Mass spectra of some acyclic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes,ketones and esters

The mass spectra of a series of aliphatic acyclic α,β-unsturated aldehydes, ketones and ester have been examined. The spectra do not show evidence for McLafferty rearrangements, alkoxyl migration or for fragmentations which are dependent upon the s-trans or s-cis conformations of the compounds. There is some evidence for cis-trans isomerism about the double bond.     

A kinetic study of the oxidation of α-hydroxy acids and α-hydroxy ketones by potassium bromate

The oxidation of α-hydroxy acids and α-hydroxy ketones by Br(V) follows the rate-law However, the former reaction exhibits a second-order dependence on hydrogen ion concentration while the latter reaction has a third-order dependence. A mechanism involving a slow formation of a bromate ester of the α-hydroxy acid followed by a fast decomposition is proposed. A rate-determining formation of a bromate ester from the conjugate acid of benzoin, followed by a rapid decomposition of the bromate ester, explains the kinetic data for the oxidation of benzoin.     

High resolution mass spectrometry—V: Cyclic esters of aliphatic α-hydroxy acids

The main fragmentation sequences of glycollide and its homologues are initiated by fission of a CO? O bond, leading to the formation of fragment ions of low, m/e, such as [R¹CO]⁺ and [CR¹R²CCO]⁺. When a hydrogen atom is present on a ring carbon atom, 1,3 hydrogen migration occurs to produce [CHR²OH]⁺. In case where a ring carbon atom carries an alkylchain ? C₂H₅, a McLafferty rearrangement occurs with the adjacent carbonyl group. When both ring carbon atoms are dimethyl substituted, a 1,4 hydrogen migration must be invoked to account for the observed fragmentation sequence.     

Determination of the enantiomeric excess of α-hydroxy acids

This work describes a convenient and accurate method for optical purity determination of α-hydroxy acids. Their derivatization with commercially available valine methyl ester affords diastereoisomers easily separable by HPLC using achiral C₁₈ columns.     

Mass spectra of some α-substituted phenyl-α,α′-dimethoxyl ketones and their derivatives

The mass spectra of some α-substituted phenyl-α,α′-dimethoxyl ketones (compounds 1) and their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones (compounds 2) and semicarbazones (compounds 3) have been studied. The characteristic fragments at m/z (M ? 73) from compounds 1, m/z (M ? 253) from compounds 2 and m/z (M ? 130) from compounds 3 are abundant and proposed to be [ArCROCH₃]⁺. Fragmentations yielding [M⁺ ? 49] from compounds 2 are abnormal and probably involve the methoxyl and nitro groups. The intense peak at m/z 130 due to [CH₃OCH₂CNNHCONH₂]⁺ from compounds 3 corresponds to α-cleavage of the molecular ion. Some other fragments from these new compounds are interpreted in this paper.     

Mass spectra of trimethylsilyl ethers of some Δ5-3β-hydroxy C 19 steroids

The mass spectra (20 eV electron energy) of a wide range of %Δ⁵-3β-hydroxy C₁₉ steroid TMS ethers have been examined with the aid of high-resolution mass measurements, together with deuterium and oxygen-18 labelling data. The validity of many previously proposed fragmentation modes has been confirmed. A number of ions regarded as diagnostic have been shown to be less specific than had been formerly supposed. Several novel fragmentations have been observed and investigated.     

Mass spectrometry and organic analysis. XV—esters of αβ-unsaturated acids (tiglates and angelates)

The unambiguous differences between the mass spectra of Z and E isomers of esters of 2-methylbut-2-enoic acid enable the double bond geometry to be determined.     

The mass spectra of some α-aminooxy acids

The mass spectrometric behaviour of six simple α-aminooxy acids is described. Comparison is made with the electron-impact-induced fragmentation of the parent α-amino acids. The differences are in accordance with the observed

1 See Ref. 1.

chemical character of the α-aminooxy acids.     

Mass spectra of some β-keto esters. A high resolution study

This paper presents low and high resolution mass spectra as well as fragmentation processes under electron impact for methyl, ethyl and propyl-pivaloyl acetate. The fragmentation patterns have been established using elemental compositions of ions determined by high resolution, metastable transitions and deuterium labelling.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of α-hydroxy ketone and α-diketone and pyrazine derivatives from α-halo and α,α′-dibromo ketone

A novel reaction of α-halo ketone (α-bromo and α-chloro ketone) with irradiation under microwave gave the corresponding α-hydroxyketone and pyrazine derivative in good yields. In the case of α,α′-dibromo ketone, α-diketone was obtained. This reaction affords a new, clean and convenient synthetic method for α-hydroxyketone, α-diketone, α-chloro ketone and pyrazine derivative.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β,β-dialkyl α-hydroxy γ-butyrolactones

An ephedrine-derived morpholine dione is employed in the synthesis of chiral alkylidene morpholinones that are efficiently converted to β-substituted α,γ-dihydroxy butyramides, precursors of the corresponding butyrolactones. Enantioselective synthesis of a spiro analog of pantolactone as well as a naturally occurring pantolactone homolog is achieved with this protocol.     

Mass spectra of acyl and α-hydroxyalkyl derivatives of biferrocene

The mass spectral fragmentation pathways of acyl and α-hydroxyalkyl derivatives of biferrocene and related compounds are presented. A substituent effect for the cleavage of the cyclopentadienyl ring-metal bonds has been found in the spectra of acyl derivatives. It has been shown that the fragmentation of α-hydroxyalkyl derivatives proceeded via the ions corresponding to the [M]⁺? ions of oxidation or hydrogenolysis products of the hydroxyl derivatives.     

Mass spectra of halogenated esters 6—Methyl esters of some trihalogenated propanoic and butanoic acids

The mass spectral fragmentation of trihalogenated methyl esters, formed in the reactions of monochlorinated methyl propenoates and 2-butenoates with Cl₂, BrCl and Br₂, have been investigated. In most cases α-cleavage gives the base peak, [COOCH₃]⁺, the peaks originating from the subsequent losses of one or two halogen atoms also being abundant. The primary loss of a halogen atom is more prominent in the C₄ derivatives, Br˙ and Cl˙ being preferentially lost from the 2- and 3-positions, respectively. The McLafferty rearrangement yields in one case the base peak; the 2-halo compounds could in general be distinguished by that fragmentation. Typical for all 2-bromo-substituted methyl butanoates studied is the base peak, [C₃H₃]⁺, at m/z 39, and for some 3-halo compounds the peaks at m/z 95, [C₂H₄ClO₂]⁺ and 139, [C₂H₄BrO₂]⁺.     

New synthesis of α-nitroalkyl- and α-nitroaralkylcarboxylic esters from α-nitroalkyl- and α-nitroaralkyl-2-oxazolines

2-Nitroalkyl- and 2-nitroaralkyl-2-oxazolines are readily converted, in one step, to α-nitroalkyl- and α-nitroaralkylcarboxylic esters on treatment with the appropriate alcohol and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The initial products of the ring cleavage are the TFA salts of the ammonioalkyl esters of α-nitroalkyl- and α-nitroaralkylcarboxylic acids. These salts undergo facile transesterification to the α-nitrocarboxylic esters on refluxing with the appropriate alcohol.     

Mass spectrometry of 3-methoxy fatty acid methyl esters

Fatty acids with a hydroxyl moiety at the C-3 position are found widely in bacterial lipids, but only rarely in mammalian lipids. The mass spectra of the methyl ether derivative of these hydroxy acids exhibit an intense ion at m/e 75, rather than the rearrangement ion at m/e 74 more typical of fatty acid methyl esters. The mass spectrometric behavior of several 3-methoxy fatty acid methyl esters were studied, and the origin of the unique ion at m/e 75 was established using ¹⁸O and ²H labeled analogs and metastable ion transitions. this ion was shown to arise from the loss of ketene from the 3,4 cleavage ion at m/e 117.     

γ-Ray-induced polymerization of α-haloacrylic acids

The γ-ray induced polymerizations of α-chloroacrylic acid, mp 66°C, and α-bromo-acrylic acid, mp 72°C, were investigated in the temperature range from 35°C to 85°C. An analysis of polymerization kinetics was made, and results were similar to those reported in the literature for other vinyl monomers. On heating of the polymer obtained, elimination of hydrogen halide takes place, and intramolecular lactone formation is observed. The rate of lactone formation of poly(α-chloroacrylic acid) obtained in the solid-state polymerization was found to be higher than that in the liquid state, because a highly isotactic configuration of polymers, tends to be formed in the solid-state polymerization, and elimination of hydrogen chloride is facilitated with an isotactic 5₂ helix structure.