Determination of Polymer Structures, Sequences, and Architectures by Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry

Determination of Polymer Structures, Sequences, and Architectures by Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry
Author: Aleer Manyuon Yol
Publisher:
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2013
Genre: Chemistry
ISBN:

The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF/ToF MS) characteristics of different polystyrenes and polybutadienes are discussed in this dissertation. The compounds examined include linear, cyclic, in-chain substituted, and star-branched polymers as well as copolymers of styrene and either para-dimethylsilyl styrene (p-DMSS) or meta-dimethylsilyl styrene (m-DMSS). Chapter IV describes the differentiation of cyclic and linear polymers by 2D-mass spectrometry. The silverated quasimolecular ions from cyclic and linear polystyrenes and polybutadienes, formed by MALDI, give rise to significantly different fragmentation patterns in tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) experiments. With both architectures, fragmentation starts with homolytic cleavage at the weakest bond, usually a C-C bond, to generate two radicals. From linear structures, the separated radicals depolymerize extensively by monomer losses and backbiting rearrangements, leading to low-mass radical ions and much less abundant medium- and high-mass closed-shell fragments that contain one of the original end groups, along with internal fragments. With cyclic structures, depolymerization is less efficient, as it can readily be terminated by intramolecular H-atom transfer between the still interconnected radical sites (disproportionation). These differences in fragmentation reactivity result in substantially different fragment ion distributions in the MS2 spectra. Simple inspection of the relative intensities of low- vs. high-mass fragments permits conclusive determination of the macromolecular architecture, while full spectral interpretation reveals the individual end groups of the linear polymers or the identity of the linker used to form the cyclic polymer. Chapter V presents the first sequence analysis of styrenic copolymers by tandem MS. Copolymers of para-dimethylsilyl styrene (p-DMSS) or m-DMSS with styrene were prepared by living anionic polymerization. The MALDI-MS2 results for p-DMSS indicate that a block copolymer is formed, with the para-substituted styrene incorporated near the initiator. On the other hand, the MS2 results of m-DMSS reveal that a random copolymer is formed, consistent with comparable reactivities for m-DMSS and styrene. These findings suggest that p-DMSS is more reactive than m-DMSS. The single-stage (1D) MALDI-MS results further show that linear and 2-armed architectures are formed with both the m-DMSS and the p-DMSS comonomers. The last Chapter, VI, focuses on the differentiation of linear in-chain substituted, cyclic, and star-branched polystyrene (PS) by tandem mass spectrometry. The in-chain functionalized PS gives a MS2 fragmentation pattern that is different from the one observed for cyclic PS with two linker units and, again, with a simple inspection of the tandem mass spectra, these architectures can easily be distinguished. The four-arm star-branched polymer investigated mainly breaks down by losing arms under MALDI-MS2 conditions. Overall, this dissertation documents the usefulness of combined 1D and 2D mass spectrometry experiments for the identification of polymer substituents and their location, for distinguishing polymer architectures, and for determining copolymer sequences.The results presented in this dissertation have been published or are pending for publication in the following journals. 1. Quirk, R. P.; Wang, S-F.; Foster, M. D.; Wesdemiotis, C.; Yol, A. M. "Synthesis of Cyclic Polystyrenes Using Living Anionic Polymerization and Metathesis Ring-Closure" Macromolecules 2011, 44, 7538-7545. 2. Liu, B.; Quirk, R. P.; Wesdemiotis, C.; Yol, A. M.; Foster, M. D. "Precision Synthesis of [omega]-Branch, End-Functionalized Comb Polystyrenes Using Living Anionic Polymerization and Thiol-Ene 'Click' Chemistry" Macromolecules 2012, 45, 9233-9242. 3. Yol, A. M.; Dabney, D. E.; Wang, S-F.; Laurent, B. A.; Foster, M. D.; Quirk, R. P.; Grayson, S. M.; Wesdemiotis, C. "Differentiation of Linear and Cyclic Polymer Architectures by MALDI Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS2)" J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2013, 24, 74-82. 4. Quirk, R.P.; Chavan, V.; Janoski, J.; Yol, A.; Wesdemiotis, C. "General Functionalization Method for Synthesis of [alpha]-Functionalized Polymers by Combination of Anionic Polymerization and Hydrosilation Chemistry" Macromolecular Symposia 2013, 323, 51-57. 5. Yol, A. M.; Janoski, J.; Quirk, R. P.; Wesdemiotis, C. "Sequence Analysis of Styrenic Copolymers by Tandem Mass Spectrometry" Anal. Chem. (Submitted)

Probing Structure-property Relationships of Stimuli-responsive Polymers by Multi-dimensional Mass Spectrometry

Probing Structure-property Relationships of Stimuli-responsive Polymers by Multi-dimensional Mass Spectrometry
Author: Savannah R. Snyder
Publisher:
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2020
Genre: Mass spectrometry
ISBN:

The following dissertation focuses on utilizing mass spectrometry (MS) and its hyphenated techniques to understand the structure-property relationships of various stimuli-responsive polymers. By exploiting these materials' reactions to an outside stimulus, parallels can be made between the information from the mass spectral analyses and the materials' physical properties. Using techniques like tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), liquid chromatography (LC), and ion mobility (IM), properties of these materials were correlated to their microstructures and resultant physical functionalities. Side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) homopolymers and copolymers are a type of stimuli-responsive macromolecule that respond to incident light. The side-chains are generally comprised of oxygen, nitrogen, phenyl rings, etc., making their resulting structures conjugated systems. These properties allow them to polarize light. They are used in various optical applications as these mesogenic (i.e., liquid crystalline) side chains give the molecules optical anisotropy. These side-chains are what control the physical properties of these polymers and when two different types of liquid crystalline side chains are polymerized, the resultant copolymer can have vastly different properties than their respective homopolymers. Additionally, the sequence of the side-chains being random, block, alternating, or tapered also affects the physical properties. The copolymers in this study were synthesized with oxiranemethanol reacted with the mesogenic side-chains (4-cyano-4'hydroxybiphenyl, 4-[4'-pentylcyclohexyl]phenol) through a four carbon linker. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS) via laser-induced fragmentation (LIFT) allowed for the sequences of the designed SCLC copolymers to be identified. Particulate accumulation and deposition in the in-take valve of a vehicular engine can be the cause of many engine issues, though the cause of this buildup is not well studied. Using mass spectrometry to analyze these deposits can give insight into what they are comprised of, how they were made, and potentially, how to prevent them. Oils and fuels can mix with the air in the presence of harsh engine conditions to cause such deposits, but the formulations have components in them intended to deter this unwanted product, like detergents, dispersants, viscosity modifiers, etc. Oftentimes, these additives are low molecular weight polymers that respond to an increase in temperature, or another stimulus, aiding in the engine's cleanliness and maintenance. The more polar constituents in these blends are thought to contribute to these deposits, and also makes them more amenable to mass spectral analysis. Mass spectrometry and a variety of its hyphenated techniques (ASAP-, LC-, IM-) were used to acquire insight into the composition of these unknown samples to potentially aid in their preclusion.Finally, thermoresponsive polymers (TRPs) are stimuli-responsive polymers that alter their architecture when subjected to energy in the form of heat. They are used in biological applications for drug delivery, vehicular applications in fuels, and various other temperature-sensitive practices. The ability to change conformation in response to temperature aids in the herein studied samples' biological applications by changing hydrophobicity for sensitive biotic needs. These alterations are essentially changes to the conformation of the polymer chain itself, and generally are produced from p-NIPAM-like and methacrylate-like polymers. In order to observe this change, ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) was used in a novel analysis to detect changes in polymer architecture when stimulated by increasing collision energy (collisional heating). The energy was then correlated to the varying pendant structures of the polymers, which showed a direct structure-property relationship between energy needed for conformational change and overall hydrophilicity/bulkiness.

Mass Spectrometry of Polymers

Mass Spectrometry of Polymers
Author: Giorgio Montaudo
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 601
Release: 2001-10-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1420037757

Mass Spectrometry (MS) has rapidly become an indispensable tool in polymer analysis, and modern MS today complements in many ways the structural data provided by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Infrared (IR) methods. Recent advances have sparked a growing interest in this field and established a need for a summary of progress made and results

Polymer Sequence Determination

Polymer Sequence Determination
Author: James Randall
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0323160751

Polymer Sequence Determination: Carbon-13 NMR Method covers the principles, practice, and application of 13C NMR to polymer structure determination. This book is divided into six chapters that highlight spectral interpretations, applications, and experimental considerations. Chapter 1 examines the polymer structure, with special emphasis on those structural features delineated by 13C NMR, along with the assignment techniques used during 13C NMR interpretations of polymer spectra. Chapters 2 and 3 present the methods for measuring sequence distributions and number-average sequence lengths for configurational sequences in vinyl homopolymers and for the comonomer distribution in copolymers and terpolymers. Chapter 4 discusses the statistical approaches to polymer characterization, while Chapter 5 contains practical experimental considerations when designing an NMR experiment to obtain quantitative structural information. Chapter 6 reviews 13C NMR studies for various vinyl homopolymers and copolymers. This book will be of great value to polymer scientists, NMR spectroscopists, and researchers.

Mass Spectrometry in Polymer Chemistry

Mass Spectrometry in Polymer Chemistry
Author: Christopher Barner-Kowollik
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 501
Release: 2012-01-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3527641831

Combining an up-to-date insight into mass-spectrometric polymer analysis beyond MALDI with application details of the instrumentation, this is a balanced and thorough presentation of the most important and widely used mass-spectrometric methods. Written by the world's most proficient experts in the field, the book focuses on the latest developments, covering such technologies and applications as ionization protocols, tandem and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, gas-phase ion-separation techniques and automated data processing. Chapters on sample preparation, polymer degradation and the usage of mass-spectrometric tools on an industrial scale round off the book. As a result, both entrants to the field and experienced researchers are able to choose the appropriate methods and instrumentations -- and to assess their respective strengths and limitations -- for the characterization of polymer compounds.

Functional Synthetic Polymers

Functional Synthetic Polymers
Author: Johannes Karl Fink
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 350
Release: 2019-05-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1119593166

The text focuses on the basic issues and also the literature of the past decade. The book provides a broad overview of functional synthetic polymers. Special issues in the text are: Surface functionalization supramolecular polymers, shape memory polymers, foldable polymers, functionalized biopolymers, supercapacitors, photovoltaic issues, lithography, cleaning methods, such as recovery of gold ions olefin/paraffin, separation by polymeric membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, and other related topics.

MALDI Mass Spectrometry for Synthetic Polymer Analysis

MALDI Mass Spectrometry for Synthetic Polymer Analysis
Author: Liang Li
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 325
Release: 2009-10-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0470567228

Principles and Practices of Polymer Mass Spectrometry helps readers acquire the skills necessary for selecting the optimal methods, handling samples, analyzing the data, and interpreting the results of the mass spectrometry of polymers. This guide describes the principles of polymer MS and best practices in polymer characterization. It discusses different approaches, including MALDI, ESI, TOF MS, and FT-MS. It provides a guide to developing appropriate sample preparation protocols for different polymers. Complete with examples of applications and experiments, this is an excellent reference for scientists, researchers, graduate students, and others.

Structural Characterization of Synthetic Polymers and Copolymers Using Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry Interfaced with Thermal Degradation, Liquid Chromatography And/or Ion Mobility Separation

Structural Characterization of Synthetic Polymers and Copolymers Using Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry Interfaced with Thermal Degradation, Liquid Chromatography And/or Ion Mobility Separation
Author: Nadrah Alawani
Publisher:
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2013
Genre: Chemistry
ISBN:

This dissertation focuses on coupling mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to thermal degradation, liquid chromatography (LC) and/or ion mobility (IM) spectrometry for the characterization of complex mixtures. In chapter II, an introduction of the history and the principles of mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatography (LC) are discussed. Chapter III illustrates the materials and instrumentation used to complete this dissertation. Polyethers have been characterized utilizing tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), as presented in Chapter IV and Chapter VI. Diblock copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, PEO-b-PCL, have been characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-Q/ToF) and LC-MS/MS (Chapter V). Thermoplastic elastomers have been characterized by thermal degradation using an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) and ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), as discussed in Chapter VII. Interfacing separation techniques with mass spectrometry permitted the detection of species present with low concentration in complex materials and improved the sensitivity of MS. In chapter IV, the fragmentation mechanisms in MS/MS experiments of cyclic and linear poly(ethylene oxide) macroinitiators are discussed. This study aimed at determining the influence of end groups on the fragmentation pathways. In the study reported in Chapter V, ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was interfaced with MS and MS/MS to achieve the separation and in-depth characterization and separation of amphiphilic diblock copolymers (PEO-b-PCL) in which the architecture of the PEO block is linear or cyclic. Applying UPLC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS provides fast accurate information about the number and type of the blocks in the copolymers. Chapter VI reports MS/MS and IM-MS analyses which were performed to elucidate the influence of molecular size and collision energy on the fragmentation pathways of polyethers subjected to collisionally activated dissociation (CAD). Survival yields and collision cross-sections were derived for several oligomers of polybutylene oxide (PBO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) polymers by MS/MS and IM-MS, in order to understand their fragmentation energetics and fully characterize their structures. In Chapter VII, application of atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) and ion mobility (IM) separation were coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to characterize commercially available thermoplastic elastomers. These compounds are mainly composed of thermoplastic copolymers, but also contain additional chemicals to enhance their properties or to protect them from degradation. Using ASAP-IM-MS enables fast analysis, involving mild degradation at atmospheric pressure (ASAP) and subsequent characterization of the desorbates and pyrolyzates by ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Such multidimensional dispersion considerably simplifies the resulting spectra, permitting the conclusive separation and characterization of the multicomponent materials examined. Chapter VIII summarizes the findings of this dissertation and is followed by appendices with supplemental data and the copyright permissions obtained for this dissertation.

Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy in Polymer Analysis

Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy in Polymer Analysis
Author: T. R Crompton
Publisher: Smithers Rapra
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2010-12-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 184735484X

The combination of chromatography with mass spectroscopy is a very useful technique which is being increasingly used by polymer chemists to improve existing polymers and to discover new ones with specific physical properties such as thermal stability and retention of properties over a long service life.This technique is extremely powerful for the analysis and characterisation of polymers and is often based on the use of controlled chromatography - mass spectroscopy to measure a polymer's decomposition with techniques such as pyrolysis, followed by chromatography to separate any breakdown product, and, finally, mass spectroscopy, to achieve an unequivocal identification of the pyrolysis products obtained. The detail that can be obtained by such methods includes structure of the polymer backbone, branching, end groups, isomeric detail and fine detail in the structure of copolymers.The first three chapters of the book discuss the various chromatographic and mass spectroscopic techniques now available.Chapters 3-8 cover the complementary methods, based on the combination of mass spectroscopy with various chromatographic techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography.Pyrolysis chromatography-mass spectroscopy is a method of studying the structure of polymers which involves subjecting the polymer pyrolysis products to a chromatographic technique to simplify subsequent analysis and, finally mass spectroscopy to identify the pyrolysis products with the possibility of deducing finer details of polymer structure than were previously attainable by classical methods (Chapters 9-11).By providing a thorough up-to-date review of work in this field it is hoped that the book will be of interest to all those engaged in polymer research and development, and polymer users in general.

Mass and Tandem Mass Spectrometric Studies on Synthetic Polymers

Mass and Tandem Mass Spectrometric Studies on Synthetic Polymers
Author: Kittisak Chaicharoen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2008
Genre: Chemistry
ISBN:

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) time of flight (ToF) mass spectrometry is a technique that has been used widely to characterize synthetic polymers. Mass spectrometric characterization is an essential tool in the determination of the comonomer composition and functionality distribution of synthetic polymers. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is a two-dimensional technique that characterizes synthetic polymers in more detail. In this dissertation, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly (methyl acrylate) (PMA) were examined by mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Particular emphasis was devoted to the elucidation of MS/MS fragmentation mechanisms. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for interpreting MS/MS spectra correctly, so that structural information can be deduced from them with confidence. Within the MS/MS studies, a nomenclature was developed to classify MS/MS fragments in a meaningful manner. [Image: Nomenclature for fragments from PMMA chains] Briefly, terminal fragments are labeled by one of the letter codes given in the chart, while internal fragments are labeled by J, K, L, etc. A radical site is indicated by · and the number of repeat units by the subscript. Both, PMMA and PMA chain ionized by alkali metal addition dissociate in the mass spectrometer by homolytic cleavages along the backbone which produce the incipient radical ions a[subscript n]·, b[subscript n]·, y [subscript n]· and z [subscript n]·. These radical ions undergo consecutive, radical-induced reactions which lead to the ultimately observed MS/MS fragments. Radical ions from PMMA as well as PMA dissociate by [beta]-scissions; those from PMA also dissociate by backbiting reactions which produce abundant internal fragments. Hyperbranched acrylate polymers were analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and MS/MS. The MALDI-MS data reveal the composition of the polymer, while the MALDI-MS/MS data provide information about the branching architecture. Upon MS/MS, linear as well as hyperbranched polymers dissociate through 1,5-hydrogen rearrangement over the ester group, as also found for polyesters. This reaction leads to unique products from branched isomers, thereby permitting their differentiation from linear isomers. A centrally functionalized polyethylene glycol (f-PEG) star has been investigated by MALDI-MS and MS/MS methods. The mass spectra confirm the repeating unit of 44,Da corresponding to [C2H4O1], and reveal identity of the functionality distributions generated in the synthesis. The fragmentation patterns observed in the MALDI-MS/MS experiments provide information about the lengths of the PEG chains attached to the central substituent. Polyesters are used in many applications, for example, in adhesives, coatings and for packaging. A polyester produced from an aliphatic diacid and an aliphatic diol was analyzed by MALDI mass and tandem mass spectrometry. The MS/MS data show that such polyesters mainly decompose by 1,5-H rearrangement along the ester bond. This behavior is very similar with that found for polyacrylates, where ester moieties are located in the side chains (pendants) instead of the polymer chain. The discovery of this unique dissociation feature, which has been overlooked thus far, opens the possibility to analyze copolymer sequences and branching geometries in ester-containing polymers based on the fragments generated from competitive and consecutive 1,5-H rearrangements. Tung oils were also examined by MALDI-MS and MALDI-MS/MS methods. The mass spectra indicate a triglyceride structure with three fatty acid ester groups, mainly C-18 eleostearates. From the MALDI-MS/MS results, it is possible to determine how the fatty acid chains have been derivatized by the Diel-Alder reaction.