Mass spectrometric investigation of benzyliderieaniline

The mass spectral fragmentation of benzylideneaniline has been studied by deuterium labelling. Under electron impact, molecular ions undergo simple fission at the phenyl–N, phenyl–C and C?N bonds, hydrogen migration reactions, and skeletal rearrangement fragmentations. Except in the skeletal rearrangement reactions, hydrogen scrambling does not feature in benzylideneaniline upon electron impact.