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Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Laser-free Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting to Perform Higher Order Structural Analysis of Proteins
Published on: June 4, 2021
Structures and reactivity of peroxy radicals and dimeric products revealed by online tandem mass spectrometry
Sophie Tomaz1, Dongyu Wang2, Nicolás Zabalegui3,4
1Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, 69626, Villeurbanne, France.
Abstract:
Organic peroxy radicals (RO2) play a pivotal role in the degradation of hydrocarbons. The autoxidation of atmospheric RO2 radicals produces highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs), including low-volatility ROOR dimers formed by bimolecular RO2 + RO2 reactions. HOMs can initiate and greatly contribute to the formation and growth of atmospheric particles. As a result, HOMs have far-reaching health and climate implications. Nevertheless, the structures and formation mechanism of RO2 radicals and HOMs remain elusive. Here, we present the in-situ characterization of RO2 and dimer structure in the gas-phase, using online tandem mass spectrometry analyses. In this study, we constrain the structures and formation pathway of several HOM-RO2 radicals and dimers produced from monoterpene ozonolysis, a prominent atmospheric oxidation process. In addition to providing insights into atmospheric HOM chemistry, this study debuts online tandem MS analyses as a unique approach for the chemical characterization of reactive compounds, e.g., organic radicals.
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