Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Characterization of the molecular composition of a solution has long been a significant challenge in chemical research. In solution, the molecular composition may be far more complicated than in the solid or gas phases because of the ionic status or protonation status of the species. Even the exact identification of a single species in solution may require many techniques to provide only a 95%-certainty answer. Identifying each of the components in a mixture, and especially, identifying species that may result from chemical complexation between species in solution is almost impossible without solution phase mass spectrometry. In particular, the recent technique of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has revolutionized solution chemistry and biochemistry. This application is for funds to purchase an electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer (MS) with a time of flight (TOF) mass detector for a large number of researchers in the department of chemistry at the University of Western Ontario. The ESI mass spectrometer is the most recent powerful tool for probing chemical reactions and molecules. The application is for an instrument with a mass range 50 - 20,000 amu. The five applicants and many other groups on a less frequent basis will use this invaluable technique in studies of a range of chemistries. Previous significant studies that were enabled by ESI-MS data include (i) characterization of the first Ge(II) complex by Baines' group, (ii) determination that macrocyclic oligomers of up to 14 Au atoms have formed by Puddephatt's group, (iii) characterization of the composition of an important class of molecules, ionic liquids, prepared by Ragogna's group, (iv) synthesis of nanoscopic assemblies of metal-chalcogenide frameworks by Corrigan, and (v) discovery of new methods to measure how metals bind to proteins through time- and temperature-dependent kinetic data and as well an understanding of the pathway that the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can acquire the iron required for survival. Each of these diverse studies points to the remarkable and essential value of the ESI-MS-TOF technique in chemical and biological research.