Abstract. We report a reaction apparatus developed to monitor singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) reactions in solution using on-line ESI mass spectrometry and spectroscopy measurements.
1O 2 was generated in the gas phase by the reaction of H 2 O 2 with Cl 2 , detected by its emission at 1270 nm, and bubbled into aqueous solution continuously. O 2 oxidation were monitored by UV-Vis absorption and positive/negative ESI mass spectra, and product structures were elucidated using collision-induced dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry. To suppress electrical discharge in negative ESI of aqueous solution, methanol was added to electrospray via in-spray solution mixing using theta-glass ESI emitters. Capitalizing on this apparatus, the reaction of 1 O 2 with methionine was investigated. We have identified methionine oxidation intermediates and products at different pH, and measured reaction rate constants.1 O 2 oxidation of methionine is mediated by persulfoxide in both acidic and basic solutions. Persulfoxide continues to react with another methionine, yielding methionine sulfoxide as end-product albeit with a much lower reaction rate in basic solution. Density functional theory was used to explore reaction potential energy surfaces and establish kinetic models, with solvation effects simulated using the polarized continuum model. Combined with our previous study of gas-phase methionine ions with 1 O 2 , evolution of methionine oxidation pathways at different ionization states and in different media is described.