Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Real-time Breath Analysis by Using Secondary Nanoelectrospray Ionization Coupled to High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 9, 2018
An integrated mass spectrometry platform enables picomole-scale real-time electrosynthetic reaction screening and
Qiongqiong Wan1, Suming Chen1, Abraham K Badu-Tawiah1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , USA .
Abstract:
The identification of new electrosynthetic pathways enables environmentally friendly synthetic applications. However, the development of miniaturized screening procedures/platforms to expedite the discovery of electrooxidation reactions remains challenging. Herein, we developed an integrated system that serves as a reactor and ion source in a single experimental step using only picomole-scale reactants to monitor electrooxidation in real-time. This reaction screening platform utilizes the intrinsic electrochemical capabilities of nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We validated the feasibility of this method by reproducing three known electrochemical reactions. We also discovered two new electroorganic reaction pathways: (i) C-N dehydrodimerization of 8-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline to construct a novel quinoline skeleton, and (ii) TEMPO-mediated accelerated electrooxidative dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinolines. Moreover, the radical cations and key intermediates captured by this screening platform provided direct evidence for the mechanism of these novel electrochemical reactions.
Related Concept Videos
The Integrated Rate Law: The Dependence of Concentration on Time
Mass Spectrometry: Overview
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect
Mass Spectrometry of Amines
Applications of Integration to Find Centers of Mass

