title: Aggregation-induced emission compounds as new assisted matrices for laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Here, N,N'-bis(4-hydroxylsalicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine (BSPD-OH), N,N'-bis(4-methoxylsalicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine (BSPD-OMe) and N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-p-phenylenediamine (BSPD), which belong to the same category of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) compounds based on Schiff base reactions, were synthesized and applied as new matrices in the analysis of small molecules by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). This type of AIE compounds can be good MALDI matrices. Conventional organic matrices often produce large amounts of matrix ions, hindering the analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds. However, these AIE compounds generate few matrix ions and less background interference because their presence as aggregates decreases the generation of matrix interference. The sensitivity of the AIE matrix is high because the aggregates can improve the absorption of the applied laser emissions. We can regulate the ionization efficiency of the AIE matrix by changing its aggregation state. During this study, BSPD-OH exhibited better ionization efficiency than the other two AIE matrices because it has more phenolic hydroxyl groups. BSPD-OH was successfully applied to the analysis of various LMW compounds including amino acids, organic amine compounds, isoquinoline compounds and fluoroquinolones compounds. This material also can be employed during the qualitative and quantitative analysis of LMW metabolites in human urine without requiring complicated separation processes.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
authors.forename: Chenxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
authors.forename: Dacheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China. Electronic address: jinoyang@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D003959:Diamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D055432:Metabolomics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D003959:Diamines
keywords: Aggregation-induced emission; Low molecular weight compound; Matrix; Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry; Metabolite