Recherches dans la série des cyclitols XXXVII Etude par spectrométrie de masse

Low resolution mass spectra of cyclohexane-triols, -tetrols, -pentols and -hexols and of some of their deuterium labelled derivatives have been measured. The results indicate that for some geometrical isomers quantitative differences between ion intensities are significant, allowing to deduce the stereochemistry of the molecule from its mass spectrum. In all these compounds the electron impact induced elimination of water occurs mainly by interaction between OH groups. There is a correlation between the relative abundance of (M – H₂O)⁺ and (M ?2 H₂O)⁺ ions and the number of axial hydroxyls in the more stable conformation of the molecule. Difficulties encountered in deducing fragmentation patterns, and determination of number and position of deuterium atoms in the molecule of ms-inositol are discussed.