Mass spectrometry of aralkyl compounds with a functional group—IX: Hydrogen scrambling in the molecular ion of hydrocinnamaldehyde

The molecular ion of hydrocinnamaldehyde (C₆H₅CH₂CH₂CHO) chiefly loses fragments C₂H₂O and C₃H₄O. Mass spectra of specifically deuterated analogues show that in the loss of C₂H₂O an α-hydrogen atom (with respect to the aldehyde group) is transferred to the aromatic part. A shift of the aldehydic hydrogen to one of the ortho positions of the phenyl ring and loss of C₂H₂O by a McLafferty rearrangement is not observed. In the loss of C₃H₄O also an α-hydrogen atom migrates to the aromatic part. Both reactions appear to occur with an extensive randomization of all hydrogen atoms in the molecular ion.     

Mass spectrometry of aralkyl compounds with a functional group—VIII: Comparison of the breakdown of 3-phenylnitropropane with that of 3-phenylpropyl nitrite upon electron-impact

Mass spectra of 3-phenylnitropropane and of its analogues, specifically deuterated in the aliphatic chain and in the phenyl ring, show that the molecular ion loses a molecule of water in two different modes, viz. either with both α-hydrogen atoms or with a γ- and an ortho-hydrogen atom. Moreover, a molecule of nitric oxide is eliminated from the molecular ion and the resulting [M - NO]⁺-ion appears to decompose further in many complicated ways. This loss of nitric oxide does not arise from an isomerization of the nitro group to a nitrite group, because the [M - NO]⁺-ion of 3-phenylpropyl nitrite breaks down in an altogether different manner than that of 3-phenylnitropropane. This is demonstrated by the spectra of specifically deuterated analogues of 3-phenylpropyl nitrite.     

Mass spectrometry of aralkyl compounds with a functional group—VII. On the structure of the ions C8H9+ from C6H5C2H4X- and C9H11+ from C6H5C3H6X-compounds

The C₈H₉⁺-ion, formed from the molecular ions of 2-phenyl-1-bromoethane, 1-phenyl-1-bromoethane and of 1-phenyl-1-nitroethane by loss of the bromine atom and of the nitro group, splits off a molecule of acetylene after an almost complete randomization of hydrogens, as proved by deuteration. An eight-membered ring structure for the C₈H₉⁺-ion is proposed to explain these results. By loss of the nitro group from the molecular ions of 1-phenyl-1-nitropropane and of 1-phenyl-2-nitropropane the well-known phenylated cyclopropane ion3 (C₉H₁₁)⁺ is generated. Mass spectra of analogues, specifically deuterated in the side-chain, show that in this ion a randomization of hydrogen atoms in the cyclopropane ring as well as a hydride transfer from the cyclopropane ring to the phenyl cation occur.     

Specific and random processes in the fragmentation of cyclohexanol

The mass spectra of cyclohexanol and eleven deuterated analogues have been studied. Detailed mechanisms, consistent with peak intensity and defocused metastable abundance data, have been proposed for the loss of water from the molecular ion and for the subsequent loss of a methyl radical. The importance of specific eliminations and the absence of any processes involving complete hydrogen atom scrambling in these fragmentations has been demonstrated. Scrambling has also been shown to be absent in the formation of the base peak m/e 57, the [C₃H₅O]⁺ ion.     

Rearrangements in aryl substituted α, β-unsaturated nitriles. A collisional activation study

The rearrangement reactions following electron ionization in a number of aryl substituted conjugated nitriles have been studied using labelled compounds and collisional activation (CA) spectroscopy. The results indicate that α-phenyl cinnamonitriles and 9,10-dihydro-9-cyanophenanthrene rearrange to a common intermediate which loses CH₃˙ or CH₂CN˙ to give the ions at m/z 190 and 165. The CA spectrum of the deuterated analogue (compound 2) shows that there is a complete hydrogen scrambling prior to the loss of the CH₃˙ radical. The fluoroderivatives (compounds 5 and 6) behave similarly to the parent nitrile. The introduction of chlorine or bromine into the aromatic ring alters the fragmentation pattern and the only favoured decomposition pathway is the loss of a halogen radical. The CA spectra of the doubly charged ions at m/z 102 and 88 are also discussed. The CA spectrum of the M ⁺˙ ion 1,1-dicyano-2-phenyl ethylene is characterized by the presence of a rearrangement ion atm/z 103 (PhCN^{+ ˙}).     

Mass spectrometric behaviour of 1-imino-substituted pyrazolo[1,2-a]-[1,2,4]triazoles under electron and chemical ionization

The spectra of five pharmacologically interesting substituted pyrazolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazole hydroiodides were measured under electron and chemical ionization. In the electron ionization spectra, in addition to the intense molecular ion peak of the free base (M⁺*), there was also a relatively intense molecular ion peak of the hydroiodide form, which is unusual since the hydroiodides are rarely so stable. The phenylimino and phenylamino substituents of the triazole ring affected the fragmentation behaviour of the compounds very much. The chemical ionization reagent gases used in this work were methane, isobutane, deuterated ammonia and acetone. In all the cases practically only [M+H]⁺ ions were observed, the only exception being acetone which also gave rise to intense [M+C₂H₃O]⁺ and [M⁺C₃H₇O]⁺ adduct ions. None of the reagent gases used was able to cause any fragmentation.     

The structure of the [C2H5O]+ ion in the mass spectrum of diethyl ether

The structure of the [C₂H₅O]⁺ ion in the spectrum of diethyl ether was examined by use of deuterated ether, CH₃CD₂OCH₂CH₃. The results show that, at all electron energies from threshold to 70 eV, the predominant ion is a rearrangement ion, probably protonated acetaldehyde, with very little of the [C₂H₅O]⁺ being formed by direct carbon-oxygen bond cleavage. Appearance potential measurements made on the m/e 45, m/e 46 and m/e 47 ions in the deuterated ether show that the threshold structure of the rearrangement ion is protonated acetaldehyde.     

A mass spectral study of 1-(aryldimethylsilyl)-2-propanones and their isomeric 2-(aryldimethylsiloxy)-1-propenes

The mass spectra of a series of β-ketosilanes, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiCH₂C(O)Me and their isomeric silyl enol ethers, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiOC(CH₃)?CH₂, where Y = H, Me, MeO, Cl, F and CF₃, have been recorded. The fragmentation patterns for the β-ketosilanes are very similar to those of their silyl enol ether counterparts. The seven major primary fragment ions are [M? Me·]⁺, [M? C₆H₄Y·]⁺, [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙, [M? C₃H₄]⁺˙, [M? HC?CCF₃]⁺˙, [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙ and [C₃H₆O]⁺˙ Apparently, upon electron bombardment the β-ketosilanes must undergo rearrangement to an ion structure very similar to that of the ionized silyl enol ethers followed by unimolecular ion decompositions. Substitutions on the benzene ring show a significant effect on the formation of the ions [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙ and [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙, electron donating groups favoring the former and electron withdrawing groups favoring the latter. The mass spectral fragmentation pathways were identified by observing metastable peaks, metastable ion mass spectra and ion kinetic energy spectra.     

(M)‐ and (P)‐8‐[(1S,2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2‐phenylethyl]‐8‐methyl‐8,9‐dihydro‐7H‐dinaphth[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]azepinium bromide solvates

The title compounds are diastereoisomers with antipodean axial chirality. The M isomer crystallizes as a (1/3) acetone solvate, C₃₂H₃₀NO⁺·Br^?·3C₃H₆O, while the P isomer crystallizes as a (1/1) di­chloro­methane solvate, C₃₂H₃₀NO⁺·Br^?·CH₂Cl₂. In each structure, O—H?Br hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions to give ion pairs. The seven‐membered azepinium ring adopts the usual twisted‐boat conformation and its ring strain causes a slight curvature of the plane of each naphthyl ring.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H6O]+˙ ions: 1—The enolic ions [CH2C(OH)?CHCH2]+˙ and [CH2CH?CHCH(OH)]+˙ and their relationship with their keto counterparts

The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion of structure [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ (a) is generated by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 6,6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The heat of formation ΔH_f of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ was estimated to be 736 kJ mol^?1. The isomeric ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ (b) was shown to have ΔH_f, ? 761 kJ mol^?1, 54 kJ mol^?1 less than that of its keto analogue [CH₃COCH?CH₂]^+˙. Ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ may be generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized hex-1-en-3-one or by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized 2-cyclohexen-1-ol was shown to consist of a mixture of the above enol ions by comparing the metastable ion and collisional activation mass spectra of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ ions with that of the above daughter ion. It is further concluded that prior to their major fragmentations by loss of CH₃˙ and CO, [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]⁺˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ do not rearrange to their keto counterparts. The metastable ion and collisional activation characteristics of the isomeric allenic [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion [CH₂?C?CHCH₂OH]^+˙ are also reported.     

The mass spectral fragmentation of 2,2′-bis-trimethylsilylbenzhydrylethers. An indication for transannular hydrogen/deuterium rearrangements and transannular elimination reactions

The mass spectra of the methyl-, trideuteromethyl-, ethyl- and pentadeuteroethylethers of 2,2′-bis-trimethylsilylbenzhydrol are reported. The most significant ions arise from the [M – CH₃]⁺ ion, formed by loss of a methyl radical from one of the trimethylsilyl groups. After ring formation by interaction of the siliconium ion centre with an aromatic nucleus, the ion loses (CH₃)₃Si? OR (R = CH₃, C₂H₅, CD₃ and C₂D₅), giving ion m/e 223. The fragment (CH₃)₃Si? OCH₃ is also eliminated in the four ethers investigated from the ion [M – R]⁺. Attack of the siliconium ion. Indications are found for a transannular hydrogen/deuterium rearrangement and a transannular elimination reaction. The intensity of some peaks in the spectra are discussed in relation to group R.     

The ortho effect in the mass spectra of ortho/para isomers of bisphenol a derivatives and related compounds

New examples of the ortho effect in bisphenol A derivatives including interaction of the hydrogen of the ortho-hydroxy group with the neighbouring aromatic ring have been observed. The characteristic ions [M ? PhOH]^+middot; (m/z = 134) and [M ? CH₃ ? PhOH]⁺ (m/z = 119) were shown to form through the hydrogen transfer from hydroxy and isopropyl groups, respectively. The spectra of cyclic derivatives having ortho-hydroxy functions show [M ? 43]⁺, [M ? C₈H₉O]⁺, m/z = 147, m/z = 135 and [M ? C₉H₁₀O]⁺ ions. The proposed mechanims of the corresponding transformations were supported by mass spectra of deuterated analogues, methyl and trimethyl silyl ethers.     

The energy surface for isomeric [C2H3O]+ ions: Further experimental evidence

Mass spectra from collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) of [C₂H₃O]⁺ ions, including isotopically labeled analogs, provide further information on the isomers [CH₃C?O⁺] (a), [CH₂?C?O⁺H] (b), [⁺CH₂CH?O] (c) and (d). Our data generally support the recent conclusions from theory by Radom and coworkers and from experiment by Terlouw, Holmes and coworkers. Most acetyl-containing molecular ions form a ions in high purity only at low energies, consistent with isomerization of higher energy molecular ions to form the more stable enol which dissociates to b. Isomer d, prepared from (CICH₂)₂CHOH, undergoes facile hydrogen scrambling, presumably through a degenerate 1,2-hydrogen shift. Theory suggests that c undergoes spontaneous isomerization to a and d; although [C₂H₃O]⁺ ions from BrCH₂CHO appear to consist of a and ～15% d, the latter are formed without substantial hydrogen scrambling.     

Gas-phase fragmentation reactions of protonated glycerol and its oligomers: Metastable and collision-induced dissociation reactions,associated deuterium isotope effects and the structure of [C3H5O]+, [C2H5O]+, [C2H4O]+. and [C2H3O]+ ions

The chemistry of glycerol subjected to a high-energy particle beam was explored by studying the mass spectral fragmentation characteristics of gas-phase protonated glycerol and its oligomers by using tandem mass spectrometry. Both unimolecular metastable and collision-induced dissociation reactions were studied. Collision activation of protonated glycerol results in elimiation of H₂O and CH₃OH molecules. The resulting ions undergo further fragmentations. The origin of several fragment ions was established by obtaining their product and precursor ion spectra. Corresponding data for the deuterated analogs support those results. The structures of the fragment ions of compositions [C₃H₅O]⁺, [C₂H₅O]⁺, [C₂H₄O]^+. and [C₂H₃O]⁺ derived from protonated glycerol were also identified. Proton-bound glycerol oligomers fragment principally via loss of neutral glycerol molecules. Dissociation of mixed clusters of glycerol and deuterated glycerol displays normal secondary isotope effects.     

Interaction of the Benzenium Ion with Inert Ligands: IR Spectra of C6H7+?Ln Cluster Cations (L=Ar,N2, CH4, H2O)

IR photodissociation spectra of mass‐selected clusters composed of protonated benzene (C₆H₇⁺) and several ligands L are analyzed in the range of the C? H stretch fundamentals. The investigated systems include C₆H₇⁺? Ar, C₆H₇⁺? (N₂)_n (n=1–4), C₆H₇⁺? (CH₄)_n (n=1–4), and C₆H₇⁺? H₂O. The complexes are produced in a supersonic plasma expansion using chemical ionization. The IR spectra display absorptions near 2800 and 3100 cm^?1, which are attributed to the aliphatic and aromatic C? H stretch vibrations, respectively, of the benzenium ion, that is, the σ complex of C₆H₇⁺. The C₆H₇⁺? (CH₄)_n clusters show additional C? H stretch bands of the CH₄ ligands. Both the frequencies and the relative intensities of the C₆H₇⁺ absorptions are nearly independent of the choice and number of ligands, suggesting that the benzenium ion in the detected C₆H₇⁺? L_n clusters is only weakly perturbed by the microsolvation process. Analysis of photofragmentation branching ratios yield estimated ligand binding energies of the order of 800 and 950 cm^?1 (≈9.5 and 11.5 kJ mol^?1) for N₂ and CH₄, respectively. The interpretation of the experimental data is supported by ab initio calculations for C₆H₇⁺? Ar and C₆H₇⁺? N₂ at the MP 2/6‐311 G(2df,2pd) level. Both the calculations and the spectra are consistent with weak intermolecular π bonds of Ar and N₂ to the C₆H₇⁺ ring. The astrophysical implications of the deduced IR spectrum of C₆H₇⁺ are briefly discussed.     

Mass spectrometry of organic compounds X–Fragementation of 2-buten-1-o1 on electron-impact

The mass spectra of variously deuterated 2-buten-1-ols (both Z and E) have been examined. Evidence is presented for the formation of the [M – H₂O]⁺· ion via a 6-membered transition state, and for the occurrence of two distinct reaction pathways for formation of the major ions at m/e 57 and 43.     

Mass spectrometry of aryl substituted di- and trisiloxanes

The mass spectra of arylpentamethyldisiloxanes, sym-diaryltetramethyldisiloxanes and 1,5-diaryl-1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethyltrisiloxanes were examined. Isotopic labeling and peak matching were used to substantiate the proposed fragmentation mechanisms. Siliconium ions dominate the spectra. Loss of neutral fragments from the [M-15]⁺ ions is important. Phenylpentamethyldisiloxane, sym-tetramethyldiphenyldisiloxane and 1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethyl-1,5-diphenyltrisiloxane are representative examples of the three classes of compounds discussed. The [M-15]⁺ ion of phenylpentamethyldisiloxane loses methane, dimethylsilanone [(CH₃)₂Si?O] and phenylmethylsilanone [PhCH₃Si?O] to yield daughter siliconium ions. The [M-15]⁺ ion of sym-tetramethyldiphenyldisiloxane loses benzene, methane, dimethylsilanone and phenylmethylsilanone to yield daughter siliconium ions. The [M-15]⁺ ion of 1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethyl-1,5-diphenyltrisiloxane loses benzene, tetramethylcyclodisiloxane and phenyltrimethylcyclodisiloxane to yield daughter siliconium ions. Finally, doubly charged ions are important in the mass spectra of the three series of aryl substituted di- and trisiloxanes discussed.     

The expulsion of OH˙ from the [M ? C2H4]+˙ ion from ethyl benzoate: Ring-deuterated compounds

Mass spectra and ion kinetic energy (IKE) spectra of o-, m- and p-d₁ ethyl benzoates have given further information on the loss of OH˙ and OD˙ from the [M ? C₂H₄]⁺˙ ions. The ‘metastable peaks’ in the mass spectra give information on fragmentations in the field-free region following the electric sector; the IKE spectra give information on fragmentations in the field-free region preceding this sector. Transfer of hydrogen and deuterium from the ortho-positions on the ring to the carboxyl group can occur, but scrambling of ring hydrogens does not take place. A sample of o-d₁ benzoic acid was also examined and confirmed that similar transfer reactions occur in this compound too.     

Ring expansion and hydrogen scrambling in the molecular ion of 3-methylthiophene

The ratio [M ? D]/{[M-D] + [M ? H]} in the 70 eV mass spectra of six deuterated 3-methylthiophenes has been determined. From these values the mole fractions of the molecular ions that lose hydrogen atoms specifically from the various positions of the molecule were calculated, as well as the mole fraction in which the hydrogen atoms are fully scrambled before hydrogen elimination. It appears that hydrogen atoms are mainly lost from a fully scrambled [C₅H₆S]⁺· ion and from the α-position of the original molecular ion. A deuterium isotope effect of 1·60 to 1·72 was calculated for the hydrogen elimination. The reaction was also studied at low electron energies. In order to determine the degree of scrambling in the [C₅H₅S]⁺ ions, some decomposition reactions of this ion were investigated.     

Mass spectrometric decomposition processes of 2-methyl-1-hexene

Unimolecular decompositions of 2-methyl-1-hexene and several labelled analogues were studied following 70 eV electron impact (normal and metastable spectra) and field ionization (field ionization kinetic measurements). Molecules labelled with ¹³C in the 1-position and the methyl position were found to behave essentially identically. This is attributed to rapid transfer of a hydrogen atom mainly from C-5 to C-1 (γ-hydrogen shift). Loss of ethene, propene or propenyl do not involve loss of the methyl carbon or C-1. All three reactions are better than 90% specific in this respect under all conditions studied. At shorter times, C₃H₆ loss is the dominant reaction, while at longer times C₂H₆ loss accounts for >90% of the ion current. It is proposed that at least two distinct pathways for C₂H₄ loss operate in linear 1-alkenes, one of which (loss of carbons 1 and 2) is blocked by a 2-methyl substituent. The [C₆H₁₁]^+˙ and [C₅H₁₀]^+˙ ions formed from ¹³C labelled 2-methyl-1-hexenes fragment in an essentially statistical fashion.