<p>High resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) coupled with various separation techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), is widely used to analyze mixtures of unknown organic compounds. In a mass spectrometric analysis, analytes of interest are at first transferred into the gas phase, ionized (protonated or deprotonated) and introduced into the instrument. Tandem mass spectrometric experiments may then be used to gain insights into structure and reactivity of the analyte ions in the gas phase. The tandem mass spectral data are often compared to those reported in external databases. However, the tandem mass spectra obtained for protonated analytes may be markedly different from those in external databases because protonation site manifested during a mass spectrometric experiment can be affected by the ionization technique, ionization solvents and condition of the ion source. This thesis focuses on investigating the effects of instrumental conditions and analyte concentrations on the protonation sites of 4-aminobenzoic acid. Reactivities of radical species were also investigated. A modified bracketing method was developed and proton affinities of a series of mono- and biradicals of pyridine were measured. In another study, a <i>para</i>-benzyne analog was generated in both solution and the gas phase and its reactivities towards various neutral reagents in the gas phase were compared to those in solution.</p> <p> Chapter 2 discusses the fundamental aspects of the instruments used in this research. In chapter 3, the effects of residual moisture in linear quadrupole ion trap on the protonation sites of 4-aminobenzoic acid are considered. Chapter 4 focuses on the use of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions with trimethoxymethylsilane (TMMS) for the identification of the protonation sites of 4-aminobenzoic acid. Further, the effects of analyte concentration on the protonation sites of 4-aminobenzoic acid are considered. Chapter 5 introduces a modified bracketing method for the experimental determination of proton affinities of a series of pyridine-based mono- and biradicals. In chapter 6, successful generation of <i>para</i>-benzynes in solution is discussed. The reactivity of a <i>para</i>-benzyne analog, 1,4-didehydrophenazine, is compared to its reactivity in the gas phase.</p>

Ultraschalllevitation kombiniert die Vorteile von Mikrofluidik, wie beispielsweise die sehr geringe benötigte Probenmenge, mit einer wandlosen Probenhandhabung. Obwohl die Kopplung zwischen le- vitierten Tröpchen und verschiedenster analytischer Methoden wie optischer Spektroskopie und Röntgenbeugung sehr genau untersucht ist, fehlt es immer noch an einer etablierten Kopplung mit einer massenspektrometrischen Methode für die Analyse auf molekularer Ebene. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Prinzipien, auf denen eine kontaktlose massenspektrometrische Analyse von levitierten flüssi- gen Proben beruht. Zuerst wurde der neu entworfene akustische Levitator bezüglich des Einflusses seiner Geometrie auf die Levi- tationseigenschaften experimentell und mittels numerischer Simul- tationen untersucht. Die anschließend durch geführten Experimen- te demonstrieren das Potential von Infrarot-Lasern als kombinierte Desorptions- und Ionisationsquelle für organische Substanzen aus einer Mischung aus Wasser und Glycerin als Cromophor. Um einen tieferen Einblick in die hierbei ablaufenden Ionisationsmechanismen zu erhalten, wurde als Modell ein “Sonic-Spray” Konus räumlich per Massenspektrometrie und Laser-induzierter Fluoreszenz untersucht. Levitator-Geometrie auf die Levitationseigenschaften stimmen sehr gut mit numerischen Simulationen überein. Als komplementäre Ionisationsmethode wurde eine Niedertemperatur-Plasmaquelle ein- gesetzt. Nach einer zeitaufgelösten Untersuchung der grundlegenden Ionisationsmechanismen wurde diese Quelle für die Untersuchung flüchtiger Spezies aus der levitierten Probe in deren direkten Umgebung ohne störende Interferenzen ge- nutzt. / Ultrasonic levitation combines advantages of microfluidics like the required small sample volumes with a wall-less sample handling. While the coupling of analytical methods like optical spectroscopy as well as x-ray scattering are very well elaborated, an established mass spectrometric method to obtain molecular analytical information is still lacking. The herein presented work describes the fundamental processes for a contactless mass spectrometric analysis of levitated droplets. First, the influences of the specially designed levitator geometry on the levitation capabilities is described. During further experiments, the use of infrared lasers has proven useful as a combined desorption and ionization source for organic molecules from a mixture of water and glycerol as chromophore. Subsequently, sonic-spray ionization was used to gain a deeper understanding of the ionization processes occurring within the spray plume. Mass spectrometric mapping as well as laser-induced fluorescence were performed to investigate the ionization during an aerodynamic breakup of the micro droplets in the spray process. As a complementary sampling method, the ionization with a low- temperature plasma source is described. First, a time-resolved mass spectrometric investigation of the ionization process is shown. Sub- sequent to this fundamental study, the application of such a plasma source for the direct analysis of volatile compounds from within the droplets in the surrounding environment without interferences from the droplets bulk phase is described.