A Gas Chromatography‐Molecular Rotational Resonance Spectroscopy Based System of Singular Specificity. Issue 1 (19th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Armstrong, Daniel W.; Talebi, Mohsen; Thakur, Nimisha; Wahab, M. Farooq; Mikhonin, Alexander V.; Muckle, Matt T.; Neill, Justin L.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 196
• Publication Date: 2019-11-19
• Subjects: compound-specific isotope analysis -- biodepletion -- isotopologues/isotopomers -- mass spectrometry -- rotational spectroscopy; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201910507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: We designed and demonstrated the unique abilities of the first gas chromatography–molecular rotational resonance spectrometer (GC‐MRR). While broadly and routinely applicable, its capabilities can exceed those of high‐resolution MS and NMR spectroscopy in terms of selectivity, resolution, and compound identification. A series of 24 isotopologues and isotopomers of five organic compounds are separated, identified, and quantified in a single run. Natural isotopic abundances of mixtures of compounds containing chlorine, bromine, and sulfur heteroatoms are easily determined. MRR detection provides the added high specificity for these selective gas‐phase separations. GC‐MRR is shown to be ideal for compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Different bacterial cultures and groundwater were shown to have contrasting isotopic selectivities for common organic compounds. The ease of such GC‐MRR measurements may initiate a new era in biosynthetic/degradation and geochemical isotopic compound studies. Abstract : Super specific separations : Unparalleled structural specificity for isobaric, isotopic, and isomeric compounds is obtained through the first combination of high‐efficiency separations with high‐resolution rotational resonance spectroscopy. Even closely related species in minute amounts of complex mixtures can be rapidly and unambiguously identified and quantified.