Quant Express, an addition to Advion’s user-friendly Mass Express 4.0 software suite, features quantitation to create a fully integrated software system for expression CMS users.
Screening of Dietary Supplements by ASAP® Compact Mass Spectrometry
In this application note, we demonstrate the use of the Advion expressionL CMS with an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) ion source to analyze two supplements (figure 1) that contain DMBA, a synthetic stimulant that has not been tested on humans. The substance is the chemical cousin to drug DBAA, which is currently banned by the US FDA. The efficacy and safety of DMBA is entirely unknown, yet it is present in many supplements.
Benjamin List, Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Department for Homogeneous Catalysis
2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Recipient
October 6, 2021: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 to:
- Benjamin List • Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- David W.C. MacMillan • Princeton University, USA
“for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis”
Building molecules is a difficult art. Benjamin List and David MacMillan are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction: organocatalysis. This has had a great impact on pharmaceutical research, and has made chemistry greener.
Benjamin List, a true leader in chemistry, is an exceptional user of the expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer in the List Research Group. Read his full interview featuring the Nobel Prize announcement here.
Q: WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LAB’S RESEARCH?
A: Our group focuses on the development of new catalysis concepts within the areas of organocatalysis, transition metal catalysis, and, to some extent, biocatalysis. Since 1999, our group concentrates on enantioselective organocatalysis as a fundamental approach complementing biocatalysis and transition metal catalysis. We have a profound interest in developing “new reactions”, designing and identifying new principles for the development of organocatalysts, expanding the scope of already developed catalysts, using organocatalysis in the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceuticals, and also investigating the mechanism by which organocatalysts activate their substrates. Furthermore, in 2005 our group has first conceptualized another approach to asymmetric catalysis, namely asymmetric counteranion directed catalysis (ACDC). This idea has not only progressed within the department but also at other institutions around the globe into a general strategy for asymmetric synthesis applied in organocatalysis as well as in transition metal catalysis and Lewis acid catalysis.
Q: WHATE WAS YOUR PREVIOUS WORK FLOW OR CHALLENGE?
A: The design and development of new asymmetric catalysts usually requires finding novel synthesis routes. Real-time characterization of the desired products and side products in the synthesis of new catalysts and precursors as well as in the exploration of novel reactions is thus very important with regard to saving time and costs.
Q: WHY DID YOU INCORPORATE THE EXPRESSION® CMS INTO YOUR LABORATORY?
A: We wanted an analytical method that allows a rapid characterization of reaction products combined with the lowest effort of sample preparation. The expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer coupled with Plate Expres® is the method of choice to provide reliable mass data directly from TLC plates and ASAP® (Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe) allows for direct analysis from solutions and solid substances without any sample preparation. In addition, the easy and fast possibility of changing the ion sources between ESI and APCI gives us a wide range of options to characterize our analytes from non-polar to very polar compounds in both positive and negative mode simultaneously.
Q: TO WHOM WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE EXPRESSION® CMS?
A: We recommend the expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer coupled with Plate Express® to any group with a focus on organic synthesis for usage as a routine tool to monitor chemical reactions.
SYNKOLA Ltd., Bratislava, Slovakia
Q: WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LAB’S RESEARCH?
A: Our company, SYNKOLA Ltd., is a chemical contract research company offering custom synthesis and research services for more than 24 years. Our clients are mostly global leaders in the industry. The focus of our laboratory research is the synthesis of organic substances, especially in the area of biologically active substances and chemical specialties. In term of structure, our targets are usually complicated molecules containing hetero- and multiple halogen atoms.
Q: WHY DID YOU INCORPORATE THE EXPRESSION CMS INTO YOUR LABORATORY?
A: We use the expression CMS for fast monitoring of reaction mixtures, to identify fractions and also to confirm structures in combination with other analysis methods. The analysis with CMS is very fast and any chemist is able to perform his own routine analysis. The ASAP®/APCI method is especially fast and simple (>2000 samples a year).
Q: TO WHOM WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE EXPRESSION CMS?
A: We recommend the purchase of the expression CMS to all organic and synthetic chemists groups for its ease-of-use. With the ASAP option, chemists are enabled to analyze any sample in 2-3 minutes without the need for external services. A further advantage is that both positive/negative mode analysis is done at the same time and in a single run.
CheMS Simplified Mass Spec Software
The CheMS user interface simplifies the mass spectrometry experience and makes it more accessible in chemistry and biochemistry laboratories. This allows the chemist to obtain optimal data without needing to be an expert in mass spectrometry.
Available with the Advion expression® compact mass spectrometer (CMS) is a fast and easy tool that is ideal for the teaching environment — Students simply select an ionization method for effortless instrument setup at the click of a button.
Fill out the form to download the full CheMS product note now.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Department of Chemistry and Physics
Q: WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LAB’S RESEARCH?
A: Our exclusively undergraduate program in chemistry is fortunate to have a nice inventory of analytical instrumentation for use in various lab courses and student/faculty research. As the department’s analytical chemist, I coordinate the use of these instruments and the development of laboratory projects for use in our curricular labs. I also direct a group of undergraduate student assistants in research aimed at developing new devices and methodologies for microscale spectroelectrochemical measurements.
Q: WHAT WAS YOUR PREVIOUS WORK FLOW OR CHALLENGES?
A: Our department’s mass spectrometry instrumentation (two GCMS systems and an ambient pressure gas analyzer) was limited to EI ionization of gaseous and volatile liquid samples until we purchased the Advion CMS.
Q: WHY DID YOU INCORPORATE THE EXPRESSION CMS INTO YOUR LABORATORY?
A: Our faculty agreed the need existed to incorporate additional MS capabilities to our instrumentation holdings for both our undergraduate lab curriculum and several of our faculty members’ research efforts. The Advion CMS was an ideal choice with regard to cost, portability and flexibility. In particular, the ASAP probe available for APCI mode was an attractive feature supporting our development of lab projects with forensic and pharmaceutical emphasis.
Q: WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO PURCHASE THE EXPRESSION CMS?
A: I think the Advion system is well suited for a variety of undergraduate curricular and research lab applications.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLICATIONS OR PRESENTATIONS USING THE EXPRESSION CMS?
A: None to report yet, but I’m optimistic – at present, a student in my instrumental analysis course is satisfying her independent project requirement by working with the ASAP probe to develop a simple internal standard approach to permit quantitation of components in pharmaceutical preparations.
To Catch the Candy Thief: Who stole my chocolate?
An office colleague has stolen a prized chocolate bar, and Dr. Eikel with the help of his partner, Dr. Henion, use an Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) enabled expression CMS to determine whodunnit. This application note describes the process, and points the finger at the guilty culprit!
COVER STORY: A fast and reliable detection of indigo in historic and prehistoric textile samples
Advion has the cover story of the September 2015 issue of the Journal of Mass Spectrometry. We present a method requiring no sample preparation for the direct identification of indigoid colorants in tiny amounts in ancient historic fabrics using ASAP®-MS. Exact determinations were completed in less than 1 min.
Using Compact Mass Spectrometry for Detection and Quantitation of Cannibis-Related Compounds
Spectroscopyonline.com
Jul 01, 2015
Special Issues
Issue 7, pg 20–27
The transition of cannabis from an illegal drug to a drug for medical and even recreational use raises challenging questions for regulatory agencies and analytical chemists alike. Here, we show a selection of analytical techniques based on compact mass spectrometry (MS) in combination with three different sample inlets (atmospheric solids analysis probe, thin-layer chromatography [TLC], and classical liquid chromatography [LC]) for the detection and quantification of cannabinoids and pesticides in cannabis-related material and contraband.
Dyestuff Analysis of Cultural Heritage Objects by Direct Analysis Probe on a Compact Mass Spectrometer
The scientific investigation of cultural heritage objects is the only access to knowledge about long-gone, ancient societies and their cultural, technological as well as their social stage of development. In addition, the materials used by our ancestors, e.g. their textiles and the organic dyestuff to colorize these materials, allow researchers to draw some conclusions about cultural exchanges and trading routes. But in-depth knowledge about materials and dyestuff is also of highest importance for proper conservation and restauration of these materials. Specimens, however, are rare and available only in minute amounts. For their investigation preferentially non-destructive or at least minimal invasive methods have to be used.
A direct analysis using the Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP®) on the expression® compact mass spectrometry (CMS) technique offers a minimally invasive method allowing for a rapid and direct sampling without any sample preparation prior to analysis.