An Essential Mass Detection Unit for Laser Spectroscopy of Chiral Aggregates at 0.4 Kelvin

用于 0.4 开尔文手性聚集体激光光谱分析的基本质量检测装置

• 批准号: RTI-2022-00239
• 负责人: Xu, Yunjie
• 金额: $ 8.69万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=741826
• 关键词: Essential; Mass; Detection; Unit; Laser

A molecule is chiral if its mirror image cannot be superimposed onto itself, just like our right and left hands. Because of the similarity of a pair of mirror images, replacing one with its mirror image, may, in many instances, introduce little or no change in the properties of the associated system. In a chirality recognition event, when a chiral molecule interacts with another chiral molecule or chiral light, however, the effect of chirality can be prominent, just as in the case of a human handshake (i.e. how different a right/right versus a left/right handshake feels). A further challenge to a chemist is how we can tell apart the right- versus the left-handed molecules. Generally, the difference is quite small, barely detectable. To improve our detection sensitivity, we need to use the tricks of chirality transfer and amplification, that is to transfer the chirality signature to a much stronger "reporter" who can amplify the feeble signal by many orders of magnitude and detect the signal from the reporter rather than directly from the source. Our research aims to identify "reporters" and evaluate what factors, such as solvent and light, influence chirality recognition/transfer/amplification events in great detail. Such knowledge will allow us to formulate rigorous chirality recognition, transfer, and amplification models with predictive power and to develop new strategies to control these events with light and other influencing factors. One powerful spectroscopic tool we have developed to facilitate our research activities described above is a hybrid laser-mass spectrometer. This instrument enables us to spray chiral species from solution into the gas phase conveniently, store them in a superfluid matrix at 0.4 K, an extremely low temperature not easily achieved by other means, and use laser spectroscopy to probe their structures one species at a time. This leading-edge instrument was designed and assembled by our HQP in the past three years. It features continuous helium nanodroplet generation and laser operation, different from the only other system in the world built by a Max Plank research group which uses a pulsed source. Unfortunately, one important instrument component, an 18-year-old quadrupole mass spectrometer unit, failed and cannot be repaired. We request funding to replace this failed component urgently. The hybrid laser-mass spectrometer is crucial for HQP's daily research activities. To get the instrument up and running again is of utmost importance in offering world-class training to HQP, and in ensuring their continuous success and competitiveness on the world stage. The outcome of the proposed research will be valuable to many subfields in chemistry, physics, and biology where chirality plays a significant role. The fundamental knowledge gained will be important for developing a broad range of chiral technologies from sensors for pharmaceutical processes to novel catalysts for chiral drug syntheses.

如果一个分子的镜像不能与自身重叠，那么它就是手性分子，就像我们的左手和右手一样。由于一对镜像的相似性，在许多情况下，用它的镜像替换其中一个镜像，可能会对相关系统的性质产生很少或没有变化。然而，在手性识别事件中，当一个手性分子与另一个手性分子或手性光相互作用时，手性的影响可能会很突出，就像人类握手的情况一样（即右/右与左/右握手的感觉有多不同）。化学家面临的另一个挑战是如何区分左旋分子和右旋分子。一般来说，差异很小，几乎无法察觉。为了提高我们的检测灵敏度，我们需要使用手性转移和放大的技巧，即将手性特征转移到一个更强的“报告器”上，这个“报告器”可以将微弱的信号放大许多个数量级，并且从报告器而不是直接从信号源检测信号。我们的研究旨在识别“报告者”，并评估溶剂和光线等因素对手性识别/转移/扩增事件的详细影响。这些知识将使我们能够制定具有预测能力的严格的手性识别，转移和放大模型，并开发新的策略来控制光和其他影响因素的这些事件。我们已经开发了一个强大的光谱工具，以促进我们的研究活动上述是混合激光质谱仪。该仪器使我们能够方便地将溶液中的手性物质喷射到气相中，并将其储存在0.4 K的超流体基质中，这是其他方法难以达到的极低温度，并利用激光光谱一次探测一种物质的结构。这台先进的仪器是由我们的HQP在过去三年中设计和组装的。它的特点是连续的氦纳米液滴产生和激光操作，不同于世界上由马克斯普朗克研究小组使用脉冲源建造的唯一其他系统。不幸的是，一个重要的仪器组件，一个有18年历史的四极质谱仪单元，发生了故障，无法修复。我们要求提供资金，以紧急更换这一故障部件。混合激光质谱仪对HQP的日常研究活动至关重要。重新启动和运行仪器对于为HQP提供世界一流的培训，以及确保HQP在世界舞台上的持续成功和竞争力至关重要。这项研究的结果将对化学、物理和生物学中手性起重要作用的许多子领域有价值。所获得的基础知识对于开发广泛的手性技术非常重要，从用于制药过程的传感器到用于手性药物合成的新型催化剂。