Electrochemical generation of Cu(I) complexes in aqueous solutions studied by on-line mass spectrometry

Taking advantage of the electrochemical aspects of electrospray ionization (ESI) sources in positive ionization mode mass spectrometry (MS), aqueous copper complexes are electrogenerated using sacrificial copper electrodes. When using 8-hydroxyquinoline or bathocuproine, two chelating agents for Cu2+ and Cu+ ions, respectively, the electrodissolution of copper leads to the formation of the respective complexes that are then analyzed by MS. This electrochemical generation of copper(I) complexes offers a direct route to synthesize Cu+ complexes in aqueous solutions.