Stereochemical applications of mass spectrometry. 3—Energy dependence of the fragmentation of stereoisomeric methylcyclohexanols

Breakdown graphs have been constructed from charge exchange data for the epimeric 2-methyl-, 3-methyl- and 4-methyl-cyclohexanols. Although the breakdown graphs for epimeric pairs are essentially identical above ～12 eV recombination energy, significant differences are observed for the epimeric 2-methyl- and 4-methyl-cyclohexanols at low internal energies. For the 2-methylcyclohexanols the ratio ([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_cis/([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_trans is 3.2 in the [C₆F₆]^+· charge exchange mass spectra. This is attributed to both energetic and conformational effects which favour the stereospecific cis-1,4-H₂O elimination for the cis epimer. The breakdown graph for trans-4-methylcyclohexanol shows a sharp peak in the abundance of the [M? H₂O]^+· ion at ～10 eV recombination energy which is absent from the breakdown graph for the cis epimer. This peak is attributed to the stereospecific cis-1,4-elimination of water from the molecular ion of the trans isomer; the reaction appears to have a low critical energy but a very unfavourable frequency factor, and alternative modes of water loss common to both epimers are observed at higher energies. As a result, in the [C₆F₆]^+· charge exchange mass spectra the ([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_trans/([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_cis ratio is ～24, compared to the value of 13 observed in the 70 eV EI mass spectra. No differences are observed in either the metastable ion abundances or the associated kinetic energy releases for epimeric molecules.     

Translational energy release and stereochemistry of steroids. VIII-The mechanism of the elimination of water from metastable ions in epimeric 3-hydroxy steroids of the 5α-series

The mechanism of water elimination from metastable molecular, [M ? CH₃˙]⁺ and [M ? ring D]⁺˙ ions of epimeric 3-hydroxy steroids of the 5α-series has been elucidated. Deuterium labelling, the measurement of the translational energy released during the loss of water, and collision-induced decomposition mass-analysed kinetic energy spectrometry were the techniques used. It was found that the mechanisms of water loss from metastable M⁺˙ and [M ? ring D]⁺˙ ions is different from that from [M ? CH₃˙]⁺ ions.     

A study of the electron impact induced retro-diels-alder process with selected 5,6,6a, 7,12,12a-hexahydrobenzo[a]anthracenes

The mass spectra of 5,6,6a,7,12,12a-hexahydrobenzo[a]anthracene and 2-methoxy, 3-methoxy-, 4-methoxy and 1-methyl-4-methoxy derivatives are reported. Among the fragment ions observed under electron impact ionization, [C₈H₈]^+· and [M? C₈H₈]^+· can be generated by a retro-Diels-Alder process. Studies of metastable ion reactions show these ions to be formed by fragmentation directly from the molecular ion. The CA spectra of the [C₈H₈]^+· ions from the subject compounds were compared with spectra from ions of the same composition from various sources. From these data, kinetic energy release measurements and stereochemical considerations, it is concluded that these ions are formed by a stepwise, rather than a concerted mechanism.     

[C]+· and [CH]+ from doubly charged ions formed from malononitrile

The metastable ions [M]²⁺, [M – H]²⁺· and [M – H₂]²⁺ from malononitrile fragment by loss of [CH]⁺, [C]⁺· and [C]⁺·, respectively. The reaction of the molecular ion involves the methylene and nitrile carbon atoms in the statistical probability ratio, while that of [M – H]²⁺· involves exclusively the nitrile carbon and that of [M ? H₂]²⁺ involves an approximately equal contribution, from both sources. It is suggested that the metastable molecular ion fragments through a bipyrimidal intermediate.     

Oxidation reactions in triterpenes under chemical ionization conditions

From a collisional activation spectral study it has been found that certain triterpene alcohols with an ursane or oleanane skeleton undergo oxidation to the corresponding ketones under chemical ionization (NH₃) conditions giving rise to abundant [M + NH₄ ? 2]⁺ ions. Mass-analysed ion kinetic energy and B²/E scan results indicate that both [M + NH₄]⁺ and [M + N₂H₇ ? 2]⁺ ions contribute to the formation of the [M + NH₄ ? 2]⁺ ion.     

The [M?OH]+ ions of m- and p-ethylnitrobenzene: A common structure?

The structures of the [M? OH]⁺ ions of m- and pethylnitrobenzene have been compared by measurements of metastable ion spectra, collisional activation spectra, kinetic energy releases and critical energies for the formation of these ions and their subsequent decomposition. Normalized rates of fragmentation of metastable molecular ions and metastable [M? OH]⁺ ions have been compared for ion lifetimes up to 30 μs. The energy measurements fail to distinguish between the structures of the [M? OH]⁺ ions, but the normalized fragmentation rates and the collisional activation spectra show their structures to be different.     

Mass spectra of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and their dimethyl esters: Cyclic structures for the [M − H2O]+˙ ions from the diacids and [M − MeOH]+˙ ions from the dimethyl esters

Methyl 2-oxocycIoalkane carboxylate structures are proposed lor the [M ? MeOH]^+˙ ions from dimethyl adipate, pimelate, suberate and azelate. This proposal is based on a comparison of the metastable ion mass spectra and the kinetic energy releases for the major fragmentation reaction of these species with the same data for the molecular ions of authentic cyclic β-keto esters. The mass spectra of α,α,α′,α′-d₄-pimelic acid and its dimethyl ester indicate that the α-hydrogens are involved only to a minor extent in the formation of [M ? ROH]^+˙ and [M ? 2ROH]^+˙ ions, while these α-hydrogens are involved almost exclusively in the loss of ROH from the [M ? RO˙]⁺ ions (R = H or CH₃). The molecules XCO(CH₂)₇COOMe (X = OH, Cl) form abundant ions in their mass spectra with the same structure as the [M ? 2MeOH]^+˙ ions from dimethyl azelate.     

Anomalies in the molecular ion region in the electron impact mass spectra of α- and β-hydroxyesters

In the electron impact mass spectra of some alkyl α- and β-hydroxyesters (introduced using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique), the absence of the molecular ion M^+· and the presence of the [M + 1]⁺ ion instead is observed. This phenomenon is especially characteristic of C₃? C₆ glycolates and diethyl malate, and is due to chemical auto-ionization—ion-molecule reactions in the high concentration gradient at the top of the GC peak. The existence of the [M ? 2]^+·, [M ?1]⁺ and M^+· ions in the mass spectra of other β- and α-hydroxyesters is discussed.     

Effect of collision gas pressure and collision energy on reactions between oxygen and the negative molecular ion of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in the collision cell of a triple -quadrupole mass spectrometer

Low-energy reactive collisions between the negative molecular ion of a tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and oxygen inside the collision cell of a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer produce a substitution ion [M ? Cl + O]^?, a phenoxide ion [C₆H_4-nO₂Cl_n]^?·, [M ? HCl]^?·, and Cl^? by which 1,2,3,4-, 1,2,3,6/1,2,3,7- and 2,3,7,8-TCDD isomers can be distinguished either directly or on the basis of intensity ratios. The collision conditions have an important effect on the relative abundances. Energy- and pressure-resolved curves show that the ions formed by a collisionally activated reaction (CAR) process, i.e. [M ? Cl + O]^? and [C₆H_4-n,O₂Cl_n]^?·, are favoured by a high pressure of oxygen (3-6 mTorr) (1 Torr = 133.3 Pa) and a low collision energy (0.1-7 eV), whereas the ions formed by a collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) process, i.e. [M ? HCl]^?· and Cl^?, are favoured by high pressure and high energy. By choosing a relatively low collision energy (5 eV) and high pressure (4 mTorr), the CAR and CAD ions can be clearly detected.     

Structures of decomposing and non-decomposing gas-phase [C4H6O]+· radical cations,and their [C2H2O]+· and [C3H6]+· product ions

The structures of gas-phase [C₄H₆O]^+· radical cations and their daughter ions of composition [C₂H₂O]^+· and [C₃H₆]^+· were investigated by using collisionally activated dissociation, metastable ion measurement, kinetic energy release and collisional ionization tandem mass spectrometric techniques. Electron ionization (70 eV) of ethoxyacetylene, methyl vinyl ketone, crotonaldehyde and 1-methoxyallene yields stable [C₄H₆O]^+· ions, whereas the cyclic C₄H₆O compounds undergo ring opening to stable distonic ions. The structures of [C₂H₃O]^+· ions produced by 70-eV ionization of several C₄H₆O compounds are identical with that of the ketene radical cation. The [C₃H₆]^+· ions generated from crotonaldehyde, methacrylaldehyde, and cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde have structures similar to that of the propene radical cations, whereas those ions generated from the remainder of the [C₄H₆O]^+· ions studied here produced a mixed population of cyclopropane and propene radical cations.     

A mass spectral study of 1-(aryldimethylsilyl)-2-propanones and their isomeric 2-(aryldimethylsiloxy)-1-propenes

The mass spectra of a series of β-ketosilanes, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiCH₂C(O)Me and their isomeric silyl enol ethers, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiOC(CH₃)?CH₂, where Y = H, Me, MeO, Cl, F and CF₃, have been recorded. The fragmentation patterns for the β-ketosilanes are very similar to those of their silyl enol ether counterparts. The seven major primary fragment ions are [M? Me·]⁺, [M? C₆H₄Y·]⁺, [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙, [M? C₃H₄]⁺˙, [M? HC?CCF₃]⁺˙, [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙ and [C₃H₆O]⁺˙ Apparently, upon electron bombardment the β-ketosilanes must undergo rearrangement to an ion structure very similar to that of the ionized silyl enol ethers followed by unimolecular ion decompositions. Substitutions on the benzene ring show a significant effect on the formation of the ions [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙ and [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙, electron donating groups favoring the former and electron withdrawing groups favoring the latter. The mass spectral fragmentation pathways were identified by observing metastable peaks, metastable ion mass spectra and ion kinetic energy spectra.     

Mass spectrometric determination of the configuration of 2-methyl-and 1,2-dimethyl-4-vinyl-ethinyl(n-butyl)-4-hydroxyperhydroquinolines

The configuration at C-2 and C-4 in the molecules of 2-methyl- and 1,2-dimethyl-4-vinylethinyl(n-butyl)-4-hydroxyperhydroquinolines was determined by mass spectrometry. The principal conclusions concerning the stereochemistry were made on the basis of differences in the values of the I_[M?15]⁺/I_[M]⁺·, I_[M?17]⁺/I_[M]⁺·, I[_M?43]⁺/I_[M]⁺· and I_[M?57]⁺/I_[M]⁺· ratios in the mass spectra of the epimeric vinylethinylic alcohols, and of the I_[M?15]⁺/I_[M]⁺· and I_[M?15]⁺/I_[M]⁺· ratios in the case of the n-butylic alcohols.     

Silylumlagerungen in den Massenspektren stereoisomerer 5-Methylcyclohexan-1,3-diol-TMS-äther

The formation of the rearrangement ions [R? O? Si(CH₃)₂]⁺ from [M – CH₃]⁺ ions of the epimeric 5-methylcyclohexane-cis -1,3-diol-TMS ethers is independent of the 5-Me configuration, in contrast to the sterochemical effect of the 5-Me group, in the eliminations from [M]⁺· of related derivatives.     

Provitamin D and vitamin D isomerizations in the mass spectrometer. Translational energy release and collision-induced dissociation studies

Collision-induced dissociation mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and translational energy release studies have established that provitamin D₃ (7-dehydrocholesterol), provitamin D₂ (ergosterol), vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂ isomerizations in the mass spectrometer occur at the fragment ion level leading to [M? H₂O? CH₃]⁺ ions of identical structure. It was found that the reaction, [M]⁺˙→[M? H₂O]⁺˙, plays a central role in these isomerizations.     

The elimination of masses 27 and 28 from the [M?OH]+ ion of 2-nitrotoluene

The expulsion of neutral fragments of masses 27 and 28 from metastable [M ? OH]⁺ ions derived from 2-nitrotoluene has been observed. The relative abundances of the resulting fragment ions, together with the kinetic energy released in each process, has been compared with similar fragmentation of [C₇H₆NO]⁺ ions derived from other precursor molecules. In this way, the nature of the neutral fragments and the structure of the [M ? OH]⁺ ions from 2-nitrotoluene has been investigated. The most likely structure is the 1,2-benzisoxazolenium cation although the coexistence of other structures cannot be ruled out on the present evidence.     

Differentiation of anomeric C-glycosides by mass spectrometry using fast atom bombardment,mass-analysed ion kinetic energy and collision-activated dissociation

Positive-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry appears to be a useful method for the differentiation of anomeric C-glycosides. The mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) and collision-activated dissociation (CAD) MIKE spectra of selected positive ions can be used as fingerprints of the α- or β-anomers. The main fragmentation routes and particularly the formation of the [M ? H]⁺ ion and the [M + H ? PhCH₂OH]⁺ ion were traced for each anomer.     

Ring expansion and hydrogen scrambling in the molecular ion of 3-methylthiophene

The ratio [M ? D]/{[M-D] + [M ? H]} in the 70 eV mass spectra of six deuterated 3-methylthiophenes has been determined. From these values the mole fractions of the molecular ions that lose hydrogen atoms specifically from the various positions of the molecule were calculated, as well as the mole fraction in which the hydrogen atoms are fully scrambled before hydrogen elimination. It appears that hydrogen atoms are mainly lost from a fully scrambled [C₅H₆S]⁺· ion and from the α-position of the original molecular ion. A deuterium isotope effect of 1·60 to 1·72 was calculated for the hydrogen elimination. The reaction was also studied at low electron energies. In order to determine the degree of scrambling in the [C₅H₅S]⁺ ions, some decomposition reactions of this ion were investigated.     

Zum Mechanismus massenspektrometrischer Fragmentierungsreaktionen: XIII—Einfluß der Dissoziationsenergie auf intramolekulare aromatische Substitutionen in den Molekül-Ionen von N,N-Dimethyl-N′-phenylformamidinen

The effect of the dissociation energy of the C? X bond (X = H, F, Cl, Br, I) on the formation of benzimidazolium ions (b) by elimination of X from the molecular ions of ortho-substituted N,N-dimethyl-N′-phenylformamidines (I to V) has been investigated. No simple relation is observed between the intensities of ions b and the dissociation energy. Furthermore, the appearance potentials of ions b are not greatly affected by the dissociation energy, although differences of about 2.5 eV are expected for a simple cleavage reaction. The behaviour of the molecular ions of I to V is in accord with a two step addition-dissociation mechanism [M]⁺· → a → b, and the highest activation energy is required in the first addition step. Similar mechanisms are known for aromatic substitution reactions in the condensed phase, but have not been observed for mass spectrometric fragmentations. The detection of additional kinetic energy T in the reaction products by an analysis of the metastable transitions [M]⁺· → b corroborates the proposed mechanism.     

Hydrogen transfer in the retro diels–alder fragmentation of oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds. II—Chromones

Mass Spectra of unsubstituted, 2-methyl-, 3-methyl and 2,3-dimethylchromones were examined. These compounds showed [RDA]⁺˙ and [RDA + H]⁺ ions as characteristc ions, together with [M? H]⁺,[M? CO]⁺˙,[M? CHO]⁺ and [RDA? CO]⁺˙ ions. Based on deuterium labelling experiments and measurement of metastable peaks by the ion kinetic energy defocusing technique, the origin of transferred hydrogen in the [RDA + H]⁺ ion was clarified. The mechanism of the [RDA + H]⁺ ion formation is discussed.     

Specific Cα-C Bond Cleavage of β-Carbon-Centered Radical Peptides Produced by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Radical-driven dissociation (RDD) of hydrogen-deficient peptide ions [M???H?+?H]^·+ has been examined using matrix-assisted laser dissociation/ionization in-source decay mass spectrometry (MALDI-ISD MS) with the hydrogen-abstracting matrices 4-nitro-1-naphthol (4,1-NNL) and 5-nitrosalicylic acid (5-NSA). The preferential fragment ions observed in the ISD spectra include N-terminal [a]?+?ions and C-terminal [x]⁺, [y?+?2]⁺, and [w]⁺ ions which imply that β-carbon (Cβ)-centered radical peptide ions [M???Hβ?+?H]^·+ are predominantly produced in MALDI conditions. RDD reactions from the peptide ions [M???Hβ?+?H]^·+ successfully explains the fact that both [a]⁺ and [x]⁺ ions arising from cleavage at the Cα-C bond of the backbone of Gly-Xxx residues are missing from the ISD spectra. Furthermore, the formation of [a]⁺ ions originating from the cleavage of Cα-C bond of deuterated Ala(d3)-Xxx residues indicates that the [a]⁺ ions are produced from the peptide ions [M???Hβ?+?H]^·+ generated by deuteron-abstraction from Ala(d3) residues. It is suggested that from the standpoint of hydrogen abstraction via direct interactions between the nitro group of matrix and hydrogen of peptides, the generation of the peptide radical ions [M???Hβ?+?H]^·+ is more favorable than that of the α-carbon (Cα)-centered radical ions [M???Hα?+?H]^·+ and the amide nitrogen-centered radical ions [M???H_N?+?H]^·+, while ab initio calculations indicate that the formation of [M???Hα?+?H]^·+ is energetically most favorable.

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