Real-time reaction analysis in complex matrices by advanced mass spectrometry techniques

Abstract

Mass spectrometry, especially when coupled to ambient ionization sources like electrospray ionization (ESI), allows detailed chemical reaction mechanistic information to be obtained because of the great sensibility and dynamic detection range of this technique. Other orthogonal approaches to differentiate isomers, like the vibrational gas phase ion spectroscopy (ESI-MS-IRMPD) developed in our group in Brazil, enhance the mechanistic elucidation capabilities even more.Nevertheless, the widespread use of the ESI source in virtually all mass spectrometry laboratories is not effective in some sample conditions, of which the use of nonpolar solvents and high salt concentrations can be highlighted. Besides that, periodic sampling methods may prevent short lifetime species to be detected, including relevant reaction intermediates.Thus, this project intends to develop methods that allow the analysis of chemical reactions in complex matrices that are incompatible with the ESI sources, so the range of chemical reactions and processes to be studied by mass spectrometry coupled to IRMPD spectroscopy can be expanded.Therefore, the goals of this project can be summarized as the development of experimental techniques to follow chemical reactions in real time and the reactional media compatibilization to allow fast reactions in complex matrices to be analyzed by ESI-MS-IRMPD, along with a broader range of samples, which is of great importance because the multiuser characteristic of our research group.The target reactions relevant to synthetic and biologic chemistry that will be evaluated in this project are the Pd/Cu mediated cyclization reactions and the carbodiimide mediated reactions, especially the peptide bond formation reaction. (AU)