Sapienza Università di Roma
Dipartimento di Chimica
e Tecnologie del Farmaco
opens a new windowSapienza Università di Roma
|
Dipartimento di Chimicae Tecnologie del Farmaco

MASS SPECTROMETRY LABORATORY (CHIM/03)

NOME DEL GRUPPO DI RICERCA:

MASS SPECTROMETRY LABORATORY (CHIM/03)

COORDINATORI DEL GRUPPO DI RICERCA:

Prof.ssa Anna Troiani - Prof. Federico Pepi

MEMBRI DEL GRUPPO DI RICERCA:

Dott.ssa Chiara Salvitti (RTT), Dott.ssa Alessia Di Noi, Dott. Lorenzo D’Ippolito (Dottorandi)

DESCRIZIONE ATTIVITA' DEL GRUPPO DI RICERCA:

Gas-Phase Ion and Neutral Chemistry: ion–molecule reactions in the gas phase are studied as model systems for bond-activation processes relevant to catalytic mechanisms, including those occurring at single-atom catalytic sites. Measurements of thermochemical parameters and kinetic rate constants support the elucidation of fundamental reactivity patterns. Additional investigations focus on the distinctive behaviour of multiply charged ions undergoing bond-forming reactions, offering detailed insight into charge effects, energetics, and mechanistic pathways.

Air–Liquid Interface Chemistry: reaction kinetics are examined within confined microenvironments generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) microdroplet deposition. These highly reactive air–liquid interfaces serve as unique platforms to probe accelerated reaction pathways and reveal mechanistic features that are not accessible in bulk-phase studies.

Solution Chemistry: chemical reactivity in solution is investigated with particular attention to systems catalysed by ionic liquids and carbon dots. Research activities include the interception and structural characterization of elusive reactive intermediates, providing detailed insight into reaction pathways. Mechanistic studies, supported by advanced analytical methodologies, are conducted to optimize reaction conditions and improve catalytic performance.

Mass Spectrometry Imaging: state-of-the-art mass spectrometry imaging is employed to map the spatial distribution of endogenous and exogenous biomolecules on surfaces and biological tissues. This approach offers molecular-level information on tissue heterogeneity, analyte localization, and biochemical processes with high spatial resolution.

Food Adulteration and Fraud Detection: ambient ionization techniques coupled with mass spectrometry are applied for the rapid detection of adulterants and contaminants in complex food matrices. The resulting analytical workflows aim to provide sensitive, reproducible, and high-throughput tools for food safety, authenticity assessment, and fraud prevention.

 

COLLABORAZIONI NAZIONALI ED INTERNAZIONALI:

Prof. M. Rosi, University of Perugia

Prof.ssa A. Ricci, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli

Prof. P. Tagliatesta, University of Rome Tor Vergata

Prof.ssa Isabella Chiarotto, University of Rome “Sapienza”

Dott. Nuno A. G. Bandeira, University of Lisbon     

Dott.ssa A. Tata, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie

 

STRUMENTAZIONI:

Orbitrap Exploris 120 Mass Spectrometer ThermoFisher

  • Vanquish Core HPLC System ThermoFisher

  • AP/MALDI (ng) UHR source MassTech

Linear ion trap LTQ-XL ThermoFisher

Ion trap AmaZon Bruker

Tandem Q-TOF Waters Ultima mass spectrometer

GC-MS Agilent 6890

Double-focusing mass spectrometer ZabSpec oa-TOF

SETTORI ERC:

PE4 - Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics

PE4_12 -Chemical reactions: mechanisms, dynamics, kinetics and catalytic reactions

PE4_2 -Spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques

 

PUBBLICAZIONI (2025-2020):

  1. C. Salvitti*, A. Di Noi, F. Cosentino, C. Michenzi, F. Pepi, M. Managò, I. Chiarotto, A. Troiani, Minimizing Ionic Interference: An APCI-MS Strategy for Real-Time Reaction Monitoring in Ionic Liquids, J. Mass Spectrom. 2025, 60(10), e5176, doi: 10.1002/jms.5176

  2. M. Managò, C. Salvitti, A. Troiani, A. Di Noi, A. Ricci, F. Pepi*, Effect of pH on the Kinetics of Cysteine-to-Cystine Conversion in Thin Films Formed by ESI Microdroplet Deposition, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2025, 36(10), 2189-2196, doi: 10.1021/jasms.5c00195

  3. Di Noi, A. Massaro, C. Salvitti, M. Managò, F. Cosentino, R. Piro, M. Suman, F. Pepi*, A. Tata*, A. Troiani*, AP-MALDI-MS reveals adulteration of dried oregano leaves, J. Food Compos. Anal. 2025, 139, 107121, doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107121

  4. R. Zumpano*, M. Agostini, F. Mazzei, A. Troiani, C. Salvitti, M. Managò, A. Di Noi, A. Ricci, F. Pepi*, Charged microdroplets deposition for nanostructured-based electrode surface modification, Surfaces 2024, 7(4), 801-811, doi: 10.3390/surfaces7040052 (INSIDE COVER)

  5. Chiarotto*, C. Michenzi, F. Scaramuzzo, C. Salvitti, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, Photo-activated carbon dots as catalysts in Knoevenagel condensation: An advance in the synthetic field, Photochem 2024, 4(3), 361-376. doi: 10.3390/photochem4030022

  6. F. Cosentino, C. Michenzi, A. Di Noi, C. Salvitti*, F. Pepi, G. de Petris, I. Chiarotto*, A. Troiani*, Photo-activated carbon dots (CDs) as catalysts in the Knoevenagel condensation: A mechanistic study by dual-mode monitoring via ESI-MS, ChemPlusChem 2024, 89(8), e202400174.  doi: 10.1002/cplu.202400174 (INSIDE COVER)

  7. M. De Angelis, M. Managò, F. Pepi, C. Salvitti, A. Troiani, C. Villani, A. Ciogli*, Stereoselectivity in electrosprayed confined volumes: asymmetric synthesis of warfarin by diamine organocatalysts in microdroplets and thin films, RSC Adv. 2024, 14(3), 1576-1580. doi: 10.1039/D3RA07975A

  8. C. Salvitti*, G. de Petris, A. Troiani, M. Managò, A. Di Noi, A. Ricci, F. Pepi*, Sulfuric acid catalyzed esterification of amino acids in thin film, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2023, 34(12), 2748-2754. doi: 10.1021/jasms.3c00284

  9. C. Salvitti, N.A.G. Bandeira*, F. Pepi, G. de Petris, A. Troiani*, Sulfur dioxide oxidation by zinc and zinc oxide nitrate/nitrite complexes in the gas phase: An interplay between redox-active ligands and metal, Chem. Eur. J. 2023, 29(44), e202301221. doi: 10.1002/chem.202301221

  10. C. Michenzi, C. Espro*, V. Bressi, C. Celesti, F. Vetica, C. Salvitti, I. Chiarotto*, Electrochemical bottom-up synthesis of biomass-derived carbon dots for promoting Knoevenagel condensation, Mol. Catal. 2023, 544, 113182. doi: 10.1016/j.mcat.2023.113182

  11. F. Cairone, C. Salvitti, A. Iazzetti*, G. Fabrizi*, A. Troiani, F. Pepi, S. Cesa, In-depth chemical characterization of Punica granatum L. seed oil, Foods 2023, 12(8), 1592. doi: 10.3390/foods12081592

  12. C. Salvitti, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, M. Rosi, G. de Petris*, The peroxymonocarbonate anion HCO4− as an effective oxidant in the gas phase: a mass spectrometric and theoretical study on the reaction with SO2, Molecules 2023, 28(1), 132. doi: 10.3390/molecules28010132

  13. C. Salvitti*, F. Pepi, M. Managò, M. Bortolami, C. Michenzi, I. Chiarotto*, A. Troiani*, G. de Petris, Free N-heterocyclic carbenes from Brønsted acidic ionic liquids: Direct detection by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2022, 36(17), e9338. doi: 10.1002/rcm.9338

  14. C. Salvitti*, G. de Petris, A. Troiani, M. Managò, A. Ricci, F. Pepi*, Kinetic study of the Maillard reaction in thin film generated by microdroplets deposition, Molecules 2022, 27(18), 5747. doi: 10.3390/molecules27185747

  15. C. Salvitti*, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, G. de Petris, Regioselective bond-forming and hydrolysis reactions of doubly charged vanadium oxide anions in the gas phase, Reactions 2022, 3(2), 254-264. doi: 10.3390/reactions3020019

  16. C. Salvitti*, G. de Petris, A. Troiani, M. Managò, C. Villani, A. Ciogli, A. Sorato, A. Ricci, F. Pepi*, Accelerated D-fructose acid-catalyzed reactions in thin films formed by charged microdroplets deposition, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2022, 33(3), 565-572. doi: 10.1021/jasms.1c00363 (FRONT COVER)

  17. C. Salvitti*, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, G. de Petris, Intracluster sulphur dioxide oxidation by sodium chlorite anions: a mass spectrometric study, Molecules 2021, 26(23), 7114. doi: 10.3390/molecules26237114

  18. C. Salvitti*, M. Bortolami, I. Chiarotto*, A. Troiani*, G. de Petris, The Knoevenagel condensation catalysed by ionic liquids: a mass spectrometric insight into the reaction mechanism, New J. Chem. 2021, 45(38), 17787-17795. doi: 10.1039/d1nj03594k (FRONT COVER)

  19. C. Salvitti*, A. Troiani, F. Mazzei, C. D’Agostino, R. Zumpano, C. Baldacchini, A. R. Bizzarri*, A. Tata, F. Pepi*, The use of a commercial ESI Z-spray source for ambient ion soft landing and microdroplet reactivity experiments, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2021, 468, 116658. doi: 10.1016/j.ijms.2021.116658

  20. P22      C. Salvitti, M. Rosi, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, G. de Petris, Reactivity of transition metal dioxide anions MO2- (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) with sulfur dioxide in the gas phase: An experimental and theoretical study, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2021, 776, 138555. doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2021.138555

  21. P23      C. Salvitti*, I. Chiarotto, F. Pepi, A. Troiani*, Charge-tagged N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs): revealing the hidden side of NHC-catalysed reactions through electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, ChemPlusChem 2021, 86(2), 209-223. doi: 10.1002/cplu.202000656 (INSIDE COVER)

  22. A. Tata*, C. Salvitti, F. Pepi*, From vacuum to atmospheric pressure: a review of ambient ion soft landing, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2020, 450, 116309. doi: 10.1016/j.ijms.2020.116309