Non-Signal Imidazole Reagents for Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phosphomonoesters

Abstract

Analytical chemical reagents termed non-signal imidazoles and a method for their use that provide a host of advantages for analysis of phosphomonoesters are described. The method and compounds of the invention provide a host of advantages for the analysis of phosphomonoester-containing compounds, namely characteristic, multi-analyte detection with high sensitivity and specificity of known and unknown phosphomonoester-containing compounds simultaneously.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A non-signal imidazole reagent, said reagent having the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein either R 1  or R 2  is hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D), B comprises one to eight carbon atoms, A comprises an aryl group, and at least one of A or B is substituted with one or more atoms or groups other than H when A is phenyl and B comprises an amide group; and wherein the imidazole reagent has no ionic groups. 
     
     
         11 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein B is substituted with four deuterium atoms. 
     
     
         12 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein A is substituted with a bromine atom (Br), a chlorine atom (Cl), or one or more deuterium atoms. 
     
     
         13 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein A comprises a naphthyl or biphenyl group. 
     
     
         14 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein A is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, alkyl groups or alkoxy groups. 
     
     
         15 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein B comprises an amide group or an ether group. 
     
     
         16 . The non-signal imidazole reagent of  claim 10 , wherein B is —CD 2 CD 2 - and A is R 3 C 6 H 4 CONH—, wherein R 3  is Br or Cl. 
     
     
         17 . A phosphorimidazolide anion having the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  comprises an aryl group; R 1  has no ionic groups; and R 2  is an organic molecule. 
     
     
         18 . The anion of  claim 17 , wherein R 1  comprises a phenyl group.