High-Resolution Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometer with LIFDI Ion Source

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 575466949

The Institute of Organic Chemistry at Heidelberg University applies for a high-resolution atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometer with an additional ion source for liquid injection field desorption/ionization (LIFDI). This instrument will enable exact mass determination and tandem mass spectrometry experiments. It will be used to analyze the wide range of compounds synthesized in the research laboratories of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and other institutes within the faculty. For characterizing the samples and publishing the research results, mass spectra with exact masses are indispensable for determining molecular formulas and identifying fragment ions for structural elucidation. Polar and ionic compounds, transition metal complexes and their ligands, building blocks for macromolecular cage compounds or materials for organic electronics can in general be analyzed very effectively with electrospray ionization and/or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. Since transition-metal complexes, open-shell and charged organic compounds are often sensitive to oxidation and/or hydrolysis, an ionization method that enables ionization under inert conditions is required. This can only be achieved by liquid injection field desorption/ionization. Most of our analytes have molecular masses of 500-3000 u, occasionally significantly higher or lower. The device we are applying for should cover a range from approx. m/z 50 to approx. m/z 5000 and offer sufficient resolution over the entire range, i.e., R = 50000. Importantly, the new device must enable economical and environmentally friendly operation in terms of energy consumption and space requirements. The additional requirement of being able to measure liquid injection field desorption/ionization with high resolution and exact masses requires the selection of a device on which a LIFDI source can always be operated without the need of complicated and time-consuming installation measures. This is currently only possible with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometers.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Atmosphärendruck-Ionisations-Tandem-Massenspektrometer mit LIFDI-Ionenquelle
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Milan Kivala