TY - CONF A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - MALDI Mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers – making molecular elephants to fly N2 - The importance of MALDI TOF mass spectrometry for the analysis of synthetic polymers is shown and some specific issues influencing the analysis e.g. polymer mass dispersity, matrix and matrix homogeneity, nature of cations and end groups, sequence distribution are discussed by means of examples. T2 - Merck Polymer Seminar CY - Online meeting DA - 29.04.2021 KW - MALDI-ToF MS KW - Ionization KW - Desorption KW - Polymers PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52545 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lee, C. A1 - Inutan, E. D. A1 - Chen, J. L. A1 - Mukeku, M. M. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Trimpin, S. A1 - Ni, C.-K. T1 - Toward understanding the ionization mechanism of matrix‐assisted ionization using mass spectrometry experiment and theory N2 - Matrix‐assisted ionization (MAI) mass spectrometry does not require voltages, a laser beam, or added heat to initiate ionization, but it is strongly dependent on the choice of matrix and the vacuum conditions. High charge state distributions of nonvolatile analyte ions produced by MAI suggest that the ionization mechanism may be similar to that of electrospray ionization (ESI), but different from matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). While significant information is available for MAI using mass spectrometers operating at atmospheric and intermediate pressure, little is known about the mechanism at high vacuum. Eleven MAI matrices were studied on a high‐vacuum time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometer using a 266 nm pulsed laser beam under otherwise typical MALDI conditions. Detailed comparisons with the commonly used MALDI matrices and theoretical prediction were made for 3‐nitrobenzonitrile (3‐NBN), which is the only MAI matrix that works well in high vacuum when irradiated with a laser. Screening of MAI matrices with good absorption at 266 nm but with various degrees of volatility and laser energies suggests that volatility and absorption at the laser wavelength may be necessary, but not sufficient, criteria to explain the formation of multiply charged analyte ions. 3‐NBN produces intact, highly charged ions of nonvolatile analytes in high‐vacuum TOF with the use of a laser, demonstrating that ESI‐like ions can be produced in high vacuum. Theoretical calculations and mass spectra suggest that thermally induced proton transfer, which is the major ionization mechanism in MALDI, is not important with the 3‐NBN matrix at 266 nm laser wavelength. 3‐NBN:analyte crystal morphology is, however, important in ion generation in high vacuum. The 3‐NBN MAI matrix produces intact, highly charged ions of nonvolatile compounds in high‐vacuum TOF mass spectrometers with the aid of ablation and/or heating by laser irradiation, and shows a different ionization mechanism from that of typical MALDI matrices. KW - Ionization KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Mechanism PY - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8382 VL - 35 IS - 51 SP - e8382 PB - John Wiley & Sons AN - OPUS4-49209 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Differences in MALDI Ionization of neat linear and cyclic poly(L-lactide)s N2 - In addition to molar mass distribution (MMD) synthetic polymers often exhibit an additional chemical heterogeneity distribution, expressed by different end groups and other structural variations (e.g. tacticity, copolymer composition etc.). Ionization in MALDI MS is always strongly affected by such chemical properties. For example, the abundance of cyclics in MALDI TOF mass spectra is frequently reported to greatly exceed that of linears. Thus, the MALDI ionization behavior of various neat end-capped linear poly(L-lactide)s and one cyclic poly(L-lactide) was investigated and compared with that of blends of both structures. Moreover, the influence of the cationizing salt was investigated too. Neat compounds and various blends of cyclic and linear species were prepared and studied using two MALDI TOF mass spectrometers under identical conditions with regard to sample preparation and instrumental conditions, except for the laser power and the salt used for cationization. Polymer samples were additionally characterized by NMR and SEC. The steady increase of the laser intensity caused an exponential increase of the peak intensities of both linear and cyclic polylactides.The response of linear polylactides (in the investigated molecular mass range), whether as neat polymer or in blends with other linear polylactides was almost similar. This clearly supports our assumption that ionization in MALDI is probably unaffected by the end group structure.The variation of the laser power shows only little effect on the intensity ratio of linear-to linear and cyclic-to-linear polylactides in blends. Whereas neat linear polylactides at all laser intensities have a significantly higher abundance than neat cyclics, in mixtures of both an overestimation of cyclic species in MALDI TOF mass spectra of polylactides was found. However, this is far less distinct than frequently reported for other polymers.Concluding, peak suppression of linear polymers in mixtures of both architectures can be excluded, which also means, that polylactides showing only peaks of cyclic compounds in their MALDI - TOF mass spectra do not contain a significant fraction of linear analogues. Our study is the first systematic comparison of the MALDI ionization of neat and blended cyclic and linear polylactides. T2 - ASMS 2020 Reboot CY - Online meeting DA - 01.06.2020 KW - MALDI KW - Ionization KW - Linear KW - Cyclic KW - Polylactide PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-50852 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization behavior of neat linear and cyclic poly(L-lactide)s and their blends N2 - Numerous new tin catalysts that enable the synthesis of cyclic polylactides with broad variation in their molecular mass were recently developed. The abundance of cyclics in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra is, however, frequently reported to greatly exceed that of linears. Thus, the MALDI ionization behavior of various end-capped linear poly(L-lactide)s and one cyclic poly(L-lactide) was investigated and compared. Neat compounds and various blends of cyclic and linear species were prepared and studied under identical conditions with regard to sample preparation and instrumental condition, except for the laser power. For this purpose, two different MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers were applied. Our results reveal that cyclics indeed show a slightly better ionization in MALDI, although their ionization as a neat compound seems to be less effective than that of linear polylactides. The ionization of most linear polylactides investigated does not depend on the end group structure. However, linear polylactides containing 12-bromododecyl end groups reveal an unexpected saturation effect that is not caused by fragmentation of the polymer or the end group, or by electronic saturation of the detector digitizer. Furthermore, polylactides with a 2-bromoethyl end group did not show such a saturation effect. An overestimation of cyclic species in MALDI-TOF mass spectra of poly(L-lactide)s must be considered, but the commonly assumed peak suppression of linear polymers in mixtures of both structures can be excluded. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Blends KW - Ionization PY - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-504216 VL - 34 SP - e8673 PB - Wiley Online Libary AN - OPUS4-50421 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Trimpin, S. A1 - Lee, C. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - El-Baba, T. A1 - Lutomski, C. A1 - Inutan, E. A1 - Foley, C. A1 - Ni, C.-K. A1 - McEwen, C. T1 - Unprecedented Ionization Processes in Mass SpectrometryProvide Missing Link between ESI and MALDI N2 - In the field of mass spectrometry,producing intact, highly-charged protein ions from surfaces is a conundrum with significant potential payoff in application areas ranging from bio-medical to clinical research. Here, we report on the ability to form intact, highly-charged protein ions on high vacuum time-of-flight mass spectrometers in the linear and reflectron modes achievable using experimental conditions that allow effective matrix removal from both the sample surfaces and from the charged clusters formed by the laser Ablation event. The charge states are the highest reported on high vacuum mass spectrometers, yet they remain at only around athird of the highest charge obtained using laser ablation with a suitable matrix at atmospheric pressure. Other than physical instrument modifications, the key to forming abundant and stable highly-charged ions appears to be the volatility of the matrix used. Cumulative results suggest mechanistic links between the ionization process reported here and traditional ionization methods of electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorp-tion/ionization. KW - MALDI KW - Electrospray KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Ionization PY - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.201701246 SN - 1439-4235 SN - 1439-7641 VL - 19 IS - 5 SP - 581 EP - 589 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-44404 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gabriel, Stefan A1 - Steinhoff, R.F. A1 - Pabst, M. A1 - Schwarzinger, C. A1 - Zenobi, R. A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Improved analysis of ultra-high molecular mass polystyrenes in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using DCTB matrix and caesium salts N2 - Rationale The ionization of polystyrenes in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is typically achieved by the use of silver salts. Since silver salts can cause severe problems, such as cluster formation, fragmentation of polymer chains and end group cleavage, their substitution by alkali salts is highly desirable. Methods The influence of various cations (Ag+, Cs+ and Rb+) on the MALDI process of polystyrene (PS) mixtures and high mass polystyrenes was examined. The sample preparation was kept as straightforward as possible. Consequently, no recrystallization or other cleaning procedures were applied. Results The investigation of a polystyrene mixture showed that higher molecular polystyrenes could be more easily ionized using caesium, rather than rubidium or silver salts. In combination with the use of DCTB as matrix a high-mass polymer analysis could be achieved, which was demonstrated by the detection of a 1.1 MDa PS. Conclusions A fast, simple and robust MALDI sample preparation method for the analysis of ultra-high molecular weight polystyrenes based on the use of DCTB and caesium salts has been presented. The suitability of the presented method has been validated by using different mass spectrometers and detectors. KW - MALDI KW - Mega-dalton KW - Ionization KW - Caesium KW - Polystyrene KW - DCTB PY - 2015 UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.7197/full U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.7197 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 VL - 29 IS - 11 SP - 1039 EP - 1046 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-33191 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -