Mass Spectral Fragmentation Patterns of 11-(o- and p-R-Anilino)-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepines. IV

The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of eleven 11-(o- and p-R-anilino)-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepines obtained by electron impact have been studied. All the spectra analyzed contain molecular ions, which are base peak for para isomers and the principal fragmentation routes takes place either from the molecular ion, or from (M⁺ - 1) ion. There are, however, some deviations from the general fragmentation pattern in the case of 1,4-dibenzodiazepines with o-amino and p-methoxy substituents caused by direct interaction of these groups with the dibenzodiazepine ring.     

Investigation of different alcoholic modifiers for the separation and determination of two isomers of dinitrotoluene (2,4 and 2,6) by ion mobility spectrometry

Some alcoholic modifier gases were applied to separate isomer peaks in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Different mechanisms have been investigated on the separation, such as collision cross-section and analyte-modifier cluster formation. In this regard, some parameters that affected the cluster formation, such as dipole moment, electron affinity, the position of functional groups, and the modifier structure, were evaluated. On the other hand, some effective experimental parameters, including cell temperature and the flow rates of the drift and modifier gases, were also optimized. The combination of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with thin-film evaporation (DLLME-TFE) was used as a sample preparation method for the extraction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) isomers (as the target analytes). Isobutanol was selected as the alcoholic modifier to separate the ion molecular peaks of these isomers. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification obtained were 15 and 50 μg L⁻¹, and the linear dynamic range (50–700 μg L⁻¹) with coefficient of determination of 0.9941 and 0.9914 were obtained for 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT, respectively. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were obtained between 3% and 5%. For validation of the method, determination of the isomers was accomplished for a red wastewater field sample, resulting in relative recovery values of about 96%.     

Mass spectra of new heterocycles: IX. Main fragmentaion laws of 7-methyl-2-(methylsulfanyl)-3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-4,5-dihydro-3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-azepine and its structural isomers (2,3-dihydropyridine,pyrrole, thiophene) under electron impact

Mass spectra were investigated for the first time of four structural isomers of heterocycles, formerly inavailable 7-methyl-2-(methylsulfanyl)-3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-4,5-dihydro-3H-azepine, 2,2-dimethyl-6-(methylsulfanyl)-5-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-2,3-dihydropyridine, 1-isopropyl-2-(methylsulfanyl)-3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)pyrrole, and N-isopropyl-N-methyl-3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-2-thiophenamine prepared from a single linear precursor, adduct of α-lithiated 1-(1-ethoxyethoxy)allene and isopropyl isothiocyanate. All compounds formed a molecular ion (I _rel 1–6%) whose primary fragmentation at the electron impact (70 eV) occurs in two principal directions related to the cleavage of the C-O bonds in the 1-ethoxyethoxy-substituent: with a simple rupture of the bonds C-OEt and C-O(heterocycle) and with the elimination of an ethoxyethene molecule. In the spectra of 4,5-dihydro-3H-azepine and 2,3-dihydropyridine the first fragmentation channel of [M]^+· dominates. The second direction prevailes at the fragmentation of pyrrole and thiophene molecular ions leading to an odd-electrons ion with m/z 171. Further fragmentation of this ion is characteristic of each isomer and resulted in the formation of diagnostic ions providing a possibility of identification of these isomers by mass spectrometry.     

Metastable ion and induced stable ion fragmentation of isomeric 5-methyl-3-tolyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

The electron ionization fragmentation patterns of 5-methyl-3-(o-, m- and p-tolyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles (1a—c) have been examined by metastable ion and high resolution mass spectrometry. The o-tolyl isomer loses CO and C₂H₂O from the metastable molecular ion whereas the m- and p-tolyl isomers lose only CH₃CN thus indicating a strong ortho effect in directing the fragmentation in 1a. Slight differences between o-, m- and p-tolyl isomers in the collisional activation fragmentation of stable [C₇H₆N]⁺ ions suggest that structural differences exist even after a series of extensive rearrangements of the molecular ions. Metastable ion kinetic energy (MIKE) and collisional activation (CA) spectra were very helpful in providing valuable information about many fragments.     

Electron impact ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry of phenylalkylpyridazines

The mass spectrometric fragmentation behaviour of pyridazine and four monosubstituted derivatives containing a pbenylalkyl side-chain (3- and 4-benizylpyridazine, 3- and 4-(2-pbenylethyl)pyridazine) was investigated. In the electron impact ionization mess spectra of the 3-substituted compounds abundant [M – H]⁺ peaks are observed. This allows a clear distinction between 3- and 4-substituted pyridazines, as the spectra of the latter isomers show only very weak [M – H]⁺ signals. The stability of [M – H]⁺ ions derived from 3-alkylpyridazines (deduced from only the very low abundance of further fragment ions) gives strong evidence for a cyclic structure of these ions. One fragmentation pathway typical of the parent pyridazine, the [M - N₂] fragmentation, was not detectable with any of the phenylalkylpyridazines investigated. Instead, loss of HCN, H₃CN⁺ and N²H⁺ was observed. An interesting fragmentation, observed with 3-(2-phenylethyl)pyridazine, is the loss of ⁺CH₃ from the molecular ion and also from the [M – H]⁺ ion.     

Unidirectional triple and double hydrogen rearrangement reactions in the radical cations of γ-arylalkanols

A novel fragmentation reaction accompanied by the unidirectional migration of three hydrogen atoms has been found in the radical cations of γ-arylpropanols with electron-donating substituents in the para position. This triple hydrogen (3H) rearrangement reaction is the dominant fragmentation channel of the long-lived molecular ions of trans-2-(4′-dimethylaminobenzyl)-l-indanol, 2, but it occurs also in simpler γ-arylpropanol ions. Deuterium labelling of 2 reveals that the three hydrogen atoms originate with extraordinarily high specificity from the C(l), C(2) and O positions of the alcohol moiety. Cis- and 3′-substituted isomers do not undergo this reaction. Along with the 3H rearrangement reaction a unidirectional double hydrogen (2H) rearrangement reaction takes place independently and with less specificity in the trans-2-(4′-X-benzyl)-l-indanol ions 1⁺˙ and 2⁺˙. No hydrogen exchange occurs during the 3H and 2H rearrangement reactions. Mechanistic alternatives of these unusual fragmentation reactions are discussed; the experimental evidence strongly favours pathways via several intermediate ion–neutral complexes.     

Molecular Recognition of Aromatic Nitro Compounds at Cyclodextrin Dithiocarbamate-modified Electrodes

Silver electrodes were modified by the adsorption of α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrin dithiocarbamates (2α–γ) and characterized by reductive desorption experiments. Their molecular recognition properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry using three families of positional isomers of aromatic nitro compounds. Electrodes modified with 2α and 2β were selective for meta and para isomers while 2γ showed little selectivity. These observations are explained in terms of cavity sizes and guest structure. Computational studies suggest that the main reason for the observed selectivity is the different position of the NO² group in ortho and para isomers with respect to the CD cavity.     

Mass spectral fragmentation pathways in reduction metabolites of 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. A tandem mass spectrometric collision induced dissociation study

A collision induced dissociation study of a series of reduction metabolites of 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene was carried out using a tandem BB mass spectrometer. Fragmentation pathways of the metabolites were determined in the electron impact mode. It was found that the dominant fragmentation pathway is loss of OH^˙ due to an ortho effect. Other fragmentation routes include loss of NO₂˙ and loss of CH₂N˙.     

Mass spectra of halogenated esters 5—Chloromethyl esters of aliphatic C2?C12 n-carboxylic acids and their monochlorinated derivatives

A study has been made of the mass spectral fragmentation upon electron impact of aliphatic C₂? C₁₂ chloromethyl esters and all their 66 monochlorinated derivatives. The fragmentation pathways of the parent chloromethyl esters were elucidated with the aid of the 1st FFR metastable ions. A McLafferty rearrangement gives the base peak in the C₆? C₁₁ parent esters and in almost all the 4-chloro and ω-chloro isomers. The subsequent loss of HCl gives a very characteristic peak of the chloromethyl esters and their (3-ω)-chloro derivatives at m/z 72, [C₃H₄O₂]⁺. The 2-chloro isomers have the corresponding chlorine-containing fragment ion at m/z 106/108. The mass spectra of 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and ω-chloro isomers give the characteristic fragment ions, the mass spectra of the other isomers being very similar.     

The mass spectrometry of DT-and monosubstituted biphenyls: Dependence of fragmentation patterns on position of substitution

This paper describes the mass spectroscopy of a series of biphenyl derivatives substituted in the 2,2′, 4,4′ and 2 positions. The substitutent functional groups are carbomethoxy, carbothoxy, carboxylic acid and hydroxymethyl. In addition, some results are reported on the spectroscopy of the d₅-carboethoxy derivatives, the 2- and 2,2′-αd₂- hydroxymethyl derivatives and fluorene-4-methanol. The molecular ions of the 4,4′-disubstituted biphenyl derivatives are far more stable than those of the 2,2′ isomers. It is also observed that the fragmentation patterns of these two sets of isomers are sharply different. Paradoxically, the 2-substituted biphenyl derivatives give relatively stable molecular ions and their fragmentation patterns are frequently different from those of the corresponding 2,2′-disubstituted biphenyls. The bulk of the evidence presented in this paper suggests that the usual sort of ‘ortho effect’ is not a significant factor in the fragmentation mechanisms proposed for the 2,2′-disubstituted biphenyl derivatives.     

Stereoelectronic control of the retro diels–alder reaction in 8-(N-pyrrolidyl)bicyclo[4.3.0]nona-3,7-diene isomers

The cis- and trans-annulated isomers of 8-(N-pyrrolidyl)bicyclo[4.3.0]nona-3,7-diene show different propensities for the retro Diels–Alder fragmentation following electron impact ionization. Molecular ions of the cis-annulated isomer decompose predominantly via the retro Diels–Alder reaction to give [C₉H₁₃N] ⁺· fragments of the appearance energy (AE)=8.45±0.05eV and critical energy E_c=133±8kJ mol^?1. The trans-annulated isomer gives abundant [M–H]⁺ (AE=9.34±0.08eV) and [M–C₆H₆]⁺· fragments, in addition to [C₉H₁₃N]⁺· ions of AE=8.98±0.05eV and E_c=181±8kJ mol^?1. The ionization energies (IE) were determined as IE_cis=7.07±0.05 eV and IE_trans=7.10±0.06eV. The stereochemical information is much less pronounced in unimolecular decompositions of long-lived (metastable) molecular ions which show very similar fragmentation patterns for both geometrical isomers. Nevertheless, the isomers exhibit different kinetic energy release values in the retro Diels–Alder fragmentation; T_0.5=3.8±0.3 and 4.8±0.2 kJ mol^?1 for the cis and trans isomer respectively. Topological molecular orbital calculations indicate that the retro Diels–Alder reaction prefers a two-step path, with a subsequent cleavage of the C(5)? C(6) and C(1)? C(2) bonds. The open-ring distonic intermediate represents the absolute minimum on the reaction energy hypersurface. The cleavage of the C(1)? C(2) bond is the rate-determining step in the decomposition of the cis isomer, with the critical energy calculated as 137 kJ mol^?1. The cleavage of the C(5)? C(6) bond becomes the rate-determining step in the trans-annulated isomer because of stereoelectronic control. The difference in the energy barriers to this cleavage in the isomers (ΔE=95k Jmol^?1) provides a quantitative estimate of the magnitude of the stereoelectronic effect in cation radicals.     

Electron impact studies. CV—negative ion mass spectra of functional groups. The trimethylsilyl group. Singly charghed and doubly charged ions

The 70 eV negative ion spectra of m- and p-nitrophenyltrimethylsilyl-ethers and -esters show pronounced molecular anions and simple fragmentation patterns. The spectra of the corresponding ortho isomers show peaks produced by rearrangement processes; these reactions have been studied by ²H and ¹⁸O labelling. p-Nitrobenzoyl derivatives of amino trimethylsilyl esters are of limited use for characterization of amino acids. Certain of the compounds studied produce a variety of dianions.     

Effect of distal positional isomerism on peptide fragmentation. A comparison of dimethylaminobenzylidene and benzoyl derivatives

The electron-impact-induced fragmentation patterns of the positional isomers of N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and their Schiff base derivatives of valylisoleucylalanine and leucyltryptophylleucine ethyl esters were determined. The electron-impact-induced fragmentation patterns of the positional isomers of N-hydroxysuccinimido N′,N′-dimethylaminobenzoate and of the corresponding N,N-dimethylaminobenzoyl ethyl esters of the above peptides were compared. Significant differences among the isomers were noted between the Schiff base set and the substituted benzoyl set. The N-blocking groups m- and p-dimethylaminobenzylidene and m-dimethylaminobenzoyl gave the most useful sets of sequence peaks of relatively uniform intensity with intense molecular ions. Positional isomerism was found to influence cleavage of both proximal and distal bonds.     

Electrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Part III. Acid-Catalyzed Isomerization of N,N′-Bis[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]spermidines by the Zip Reaction

The electrospray tandem mass spectra (ESI-MS/MS) of the three N,N′-bis[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]spermidines 1–3 displayed the same fragment-ion signals. These isomers could not be differentiated by ESI-MS/MS, since their fragmentation patterns are similar. (E,E)-N-(3-[¹⁵N]Aminopropyl)-3,3′-bis(4- hydroxyphenyl)-N,N′-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis[prop-2-enamide] ([¹⁵N(1)])-( 1 ) was synthesized in order to get further information about the fragmentation mechanisms. The comparison of the ESI-MS/MS of 1 and [¹⁵N(1)]- 1 revealed a transamidation, the Zip reaction, under mass-spectral conditions of the [ 1 + H]⁺ ions. Because of this reaction, the three isomers 1–3 could not be distinguished.     

Mass spectra of chlorinated aromatics formed in pulp bleaching 2—Chlorinated guaiacols

The fragmentation of chlorinated guaiacols (2-methoxyphenols) on electron impact has been studied. The most common fragmentation processes are interpreted and in some cases the small differences between spectra of positional isomers are explained. In addition to the well-known alkyl-oxygen fission (loss of methyl radical), metastable ion studies and deuterium labelling have indicated several new fragmentation pathways. The most characteristic are the formation of [M? CH₃? HCl]⁺ and [M? CH₃? Cl]^+· ions. In general, however, the spectra of positional isomers are shown to be very similar.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CXCIX Contrasting fragmentations of singly- and doubly-charged o-, m- and p-hydroxyalkylphenones and their trimethylsilyl ethers

High resolution mass spectrometry, metastable defocusing and deuterium labeling of trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers have been used to study the electron-impact induced fragmentations of o-, m- and p-hydroxyalkylphenones and their TMS ether derivatives. These derivatives have proven useful in contrasting the fragmentation patterns of singly- and doubly-charged ions because of the competing fragmentations: α-cleavage and a McLafferty rearrangement from the ketone moiety and methyl cleavage from the TMS group. A proximity effect was responsible for a markedly increased methyl radical loss from the o-TMS ether. This fragmentation was minor with the m- and p-isomers. Significantly intense doubly-charged ions were formed from ketonic cleavage and by the loss of a TMS methyl radical. The sequence of fragmentation depended on the size of the alkyl group attached to the ketone carbonyl. There was no evidence found for a McLafferty rearrangement occurring from the doubly-charged molecular ion of the TMS ethers of the hydroxyalkylphenones but the rearrangement occurred from the doubly-charge molecular ion of bis-3-(1-oxopentyl)-4-hydroxy-phenyl-methane and, of course, from the singly charged [M]^+. The bis-p-hydroxyphenylmethane derivatives were studied in an effort to increase the intensity of the doubly-charged ions as it was expected that the charges would be separated by a longer distance.     

The mass spectra of alkyl- and phenyl-4-imidazolin-2-ones

The mass spectra of a variety of alkyl- and aryl-4-imidazolin-2-ones have been determined and the fragmentation mechanisms have been analyzed by deuterium labelling, high resolution and metastable transitions allowing certain differentiations of positional isomers. In contrast to the benzoid systems the mass spectra of isomeric alkyl-4-imidazolin-2-ones are distinctive. The influence of the position of substituents is demonstrated by phenyl-4-imidazolin-2-ones establishing an exact prediction of fragmentation pathways. Fragment ions (e.g. [M-HNCO].⁺) which are the result of rearrangement processes were excluded for structure determinations. The ion structures involved were elucidated by collisional activation comparing model ions. Alkyl-phenyl-4-imidazolin-2-ones give almost identical mass spectra, but the positional isomers can easily be distinguished by different fragmentation patterns in both metastable and collisional activation spectra of the molecular ions.     

α-Distonic ions as transient species in the reactions of metastable alkyl benzoate radical cations

The key intermediates to the fragmentation of metastable methyl and ethyl benzoate radical cations are α- and β-distonic isomers of the molecular ions. The α-distocic isomers are also formed by fragmentation of longer chain alkyl benzoates, but may not be long-lived, stable species. Rearrangement of the α-distonic ions prior to fragmentation can take place, but (re)formation of the benzoate molecular ions does not occur.     

The electron-impact-induced fragmentation of acridine

Studies of both high and low resolution spectra, and of metastable decompositions occurring in both the first and second field-free regions of the mass spectrometer have led to a postulated scheme for the fragmentation of acridine under electron-impact. There is no specific loss of label from either [9-²H₁]acridine or [4,5-²H₂]acridine in any fragmentation, nor is there any total scrambling of label in either molecular ion prior to loss of HCN. There is certainly some degree of scrambling preceding HCN loss from [M]⁺˙ at 70 eV, but this does not involve the 9-H to any detectable extent. There is no strong evidence for the acridine molecular ion having the same structure as that of four other C₁₃H₉N isomers.     

Mass spectra of halogenated esters: 8. Methyl esters of 2,3-dichloro-, bromochloro- and dibromopropenoic acids

The mass spectral fragmentation of methyl esters of E and Z isomers of 2,3-dichloro-, 2-bromo-3-chloro-, 3-bromo-2-chIoro- and 2,3-dibromopropenoic acids have been investigated. The M^+˙ peak is shown with all isomers, the [M ? OCH₃]⁺, [M ? X]⁺, [M ? OCH₃ ? CO]⁺, [M ? OCH₃ ? CO ? X]^+˙ and [M ? OCH₃ ? CO ? X ? X]⁺ ions constituting abundant peaks in all spectra. The results, particularly from the bromochloro isomers, show that a halogen atom is eliminated from the 3- rather than the 2- position and from the Z rather than the E isomer. Bromine as a bulky atom is preferentially lost.