Liquid chromatography/ultraviolet (LC/UV) and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) libraries containing 39 phenolic compounds were established by coupling a LC and an ion trap MS with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source, operated in negative ion mode. As a result, the deprotonated [M-H] -molecule was observed for all the analyzed compounds. Using MS/MS hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxycinnamic acids showed a loss of CO 2 and production of a [M-H-44] -fragment and as expected, the UV spectra of these two compounds were affected by their chemical structures. For flavonol and flavonol glycosides, the spectra of their glycosides and aglycones produced deprotonated [M-H] -and [A-H] -species, respectively, and their UV spectra each presented two major absorption peaks. The UV spectra and MS/MS data of flavan-3-ols and stilbenes were also investigated. Using the optimized LC/MS/MS analytical conditions, the phenolic extracts from six representative wine samples were analyzed and 31 phenolic compounds were detected, 26 of which were identified by searching the LC/UV and MS/MS libraries. Finally, the presence of phenolic compounds was confirmed in different wine samples using the LC/UV and LC/MS/MS libraries. Molecules, 2007, 12 680

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We demonstrate the capabilities of a laser-coupled ion mobility mass spectrometer for analysis of peptide sequence and structure showing ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) spectra of mass and mobility selected ions. A Synapt G2-S mass spectrometer has been modified to allow photointeraction of ions post the mobility cell. For this work, we have employed a single wavelength laser, which irradiates at 266 nm. We present the unique capabilities of this instrument and demonstrate several key features. Irradiation of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), growth hormone releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6), and TrpCage (sequence NLYIQWLKDGGPSSGRPPPS) yields extensive b- and y-type fragmentation as well as a- and c-type ions. In addition, we observe side chain losses, including the indole group from tryptophan, and immonium ions. For negatively charged ions, we show the advantage of using collision-induced dissociation (CID) post-UVPD: radical ions are produced following irradiation, and these fragment with higher efficiency. Further, we have incorporated ion mobility and subsequent drift time gating into the UVPD method allowing the separate analysis of m/z-coincident species, both conformers and multimers. To demonstrate, we selectively dissociate the singly charged dimer or doubly charged monomer of the peptide gramicidin A and conformers of the [M + 5H] form of the peptide melittin. Each mobility selected form has a different "fingerprint" dissociation spectrum, both predominantly containing b and y fragments. Differences in the intensities of various loss channels between the two species were revealed. The smaller conformer of melittin has fewer cleavage sites along the peptide backbone than the larger conformer suggesting considerable structural differences. For gramicidin, a single laser shot UVPD discriminates between primary photodissociation and subsequent fragmentation of fragments. We also show how this modified instrument facilitates activated electron photodissociation. UVPD-IM-MS analysis serves both as a method for peptide sequencing for peptides of similar (or identical) m/z and a method for optical analysis of mobility separated species.

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A newly developed high irradiance laser ionization orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LI-O-TOFMS) was employed for the elemental analysis of residues, which were prepared by evaporating mixed salt solutions. The residues were first characterized in terms of shape and elemental distribution. In TOFMS detection, all of the metal elements in the residue can be observed in the spectra. Relative sensitivity coefficients for different elements were within 1 order of magnitude, which meets semiquantitative analysis criteria. By calculating the individual masses from the ablated area due to a single laser shot, the absolute detection limit reached 7 x 10(-15) g for most metal elements. The results indicate that LI-O-TOFMS is capable of performing ultratrace elemental qualification and quantification, with an absolute limit of detection and an absolute limit of quantitation at the femtogram level.