Effects of annulation on the mass spectral behaviour of bicyclo[4.3.0]-3-nonene derivatives: Alkoxy esters

Fragmentation of ethyl(18-alkoxybicyclo[4.3.0]-3-nonene-7-carboxylates) was found to depend on the annulation of the rings. Following ionization, the cis-annulated isomers lose alcohol and benzene, while the trans-isomers fragment by other reaction paths. The regiospecificity of alcohol elimination from both the ester and the ether groups was determined by using deuterium-labelled analogues. A mechanism is discussed which rationalizes the differences observed in the spectra of the annulation isomers.