Mass spectrometric studies on a β-ketosulfone

The fragmentation of the β-ketosulfone-γ-methylsulfonyl-γ-benzoylbutyronitrile under electron bombardment follows a number of different pathways: formation of the benzoyl ion (Major path); remova of acrylonitrile; liberation of the methylsulfonyl radical or of methylsulfonic acid; and finally elimination of a methylenecyano radical. The fragments observed can be explained by these five degradation paths. The reactions are compared with the photochemical cleavage of this β-ketosulfone in benzene solution.