Mass spectral studies of naphthoflavones

The electron impact induced fragmentations of the five possible naphthoflavones have been studied with the aid of low- and high-resolution measurements, metastable decompositions and isotope labelling using either deuterium or carbon-13 atoms. All compounds show both the direct expulsion of a CO residue from the carbonyl group and the retro Diels–Alder cleavage. The abundant [M–H]⁺ ion has been formulated as the substituted β-tropolone species, which, in the case of β-naphthoflavone, is in competition with a pentacyclic species arising from the elimination of H-5 as evidenced in the spectrum of 5-d-β-naphthoflavone. Other previously unsuspected ions are also in evidence.     

Positive electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra of some nitramine nitrates

The positive electron impact (EI) and isobutane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of six nitramine nitrates were studied with the aid of some accurate mass measurements. In the EI spectra, β fission relative to both the nitramine and nitrate ester is important. In the CI spectra a major ion occurs at [MH – 45]⁺ and was found to be mainly due to [M + 2H ? NO₂]⁺. All of the compounds except N-(2 hydroxyethyl)-N-(2′,4′,6′-trinitrophenyl)nitramine nitrate gave an [MH]⁺ ion. The [MH – 45]⁺ ion in the isobutane CI mass spectra of tetryl is also due to [M + 2H ? NO₂]⁺.     

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.     

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

The mechanism of water elimination from metastable molecular and [M ? CH₃˙]⁺ ions, as well as from ions deprived of ring D, in epimeric 3-hydroxy steroids of the 5β-series has been elucidated by deuterium labelling, by the measurements of the translational energy released during loss of water, and by collision-induced decomposition mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. It was found that the dehydration of the metastable molecular ion in 3α-hydroxy steroids of the 5β-series occurs mostly regiospecifically as an elimination of the 3α-hydroxyl together with the 9α-hydrogen atom. The ring A in the molecular ion has to flip to the boat conformation to make this reaction possible. In the metastable molecular ion of 3β-hydroxy steroids of the 5β-series a different dehydration mechanism operates, with very little participation of the 9α-hydrogen atom. The mechanisms of water loss from metastable [M ? CH₃˙]⁺ ions and from ions deprived of ring D differ from that of the molecular ion.     

Reactions within and between adjacent dimethylamino groups: Collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometric study of the 1,9-bis(dimethylamino)phenalenium cation

The electron impact (EI) ionization-induced fragmentation pathways of the new 1,9-bis(dimethylamino) phenalenium cation [1]⁺ were investigated. The peri-dimethylamino substituents of [1]⁺ are incorporated in a trimethine cyanine substructure and show strong steric interactions. A mechanism is proposed for the unusual elimination of CH₃N?CH₂, HN(CH₃)₂ and (CH₃)₃N from [1]⁺ and for the accompanying cyclizations to heterocyclic ions: prior to fragmentation, the intact cation [1]⁺ rearranges, by reciprocal CH₃ and H transfers, to new isomeric cations which decompose subsequently in a characteristic way. A wealth of consistent information on dissociation pathways and fragment structures is provided by collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectra, collision-induced dissociation mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and exact mass measurements of the salt cation and of its primary fragment ions. The liquid secondary ion mass spectrum of [1]⁺ is very similar to its EI mass spectrum.     

Laser desorption mass spectrometry of squaric acid and its salts

The laser desorption mass spectrometry of the oxocarbon squaric acid (3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione) and its salts of the form A₂C₄O₄ (A = cation) is described. Both positive and negative ion spectra were obtained. The positive ion spectrum of the acid is characterized by an ion corresponding to loss of CO from [M + H]⁺. The negative ion spectrum shows an intense [M ? H]^? peak in addition to a dimer species. The alkali salt spectra contain [M + A]⁺ in the positive mode and [M ? A]^? and an intense [C₄HO₄]^? in the negative mode. The smaller alkali salts also have an [M + H]⁺ adduct ion. Unlike the alkali squarates, the ammonium salt shows ions corresponding to losses of neutrals from the molecular adduct in the positive ion spectrum and a dimer species in the negative ion spectrum. Molecular weight information was obtained in all cases. A (bis) dicyanomethylene derivative of potassium squarate was also studied. Some field desorption mass spectrometry results are presented for comparison.     

Interpretation of the asymmetrical ESR hyperfine spectrum of sodium pyrazine [Na P] in DME in the low temperature region. Evidence for the triple ion [Na P Na]+

The ESR spectrum of Na pyrazine in DME, at temperatures below ?50°C, has been studied in detail. It is shown that two paramagnetic species with slightly different g values are present in the solution, i.e. the sodium pyrazine ion pair [Na P] and the iriple ion [Na P Na]⁺. The interpretation is based on the concentration dependence of the spectrum.     

An energy-resolved study of the fragmentation of ionized 1-Penten-3-ol

A detailed energy-resolved study of the fragmentation of CH₂?CHCH(OH)CD₂CD₃ (1-d₅) has been carried out using metastable ion studies and charge exchange techniques, combined with collision-induced dissociation studies to establish the structures of fragment ions. At low internal energies (metastable ions) the molecular ion of 1-d₅ rearranges to the 3-pentanone structure and fragments by loss of C₂H₅ or C₂D₅ leading to the acyl structure, [CH₃CH₂C?O]⁺ or [CD₃CD₂C?O]⁺, for the fragment ion. However, with increasing internal energy of the molecular ion this rearrangement process decreases rapidly in importance and loss of C₂D₅ by direct cleavage, leading to [CH₂?CHCH?OH]⁺, becomes the dominant fragmentation reaction. As a result the [C₃H₅O]⁺ ion seen in the electron impact mass spectrum of 1-penten-3-ol has predominantly the protonated acrolein structure.     

Mass spectrometry of steroid systems. XXIV–The origin of [M – 28]+ and [M – 43]+ ions in equilenin and its 14β-isomer

The formation of the [M? 43]⁺ ion in equilenin is due mainly to elimination of Me radical from the [M? CO]⁺ ion and, to a lesser extent, to CO loss from the [M? Me]⁺ ion. In 14β-isoequilenin the [M? CO]⁺ ion is absent, and the formation of [M? 43]⁺ occurs via the [M? Me]⁺ ion. This makes the determination of the mode of junction of the rings C and D in the equilenin series possible, using high resolution mass spectra, even when only one stereoisomer is available.     

Mass spectra of chlorinated esters: 2—Methyl mono- and dichlorobutanoates

The mass spectral fragmentations of methyl mono- and dichlorobutanates have been studied. Deutrium labelling and metastable ion analysis were used to elucidate the fragmentation mechanisms. The molecular ion peaks of the esters are weak and show only in the spectra of the monochloro isomers. A McLafferty rearrangement gives the base peaks in the spectra of methyl 2-chloro-, 4-chloro- and 4,4-dichlorobutanoate; α-cleavage, [COOCH₃]⁺, in methyl 2,2- and 2,4-dichlorobutanoate; [M? Cl]⁺, in methyl 3-chlorobutanoate; [M? Cl? HCl]⁺, in methyl 3,4-dichlorobutanoate; [M? Cl? CH₂CO]⁺, in methyl 3,3-dichlorobutanoate and [M? Cl? COOCH₃]^+˙, in methyl erythro- and threo-2,3-dichlorobutanoate. The mass spectra of the stereoisomers are nearly identical, the loss of a chlorine atom and the McLafferty rearrangement giving the higher peaks in the spectrum of the threo form.     

Mechanism for the formation of [M–1]+ in flavones

The electron impact induced fragmentations of flavone have been studied with the aid of high resolution measurements, metastable decompositions and deuterium labelling. Based on the obtained data a mechanism for the formation of the [M? H]⁺ ion is proposed and further substantiated from the study of substituted flavones.     

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 sterically crowded trialkylsilyl derivatives of nucleosides

The electron impact mass spectra of tert-butyldimethylsilyl-, cyclo-tetramethylene-tert-butylsilyl and cyclo-tetramethylene-isopropylsilyl- ether derivatives of ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides are described in detail. The interpretation of fragmentation pathways of full and mixed derivatives was aided by metastable ion decomposition studies, precise mass and deuterium labelling measurements, and spectra of mixed derivatives containing the ‘passive’ (in these spectra) trimethylsilyl group. The sterically crowded silyl groups have a powerful fragmentation directing effect. Elimination of a bulky radical, R˙ (tert-butyl or isopropyl), from the molecular ion produces the siliconium ion [M? R]⁺, which is the precursor for most of the other prominent ions in the spectra. These arise from ‘siliconium ion rearrangements’ resulting from the interaction of the positively charged siliconium ion center with electron dense regions (i.e. oxygens) in the molecule, to form cyclic silyloxonium ions which subsequently decompose. Since the interacting oxygen and silicon must be sterically accessible, the fragment ion types and their abundances are very dependent upon structure. Consequently, [M? R]⁺ ions formed from 2′, 3′ or 5′-O-silyl groups give rise to different sets of daughter ions which, for the most part, are not found, or have very low abundances, in the mass spectra of underivatized or trimethylsilylated nucleosides. Detailed information on sugar and base moieties and isomeric substitution is readily obtained.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrum of peroxyacetylnitrate

The chemical ionization mass spectrum of peroxyacetylnitrate, a major component of photochemical smog highly toxic to man and plants, was obtained using both methane and isobutane as reagent gas. The spectrum contains a [M + H]⁺ ion at m/e 122, intense fragment ions at m/e 43 [CH,CO]⁺ and m/e 46 [NO₂]⁺, and less intense ions at m/e 61 [CH,ONO]⁺, m/e 77 [CH30NOz]⁺ and m/e 88 [⁺O?CCH₂ONO] formed by internal rearrangements. These results confirm the commonly accepted structure for peroxyacetylnitrate, CH₃(CO)OONO₂.     

Application of low energy CID in the determination of structures of [M – halogen]+ ions obtained from diethyl halosuccinates under electron impact

Low energy collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra indicate that m/z 173 ions formed by the loss of a halogen atom from diethyl chloro- and bromo-succinate under electron impact are mixtures of O-protonated diethyl maleate (>90%) and fumarate (<10 %). Hydrogen migration precedes the C-halogen bond cleavage in these cases. The low energy CID spectrum of the m/z 173 [M? I]⁺ ion obtained from diethyl iodosuccinate shows that only a small fraction of the [M? I]⁺ ions are the O-protonated species formed by hydrogen migration. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of low energy CID in the determination of structure (including configuration) of gas phase ions.     

The structure of the [C2H5O]+ ion in the mass spectrum of diethyl ether

The structure of the [C₂H₅O]⁺ ion in the spectrum of diethyl ether was examined by use of deuterated ether, CH₃CD₂OCH₂CH₃. The results show that, at all electron energies from threshold to 70 eV, the predominant ion is a rearrangement ion, probably protonated acetaldehyde, with very little of the [C₂H₅O]⁺ being formed by direct carbon-oxygen bond cleavage. Appearance potential measurements made on the m/e 45, m/e 46 and m/e 47 ions in the deuterated ether show that the threshold structure of the rearrangement ion is protonated acetaldehyde.     

Electron impact ionization mass spectra of lithocholyl amides: Evidence for a C(20) to C(23) rearrangement involving the loss of a C4H9 fragment

Amides of lithocholic acid (3α-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oic acid) with 6-aminocaproic acid and 4-aminobutyric acid were prepared and examined by electron impact ionization mass spectrometry. Both these compounds gave an unusual [M ? 57]⁺ fragment. Since the product-ion analysis of [M ? 57]⁺ revealed the presence of fragments corresponding to the intact steroid nucleus in addition to that of the original amino acid (6-aminocaproic acid or 4-aminobutyric acid), we concluded that the integrity of the steroid amide had been retained in this fragment. The absence of this fragment from the product-ion spectrum of [M ? CH₃]⁺ rules out the sequential loss from the molecular ion of 15 + 42 u as the origin of this signal. Mass spectrometry of the 24-¹³C-labelled lithocholylcaproylamide showed the retention of the label in the [M ? 57]⁺ fragment. In contrast, the corresponding compound labelled with deuterium at C(23) showed a significant loss of the label during the formation of this product ion at [M ? 58]⁺. In addition, through a combination of derivatization and tandem mass spectrometry, it was demonstrated that this loss of 57 u represented a rearrangement with the expulsion of a C₄H₉ radical from the side-chain spanning C(20) to C(23) resulting in a truncated steroid-amide fragment. This fragmentation pattern has not been observed in bile acid conjugates with N-α-amino acids.     

Electron-impact studies—LI: Hydrogen randomization in the stilbene molecular ion

Hydrozen randomization precedes the formation of M^+· ? H· and M^+· ? CH₃· species from the stilbene molecular ion at 15 eV. The carbon atom involved in the M^+· ? CH₃· elimination originates randomly from the whole molecule. The [M ? 15] ion (m/e 165) in the spectra of stilbene and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene is produced from a common ion.     

Chemical ionization of cyclopropyl ethers II—the nature of the alkyl group fragmentationt

Oxygen-alkyl cleavage is ruled out in the methane chemical ionization- and electron mpact-induced decomposition of cyclopropyl ethers by the finding that for trans,trans-2,3-diethylmethoxycyclopropane the [M ? C₂H₅·]+ ion is more intense than the [M ? CH₃·]+ ion. The possibility for [M + H ? C₂H₆]⁺ is discounted by comparison with the methane chemical ionization nass spectrum of tran,tran-2,3-dimethylmethoxycyclopropane. The isobutane chemical ionization nass spectrum of the diethylcyclopropyl methyl ether affords nearly exclusive electrocyclic methanol fragmentation, i.e. [M + H ? CH₃OH]⁺.     

Preparation and crystal structure of bis(dibenzo-18-crown-6)-(tetrachlorocuprato(II)-Cl,Cl′, Cl″, Cl‴)dipotassium diaqua(dibenzo-18-crown-6)potassium dichlorocuprate(I)-dibenzo-18-crown-6

New mixed complex compound bis(dibenzo-18-crown-6)(tetrachlorocuprato(II)-Cl, Cl′, Cl″, Cl?) dipotassium diaqua(dibenzo-18-crown-6)potassium dichlorocuprate(I)dibenzo-18-crown-6 [(CuCl₄)[K(Db18C6)]₂]·[K(Db18C6)(H₂O)₂]⁺·[CuCl₂]^?·Db18C6 was prepared and its structure was studied by the X-ray structural analysis. The structure was found to be disordered. The asymmetric part of its unit cell contains 1/4 of each of its four components. For a given [CuCl₄]^2? anion its Cu²⁺ cation is disordered over two equally probable positions and its independent Cl atom is disordered over three positions differing by occupancy. In this structure two [K(Db18C6)]⁺ fragment of the complex molecule and the complex cation [K(Db18C6)(H₂O)₂]⁺ are of guest-host type with K⁺ cation as the guest. In this structure the statistically disordered alternating cations and Db18C6 molecules form infinite chains. The statistically disordered [CuCl₂]^? anions also form infinite chains.