WO2010031387A1

WO2010031387A1 - Distinguishing an enantiomers with the aid of broadband femtosecond circular-dichroism mass spectrometry

Info

Publication number: WO2010031387A1
Application number: PCT/DE2009/001290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl-Michael Weitzel; Gunter Urbasch; Hans Georg Breunig
Original assignee: Philipps-Universität Marburg
Priority date: 2008-09-19
Filing date: 2009-09-18
Publication date: 2010-03-25
Also published as: DE102008048085B4; DE102008048085A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for distinguishing enantiomers with the aid of broadband femtosecond circular-dichroism laser-ionization mass spectrometry. In this case, an fs laser system is used, the laser pulse duration (τ) of which is less than or equal to 200 fs, with respect to a bandwidth-limited pulse, and the central wavelength (λ) of which is in the range between 200 nm and 1.100 nm. The spectral bandwidth of the laser pulse is chosen from bandwidths of less than or equal to 40 nm and those of more than 40 nm. The laser pulses are circular-polarized, in which case it is possible to change between right-hand and left-hand circular-polarized light. The circular-polarized fs laser pulses are used directly for ionization, wherein the light material interaction is enantiomium-specific. There is therefore no need for separation of substance mixtures. The wavelength which is appropriate for ionization of a specific analyte need never be known in advance: for bandwidths of less than or equal to 40 nm, the wavelength is varied in order to determine the appropriate wavelength. For bandwidths of more than 40 mm, the wavelength which is appropriate for the respective molecule is intrinsically contained in the spectrum. The sample to be examined and an achiral reference substance are examined simultaneously in the flight-time mass spectrometer for both circular polarizations. For a given ionization wavelength and polarization of the laser pulse, each flight-time mass spectrum obtained in this way was not only substance-specific but also enantiomium-specific. The apparatus according to the invention and the associated method combine CD spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and are suitable for identification and examination of enantiomers even in previously unknown substance mixtures.

Description

15

Differentiation of enantiomers using broadband femtosecond circular dichroism mass spectrometry

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for discriminating enantiomers using broadband femtosecond circular dichroism laser ionization mass spectrometry. Laser pulses with a central wavelength between 200 nm and 1100 nm are used to ionize the sample to be examined. The generated in this way

25 NEN are analyzed directly by mass spectrometry. Since the enantiomer-specific light-matter interaction is used directly for ionization, a prior separation of mixtures of substances is no longer required. In addition, the method according to the invention can also be used in previously unknown substance mixtures. Description and introduction of the general field of the invention

The present invention relates to the fields of chemistry, biology and biochemistry, physics and instrumental analysis.

State of the art

The distinction between enantiomers - especially in unknown substance mixtures - is still very complicated today. Currently, the combination of chemical analysis on the one hand and determination of the enantiomeric purity on the other hand requires separate steps: First, the substance mixture must be separated, for example by gas chromatography (GC) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), then the enantiomeric purity is determined and, if necessary , followed by a chemical analysis, for example by mass spectrometry.

It is known to the person skilled in the art that the enantiomeric purity of a mixture can be determined, for example, by means of CD spectroscopy (circular dichroism spectroscopy). Conventional CD spectroscopy relies on single-photon absorption, and information about the mass of the sample being studied is intrinsically impossible. With this method, only previously identified chemical substances can be distinguished into R and S enantiomers. In the same way, no spectrally high-resolution information is obtained which made it possible to distinguish between chemically similar substances. Conventional CD spectrometers usually operate in the wavelength range between 200 nm and 1100 nm. During the measurement with conventional CD spectrometers, there is a constant change between RCPL and LCPL, i. between right- and left-circularly polarized light (right / left circularly polarized light).

Multi-photon ionization (MPI) in CD spectroscopy is also known. For example, in U Boesl von Grafenstein, A Bornschlegl: "Circular Dichroism Laser Mass SDectrometry: Differentiation of 3-Methylcyclopentanone Enantio- "ChemPhysChem 2006, 7, 2085-2087 describes the use of circular dichroic laser mass spectrometry (CD-LAMS) to distinguish enantiomers." The methylcyclopentanones are excited with a narrow-band nanosecond laser, whereby - as usual - the laser wavelength is set exactly matching the transition to be excited.

Previously known CD spectrometers are based on a one-photon excitation of the sample to be examined. The spectral resolution is essentially of the order of one nanometer. Since time-continuous UV-VIS-N I R lamps are generally used as the light source, ionization of the sample molecules is not possible due to insufficient light intensity. The chemical identity of the sample must be determined in a separate procedure. For mixtures of substances, prior separation is required.

Also known is a method for laser ionization mass spectrometry, in which circularly polarized nanosecond laser pulses are used whose bandwidth is in the range of fractions of nanometers; generally in the range of 0.01 nm. They are commonly used for the purpose of high spectral resolution. The peak intensities attainable with such lasers are in the range of 10 ⁸ to 10 ¹⁰ W / cm ² . Ionization of the sample under these conditions is only possible via a resonance enhancement, ie if the set wavelength matches the molecule exactly.

The device according to the invention and the method that can be carried out thereby overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art by combining for the first time spectrally wideband circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD spectroscopy) and mass spectrometry in such a way that separation of substance mixtures is no longer necessary. In the device according to the invention and the associated method, fs laser pulses are used whose temporal pulse duration is shorter than 200 fs in relation to a bandwidth-limited pulse and whose spectral bandwidth is correspondingly large. The pulse duration is about a factor of 10 ⁶ smaller in the femtosecond laser than in a nanosecond laser. There are achievable peak intensities of 10 ¹² W / cm ² and larger. This allows a very efficient ionization of the sample. The ions thus generated are analyzed directly by mass spectrometry. The enantiomer-specific light-matter interaction is used directly for ionization, so that a separation of mixtures of substances is no longer required.

task

Object of the present invention is to provide a device for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation and a method for distinguishing enantiomers using this device, which is also suitable for use in previously unknown substance mixtures and manages without upstream separation process.

Solution of the task

The object of providing a novel apparatus for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation is achieved according to the invention by a device comprising an fs laser radiation source,

a sample inlet,

an ion source,

- a mass analyzer

an ion detector, wherein the sample inlet, ion source, mass analyzer and ion detector are located in the evacuated main chamber of the mass spectrometer;

an electronic measuring device for recording the signals generated by the ion detector,

a computer for evaluating and storing the received signals,

characterized in that

- It is at the fs laser radiation source is a laser system for generating laser pulses in the femtosecond range, the laser pulse duration (τ) based on a bandwidth-limited (Fourier-transform-limited) pulse less than or equal to 200 fs and its central wavelength (λ) 200 nm to 1,100 nm, the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond laser pulses used for the ionization is selected from bandwidths which are less than or equal to 40 nm and bandwidths which are greater than 40 nm,

the laser pulses are passed through means for generating circular polarization which allow switching between right and left circularly polarized light,

the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation obtained in this way is directed via the laser window into the main chamber of the mass spectrometer with the aid of a beam guiding optical system and focused by means of focusing optics, and wherein

- Under ion source that location within the main chamber of the mass spectrometer is understood, at which the analytes are ionized by interaction with the focused femtosecond laser radiation.

The present invention for the first time provides a combination of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation with laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS) in a circular dichroic application.

Previously known CD spectrometers consider one-photon excitations of the sample to be examined and generally use time-continuous UV-VIS-NIR lamps as the light source. Because of the low light intensity, ionization of the sample molecules is not possible. Therefore, a separate procedure is needed to determine the chemical identity of the sample. In the case of substance mixtures, a separation of the mixture into individual substances is also required beforehand.

In contrast, fs laser pulses are used in the device according to the invention and the associated method. In this case, the laser pulse duration (τ), based on a bandwidth-limited (Fourier-transform-limited) pulse is less than or equal to 200 fs. Assuming a temporal Gaussian pulse profile, this corresponds to a frequency blur of 2.2 THz. At a central wavelength (λ) of 800 nm this corresponds to a spectral bandwidth (BB, full width at half maximum) in the wavelength domain of greater than or equal to 5 nm, at 200 nm a BB greater than or equal to 0.3 nm and at 1100 nm a BB greater than or equal to 9 nm. The expert is aware that the shortest possible pulse duration (τ) and associated spectral bandwidth of a laser are inversely proportional to each other. He is also aware of how the associated shortest possible pulse duration can be determined for a given spectral bandwidth. These pulses serve as a basis for generating laser radiation in the spectral range required for the actual measurement, which generally does not correspond to the spectral range of the pulses.

The device according to the invention for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation and the method according to the invention for distinguishing enantiomers by means of this device are explained below, the invention encompassing all the preferred embodiments listed below individually and in combination with one another.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the light-matter interaction is enantiomer-specific even when using femtosecond laser pulses that can be used directly for ionization. This makes it possible for the first time to distinguish enantiomers and to identify, without a separation of mixtures of substances is required.

In this case, circularly polarized ultrashort femtosecond laser pulses (fs laser pulses) are used whose central wavelengths are in the range between 200 nm and 1100 nm.

In a preferred embodiment, the sample to be examined is ionized with a circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulse whose bandwidth is less than or equal to 40 nm. In this case, wavelength dependencies can be observed. To study this wavelength dependence, a variation of the wavelength is appropriate. However, the wavelength suitable for ionizing a particular analyte need not be known in advance. Bandwidths less than or equal to 40 nm are referred to in the context of the present invention as "small bandwidths".

In a further preferred embodiment, the sample to be examined is ionized with circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation whose spectral bandwidth is greater than 40 nm. Femtosecond laser radiation whose spectral bandwidth is greater than 40 nm is hereinafter referred to as "broadband femtosecond laser radiation" or "laser radiation having a large spectral bandwidth". This broadband radiation is used to ionize the sample to be examined. In this embodiment, it is not necessary for the wavelength suitable for the ionization of a specific analyte to be known in advance since, due to the large spectral bandwidth, the wavelengths suitable for the particular molecule to be investigated are intrinsically contained. This applies in particular to spectral bandwidths greater than 100 nm, which are subsequently referred to as "white light continuous" in accordance with the designation customary in the prior art.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sample to be examined is ionized with circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation whose spectral bandwidth is a white light continuum, i. where the bandwidth is greater than 100 nm.

Irrespective of whether the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation used in the apparatus according to the invention and the associated method explained below has large or small bandwidths, the central wavelengths of these femtosecond laser pulses are in the range between 200 nm and 1,100 nm.

White light laser radiation in a broad spectral range between 200 nm and 1100 nm can be generated, for example - as explained below - by the interaction of the radiation with noble gas ("filament formation", "self-phase modulation").

If, on the other hand, laser pulses of a bandwidth of less than or equal to 40 nm are to be measured, further laser systems can be optically pumped with the femtosecond laser pulses, whereby in the other laser systems by optically correct laser systems. metric processes light of different wavelengths is created and amplified (optical parametric amplifiers).

In the present invention, "analyte" refers to a single substance to be tested, and each of these analytes may be independent of the others of chemical, biological or biochemical nature.

The sample to be tested may be a single analyte or a mixture of several analytes, and any analyte present in the sample may be enantiomerically pure or as an enantiomeric mixture. In all embodiments, the sample is ionized by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation. The resulting ions are analyzed directly by mass spectrometry

In the device presented here and the method that can be carried out with it, the femtosecond laser pulse guarantees the intensity necessary for the ionization and fragmentation of the substances to be investigated. During irradiation with the femtosecond laser pulses, a switch is made between RCPL and LCPL, i. between right- and left-circularly polarized light (right / left circulary polarized light), and the respective ion yield measured.

It is known that all optically active substances have different absorption coefficients for right- or left-circularly polarized light. The influence of the circular dichroism can be seen in the intensity of the ion signal, since the CD effect leads to different ion yields of the enantiomers and therefore different CD values can be determined. In addition, each fragment ion of a substance has a specific CD value.

In the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, mass separation and CD effect result simultaneously, so that a separation of substance mixtures is not necessary. According to the invention, the radiation source is a laser system for generating laser pulses in the femtosecond range. For this purpose, laser systems are selected whose pulse duration is less than or equal to 200 femtoseconds with respect to a bandwidth limited (Fourier transform limited) pulse. For example, but not exhaustive, Ti: sapphire lasers are suitable.

The means for generating femtosecond laser radiation in the range of wavelengths from 200 nm to 1100 nm are selected from nonlinear optical interaction processes with which the spectral position can be shifted and the spectral width of the output pulses can be increased, such as the interaction within a plasma filament, gas-filled hollow fibers or white light generation by self-phase modulation in liquids or solids. In a preferred embodiment, the means for generating broadband femtosecond laser radiation is one or more plasma filaments.

In a further preferred embodiment, the means for producing broadband femtosecond laser radiation are gas-filled hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are a single hollow fiber or two sequentially passed through hollow fibers. The filling gas in these gas-filled hollow fibers is a noble gas.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for producing bandwidths less than or equal to 40 nm is a combination of generating a white light continuum with a downstream spectral shaping process, which can be achieved by filters or pulse shaper.

According to the invention, the circular polarization of the laser pulses is generated, for example, by means of a Fresnel rhombus, a K prism, a quarter wave plate, a photoelastic modulator, two Pockels cells or a Pockels cell in conjunction with a quarter wave plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the circular polarization of the laser pulses is generated by means of a Pockels cell in conjunction with a quarter wave plate. In a further preferred embodiment, the circular polarization of the laser pulses is generated by means of a Fresnel rhombus. The use of a scraper ring results in a beam offset, which must be compensated by deflecting optics. This compensation of the beam offset when using a Fresnelrhombus is known in the art and can be applied without departing from the scope of the claims.

In a further preferred embodiment, the circular polarization of the laser pulses is generated with the aid of a photoelastic modulator. It is known to the person skilled in the art that photoelastic modulators require a synchronization of laser pulse train and modulator frequency or phase position of the modulation. This happens because the injection of the pulse to be amplified from the oscillator laser of the laser system into the amplifier laser is not via the divider circuit of the amplifier laser but via a gate circuit controlled by the photoelastic modulator, and those skilled in the art can apply these methods of synchronization, without the scope to leave the claims.

Particularly preferably, the circular polarization of the femtosecond laser beam is achieved by transmission of the pulses through a quarter-wave plate. Depending on the angle between the incoming linear polarization direction and the fast axis of the quarter-wave plate, right-handed or left-circularly polarized light is produced. The quarter wave plate is stored so that it can be rotated, for example by means of a computer-controlled mechanical device to switch between right and left polarized light can. The polarization state of the transmitted light is checked by means of a polarizer. The circularly polarized laser pulses thus generated are focused within a vacuum apparatus, for example by means of a concave mirror.

Sample inlet, ion source, mass analyzer and ion detector are located in the main chamber of the mass spectrometer.

The sample inlet may be, for example, but not exhaustive, a capillary or a molecular jet. The person skilled in the art is aware by which device one can introduce the sample to be analyzed into the main chamber of a mass spectrometer. He may use these devices without departing from the scope of the claims.

For the purposes of the present invention, an ion source is understood to be the location within the main chamber of the mass spectrometer at which the analytes are ionized by interaction with the focused femtosecond laser radiation.

Mass analyzers known to those skilled in the art may be used, for example time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF-MS) and quadrupole mass analyzers.

In this case, the TOF mass analyzer is preferred, since the entire time-of-flight mass spectrum can be measured there essentially with one laser pulse. In contrast, in the quadrupole mass analyzer for each mass at least one laser pulse is necessary because in the alternating field between the quadrupole rods m / z selection takes place, so that intrinsically only ions with a defined ratio m / z of mass (m) to Charge (z) can go through the field. In the present invention, in the following, in the case of the ratio of mass to charge, the term "mass" is also used in abbreviated form.

The ion detector is selected, for example but not exhaustively, from microchannel plates (MCP), channeltron, secondary electron multipliers, daly-type detectors, scintillation counters. In the case of a TOF-MS, microchannel plates are preferred.

The electronic measuring device for measuring and recording the signals generated by the ion detector, for example, but not exhaustive, selected from a digital oscilloscope, a transient recorder, a box-car integrator or a digitizer.

The digital oscilloscope is preferred here.

The received and measured signals are stored and evaluated by means of a computer. It is known to the person skilled in the art that the intensity of laser pulses can fluctuate if necessary.

In a further preferred embodiment, therefore, the time-of-flight mass spectra are averaged over several laser pulses in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, a part of the laser pulse is passed to a detector with a beam splitter, which measures the intensity of the pulse. In the evaluation program of the computer, the associated ion counting rates are correlated with the present pulse intensity.

It is readily apparent that one can compare the received and measured signals with known signals. The known signals can be advantageously stored in a database. This database contains CD values and fragmentation patterns of known substances. It is particularly advantageous if a CD value is present not only for the respective parent ion of the known substances, but also for the fragment ions. If there are already relevant data in the database for the currently received and measured signals of unknown substances, then the unknown substances can be identified in this way.

The method according to the invention for distinguishing enantiomers by means of the device according to the invention for femtosecond circular dichroism laser ionization mass spectrometry comprises the following steps:

- Generation of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation, wherein the laser pulses a central wavelength (λ) between 200 nm and 1100 nm and a

Laser pulse duration (τ) less than or equal to 200 fs, based on a bandwidth-limited (Fourier-transform-limited) pulse, and wherein between right and left circularly polarized light is changed,

Introducing the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances into the gas phase,

Introducing the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances into the main chamber of a mass spectrometer, Irradiation of the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances with the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation,

Detecting the ion yields and the masses per charge of the ions formed and calculating their CD values,

Storage of the mass spectra and the associated CD values, evaluation of the measured data.

The method according to the invention is carried out with the aid of the device according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the time-of-flight mass spectra are averaged over a plurality of laser pulses as described above in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

The evaluation of the measured data comprises the following steps: a) conversion of the time-of-flight spectra into mass-per-charge spectra (m / z spectra), where the count rate of the parent ion signal at the known mass is the integral below the time-of-flight mass spectrum and the areas b) Determination of the recorded masses and the mass yields of the examined sample for each examined wavelength as well as for left- and right-circularly polarized light, starting with the largest and ending at d) repetition of steps b) and c) for the achiral reference substances measured simultaneously in the apparatus, e) calculation of the CD value with respect to the ion yields according to CD = 2 (YL-YR) / (YL ⁺ YR), where Y _L and YR are the ion yields for left-handed or right circularly polarized light, for the analyte and the reference substances.

In the measurement, time-of-flight mass spectra of the sample to be examined and an achiral reference substance for the two circular polarizations are measured.

In the case of a chemically pure substance (sample to be examined), the mass spectrum contains a parent ion peak and, as a rule, fragment ion peaks. In the case of a mixture of substances, an overlay of mass spectra results. In the time-of-flight mass spectra, an assignment to a substance becomes possible via the detected mass peaks (parent ion peak plus fragmentation pattern). The mass peaks of an optically active substance show different ion yields for left- and right-circularly polarized light. From this difference, a CD value can be calculated. A component of the evaluation method according to the invention is the determination of the CD value for all the ions observed.

The CD value of a substance is calculated according to

CD = 2 (YRX YL (YL ⁺ YR), the YL and _YR are the left- and right-lonenausbeuten for circularly polarized light.

The evaluation, i. the assignment of substances to certain mass peaks begins at the largest observed mass. The substance belonging to this mass is identified by comparison with corresponding values from a database. The evaluation works iteratively to smaller masses.

Flight time (t) and mass per charge (m / z) are linked by a relationship: t ~ (m / z) ^1/2 . The time-of-flight spectrum can thus be converted into a mass-to-charge spectrum. The count rate of the mother ion signal is calculated numerically in the known mass as an integral under the time-of-flight mass spectrum. The integration limits are set manually either automatically or on the basis of the known sample substances investigated. The end- Value program calculates the areas below the maximum of the parent ion signal for left- and right-circularly polarized light and outputs the CD value with respect to the ion yields CD = 2 (Y _L -YR) / (YL + YR).

The same procedure is followed for the parent ion signal of an achiral reference substance simultaneously present in the apparatus. If this substance has a non-zero CD value, it must be caused by intensity and quality differences of the left- and right-circularly polarized light. This CD value is therefore subtracted from the CD value of the chiral substance as a correction.

In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is carried out with femtosecond laser radiation whose bandwidth is less than or equal to 40 nm. This is particularly advantageous if it is already known that the sample to be investigated is an enantiomeric mixture of a single substance and the enantiomeric purity is to be measured.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is carried out with femtosecond laser radiation whose bandwidth is greater than 40 nm. This is particularly advantageous if the composition of the sample to be examined is not known in advance. In the case of samples of unknown composition, the use of white light laser radiation is most preferred.

The apparatus and method of the invention can be used to identify and distinguish enantiomers. In this case, R and S enantiomers can also be identified in previously unknown substance mixtures and the proportion of each enantiomer in this mixture can be determined without a separation process being necessary. Apparatus and method according to the present invention allow to carry out the recording of mass spectra and the determination of CD values simultaneously. embodiments

Embodiment 1

Laser pulses with a central wavelength of 800 nm and a duration of 45 femtoseconds were generated by means of a commercial femtosecond laser amplifier system (ODIN, Quantronix). These pulses served as the basis for generating laser radiation in the spectral range required for the actual measurement. The amplifier pulses optically pumped another laser system (optical parametric amplifier, TOPAS, Light Conversion). By twice doubling the frequency of the so-called signal pulses, femtosecond pulses with a central wavelength in the near UV range of 311 nm and 324 nm as well as only once frequency doubling femtosecond pulses with a central wavelength of 650 nm were generated and amplified. These pulses were suitable for the study of the example substance methylcyclopentanone.

The laser pulses were circularly polarized by transmission through an achromatic quarter-wave plate. Depending on the angle between the incoming linear polarization direction and the fast axis of the quarter-wave plate, right- or left-circularly polarized light is produced. The quarter-wave plate was stored so that it could be rotated by means of a stepper motor. This allowed switching between left and right circularly polarized light. The orientation of the quarter-wave plate and the polarization state of the transmitted light was checked by means of a polarizer. The circularly polarized laser pulses generated in this way were guided through a window into a vacuum apparatus by means of beam guiding optics and focused within the vacuum apparatus with the aid of a concave mirror with a focal length of 75 mm. In the vacuum apparatus is a time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF spectrometer) and the gaseous sample were at a pressure of 4x10 ^"6 mbar. During the actual measurement interacted the laser radiation in the focal area of the concave mirror with the molecules of the gaseous sample, resulting ions detected with the flight mass spectrometer were. The time-of-flight mass spectrum can be converted into a mass spectrum via a quadratic relationship. The mass spectrum of methylcyclopentanone measured at a laser central wavelength of 650 nm is shown in FIG.

Embodiment 2:

Laser pulses with a central wavelength of 800 nm and a duration of 45 femtoseconds were generated by means of a commercial femtosecond laser amplifier system (ODIN, Quantronix). These pulses served as the basis for generating laser radiation in the spectral range required for the actual measurement. With the amplifier pulses, another laser system (optical parametric amplifier, TOPAS, Fa. Light Conversion) was optically pumped. By twice doubling the frequency of the so-called signal pulses, femtosecond pulses with a central wavelength in the near UV range of 311 nm and 324 nm as well as only once frequency doubling femtosecond pulses with a central wavelength of 650 nm were generated and amplified. These pulses were suitable for the study of the example substance methylcyclopentanone.

The laser pulses were circularly polarized by transmission through an achromatic quarter-wave plate. Depending on the angle between the incoming linear polarization direction and the fast axis of the quarter-wave plate, right- or left-circularly polarized light is produced. The quarter-wave plate was stored so that it could be rotated by means of a stepper motor. This allowed switching between left and right circularly polarized light. The orientation of the quarter-wave plate and the polarization state of the transmitted light was checked by means of a polarizer. The circularly polarized laser pulses generated in this way were guided through a window into a vacuum apparatus by means of beam guiding optics and focused within the vacuum apparatus with the aid of a concave mirror with a focal length of 75 mm. The vacuum apparatus contained a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF spectrometer), the gaseous sample and reference substance xylene with a total pressure of 4x10 ^"δ mbar. During the actual measurement interacted the laser radiation in the focal area of the concave mirror with the molecules of the gas phase, resulting ions were detected with the flight mass spectrometer.

The ion yields of the parent ions of methylcyclopentanone and xylene were measured for left- and right-handed circularly polarized laser radiation. To improve the accuracy of the method and to minimize measurement artifacts, which may result from slightly different linear contributions in the left and right circularly polarized pulses, the optically inactive substance XyIoI was simultaneously measured and used as a reference. Due to the mass-selective measurement, the recording of ion signals of several substances of different mass is possible. The wavelength-dependent resulting circular dichroism of the ion yields of the enantiomers of methylcyclopentanone, as defined above, was calculated and is shown in Figure 4.

Embodiment 3

Laser pulses with a central wavelength of 800 nm and a duration of 45 femtoseconds were generated by means of a commercial femtosecond laser amplifier system (ODIN, Quantronix). These pulses served as a basis for generating laser radiation by means of filament formation. For filament formation, the original laser pulses of the central wavelength of 800 nm were focused with a lens of the focal length of 1 m into an argon-filled chamber. In the 150 cm long chamber, the spectrum of the pulses broadened due to self-phase modulation in a filament. The broadening of the pulse spectrum measured with a spectrometer as a function of the pressure of the argon in the chamber is shown in FIG. Also shown is the spectrum of the original laser pulses with a central wavelength of 800 nm. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. femtosecond laser

2. means for generating broadband femtosecond laser radiation 3. means for generating the circular polarization

4. Beam guiding optics

5. Focusing optics

6. Laser beam (focused broadband circularly polarized femtosecond laser beam) 7. Laser window

8. Main chamber of the mass spectrometer

9. Sample inlet 10. Ion source

11. Acceleration system 12. Ions on the way to the ion detector 13. Ion detector

14. electronic measuring device for measuring the signals generated by the ion detector

15. Computer 16. to the vacuum pump

17. Flight tube of time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF)

18th Beschieunigungsstrecke

19th train route

20. Lens System 21. Drift Distance Figure legends

Fig. 1:

Fig. 1 shows schematically the structure of the device according to the invention, wherein the mass spectrometer is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS).

With the help of the laser system (1) laser pulses are generated in the femtosecond range. The laser pulses are passed through means for generating broadband femtosecond laser radiation (2) and through means for circular polarization (3). The broadband circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation obtained in this way is directed in the direction of the laser window (7) with the aid of beam guiding optics (4) and focused with the aid of focusing optics (5). The focused broadband circularly polarized laser beam (6) enters the main chamber (8) of the mass spectrometer via the laser window (7). The sample passes through the sample inlet (9) into the main chamber (8) and is ionized by the laser beam (6). With the aid of the acceleration system (11), the ions (12) are accelerated toward the ion detector (13). The signals generated by the ion detector (13) are registered via an electronic measuring device (14) and evaluated by means of a computer (15).

Fig. 2

Fig. 2 shows schematically a section of a FIugzeit- mass spectrometer, as it was used in the embodiments 1 to 2. The lens system (20) consisted of three lenses L1, L2 and L3. The tension distance (19) between L1 and L2 had a length of 1, 5 cm, the voltage difference ΔU between L1 and L2 was 500 V. The acceleration distance (18) between L2 and L3 also had a length of 1, 5 cm; the voltage difference ΔU between L2 and L3 was 2 kV. The ion source (10) was between L1 and L2. The flight tube (Driftstrecke) (17) had a length of 57 cm. The ion detector (13) are microchannel plate detectors (MCPs).

Fig. 3

Figure 3 shows a mass spectrum of methylcyclopentanone taken at 650 nm center wavelength. The ion yield of each fragment ion was plotted against m / z. Both the parent ion and the fragment ions are visible.

Fig. 4

FIG. 4 shows the wavelength-dependent resulting circular dichroism of the ion yields of methylcyclopentanone as a function of the wavelength.

It is

▼ ^: (R) - (+) - 3-methylcyclopentanone

■: racemic 3-methylcyclopentanone A: (S) - (+) - 3-methylcyclopentanone a: Δε: linear circular dichroism

Fig. 5

Fig. 5 shows the broadening of the pulse spectrum measured with a spectrometer as a function of the pressure of argon in the filament chamber. Also shown is the spectrum of the original laser pulses with a central wavelength of 800 nm. It is a: spectrum of the output pulse b: broad spectrum of the pulse for an argon pressure of 1 bar c: broader spectrum of the pulse for an argon pressure of 2 bar

Claims

claims

1. Apparatus for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation comprising

an FS laser radiation source,

a sample inlet,

an ion source,

a mass analyzer, an ion detector, wherein the sample inlet, ion source, mass analyzer and ion detector are located in the evacuated main chamber of the mass spectrometer;

a computer for evaluating and storing the received signals,

characterized in that - the fs laser radiation source is a laser system for generating laser pulses in the femtosecond range whose laser pulse duration (τ) is based on a bandwidth-limited (Fourier transform-limited) pulse less than or equal to 200 fs and whose central wavelength (λ ) Is 200 nm to 1100 nm, - the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond laser pulses used for the ionization is selected from bandwidths that are less than or equal to 40 nm, and bandwidths that are greater than 40 nm,

- The laser pulses are passed through means for generating circular polarization, which allow a switching between right and left circularly polarized light,

- The thus obtained circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation using a beam guiding optics via the laser window in the main chamber directed by the mass spectrometer and focused by means of a focusing optics, and wherein

2. Apparatus for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation according to claim 1, characterized in that the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond laser pulses used for the ionization is less than or equal to 40 nm.

3. Device for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation according to claim 1, characterized in that the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond laser pulses used for the ionization is greater than 40 nm.

4. An apparatus for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation according to claim 3, characterized in that the spectral bandwidth of the femtosecond laser pulses used for the ionization is greater than 100 nm, so that it is a white light continuum.

5. Apparatus for laser ionization mass spectrometry by means of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the time-of-flight mass spectra are averaged over a plurality of laser pulses and, with the aid of a beam splitter, a part of the laser pulse is guided to a detector which determines the intensity of this pulse. In the evaluation program of the computer, the associated pulse counting rates are correlated with the present pulse intensity.

6. A method of distinguishing enantiomers by femtosecond circular dichroism laser ionization mass spectrometry comprising the steps of:

Generation of circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation, wherein the laser pulses have a central wavelength (λ) between 200 nm and 1100 nm and a laser pulse duration (τ) less than or equal to 200 fs, based on a bandwidth-limited (Fourier-transform-limited) pulse, and wherein between switching the right-hand and left-hand circularly polarized light, - introducing the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances into the gas phase,

Introducing the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances into the main chamber of a mass spectrometer, irradiating the sample to be examined and one or more achiral reference substances with the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation,

Detection of the ion yields and the masses per charge of the ions formed and calculation of their CD values, storage of the mass spectra and the associated CD values,

7. Evaluation of the measured data.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation of the measured data comprises the following steps: a) conversion of the time-of-flight spectra into mass-per-charge spectra (m / z)

Spectra), where the count rate of the parent ion signal at the known mass is calculated as the integral below the time-of-flight mass spectrum and the areas below the maximum for right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light, respectively b) Determination of the recorded masses and the mass yields of the examined sample for each wavelength and left- and right-circularly polarized light, starting with the largest and ending with the smallest masses, c) identification of substances belonging to these masses by comparison with values from a database, d) repetition of steps b) and c) for the achiral reference substances measured simultaneously in the apparatus, e) calculation of the CD value with respect to the ion yields according to

CD = 2 (YL-YR) / (YL ⁺ YR) wherein YL and _YR are the lonenausbeuten for left- or right-handed circularly polarized light for the analyte and the reference substances.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation has a bandwidth less than or equal to 40 nm.

10.A method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the circularly polarized femtosecond laser radiation has a bandwidth greater than 40 nm.

11.Use of the device according to one of claims 1 to 5 and the method according to one of claims 6 to 9 for the identification and sub-separation of enantiomers.