title: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry of novel shape-persistent macrocycles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shape-persistent macrocycles (SPMs) represent innovative molecular building blocks for the development of highly organised supramolecular architectures with application in nanotechnology, chemistry, catalysis and optoelectronics. Systematic mass spectrometric characterisation of SPMs and their collision-activated decay is not available to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  Characterisation of alkoxy-decorated SPMs was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-QIT-TOFMS) and collision-induced dissociation (CID).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser excitation of SPMs leads to the formation of stable cation radicals which show characteristic fragmentation patterns. All the product ions formed were identified. Photoelectrons generated during the MALDI process and full-ring conjugation were found to be fundamental for the formation of molecular cation radicals and their stabilisation, respectively. Formation of supramolecular aggregates of SPMs by π-π stacking was proven. SPMs are suitable motifs for the preparation of novel fullerene-based donor-acceptor systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alkoxy-decorated SPMs represent promising electron-donating building blocks that can be exploited in electronics and optoelectronics for the development of robust and highly efficient laser-activated supramolecular switches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kampus Bohunice, Kamenice 5/A14, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kampus Bohunice, Kamenice 5/A14, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno-Bohunice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Bhimrao Vaijnath
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Phulwale
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kampus Bohunice, Kamenice 5/A14, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno-Bohunice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ctibor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kampus Bohunice, Kamenice 5/A14, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.|CEPLANT, R&D Center for Low-Cost Plasma and Nanotechnology Surface Modifications, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Havel