Bijvoet's method, which makes use of anomalous x-ray diffraction or dispersion, is the standard means of directly determining the absolute (stereochemical) configuration of molecules, but it requires crystalline samples and often proves challenging in structures exclusively comprising light atoms. Herein, we demonstrate a mass spectrometry approach that directly images the absolute configuration of individual molecules in the gas phase by cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy after laser ionization-induced Coulomb explosion. This technique is applied to the prototypical chiral molecule bromochlorofluoromethane and the isotopically chiral methane derivative bromodichloromethane.

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The synthesis and characterization of polyferrocenylmethylene (PFM) starting from dilithium 2,2‐bis(cyclopentadienide)propane and a Me2C[1]magnesocenophane is reported. Molecular weights of up to Mw = 11 700 g mol–1 featuring a dispersity, Ð, of 1.40 can be achieved. The material is studied by different methods comprising nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI‐ToF) mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements elucidating the molecular structure and thermal properties of these novel polymers. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry (CV) reveals quasi‐reversible oxidation and reduction behavior and communication between the iron centers. Also, the crystal structure of a related cyclic hexamer is presented.

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Polymer materials with different surface-to-volume ratios require different mechanisms of flame retardants regarding condensed phase and gas phase activity. The flame retardant formulations in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are investigated regarding a condensed phase and gas phase activity by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TG-mass spectrometry (MS), TG-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UL94, cone calorimeter and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer measurements. The flame retardant formulations containing phosphates, phosphonates, and phosphinates as flame retardants are analyzed by using a simultaneous analysis consisting of a differential thermal analysis-TGA device which is in situ coupled to FTIR and MS. All analysis methods show a gas phase activity for the phosphonate (PCO 910), a condensed phase activity for the phosphate (3,9-bis(phenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-5,5-undecane-3,9-dioxide, (SPDPP) and a mixed condensed and gas phase activity for the new synthesized phosphate and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide containing flame retardant 3, 4,8,. The fire behavior of PCO 910 can be improved by adding O,O'-Terephthaloyl-bis-N,N'-naphthalimide ester as NOR radical-forming agent (NOR-RF) reaching a total amount of 3 wt % of both active agents for a UL94 V-0 classification in PET.