Infrared ion spectroscopy: an analytical tool for the study of metabolites

Vibrational ion spectroscopy techniques coupled with mass spectrometry are applied to standard metabolites as a proof-of-principle demonstration for the structural identification of unknown metabolites. The traditional room temperature infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy technique is shown to differentiate chemical moieties in isobaric and isomeric variants. These results are compared to infrared spectra of cryogenically cooled analyte ions, showing enhanced spectral resolution, and thus also improved differentiation between closely related molecules, such as isomers. The cryogenic spectroscopy is effected in a recently developed mass-selective cryogenic linear ion trap, which is capable of high sensitivity and the ability to measure the IR spectra of multiple analytes simultaneously.