower −ΔH° and −ΔS° values and with insignificant equilibrium isotope effects. The equilibrium isotope effects and larger −ΔS° values are more pronounced for the methylated acetone–dimethyl ether adduct than for the less sterically congested methylated acetone-acetone adduct. Molecular models of the low-temperature isomers show severe restriction or complete loss of internal rotations and is the origin of the observed equilibrium isotope effects. No such phenomenon is expected or observed in the more loosely bound high-temperature, electrostatic isomers. Potential energy surfaces for the transfer of methylcation from methylated acetone to a second acetone molecule and to dimethyl ether are proposed.

The temperature dependence of the proton transfer equilibrium constants for approximately 80 pairs of bases ranging in proton affinity from N 2 to tert-butylamine has been examined. These data provide the basis for formulation of a revised gas-phase proton affinity scale which now appears to have a firm basis. Excellent agreement with appearance energy determinations of proton affinities as well as ab initio calculated values is obtained. An important finding of this work is that the value of ΔH f o for the tert-butyl cation must be significantly higher than that derived from appearance energy measurements by Traeger which had formed the basis for the proton affinity assignment for isobutene, an important reference point in the proton affinity scale

The structure of the proton-bound lysine dimer has been investigated by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations. The structures of different possible isomers of the proton-bound lysine dimer have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level of theory and IR spectra calculated using the same computational method. Based on relative Gibbs free energies (298 K) calculated at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level of theory, LL-CS01, and followed closely (1.1 kJ mol(-1)) by LL-CS02 are the most stable non-zwitterionic isomers. At the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//6-31 + G(d) and MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//6-31 + (d,p) levels of theory, isomer LL-CS02 is favored by 3.0 and 2.3 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The relative Gibbs free energies calculated by the aforementioned levels of theory for LL-CS01 and LL-CS02 are very close and strongly suggest that diagnostic vibrational signatures found in the IRMPD spectrum of the proton-bound dimer of lysine can be attributed to the existence of both isomers. LL-ZW01 is the most stable zwitterionic isomer, in which the zwitterionic structure of the neutral lysine is well stabilized by the protonated lysine moiety via a very strong intermolecular hydrogen bond. At the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-31 + G(d), MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//6-31 + G(d) and MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//6-31 + G(d,p) levels of theory, the most stable zwitterionic isomer (LL-ZW01) is less favored than LL-CS01 by 7.3, 4.1 and 2.3 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The experimental IRMPD spectrum also confirms that the proton-bound dimer of lysine largely exists as charge-solvated isomers. Investigation of zwitterionic and charge-solvated species of amino acids in the gas phase will aid in a further understanding of structure, property, and function of biological molecules.

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions involving protonated triglycine and deuterated ammonia (ND(3)) have been examined in the gas phase using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. Ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to model the exchanges and to obtain energetics and vibrational frequencies for molecules involved in the proposed exchange mechanisms. Structural optimization and frequency calculations have been performed at the B3LYP level of theory with the 6-311+G(d,p) basis set. Transition states have been calculated at the same level of theory and basis set as above using the QST2 and QST3 methods. Single-point energy calculations have been performed at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level. Six labile sites of protonated triglycine were found to undergo H/D exchange. Of these six labile hydrogens, two are amide, three are ammonium, and one is carboxyl. Detailed mechanisms for each of these transfers are proposed. Qualitative onium ion and tautomer mechanisms for the exchanges of ammonium and amide hydrogens, respectively, using semiempirical calculations were suggested in previous studies by Beauchamp et al. As shown by the current ab initio and DFT calculations completed during this study, the mechanisms proposed in that study are notionally correct; however, the tautomer mechanisms are shown here to be the result of the fact that a second stable isomer of protonated triglycine exists in which the amide1 carbonyl oxygen is protonated. The exchange of the carboxyl hydrogen is found to proceed via a transition state resembling an ammonium ion interacting with a carboxylate moiety via two hydrogen bonds. The current work thus provides significant mechanistic and structural detail for a considerably more in-depth understanding of the processes involved in gas phase H/D exchange of peptides.

The tert -butyl cation ( t Bu + ) is widely used as a chemical ionization reagent ion, for which it is often assumed that simple proton transfer to neutral substrates is the dominant reaction. Mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectrometry and the collisionally activated decomposition (CAD) of ions corresponding to the adducts R′O(H)R + formed from mixtures of ROH and R′OH (R = t Bu, R′ = t Bu or 1-methylcyclopentyl, and their deuterated analogues) show a much more complicated pattern of reactivity, which is mirrored in the bimolecular reactions of t Bu + with R′OH in the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) technique. Production of R′ + in the CAD and FT-ICR experiments is accompanied by isotopic exchange between the alkyl groups, which implicates ion-neutral complexes as accessible intermediates in addition to the covalent adduct ions. A unified pathway for MIKE spectrometry, CAD, and FT-ICR regimes is presented, involving terbody complexes of the form [cation water alkene] as well as two-body complexes of the form [cation alcohol].

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance measurements of the deuterium isotope effect have been used to probe the nature of the potential describing the motion of the hydrogen in gas phase ion/molecule hydrogen bond interactions. The hydrogen bonding system studied is fluoride ion solvated by one molecule of aliphatic alcohol, ROH · F−. No variation of the isotope effect with alcohol acidity was observed for unsubstituted aliphatic alcohols. Arguments are presented which imply that the internal rotation of the neutral alcohols plays an important role in the determination of the overall isotope effect, as well as the more commonly considered zero-point energy effects.

The measurement of rate constants for ion/molecule reactions in systems where a continuous ejection of secondary ions interfering in reverse processes is performed requires the use of absolute intensities of primary and secondary ions in the kinetics determination. A general kinetic formalism allows the calculation of the rate constants in the presence of unknown concentrations of impurities, provided that their ion products formed in reaction with the primary ion are well established. The use of this kinetic formalism to study ion/molecule reactions of protonated methyl chloride, CH 4 Cl + , with neutral methyl chloride gave the following rate constants values

Both Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) are very powerful tools in the field of gas phase ion chemistry. Many experimental method developments based on FTICR-MS and HPMS are summarized, including the coupling of a high-pressure external ion source to a FTICR mass spectrometer, blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD), coupling laser desorption ionization with HPMS, infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD), radiative association and bimolecular routes to gas phase cluster ion formation. An abundance of thermochemical data, such as proton affinities, gas phase acidities, methyl cation affinities and metal cation affinities, have been obtained. Some of these data are the basis of the standard data listed in the NIST thermochemical databases. Ion–molecule interactions, energetics, reactivities, and structures of molecules have been extensively investigated using the methods developed based on HPMS and FTICR mass spectrometric techniques. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:546–585, 2009

An examination of strong hydrogen bonds found in (ROH)(n)...FHF(-) clusters (n = 1 and 2; R = H, CH(3), C(2)H(5)) is presented. Excellent agreement is observed between thermochemical values obtained from high-pressure mass spectrometric measurements and those predicted from MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. Calculated structures are examined, and insight into the geometric nature of the bonding for these systems is obtained. In the case of water binding to FHF(-), it was found that the large entropic advantage of one particular structure, which was not the most enthalpically favored, was significant enough to make it the predominant species within the ion source. In the case of methanol solvation, no evidence of secondary interaction of the methyl group and any other moiety could be found. The structural details revealed from calculations of the ethanol-solvated clusters indicate that secondary interactions between the terminal methyl group and FHF(-) have an impact on the length of the FHF and OHF bonds.

The formation of C6H7+ species in ion/molecule reactions in gaseous vinyl chloride was studied in a high pressure photoionization mass spectrometer and in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectrometer. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra of C4H5Cl+, C4H6Cl+, and C6H7+ species suggest a "butadiene-like" structure for the two former ions, and a non-benzenium structure for the last species. The C6H7+ ions are formed in a two-step mechanism involving C4H5+ as intermediate ions. These processes are in competition with condensation reactions leading to the formation of C6H7–9Cl+ species. Key words: ion–molecule reactions, gaseous vinyl chloride, collision-induced dissociation.

The thermochemical properties associated with the formation of an isomeric distribution of ROHNH(2)CH(2)COO(-) clusters (R=H, CH(3), C(2)H(5)) are measured by using high-pressure mass spectrometry. A comparison of the measured properties with calculated values provides new insights into the thermochemical effects arising from the isomeric nature of this clustering system. When the distribution of isomers is correctly accounted for, the measured values of DeltaH degrees , DeltaS degrees , and DeltaG degrees (298) consistently agree, to a very high degree of accuracy, with those predicted by MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations.

The protonation sites and structures of a series of protonated amino acids (Gly, Ala, Pro, Phe, Lys and Ser) are investigated by means of infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and electronic-structure calculations. The IRMPD spectra of the protonated species are recorded using the combination of a free-electron laser (FEL) and an electrospray-ion-trap mass spectrometer. The structures of different possible isomers of these protonated species are optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d, p) level of theory and the IR spectra calculated using the same computational method. For every amino acid studied herein, the current results indicate that a proton is bound to the alpha-amino nitrogen, except for lysine, in which the protonation site is the amino nitrogen in the side chain. According to the calculated and experimental IRMPD results, the structures of the protonated amino acids may be assigned unambiguously. For Gly, Ala, and Pro, in each of the most stable isomers the protonated amino group forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the adjacent carbonyl oxygen. In the case of Gly, the isomer containing a proton bound to the carbonyl oxygen is theoretically possible. However, it does not exist under the experimental conditions because it has a significantly higher energy (i.e. 26.6 kcal mol(-1)) relative to the most stable isomer. For Ser and Phe, the protonated amino group forms two intramolecular hydrogen bonds with both the adjacent carbonyl oxygen and the side-chain group in each of the most stable isomers. In protonated lysine, the protonated amino group in the side chain forms two hydrogen bonds with the alpha-amino nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen, which is a cyclic structure. Interestingly, for protonated lysine the zwitterionic structure is a local minimum energy isomer, but the experimental spectrum indicates that it does not exist under the experimental conditions. This is consistent with the fact that the zwitterionic isomer is 9.2 kcal mol(-1) higher in free energy at 298 K than the most stable isomer. The carbonyl stretching vibration in the range of 1760-1800 cm(-1) is especially sensitive to the structural change. In addition, IRMPD mechanisms for the protonated amino acids are also investigated.

Zwitterionic structures exist extensively in biological systems and the electric field resulting from zwitterion formation is the driving force for determination of the properties, function and activity of biological molecules, such as amino acids, peptides and proteins. It is of considerable interest and import to investigate the stabilization of zwitterionic structures in the gas phase. Infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy is a very powerful and sensitive technique, which may elucidate clearly the structures of both ions and ionic clusters in the gas phase, since it provides IR vibrational fingerprint information. The structures of the clusters of glycine and ammonium ion and of the betaine proton-bound homodimer have been investigated using IRMPD spectroscopy, in combination with electronic structure calculations. The experimental and calculated results indicate that zwitterionic structure of glycine may be effectively stabilized by an ammonium ion. This is the smallest zwitterionic structure of an amino acid to be demonstrated in the gas phase. On the basis of the experimental IRMPD and calculated results, it is very clear that a zwitterionic structure exists in the proton-bound betaine dimer. The proton is bound to one of the carboxylate oxygens of betaine, rather than being equally shared. Investigations of zwitterionic structures in the isolated state are essential for an understanding of the intrinsic characteristics of zwitterions and salt bridge interactions in biological systems.

A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) spectrometer has been used to determine bond dissociation energies via translation energy controlled collisions between mass-selected ions and a stationary target gas. The ions examined were the proton-bound dimers of diethyl ether, acetone and water, which were generated in a high pressure external ion source. A comparison between bond dissociation energies obtained with this technique and literature values showed that the r.f. excitation of ions in the ICR cell produced ions with a well-defined translation energy. Moreover, the translational energy distribution of the ions was narrow, as indicated by the fact that experimentally obtained threshold curves for dissociation were close to computed curves corrected for Doppler broadening.

The low pressure association reactions for the proton bound dimers of acetonitrile, acetone, dimethyl ether and diethyl ether have been studied using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry. Values for the rate constants for the unimolecular decomposition and radiative stabilization reactions of the intermediate proton bound dimer are determined. Trends of molecular size and number of normal modes are examined for unimolecular lifetimes of the association intermediate. No apparent trends are observed to allow the prediction of radiative stabilization lifetimes.

A new external high pressure ion source has been designed, constructed and successfully coupled to a Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectrometer. This instrument incorporates three stages of differential pumping, pulsed electron gun ionization, electrostatic ion optics and novel cylindrical decelerator lens. Theoretical aspects of ion transfer of externally generated ions to the ICR cell are discussed as are the physical characteristics of the decelerator lens. The nine orders of magnitude pressure differential between ion source and ICR cell permit the synthesis of extensively solvated ions whose chemistry can subsequently be examined in detail in the ICR cell. Several Examples of such chemistry are illustrated.

Protonation sites in biological molecules are very important because they directly determine their structures, properties, and functions. The protonation sites and structures of the tripeptides of Gly and Ala have been investigated using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy in combination with theoretical calculations. The experimental and calculated results indicate that two isomers coexist under the experimental conditions. Different protonation sites result in the different structures. If the excess proton is bound to the amino group, a cyclic structure is formed, in which the N-terminus and carbonyl oxygen of the C-terminus are linked by a strong hydrogen bond. In contrast, if the excess proton is bound to the amide carbonyl oxygen, a linear structure is formed in which a very strong hydrogen bond is formed, linking the two amide carbonyls. For the first time, IR spectroscopic evidence confirms that an amide oxygen may serve as the protonation site for peptides.

Density functional theory computations and pulsed-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry experiments have been used to explore the potential energy surfaces for gas-phase S(N)2 reactions between halide ions and trifluoromethyl halides, X(-) + CF(3)Y --Y(-) + CF(3)X. Structures of neutrals, ion-molecule complexes, and transition states show the possibility of two mechanisms: back- and front-side attack. From pulsed-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry, enthalpy and entropy changes for the equilibrium clustering reactions for the formation of Cl(-)(BrCF(3)) (-16.5 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) and -24.5 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1)), Cl(-)(ICF(3)) (-23.6 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1)), and Br(-)(BrCF(3)) (-13.9 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) and -22.2 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1)) have been determined. These are in good to excellent agreement with computations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level of theory. It is shown that complex formation takes place by a front-side attack complex, while the lowest energy S(N)2 reaction proceeds through a back-side attack transition state. This latter mechanism involves a potential energy profile which closely resembles a condensed phase S(N)2 reaction energy profile. It is also shown that the Cl(-) + CF(3)Br --Br(-) + CF(3)Cl S(N)2 reaction can be interpreted using Marcus theory, in which case the reaction is described as being initiated by electron transfer. A potential energy surface at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level of theory confirms that the F(-) + CF(3)Br --Br(-) + CF(4) S(N)2 reaction proceeds through a Walden inversion transition state.

International audience; Infrared multiphoton dissociation spectra of three homogeneous and two heterogeneous proton-bound dimers were recorded in the gas phase. Comparison of the experimental infrared spectra recorded in the fingerprint region of the proton-bound dimers with spectra predicted by electronic structure calculations shows that all modes which are observed contain motion of the proton oscillating between the two monomers. The O-H-O asymmetric stretch for the homogeneous dimers is shown to occur at around 800 cm-1. As expected, the O-H-O asymmetric stretching modes for the heterogeneous proton-bound dimers are observed to shift to significantly higher energy with respect to those for the homogeneous proton-bound dimers due to the asymmetry of the O-H-O moeity. This shift is shown to be predictable from the difference in proton affinities between the two monomers. Density functional predictions of the infrared spectra based on the harmonic oscillator model are demonstrated to predict the observed spectra of the homogeneous proton-bound dimers with reasonable accuracy. Calculations of the structure and infrared spectrum of protonated diglyme at the B3LYP/6-31+G** level and basis also agree well with an infrared spectrum recorded previously. For both heterogeneous proton-bound dimers, however, the predicted spectra are blue-shifted with respect to experiment.

International audience; The frequency-dependent gas-phase infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectrum for the proton-bound dimer of water is reported. The present spectrum is shown to be only in fair agreement with a spectrum reported in an earlier communication but is in agreement with spectra predicted by theoretical means. Two different possible assignments of the observed infrared bands are provided. The first is based on the harmonic oscillator approximation from density functional theory calculations, and a second is based on a quantum four-dimensional model calculation of anharmonic frequencies and intensities. Both calculated spectra agree fairly well, but the density functional calculation assignments are in better agreement. This is expected despite the anharmonic nature of the asymmetric stretch due to the flat potential energy surface associated with this mode.

International audience; In the gas phase, the CH2CHOH.+ enol radical cation 1 as well as its higher homologues CH3CHCHOH.+ 2 and (CH3)2CCHOH.+ 3, undergo exactly the same sequence of reactions with tert-butanol, leading to the losses of isobutene, water and water plus alkene. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) experiments using labeled reactants as well as ab initio calculations show that independent pathways can be proposed to explain the observed reactivity. For ion 1, taken as the simplest model, the first step of the reaction is formation of a proton bound complex which gives, by a simple exothermic proton transfer, the ter-body intermediate [CH2CHO., H2O, C(CH3)3+]. This complex, which was shown to possess a significant lifetime, is the key intermediate which undergoes three reactions. First, it can collapse to yield tert-butylvinyl ether with elimination of water. Second, by a regiospecific proton transfer, this complex can isomerize into three different ter-body complexes formed of water, isobutene and ionized enol. Within one of these complexes, which does not interconvert with the others, elimination of isobutene leads to the formation of a solvated enol ion. Within the others, a cycloaddition-cycloreversion process can proceed to yield the ionized enol 3 (loss of water and ethylene channel).

The unimolecular isomerization of CH3COCH3+· 1 into its more stable enol counterpart CH3C(OH)CH2+· 2 is known not to occur, as a significant energy barrier separates these ions. However, it is shown in this work that this isomerization can be catalyzed within a 1 : 1 ion-neutral complex. For instance, a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry study shows that one, and only one, molecule of isobutyronitrile catalyzes the isomerization of 1 into 2. The rather low efficiency of the reaction (12%), as well as the strong isotope effect observed when CD3COCD3+· is used as the reactant ion, suggest that the catalyzed isomerization implicates a substantial intermediate energy barrier. This was confirmed by ab initio calculations that allow us to propose an isomerization mechanism in agreement with this experiment. The efficiency of different catalysts was studied. To be efficient, the catalyst must be basic enough to abstract a proton from the methyl group of ionized acetone but not too basic to give back this proton to oxygen. In other words, the proton affinity (PA) of an efficient catalyst must lie, in a first approximation, between the PA of the radical CH3COCH2· at the carbon site (PAC) and its PA at the oxygen site (PAO), which have been determined to be, respectively, 185.5 and 195.0 kcal mol−1. Most of the neutral compounds studied follow this PA rule. The inefficiency of alcohols in the catalytic process, although their PAs lie in the right area, is discussed. Keywords: Catalyzed keto-enol tautomerism; gas-phase proton transport; isomerization kinetics; proton affinity rule; FT-ICR mass spectrometry

International audience; Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance experiments show that a variety of molecules catalyze the hydrogen transfer which converts ionized acetaldehyde CH3CHO.+ 1 to its vinyl alcohol counterpart CH2CHOH.+ 2. Each of these ions has been characterized by its specific bimolecular reactions with selected reactants. Calculations show that two pathways, for which the rate determining barriers have almost the same energy, are feasible. The first transition state involves a direct catalyzed 1,3-H transfer, while the second involves two successive 1,2-H transfers. A detailed experimental study, using methanol as a catalyst as well as labeled reactants, indicates that only the first pathway operates in the isomerization process. The different steps of these two independent pathways were elucidated. The first begins with the formation of a highly stabilized complex 3, involving a two-center-three-electron interaction between the two oxygen atoms and an interaction between a hydrogen of the methyl group of 1 and the oxygen of methanol. This complex isomerizes into a complex 4, which in turn gives the complex 5, via a transition state located 6.3 kcal mol-1 below the energy of the reactants. This complex 5 corresponds to ionized vinyl alcohol hydrogen bonded to the oxygen of methanol, which dissociates to yield ion 2. The second pathway begins with the interaction between the hydrogen of the CHO group and the oxygen of methanol and gives the complexes 6 and then 7, which correspond to protonated methanol hydrogen bonded to a CH3CO radical. Dissociation of 7 to give protonated methanol is favoured with respect to further isomerization leading to ionized vinyl alcohol. Compared to the unimolecular conversion between energetic ions 1 and 2, which can occur either by a direct 1,3-H transfer or by a double 1,2-H transfer, the reaction of 1 with methanol catalyzes the first pathway while inhibiting the second one. In the case studied, catalysis is perhaps better described as a hydrogen atom transport. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Noncovalent interactions, such as van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonds, salt bridge and cation-Pi interactions play extremely important roles in biological systems and, in contrast to covalent bonds, many such noncovalent interactions are not well understood. In the present work a new protocol has been developed to measure the enhancement of binding energies due to cation-Pi interactions between aromatic amino acids and organic or metal ions. Investigation of the cation-Pi interactions will provide further insight into the structure and function of biological molecules.

Infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy is a very powerful technique to characterize the structures of ions and ionic clusters. The structures of Gly and Pro proton-bound homodimers have been investigated using this method in combination with theoretical calculations. For the protonated Gly dimer, a new most stable isomer, GG-CS01, has been experimentally confirmed to be the dominant species. Direct IR spectroscopic evidence indicates that zwitterionic proline exists in the protonated proline dimer in the gas phase. This zwitterionic isomer (PP-ZW01) is the dominant species, and the most stable nonzwitterionic isomer (PP-CS01) also coexists under the experimental conditions.

Ionic hydrogen bond (IHB) interactions, resulting from the association of ammonia and the two protonated methylxanthine derivatives, caffeine and theophylline, have been characterized using infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The proton-bound dimer (PBD) of caffeine and ammonia exhibits a low binding energy and was found to be elusive under the experimental conditions due, most probably, to collision-induced dissociation of the complex with helium buffer gas before IRMPD irradiation. The IRMPD spectrum of a PBD of theophylline and ammonia was obtained and revealed bidentate IHB formation within the complex, which greatly increased the binding energy relative to the most stable isomer of the PBD of caffeine and ammonia. The IRMPD spectra of the protonated forms of caffeine and theophylline have also been obtained. The spectrum of protonated caffeine showed dominant protonation at the N(9) site, whereas the spectrum of protonated theophylline showed a mixture of two isomers. The first protonated isomer of theophylline exhibits protonation at the N(9) site and the second isomer demonstrated protonation at the C(6) carbonyl oxygen. The protonated carbonyl isomer of theophylline cannot be produced as a result of direct protonation and is thus suggested to be a consequence of proton-transport catalysis (PTC) initiated by the electrostatic interaction between water and N(9) protonated theophylline. Calculated anharmonic spectra have been simulated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. It is shown that calculated anharmonic frequencies significantly outperform calculated harmonic frequencies in providing simulated IRMPD spectra in all cases.

A compact, field-free high pressure ion source designed to replace, with minimum disruption, the electron impact/chemical ionization ion source of a VG Analytical ZAB-2FQ hybrid BEqQ mass spectrometer is described. This ion source may be operated at temperatures from ∼ 40 to 250 °C and at pressures up to 4–5 torr, and, thus, is capable of producing proton-bound cluster ions up to hexamers in good yields. Examples of high energy collision-induced dissociation, low energy collision-induced dissociation, and neutralization-reionization studies of proton-bound cluster ions produced in this source are presented.

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to measure the reaction rates for ions derived from methylamine with dimethylamine or trimethylamine. The use of the selective ion ejection technique greatly simplifies the elucidation of the ion-molecule reaction channels. The rate constants for proton transfer from protonated metwlamine, CH3NH 3 + (m/z 32), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 16.1 ± 1.6 × 10−10 and 9.3 ± 0.9 × 10−10 cm3 molec−1s−1, respectively. The rate constants for charge transfer from methylamine molecular ion, CH3NH 2 + (m/z 31), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 9.3 ± 1.8 x 10−10 and 15.0 ± 5 × 10−10 cm3molec−1s−1, respectively.

The results of both mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectroscopy and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance experiments involving reactions of the methoxymethyl cation CH3OCH2+ with a variety of aldehydes and ketones are reported. With ketones, the reaction yields a covalent complex whose dissociation either gives back the CH3OCH2+ cation or leads to a methyl cation transfer to the ketone. Except for CH2O, a third pathway is open with aldehydes. A hydride transfer to CH3OCH2+ yields a RCO+ acylium product ion. The branching ratio of these three pathways strongly depends on the structure of the aldehyde. Ab initio calculations confirm that the results can be explained by the interconversion of covalent structures and electrostatic complexes on the potential energy surface.

Interaction with polar neutral molecules can cause α-distonic radical cations and conventional molecular ions to interconvert in the gas phase, in spite of substantial energy barriers for the unassisted isomerization; the interconversion is particularly facile when the proton affinity of the neutral molecule is close to that of the deprotonated radical cation.

A newly constructed pulsed ionization high-pressure mass spectrometer has been used to examine the methyl cation transfer equilibria between the methylated adducts of acetone and dimethyl ether and the parent compounds. The data indicate that dimethyl ether is a stronger base toward CH+3 than is acetone, a reversal from the proton affinity order. Clustering equilibria of (CH3)2COCH+3 with the acetone and dimethyl ether have also been examined. The thermochemical data obtained show that the adducts are covalently bound species with considerable restriction of internal rotations. New thermochemical data for ΔHof and So for all species observed are reported.

Gas-phase ion–molecule reactions of a variety of fluorosilyl carbanions with compounds containing double bonds to oxygen, XO, have been examined using pulsed ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy. The predominant reaction channel observed for species not containing acidic hydrogens is a Wittig-like process involving SiO bond formation and elimination of XCH2 species. The gas-phase acidity of F3Si(CH3) has been determined and those of F2Si(CH3)2 and FSi(CH3)3 have been estimated. From the fluoride transfer reactions of F3SiCH2− the fluoride affinity of F2SiCH2 has been estimated and limits on the π bond strength in this silaethene obtained. Potential analytical applications of the Wittig reactivity have been discussed.

Gas phase proton transfer equilibria involving compounds in the basicity regime near CO have been examined using pulsed electron beam high pressure mass spectrometric techniques. Using the well established proton affinity of C2H4 of 162.6 kcal mol−1 as a reference standard a new proton affinity for CO of 145.6 kcal mol−1 is established. The disagreement between this value and those obtained by photoionization mass spectrometric appearance potential measurements of HCO+ ions from compounds of the type HCOR is interpreted as being due to an activation energy barrier for the reverse process: HCO++R →HCOR+. This barrier results from the significant geometry change involved in HCO+ formation. Correlations of proton affinity of O1S binding energies have been used to establish the proton affinity of the oxygen site of CO as 109 kcal mol−1. This result implies that HOC+ can be readily formed by reaction of H+3 with CO in interstellar clouds.

Pulsed-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometric investigations of the proton transfer and clustering reactions of protonated iron pentacarbonyl have been carried out. The slow proton transfer kinetics and negative temperature dependence of the reaction with mesitylene are consistent with a barrier to proton transfer within the intermediate ion-molecule complex. Arguments are presented that show that the loss of the fluxional motion in Fe(CO) 5 upon protonation leads to an unusually large entropy change. The proton affinity of Fe(CO) 5 is determined to be 200.3 kcal mol −1 . The clustering of protonated iron pentacarbonyl with acetonitrile is found to be relatively strong at 17 kcal mol −1 and is inducative of a hydrogen-bonded complex involving the transition-metal center. Collision-induced decomposition experiments support metal protonation of Fe(CO) 5 but ring protonation of ferrocene in the gas phase. This difference in site of protonation in invoked to explain the differences in hydrogen bond strengths in the proton-bound complexes of the two transition-metal species with acetonitrile