Gas phase reactions of trimethyl borate with phosphates and their non-covalent complexes

Abstract

Using a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer, trimethyl borate was allowed to react with dihydrogen phosphate, deprotonated O-phosphoserine, and a set of hydrogen bonded complexes involving dihydrogen phosphate and neutral acids (phosphoric acid, acetic acid, serine, and O-phosphoserine). The reactions show a consistent pattern in which the initial attack leads to addition with the loss of one or two CH3OH molecules. Collision-activated dissociation (CAD) experiments on the reaction products generally lead to the loss of an additional CH3OH molecule. In no case is a partner from the original hydrogen-bonded complex lost. The results indicate that the reactions lead to structures where the p..