Low-energy,low-temperature mass spectra. 10—urethanes

The 12.1 eV, 75°C electron impact mass spectra of 24 urethanes, RNHCO₂C₂H₅ [R ? H, C₂H_{2n +1} (n = 1-8), CH₂?CHCH₂, Ph, PhCH₂ and PhCH₂CH₂], and seven symmetrically disubstituted urethanes R₂NCO₂C₂H₅ (R ? C_n H_{2n + 1} (n = 1?4)) are reported and discussed. All 31 spectra show appreciable molecular ion peaks. For n ?Cn H_{2n +1} NHCO₂C₂H₅, M^{+ ˙} usually is the most abundant ion in the spectrum. A peak at m/z 102 of comparable intensity also is present; this corresponds to formal cleavage of the bond connecting the α- and β-carbon atoms in the N-alkyl group, though it is unlikely that the daughter ion has the structure [CH₂?NHCO₂C₂H₅]⁺. In the RNHCO₂C₂H₅ series, branching at the α-carbon atom enhances the relative abundance of the ion arising by notional α-cleavage at the expense of that of M^{+ ˙}. Formal cleavage of the bond between β- and γ-carbon atoms occurs to some extent for [RNHCO₂C₂H₅]⁺˙ ions; this reaction provides information on the degree of branching at the β-carbon, especially if metastable molecular ions are considered. The higher n-C_nH_{2n +1}NHCO₂C₂H₅ (n = 5?8) urethanes exhibit two other significant ions in their mass spectra. First, there is a peak at [M ? C₂H₅]⁺. Secondly, a peak is present at m/z 90; the most plausible structure for this ion is [H₂N(HO)COC₂H₅]⁺, arising by double hydrogen transfer from the alkyl group and expulsion of a [C_nH_{2n ?1}]˙ radical. Ions originating from secondary decomposition of the primary ionic species are generally of only very low abundance in these spectra.     

Low-energy,low-temperature mass spectra. 9—The linear undecanols

The 70 and 12 eV mass spectra of the six linear undecanols are reported. Apart from undecan-1-ol, whose spectrum is akin to that of undec-1-ene, the spectra are dominated by peaks corresponding to loss of water and α-cleavage. The low voltage spectra are more readily interpreted.     

Doubly charged ion mass spectra 8—alkenes

Doubly charged ion mass spectra of 23 alkenes have been measured using a double focusing Hitachi RMU-7L mass spectrometer. Ion mass spectra were obtained using 100 eV electron energy and 3.2 kV ion accelerating voltage. Each 2E spectrum was determined using the olefinic compound under investigation as the target gas. In general, spectra are dominated by fragment ions which result from extensive hydrogen loss from the doubly charged molecular ion. Appearnce energies have been measured for intense fragment ions in each spectrum.     

Low energy,low temperature mass spectra. 6—A synoptic view

A review is presented of the low energy, low temperature mass spectra of a number of organic compounds, namely alkanes, alkanols, ethers, amines, alkanals, alkanones, alkanoic acids and alkanoic esters. The main fragmentation routes are described and the simplification of the mass spectra as compared with the 70 eV equivalents is emphasized.     

Low energy,low temperature mass spectra 2—low energy,low temperature mass spectra of some small saturated alcohols and ethers

This paper reports the low energy, low temperature mass spectra of the 27 alcohols and ethers containing up to five carbon atoms. The observed fragmentation pathways are discussed in energetic terms. Except in one instance, pentan-1-ol and 3-methylbutan-1-ol, the spectra are diagnostic of the structure of the compounds; even in this case, subtle differences can be used to determine structure. The advantage of the low energy, low temperature mass spectra in identifying low energy fragmentation routes is emphasized.     

Doubly charged ion mass spectra. 7—acetylenes

Doubly charged ion mass spectra of 20 aliphatic and 3 aromatic acetylenic compounds have been measured using a double focusing Hitachi RMU-7L mass spectrometer. Spectra were obtained using 100 eV ionizing electron energy and 3.2 kV ion accelerating voltage. In general, the spectra of aliphatic type acetylenic compounds were dominated by fragment ions formed by extensive H loss from doubly charged molecular ions. Intense molecular ions were observed in the doubly charged ion spectra of phenyl-substituted acetylenes. Total product ion intensities for doubly charged ion spectra of acetylenic compounds were found to be smaller, in general, than the total product ion intensity observed in the benzene doubly charged ion mass spectrum. Measured appearance energies of intense product ions ranged from 24 to 47 eV. A geometry optimized quantum mechanical self-consistent field molecular orbital treatment was employed to compute energies and structural parameters of prominent ions in the doubly charged ion mass spectra of acetylenic compounds.     

The McLafferty rearrangement in aliphatic aldehydes and ketones—a previously unconsidered mechanistic pathway

The possibility of a mass spectrometric counterpart to the cyclobutanol formation which is encountered in the photolysis of carbonyl compounds has been investigated by preparing 5,5,5-[²H₃]-2-methylpentanal (II) and 6,6,6-[₂H₃]-3-methylhexan-2-one (III) and examining their mass spectra at high and low voltage.     

Low-energy,low-temperature mass spectra. 5-alkanals

The low-energy, low-temperature mass spectra of thirteen alkanals are reported and their predominant modes of fragmentation discussed in terms of energetics. Characteristic of this class of compounds is the very high proportion of odd-electron ions in the mass spectra, namely [M ? C_MH_2m]^+˙, [M ? H₂O]^+˙ and [M ? H₂O ? C_mH_2m]^+˙.     

Doubly charged ion mass spectra. 2—aromatic hydrocarbons

Doubly charged ion mass spectra for 15 aromatic hydrocarbons have been obtained using a Nier-Johnson geometry, Hitachi RMU-7L mass spectrometer operating at 1.6 kV accelerating voltage. The doubly charged ion spectra have features that are characteristic of the individual compounds. Unsaturated aromatic molecules show intense molecular ions in contrast to saturated, substituted or heteroatom compounds which undergo extensive fragmentation. Ionization energies for forming doubly charged molecular ions and appearance energies for the prominent doubly charged fragment ions have been measured. Calculations of the SCF energies and structures of various doubly charged ions have been carried out. Measured and calculated ionization/appearance energies are in reasonable accord and lend support to the suggested ion structures.     

o-nitroaniline derivatives. IV—The mass spectra of o-nitroanils

The principal feature of the mass spectra of o-nitroanils, ArCH?NC₆H₄NO₂(o-), is an intense peak corresponding to the [ArCO]⁺ ion; this implies oxygen transfer from the nitro group to the azomethine carbon during the fragmentation process. In this series of anils, loss of OH from the molecular ion is not apparently an important fragmentation pathway, in contrast to the fragmentation of o-nitrobenzylideneanilines. Benzylideneaniline derivatives with an o-nitro substituent in both rings have mass spectra which indicate interaction of both nitro groups with the ? CH?N? group, but in this series of spectra the [M—17]⁺ ion is again of low intensity.     

Low energy,low temperature mass spectra: I—selected derivatives of n-octane

The low voltage, low temperature mass spectra of a series of octane derivatives n-C₈H₁₇X with X=CH₃, OH, OCH₃, NH₂, NHCH₃, N(CH₃)₂, CO₂H, CO₂CH₃, CO₂C₂H₅, CHO and COCH₃ are reported and discussed, using arguments involving thermochemistry where appropriate. The structures of these compounds can be uniquely assigned on the basis of such mass spectra.     

The mass spectra of small-ring hetero-cycles—II. Aziridinones (α-lactams)

The mass spectra of six aziridinones (α-lactams) are presented. The six aziridinones exhibit the same general fragmentation pattern, the primary processes being loss of the N-t-butyl group, loss of carbon monoxide and loss of t-butyl isocyanate. Several additional rearrangement or fragmentation processes are observed with specific α-lactams.     

Fragmentation and rearrangement processes in the mass spectra of perhalogeno-aromatic compounds—VII. Pentafluorophenyl derivatives of nitrogen

The mass spectra of several perfluoroaromatic nitrogen compounds, including primary and secondary amines, diamines, nitriles, hydrazines, azines and azo compounds, are presented. Fragmentation patterns of these compounds are described and the data are discussed in terms of comparisons amongst perfluoroaromatic nitrogen compounds, and with reference to the hydrogen substituted analogs, or to oxygen and sulfur analogs of a particular compound.     

Electron-impact studies—LXXIV: A survey of rearrangement processes in the ‘doubly-charged ion’ mass spectra of aromatic compounds

The technique of Beynon² has been used to determine the ‘doubly-charged ion’ mass spectra of a variety of aromatic compounds which contain pronounced rearrangement peaks in their conventional mass spectra. Many, but not all, of the ‘doubly-charged ion’ spectra contain similar rearrangement peaks to those observed in conventional spectra.     

Mass spectrometry of nitroazoles 1–The mass spectra of methyl substituted nitropyrazoles

The mass spectra of all isomers of methylnitropyrazoles are reported. Generally, the spectra are characteristic of nitropyrazoles. In some cases however, ortho effects occur, recognizable by primary losses of, for example, OH^., H₂O, CHO^., CH₂O.