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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of chemical reactions of dissolution of selenium in strongly
Ryuichi Arakawa1, Ai Sasao, Noboru Sonoda
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka 564-8680, Japan. arak@ipcku.kansai-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
When elemental selenium was added to a strongly basic amine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), the selenium started to dissolve and the solution turned dark brown. We investigated the chemical reaction of this selenium dissolution process by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The study reveals for the first time that cleavage of Se-Se bonds by the amine initiates the reaction to form molecular Se2, which then abstracts hydrogen from the amine molecule. ESI-MS with the use of a nanospray technique was shown to be a useful tool for studying the dissolution of elements in strongly basic or acidic solvents.
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