Publications by authors named "Elizabeth A L Gillis"

The correlation of anion structure with the fragmentation behavior of deprotonated nitrobenzenesulfonylamino acids was investigated using tandem mass spectrometry, isotopic labeling and computational methods. Four distinct fragmentation pathways resulting from the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated 2-nitrobenzenesulfonylglycine (NsGly) were characterized. The unusual loss of the aryl nitro substituent as HONO was the lowest energy process.

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Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) confirmed decarboxylation as the major collision-induced dissociation (CID) pathway of deprotonated hydrocinnamic acid (C6H5CH2CH2CO2H), N-phenylglycine (C6H5NHCH2CO2H) and 3-pyridin-2-ylpropanoic acid (C5H4NCH2CH2CO2H). The structure and stability of isomeric precursor and product anions were examined using density functional theory and ab initio methods. Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations were performed using the B3LYP/6-31++G(2d,p) level of theory and basis set with additional single point energies calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) level.

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Complexes of mono-, bi- (RB), and tridentate (RT) receptors with a range of anions (Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), NO3(-), H2PO4(-), HSO4(-), and tosylate (TsO(-))) have been studied in the gas phase by both experimental and theoretical methods. Temperature dependent blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) experiments were performed on complexes of C8F17I with Br(-) and I(-), RB with I(-), NO3(-), HSO4(-), H2PO4(-), and TsO(-), and RT with I(-), HSO4(-) and TsO(-) and the observed Arrhenius parameters are reported here. Master equation modeling of the BIRD kinetics data was carried out to determine threshold dissociation energies.

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Clusters of uracil (U) about a calcium dication, U(n)Ca(2+) (n = 14-4), have been studied in the gas phase by both experimental and theoretical methods. Temperature dependent blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) experiments were performed on U(n)Ca(2+) clusters with n = 14-5 and the observed Arrhenius parameters are reported here. Master equation modeling of the BIRD kinetics data was carried out to determine threshold dissociation energies.

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Complexes between adenine and the alkali metal ions Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Cs(+) have been investigated by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy between 2800 and 3900 cm(-1), as have some singly hydrated complexes. The IRMPD spectra clearly show the N-H stretching and the NH(2) symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of adenine; and for the solvated ions, the O-H stretching vibrations are observed. These experimental spectra were compared with those for a variety of possible structures, including both A9 (A9 refers to the tautomer where hydrogen is on the nitrogen in position 9 of adenine, see Scheme 1) and A7 adenine tautomers, computed using B3-LYP/6-31+G(d,p).

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The infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectrum of electrosprayed adenine proton-bound dimers were recorded in the gas-phase inside the cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer coupled to a tunable optical parametric oscillator/amplifier infrared laser. While gas-phase B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations indicate that the four lowest isomers are essentially isoenergetic, comparisons of the experimental and predicted IR spectra suggest that only two of the four isomers are observed in the experiment. However, computed solvation effects, as modeled using both a polarizable continuum model and microsolvation with five explicit water molecules, preferentially stabilize these two observed isomers, consistent with the interpretation of the IRMPD spectra.

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Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy have been used to investigate hydrogen bonding of methanol in different solvents with an aim to explore potential experimental evidence for improper hydrogen bonding involving the methyl group of methanol as suggested by various computational studies. Pure methanol and solutions of methanol in water, acetonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, deuterium oxide, and deuterated acetonitrile have been studied over a range of concentrations. Wavenumber shifts of the CH stretching vibrations were examined to determine if the CH from methanol participates in hydrogen bonding.

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The interaction of lithium ions with two pyrimidine nucleobases, thymine and uracil, as well as the solvation of various complexes by one and two water molecules, has been studied in the gas phase. IRMPD spectra are reported for each of B-Li(+)-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1-2) and B(2)-Li-(H(2)O)(m) (m = 0-1) for B = thymine, uracil over the 2500-4000 cm(-1) region. Calculations were performed using the B3LYP density functional in conjunction with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set to model the vibrational spectra as well as MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) theory to model the thermochemistry of potential structures.

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The proton- and the sodium ion-bound glycine homodimers are studied by a combination of infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy in the N-H and O-H stretching region and electronic structure calculations. For the proton-bound glycine dimer, in the region above 3100 cm (-1), the present spectrum agrees well with one recorded previously. The present work also reveals a weak, broad absorption spanning the region from 2650 to 3300 cm (-1).

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The vibrational properties of benzene have long been a topic of interest. A recent comparison presented in the literature of the liquid and gas intensities at 25 degrees C have revealed some intriguing results regarding how the interaction between the hydrogens and the neighbouring pi-clouds in the liquid affect the vibrational intensities. To gain insight into the effect of temperature on the optical properties of liquid benzene and these interactions, the optical constants of liquid benzene have been determined through transmission measurements between 7,400 and 800 cm(-1).

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