Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of chemical reactions of dissolution of selenium in strongly basic amines.

When elemental selenium was added to a strongly basic amine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), the selenium started to dissolve and the solution turned dark brown. We investigated the chemical reaction of this selenium dissolution process by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The study reveals for the first time that cleavage of Se-Se bonds by the amine initiates the reaction to form molecular Se2, which then abstracts hydrogen from the amine molecule. ESI-MS with the use of a nanospray technique was shown to be a useful tool for studying the dissolution of elements in strongly basic or acidic solvents.