Selective determination of pyridine alkaloids in tobacco by PFTBA ions/analyte molecule reaction ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract

The application of perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) ions/analyte molecule reaction ionization for the selective determination of tobacco pyridine alkaloids by ion trap mass spectrometry (IT-MS) is reported. The main three PFTBA ions (CF 3 ϩ , C 3 F 5 ϩ , and C 5 F 10 N ϩ ) are generated in the external source and then introduced into ion trap for reaction with analytes. Because the existence of the tertiary nitrogen atom in the pyridine makes it possible for PFTBA ions to react smoothly with pyridine and forms adduct ions, pyridine alkaloids in tobacco were selectively ionized and formed quasi-molecular ion [M ϩ H] ϩ and adduct ions, includingϩ , and [M ϩ 264] ϩ , in IT-MS. These ions had distinct abundances and were regarded as the diagnostic ions of each tobacco pyridine alkaloid for quantitative analysis in selected-ion monitoring mode. Results show that the limit of detection is 0.2 g/mL, and the relative standard deviations for the seven alkaloids are in the range of 0.71% to 6.8%, and good recovery of 95.6% and 97.2%. The proposed method provides substantially greater selectivity and sensitivity compared with the conventional approach and offers an alternative approach for analysis of tobacco alkaloids. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2007, 18, 1774 -1782

Comparison of Functional Group Selective Ion–Molecule Reactions of Trimethyl Borate in Different Ion Trap Mass Spectrometers

“…Ion-molecule reactions can be fast, efficient, and highly specific, properties which often are paramount to molecular characterization experiments. Ion-molecule reactions have been used for isomer differentiation [11][12][13][14], functional group identification [15][16][17][18][19][20], and detailed structural elucidation [21][22][23].…”

Gas Chromatographic-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds by Ion–Molecule Reactions Using the Electron-Deficient Reagent Ion CCl3+

“…The demand for fast, highly selective and sensitive ionmolecule reactions in analytical applications stimulated researchers' interest in searching for new alternative reagents used for such purposes [20,21]. Many unusual reagents, such as 1, 2-dibromoethane [22,23], methyl iodide [24], furan [25,26], tetrahydrofuran [27], dimethyl carbonate [28], ethers [29][30][31], HOO - [32], and PFTBA [33,34], have been developed and successfully utilized for the qualification and quantitation of compounds in complex matrices.…”

“…The analytical strategy coupling ion-molecule reactions with GC-MS is an alternative means for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic compounds especially in complex matrices, enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of determination [35][36][37][38][39]. Recently, selective determination of pyridine alkaloids in tobacco was achieved by using PFTBA ions/analyte molecule reaction/ionization with ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) [33]. As a continuous effort in exploring the new type fast and structurally diagnostic ion-molecule reactions for qualitative analysis of small volatile compounds, we are searching for the fast and suitable electron-deficient reaction reagent ion towards these volatile compounds eluted from gas chromatography.…”

Determination of hazardous volatile organic compounds in the Hoffmann list by ion‐molecule reaction mass spectrometry

“…We have studied the gas‐phase reactions of pyridine with fluorine‐containing cations generated from EI of perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) . We have also used the reaction between these PFTBA ions and analytes to selectively determine the pyridine alkaloids in tobacco by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) . Recently, we investigated the analysis of VOCs via gas‐phase reactions of analytes with the electron‐deficient reagent ion CCl 3 + by ITMS …”

“…[7] We have also used the reaction between these PFTBA ions and analytes to selectively determine the pyridine alkaloids in tobacco by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). [8] Recently, we investigated the analysis of VOCs via gas-phase reactions of analytes with the electron-deficient reagent ion CCl 3 + by ITMS. [9] Various mass spectrometric methods based on gas-phase reactions have been developed including proton transfer reactions (PTR), charge transfer (CT), photon ionization (PI), and gas-phase condensation or transformation reactions between the reacting ion and the analyte.…”