Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry With Collision Induced Dissociation of Uranyl Peroxide Nanoclusters Containing Various Uranyl Bridging Ligands

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation (ESI-MS/MS) was utilized to study the gas phase fragmentation of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters with hydroxo, peroxo, oxalate, and pyrophosphate bridging ligands. These nanoclusters fragment into uranium monomers and dimers with mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios in the 280-380 region. The gas phase fragmentation of each cluster studied yields a distinct UO6- anion attributed to the cleavage of a uranyl ion bound to 2 peroxide groups, along with other anions that can be attributed to the initial composition of the nanoclusters.

Automated summary

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to investigate the gas phase fragmentation of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters with different bridging ligands. The clusters yielded uranium monomers and dimers with specific mass-to-charge ratios, as well as UO6- anions resulting from the cleavage of a uranyl ion bound to peroxide groups.