Site of protonation in the chemical ionization mass spectra of olefinic methyl esters

The H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra of the olefinic esters methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, methyl crotonate, methyl 3-butenoate, methyl 2-methyl-2-butenoate, methyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate and methyl cinnamate have been determined. In addition to the expected loss of CH₃OH from [MH]⁺, in many cases the protonated molecules also show loss of CO or CH₂CO with methoxy group migration to the positive ion centre, indicative of protonation at the double bond. These rearrangement reactions, which have analogies in electron impact mass spectra, result in chemical ionization mass spectra of isomeric molecules which show more substantial differences than the electron impact mass spectra. In the case of methyl cinnamate, isotopic labelling experiments show considerable interchange of the added proton with the ortho and meta phenyl hydrogens prior to CH₃OH or CH₂CO loss, although the extent of interchange is not the same for both cases.     

Determination of the site of protonation of substituted benzenes in water chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The site of protonation of a substituted benzene may be determined using chemical onization mass spectrometry with D₂O as a reagent gas. The observation of extensive exchange of the ring hydrogens for deuteriums is linked to protonation on the benzene ring. The lack of this exchange coupled with the formation of cluster ions (the association of the protonated species with one or more D₂O molecules) is evidence of protonation on the substituent rather than the ring. Aniline, benzaldehyde and nitrobenzene are observed to protonate at the substituent while toluene, bromobenzene, biphenyl and iodobenzene protonate on the ring. The dimethylbenzenes protonate on the ring while the diaminobenzenes protonate at one of the substituents. The dihydroxybenzenes, as well as a number of other compounds in which an oxygen is attached directly to the ring, protonate predominantly at the substituent although a small amount of exchange of one ring hydrogen is observed.     

Negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of explosives

The negative chemical ionization mass spectra of nitrobenzene, ethylene glycol dinitrate and nitroglycerine have been obtained using various reagent ions. For nitrobenzene, [OH]^? gives the [M ? H]^?, together with [M]^?˙ ions formed by electron capture, but other reagent ions gave relatively low intensity adduct peaks. Ethylene glycol dinitrate and nitroglycerine gave abundant [M + X]^? ions (X = NO₂, NO₃, Cl, Br, I), together with ions arising from the thermal decomposition of the samples in the heated inlet system. The rate of anion attachment to these compounds is much greater than that to related compounds having only one functional group, and it is suggested that this is due to the participation of the adjacent groups in the bonding between the substrate and anion.     

Hydrogen chemical ionization mass spectrometry of metalloporphyrins

The hydrogen chemical ionization (H₂ CI) mass spectra of a range of metal(II) (Ni, Cu, Co, Pt), metal (III) (Al, Mn, Ga, Fe (bearing a single axial ligand)) and metal(IV) (Si, Ge, Sn (bearing two axial ligands) and V (as V?O²⁺)) porphyrins have been determined, The spectra are highly dependent on the coordinated metal, rather than the axial ligand(s) (where present). Ni(II), Cu(II), Mn(II or III), Ga(III), Ge(IV), Fe(III) and Sn(IV) porphyrins fragment via hydrogenation and demetallation, followed by cleavage of the resulting porphyrinogens at the meso(bridge) positions to give mono- and di-pyrrolic fragments. Tripyrrolic fragments are also observed in the case of Ni(II), Cu(II) and Sn(IV). Fragmentations of this type are similar to those observed for free-base porphyrins. In the case of Pt(II), Co(II), Al(III), Si(IV) and V(IV) (as vanadyl), the dipyrrolic fragment ions are either very weak or completely absent; hence their H₂CI spectra contain limited structural information. This variable CI behaviour may be related to the relative stabilities of the metalloporphyrins together with the multiple stable valency states exhibited by several metals.     

The chemical ionization mass spectrometry of RDX

The fragmentation pathways of RDX in chemical ionization mass spectrometry have been rationalized, using data from different reagent gases, including CD₄ and iso-C₄D₁₀. The dependence of spectra taken with different gases on the acid strength of the reactant ions in the gases is accounted for.     

Methane chemical ionization mass spectrometry of flavonoids

The chemical ionization mass spectra of a representative selection of flavones, flavonols, flavanones, and flavanols have been examined, using methane as the reagent gas. The flavones and flavonols showed no significant fragmentation under the conditions employed, but the flavanones and flavanols showed characteristic fragmentation which could be of use in structural elucidation of these compounds.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of fluorinated phenols in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and ion mobility spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-mass spectrometry (MS) for fluorinated phenols (C6H5-xFxOH Where x = 0-5) in nitrogen with Cl- as the reagent ion yielded product ions of M Cl- through ion associations or (M-H)- through proton abstractions. Proton abstraction was controllable by potentials on the orifice and first lens, suggesting that some proton abstraction occurs through collision induced dissociation (CID) in the interface region. This was proven using CID of adduct ions (M Cl-) with Q2 studies where adduct ions were dissociated to Cl- or proton abstracted to (M-H)-. The extent of proton abstraction depended upon ion energy and structure in order of calculated acidities: pentafluorophenol > tetrafluorophenol > trifluorophenol > difluorophenol. Little or no proton abstraction occurred for fluorophenol, phenol, or benzyl alcohol analogs. Ion mobility spectrometry was used to determine if proton abstraction reactions passed through an adduct intermediate with thermalized ions and mobility spectra for all chemicals were obtained from 25 to 200 degrees C. Proton abstraction from M Cl- was not observed at any temperature for phenol, monofluorophenol, or difluorophenol. Mobility spectra for trifluorophenol revealed the kinetic transformations to (M-H)- either from M Cl- or from M2 Cl- directly. Proton abstraction was the predominant reaction for tetra- and penta-fluorophenols. Consequently, the evidence suggests that proton abstraction occurs from an adduct ion where the reaction barrier is reduced with increasing acidity of the O-H bond in C6H5-xFxOH.     

Sites of protonation in phenothiazines: Methane and ammonia chemical ionization mass spectra

Positive ion methane and ammonia chemical ionization mass spectra for ten phenothiazine derivatives are reported. The fragmentations observed in the chemical ionization mass spectra are rationalized in terms of the location of the added proton. High-resolution measurements are used to confirm empirical formulae of the ions in the mass spectra. Changes in the mass spectra with a change in the chemical ionization reagent gas from methane to ammonia are described. A comparison with positive ion secondary ion mass spectra of the same compounds show that the amount of fragmentation is higher in the secondary ion mass spectra, but the same types of ions are observed in spectra produced by both ionization methods.     

Pyrolysis chemical ionization mass spectrometry of cellulose ethers

Pyrolysis ammonia chemical ionization (PyCI) mass spectrometry was performed on hy-droxyethyl-, hydroxypropyl-,methyl-, hydroxypropylmethyl-, and ethylhydroxyethyl cel-luloses. The mass peaks in the PyCI mass spectra of these cellulose ethers could be assigned to the ions of pyrolytic dissociation products which form via the [2 + 2 + 2] cycloreversion and the E_i elimination pyrolysis pathway. Structural information about the residual amount of nonderivatized cellulose, the relative chain length distributions of the substituents in hydroxyalkyl celluloses, and the end-capping of hydroxyalkyl substituents by alkyl groups in the mixed cellulose ethers is obtained. Interference of secondary pyrolysis products in the PyCI mass spectra is found to be of minor importance, especially in the lower mass regions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pyrolysis/chemical ionization mass spectrometry of polymers

Pyrolysis/mass spectrometric studies have been made on polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), and poly(methyl methacrylate) with electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry and a variable temperature probe for direct insertion into the source of the mass spectrometer. Similar results obtained with EI and CI mass spectrometry are in agreement with previous experiments. Advantages of the simplification of spectra in the CI made, as well as the advantages of using both techniques for identification of pyrolysis products, are discussed.     

Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some flavonoids

Formation of ions in chemical ionization mass spectrometry of flavonoid compounds has been studied. Production of adduct ions and fragment ions as a function of ring substituents and of reagent gas has been observed. Pressure and repeller field dependence of ions has been found as a function of ring substituents.     

Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry: Aryl Ketones

The CI mass spectra of aryl ketones, πCOR, were studied and found to give primarily [M + 29]⁺, [M + 1]⁺, [M ? 1]⁺, [πCO]⁺ and [RCO]⁺ ions. The major change in the spectra with increasing length of the aliphatic side chain was an increase in the [M ? 1]⁺/[M + 1]⁺ ratio. Increasing sample size was reflected primarily in the formation of [2M + 1]⁺ ions and a decrease in [M + 1]⁺ ions. Small amounts of water in the reactant gas reduced the extent of fragmentation action.     

Low pressure chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry

This article presents the specificities of low pressure chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry. One main feature is the ability to perform chemical ionization with liquid reagents as readily as with "conventional" gases (methane, isobutane and ammonia). The reactivities and analytical applications of gas and liquid reagents are summarized from literature data and are compared when possible.     

Selective reagents in chemical ionization mass spectrometry: Tetramethylsilane

Mixtures of 50% tetramethylsilane (TMS) and methane have been found to give [M+73]⁺ adduct ions and structurally useful fragment ions for many oxygen- and nitrogen-containing organic compounds. All of the reagent ions in TMS react with polar compounds. The high-pressure TMS chemical ionization spectra of many simple oxygenated compounds are in agreement with predictions from ion chemistry of (CH₃)₃Si⁺ obtained by ion cyclotron resonance experiments at very low pressures, but differences are noted. Sensitivities for oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-containing compounds with TMS as the reagent gas appear to be approximately the same.     

Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry:Steroidal ketones

The CH₄ chemical ionization (CI) spectra of several keto-steroids are reported as well as the H₂ and C₃H₈CI spectra of a few keto-steroids. [M + H ? H₂O]⁺ is an abundant ion in the CH₄CI spectrum of 5α-androstane-17-one and the water loss from the [M + H]⁺ ions does not involve the hydrogens on C-18 and only involves the C-16 hydrogens to about 10%. The major loss process has not been determined.3-Keto and 17-Keto steroids are readily distinguished by their CH₄CI spectra. The effectiveness of substituents for directing attack by [CH₅]⁺ and [C₂H₅]⁺ can be estimated:carboxyl > methoxy ? carbonyl > bromo ? chloro > hydroxy. Significant differences are observed in the H₂CI spectra of two 5α-vs. 5β-steroids. Propane CI Spectra are similar to methane CI spectra, but show generally less fragmentation.     

Factors affecting reactivity in ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Several factors affecting reactivity in ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry (NH₃ CI) have been examined. These include the sample proton affinity, the preferred site of protonation and [NH₄]⁺ attachment, and substituent effects. In general, compounds having proton affinities ?787 kJ mol^?1 do not yield analytically useful intensities of the [M·NH₄]⁺ adduct ion. Substituted aromatic compounds in which the ring is the most basic site yield little (if any) [M·NH₄]⁺ ion even if the proton affinity of the compound is greater than 787 kJ mol^?1. On the other hand, some aromatic compounds in which the substituent is the most basic site yield relatively abundant adduct ions. The spectra of compounds possessing a good leaving group (X) exhibit only weak [M·NH₄]⁺ ions, but intense [M·NH₄ ? HX]⁺ and [M ? X]⁺ ions formed by substitution and elimination reactions. Electronic effects strongly influence these processes. Several examples are presented in which isomers are readily differentiated because of different reactivities under ammonia chemical ionization conditions.     

Effect of protonation exothermicity on the chemical ionization mass spectra of some alkylbenzenes

The H₂, N₂/H₂, CO₂/H₂, N₂O/H₂, CO/H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra of thirteen C₈ to C₁₁ alkylbenzenes are reported. Characteristic hydride and alkide ion abstraction reactions are observed with all reagent gases. The major fragmentation reactions of [MH]⁺ are olefin elimination to form a protonated arene and arene elimination to form an alkyl ion. From the effect of structure and protonation exothermicity it is concluded that rearrangement of primary alkyl groups to the more stable secondary or tertiary structure occurs prior to alkyl ion formation. A detailed fragmentation mechanism for protonated arenes is proposed. The ‘effective’ proton affinity of the methane-derived reagent system is estimated to be ～556 kJ mol^?1.     

Negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some isocyanates

Summary Negative ion mass spectra for 3 aliphatic and 4 aromatic isocyanates have been obtained by low pressure chemical ionization, using CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O as reagent gases. All compounds furnished intense anions at m/z 42. With CH₄, quasi-molecular anions were observed at m/z M+1 for aliphatic and m/z M+1 and M–1 for aromatic isocyanates. With N₂O, anionic substitution products at m/z M+15 and M+30 were observed, and with CO₂ and N₂O, peaks at m/z M–12 could be detected for all aromatic isocyanates. Studies with ¹³CO₂ and C¹⁸O₂ as reagent gases showed that the anions at m/z M–12 and M+15 correspond to [M–CO+O]^– and [M–H+O]^–, respectively.

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Negativionen-Massenspektrometrie mit chemischer Ionisierung von einigen Isocyanaten

Zusammenfassung Die Negativionen-Massenspektren von 3 aliphatischen und 4 aromatischen Isocyanaten wurden mittels chemischer Ionisation bei tiefem Quellendruck aufgenommen, und zwar mit den Reagensgasen CH₄, CO₄ und N₂O. Alle Verbindungen lieferten intensive Anionen mit m/z 42. Mit CH₄ erhielten wir die quasi-molekularen Anionen M+1 für aliphatische sowie M+1 und M–1 für aromatische Isocyanate. Das Reagens N₂O ergab die anionischen Substitutionsprodukte M+15 und M+30. Sowohl CO₂ als auch N₂O führten mit aromatischen Isocyanaten zur Bildung von M–12 Anionen. Versuche mit ¹³CO₂ und mit C¹⁸O₂ als Reagensgase zeigten, daß die Anionen M–12 und M+15 den Ionen [M–CO+O]^– und [M–H+O]^– entsprechen.