Illustration of the self-assembly of hexacadmiun macrocycles and their TWIM-MS analysis.

1. Design, Synthesis, and Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Analysis of MetallomacrocyclesGeorge R. Newkome, University of Akron, DMR 0705015 The construction and characterization of coordination-driven metallomacrocycles as well as their potential applications in the areas of photovoltaic and light emitting devices have appeared. The facile synthesis of hexacadmium macromolecules employing weak metal-ligand interactions opens new avenues for the creation of various fractal metallosupramolecular architectures. These assemblies are characterized by using traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS), which enhances the MS resolving power by adding shape-dependent dispersion and completely deconvolutes the isotope patterns of different charge states, avoiding the problems of isomer superposition. Illustration of the self-assembly of hexacadmiunmacrocycles and their TWIM-MS analysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 16395-16397. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, in press.

2. Design, Synthesis, and Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Metallomacrocycles George R. Newkome, University of Akron, DMR 0705015 The application of this novel mode of mass spectrometry permits the rapid structural differentiation of cyclic vs. linear macromolecular architectures by allowing the identification of different conformations in supramolecular materials. When crystallization of the structure is difficult or impossible, this methodology offers a simple definitive answer to molecular size and shape. Mixtures can also be quantified as to structural distribution. The photo shows part of our diverse research team, including visiting scholars, postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers, as well as this summers REU and Project SEED students, Mr. Seth Barrett (3rd row, 1st from left; and Ms. PathanaXaysouvanh (1st row, 2nd from left).