The mass spectra of some α-lactams

The electron-impact induced fragmentation of eight aziridinones has been studied by conventional as well as by high resolution mass spectrometry. All α-lactams exhibit a molecular ion. The major primary step, in the fragmentation, is the ejection of carbon monoxide from the molecular ion. Ions of the general formula R₁? NC and R₂R₃C?O were found in the mass spectra of all α-lactams investigated. A skeletal rearrangement to rationalize these ions is proposed. The fragmentation of the molecular ion is affected by the N-substituent. Exact mass measurement and specific deuterium labeling indicate the absence of McLafferty rearrangement from either the N- or C-substituent.     

Site of protonation and bifunctional group interactions in α,ω-hydroxyalkylamines

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry and mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry in conjunction with collision induced dissociation are used to study the fragmentation behavior of a series of α,ω-hydroxyalkylamines. The difference between the ionic population present at equilibrium in the source, and that which is sampled under nonequilibrium conditions, is revealed in the striking differences observed in product distributions in the chemical ionization mass spectra and the mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectra. The major fragmentations in the mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectra, loss of NH₃ and H₂O, show large variations in intensity as a function of the chain length between the hydroxy and amino functionalities. These results are rationalized through analysis of the relevant thermochemical data.     

Metastable ion study of organosilicon compounds. Part III—trimethoxyphenylsilane

The unimolecular decomposition of trimethoxyphenylsilane (1) was investigated by mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectrometry, deuterium-labelling studies and from high resolution data. The characteristic fragmentations of metastable molecular ion of 1 were losses of C₆H₆ and C₇H₇^· with rearrangements. Almost complete H/D scrambling occurred in the molecular ion prior to these decompositions. The other important fragmentation routes corresponded to expulsions of CH₃O^· and C₆H₅^·. These fragmentations were followed by consecutive elimination of an H₂CO molecule, as commonly observed in the mass spectra of alkoxysilanes. In these fragmentation processes, H/D scrambling increased as the internal energy of the molecular ion was lowered. The fragmentations of 1 were compared with those of its carbon analogue, α,α,α-trimethoxytoluene.     

Destabilized carbenium ions: α-carbomethoxy-α,α-dimethyl-methyl cations

Tertiary α-carbomethoxy-α,α-dimethyl-methyl cations a have been generated by electron impact induced fragmentation from the appropriately α-substituted methyl isobutyrates 1–4. The destabilized carbenium ions a can be distinguished from their more stable isomers protonated methyl methacrylate c and protonated methyl crotonate d by MIKE and CA spectra. The loss of I^— and Br˙ from the molecular ions of 1 and 2, respectively, predominantly gives rise to the destabilized ions a, whereas loss of Cl˙ from [3]^{+ ˙} results in a mixture of ions a and c. The loss of CH₃˙ from [4]⁺˙ favours skeletal rearrangement leading to ions d. The characteristic reactions of the destabilized ions a are the loss of CO and elimination of methanol. The loss of CO is associated by a very large KER and non-statistical kinetic energy release (T₅₀ = 920 meV). Specific deuterium labelling experiments indicate that the α-carbomethoxy-α,α-dimethyl-methyl cations a rearrange via a 1,4-H shift into the carbonyl protonated methyl methacrylate c and eventually into the alkyl-O protonated methyl methacrylate before the loss of methanol. The hydrogen rearrangements exhibit a deuterium isotope effect indicating substantial energy barriers between the [C₅H₉O₂]⁺ isomers. Thus the destabilized carbenium ion a exists as a kinetically stable species within a potential energy well.     

Cyclocondensation reaction of 4-aryl-4-methoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-buten-2-ones with urea: Synthesis of novel 6-aryl(5-methyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinones

The synthesis of a novel series of eleven 6-aryl(5-methyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinones, where aryl=Ph, 4-CH₃Ph, 4-FPh, 4-ClPh, 4-BrPh, 4-OCH₃Ph and alkyl=H, CH₃, from the reaction of 4-aryl-4-methoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-buten-2-ones with urea in the presence of hydrochloric acid, is reported. Trifluoroacetylation of acetophenone- and propiophenone-dimethylacetals derived from phenones, was employed to obtain the precursors.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of 4-alkyl derivatives of 2,6,7-trioxa-1-phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and the corresponding 1-oxides, 1-sulfides and 1-selenides

The electron impact fragmentations of several derivatives of 2,6,7-trioxa-1-phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane have been examined by means of high resolution and metastable ion analysis. The principal fragmentation route for bicyclophosphites, phosphates and phosphorothionates involves a loss of formaldehyde, followed by a loss of the PO₂X and HPO₂X groups (X = -, O, S). The behaviour of phosphoroselenates is quite different, due partly to the favoured loss of selenium from the molecular ion before further fragmentation. Fragmentation through C? O bond breaking and a rearranged molecular ion is dependent on the exocyclic chalcogen atom (-, O, S, Se) on phosphorus. The reactions have been rationalized in terms of 1- and 4-substitutions.     

The mass spectrometric [M ? C2H4O]+ process in cyclic ketones. I—the nature of the C2H4O losss in bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one and 3-one

Although the loss of a C₂H₄O molecule from the molecular ions of the isomeric bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2- and 3-ones gives rise to the base peak at m/e 94 in both spectra, deuterium labelling results show that the processes leading to this ion are markedly different in the two cases. While the 2-one follows essentially (>80%) the same [M ? C₂H₄O]+ fragmentation pathway described for other 2-alkylcyclohexanones, the 3-one exhibits a more complex decomposition pathway in which one α-hydrogen is transferred away from the departing C₂ unit and three hydrogen atoms are subsequently rearranged to the eliminated C₂H₄O molecule. Similar competing fragmentation schemes have been invoked to explain deuterium labelling results in cycloheptanone, 2-methylcycloheptanone and cyclooctanone.     

Mass spectra of some 1-substituted-4-acetoacetyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-ols

The fragmentation of 1-phenyl-, l-(2′-pyridyl)- and 1-(4′-methyl-2′-quinolyl)-4-acetoacetyI-3-methyIpyrazol-5-ols (compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively) on electron impact has been studied and the major processes interpreted. The common feature in the mass spectra of these compounds is the loss of ketene, acetonyl radical, acetone and two molecules of ketene from the molecular ion. Whereas the ion generated after the last process, which corresponds to 1-substituted-3-methyIpyrazol-5-ols, loses methyl cyanide in the case of 1, similar ions in the case of 2 and 3 lose ?₂HO moiety, necessitating an intramolecular hydrogen transfer followed by ring fission and subsequent loss of methyl cyanide. All these and other related processes have been substantiated with the help of accurate mass measurements of the fragment ions and B/E linked-scan spectra.     

Gas phase reactions of protonated 1,3-diphenylpropyne and some isomeric [C15H13]+ ions

Metastable (3-phenyl-2-propynyl)benzenium ions, generated by electron impact induced fragmentation from the appropriately substituted 1,4-dihydrobenzoic acid, react by loss of ˙CH₃ and C₆H₆. The study of deuterated derivatives reveals that hydrogen/deuterium exchanges involving all hydrogen and deuterium atoms precede the fragmentations. The results suggest a skeletal rearrangement by electrophilic ring-closure reactions giving rise to protonated phenylindene and protonated 9,10-methano-9,10-dihydroanthracene prior to the elimination of C₆H₆ and ˙CH₃, respectively. A study of isomeric [C₁₅H₁₃]⁺ ions by collision-induced decomposition and by deuterium labelling shows that these ions interconvert by hydrogen migrations and skeletal rearrangements.     

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.     

Variation of fragmentation with ring size in cyclic α-amino acids

High resolution mass measurements, defocused metastable ion detection and deuterium labeling experiments have been employed in an investigation of the electron-impact induced decomposition of a series of carbocyclic amino acids, which varied in ring size from three to eight carbon atoms. About 50 per cent of the total ion current is carried by [M ? COOH]⁺ ions in the spectra obtained from compounds with five to eight carbon atoms in the ring. This is analogous to the fragmentation of the open chain naturally occurring amino acids. The behavior of the compounds with the two smallest rings is anomalous, reflecting to a larger extent the influence of the ring itself. Special attention has been given the loss of H₂O and NH₄ from ionized species of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid.     

Lipase-Mediated Resolutions of 1-Aryl-3-Buten-1-ols

Racemic mixtures of 1-aryl-3-buten-1-ols were separated with high enantioselectivity by a lipase-mediated acetylation with vinyl acetate. The effects of the nature, position, and spatial requirements of the phenyl-ring substituents on the separation efficacy were investigated.     

Mass spectrometry of γ-Complexes of transition metals : XXII. Fragmentations of ferrocenyl-substituted pyrazolines-2 under electron impact

The mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl- and 1-N-phenyl-3-ferrocenyl-5-arylpyrazolines-2, their 5-ferrocenyl-3-aryl isomers and their 3,5-diferrocenyl analogues have been studied. The “pyrazoline” type of the molecular ion fragmentation involves various processes of heterocyclic nucleus destruction and elimination of the substituents or their fragments. The directions and intensifies of the processes observed are interpreted in terms of preferred positive charge localization on the transition metal atom. Interactions between the acetyl and ferrocenyl groups manifest themselves by the appearance of intense [P  C₅H₅]⁺ ions (ferrocenyl type fragmentation products) in the mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl-3-aryl-5-ferrocenylpyrazolines-2 only. The fragmentation mechanism leading from [P  C₅H₅]⁺ to C₇H₇OFe⁺ is discussed.     

Mechanism of CO loss for protonated 1-indanone and isomeric [C9H9O]+ ions

In order to establish the mechanism of CO loss occurring during metastable decomposition of protonated 1-indanone, fragmentations of monocyclic [C₉H₉O]⁺ isomers have been studied. These ions of known structure were prepared by CI protonation and fragmentation of the corresponding acids chlorides. It is demonstrated that the wide component of the [MH? CO]⁺ metastable peak induced by protonated 1-indanone fragmentation is the result of fragmentation of the [C₆H₅CH₂CH₂CO]⁺ isomer ion.     

Identification of isobaric product ions in electrospray ionization mass spectra of fentanyl using multistage mass spectrometry and deuterium labeling

Isobaric product ions cannot be differentiated by exact mass determinations, although in some cases deuterium labeling can provide useful structural information for identifying isobaric ions. Proposed fragmentation pathways of fentanyl were investigated by electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry coupled with deuterium labeling experiments and spectra of regiospecific deuterium labeled analogs. The major product ion of fentanyl under tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) conditions (m/z 188) was accounted for by a neutral loss of N‐phenylpropanamide. 1‐(2‐Phenylethyl)‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (1) was proposed as the structure of the product ion. However, further fragmentation (MS³) of the fentanyl m/z 188 ion gave product ions that were different from the product ion in the MS/MS fragmentation of synthesized 1, suggesting that the m/z 188 product ion from fentanyl includes an isobaric structure different from the structure of 1. MS/MS fragmentation of fentanyl in deuterium oxide moved one of the isobars to 1 Da higher mass, and left the other isobar unchanged in mass. Multistage mass spectral data from deuterium‐labeled proposed isobaric structures provided support for two fragmentation pathways. The results illustrate the utility of multistage mass spectrometry and deuterium labeling in structural assignment of isobaric product ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectra of some 1-(6′-substituted-4′-methyl-2′-quinolyl)-3-methylpyrazol-5-ols and their 4-substituted analogues

Electron impact induced fragmentation of some 1-(6′-substituted-4′-metbyI-2′-quinolyI)-3-methylpyrazoI-5-ols follows a route where the pyrazole moiety is preferentially cleaved with successive losses of two moieties of 41 u. High-resolution measurements have established that the first loss is due to the ?₂HO moiety, which necessitates an intramolecular hydrogen transfer followed by ring fission. The resultant ion loses CH₃CN in a subsequent step. The origin of many fragment ions was traced with the use of B/E linked-scan spectra.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems–CLXXXIX: Electron-impact induced fragmentations and rearrangements of alkoxycyclohexanol trimethylsilyl ethers and alkoxycyclohexyl trimethylsilanes

In view of the current interest in the electron-impact induced rearrangements of both trimethylsilyl derivatives and bifunctionalized cyclohexanes, the mass spectral properties of several alkoxycyclohexanol trimethylsilyl ethers and alkoxycyclohexyl trimethylsilanes have been investigated. Using deuterium labeling, the basic fragmentation modes incurred upon electron-impact of ethanol trimethylsilyl ether were elucidated. The major peaks in the spectrum of this simple ether occur also in those of the title compounds, the latter fragments having been formed by interaction of the two functional groups. Thus the initial rearrangement ion of mass 103 (e) from electron bombardment of 4-ethoxycyclohexanol trimethylsilyl ether and 2-ethoxycyclohexyl trimethylsilane corresponds to the [M ? CH₃] ion from ethanol trimethylsilyl ether. Its further fragmentation has been studied using high resolution and metastable ion measurements, and the scope of the interaction between the alkoxy and trimethylsilyl groups, when silicon is attached both to oxygen and to carbon, has been determined. In addition, the origin of every ‘characteristic’ fragment ion has been elucidated on the basis of each corresponding peak in the spectra of several derivatives labeled specifically with deuterium. Peaks derived from initial ionization of both functionalities in each compound have been observed, although the majority of ions in the spectra of both series seem to be directed by fragmentations associated with the trimethylsilyl ether moiety.     

High-resolution mass spectra of two α,β-unssaturated γ-dilactones

The fragmentations of two α,β-unsaturated γ-dilactones in a mass spectrometer are studied. The main feature is conecutive carbon monoxide expulsions. Strong indication of ejection of a fragment C₂O₂ is presented, however. Masses were determined by the high resolution rechnique and metastable transitions were detected by defocusing. Corresponding deuterated dilactones were also studied to verify the fragmentation mechanism.     

Haloacetylated enol ethers. 13. Synthesis of N-[1-aryl(alkyl)-3-oxo-4,4,4-trichloro-1-buten-1-yl]-o-phenylenediamines and 2-trichloromethyl-4-aryl-3H-1,5-benzodiazepines

The synthesis and isolation of the intermediates N-[1-aryl(alkyl)-3-oxo-4,4,4-trichloro-1-buten-1-yl]-o-phenylenediamines 2a-f and the corresponding 2-trichloromethyl-4-aryl-3H-1,5-benzodiazepines 3c-g or benzimidazoles 4a-b derivatives obtained from the intramolecular cyclization of 2a-f or from direct cyclo-condensation reaction of β-alkoxyvinyl trichloromethyl ketones 1a-g with o-phenylenediamine, is reported. Depending of the structure of the β-alkoxyvinyl trichloromethyl ketones or the N-[1-aryl(alkyl)-3-oxo-4,4,4-trichloro-buten-1-yl]-o-phenylenediamines and the reactions conditions, benzimidazoles or 3H-1,5-benzodiazepines were obtained.     

Electron-impact induced skeletal re-arrangement of 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine and 2-methylthio-3-methylpyrazine

The mass spectra of 2-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine (I), 2-methoxy-6-methylpyrazine (II), 2-methylthio-3-methylpyrazine (III) and 2-methylthio-6-methylpyrazine (IV), are given and the major fragmentation pathways discussed. The novel loss of H₂O from the molecular ion of I and the corresponding loss of H₂S from the molecular ion of III indicate that a skeletal rearrangement takes place in the molecular ion preceding the expulsion of H₂O and H₂S. Proposed mechanisms for this behavior are discussed with evidence being drawn from accurate mass measurement, metastable ions, and deuterium and carbon-13 labeling of the methoxy group. The absence of ions in the spectra of II and IV corresponding to the loss of H₂O and H₂S from these molecular ions clearly indicates that the position of the methyl group with respect to the methoxy group, or the methylthio group is in-timately involved in this mechanism.