Generation of alkoxide anions from a series of aliphatic diols and alcohols and their ion-molecule reactions with carbon dioxide in the gas phase

Alkoxide anions, M-H](-) from a series of aliphatic diols and alcohols are generated in the source under negative ion electrospray ionisation conditions by cone-voltage fragmentation of the corresponding M + F](-) ions. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of M-H](-) ions consist of M-H-2H](-) ions, in addition to the other characteristic fragment ions, and the relative abundance of M-H-2H(-) ions among the series of diols varies as a function of chain length that could be explained based on their stabilities through intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The reactivity of alkoxide anions is studied through ion-molecule reactions with CO(2) in the collision cell of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. All the alkoxide anions reacted with CO(2) and formed corresponding carbonate anions, M-H + CO(2)](-) ions. The reactivity of alkoxide anions within the series of diols also reflected the stability of their M-H](-) ions.