Quick Links
Hilkka I. Kenttämaa
Professor—Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry
Email: hilkka@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-494-0882
Office: BRWN 3151A
For Professor Kenttämaa's individual Home Page click here.
We are interested in various aspects of organic and bioorganic mass spectrometry. The focus areas include fundamental understanding of gas-phase ion chemistry, and structural characterization of molecules.
Mass spectrometry provides a powerful tool for the analysis of organic and biomolecules. Chemical ionization methods are developed for (1) distinction of isomeric compounds, including hydrocarbons and amino acids, (2) structural characterization of complex molecules, such as synthetic polymers and peptides, and (3) examination of the composition of complex mixtures, especially base oils. Laser-based methods are developed for evaporation of intact neutral bio- and synthetic polymers into mass spectrometers.
Mass spectrometry allows the direct examination of organic and biological reaction intermediates that are difficult to study by other experimental approaches. The information obtained on the molecules' intrinsic properties provides the basis for understanding of their behavior in solution. This work includes the design of gas-phase synthesis strategies, kinetic and thermochemical studies, and molecular orbital calculations on aromatic radicals and biradicals, nucleobase radical cations and ionized carbenes (see figure on the right). The knowledge obtained in these studies aids the understanding of DNA degradation by antitumor drugs and UV irradiation.
Education
B.S., 1977, Ph.D., 1986, Helsinki University; Postdoctoral Research Associate, 1986, Assistant Research Scientist, 1987-1989.Recognitions
- Provost’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor, 2009
- Member of The Finnish Academy of Science, 2004
- University Faculty Scholar, Purdue University, 2001-2006
- Career Advancement Award, the National Science Foundation, 1996
- Young Faculty Award of Eli Lilly and Company, 1992, 1993
- American Society for Mass Spectrometry Award, 1991
- Assistant Research Scientist, Purdue University, 1987-1989
- Finnish Chemical Society Gustaf Komppa Award, 1985
Selected Publications
- Amegayibor, A.S.; Nash, J.J.; Lee, A.S>; Thoen, J.; Petzold, C.; Kenttamaa, H.I., Chemical Properties of a para-Benzyne. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002 , 124, 12066-12067.
- Fu M. K.;Eismin, R. J.;Duan, P. G.;Li, S.;Kenttamaa, H. I., Ion-molecule reactions facilitate the identification and differentiation of primary, secondary and tertiary amino functionalities in protonated monofunctional analytes in mass spectrometry . International Journal of Mass Spectromet 2009 , 282 , 77-84.
- Duan P.;Fu, M.;Gillespie, T. A.;Winger, B. E.;Kenttamaa, H. I., Identification of Aliphatic and Aromatic Tertiary N-Oxide Functionalities in Protonated Analytes via Ion/Molecule and Dissociation Reactions in an FT-ICR Mass Spectrometer . Journal of Organic Chemistry 2009 , 74 , 1114-1123.