High resolution mass spectrometry—I. Some substituted δ-lactones

The mass spectra of some δ-lactones substituted in various positions by methyl groups have been studied both by accurate mass measurements at high resulution and by deuterium labelling. The loss of carbon dioxide has been shown to be important only for a mono-substituted lactone. A fragmentation mode common to all the lactones studied is the elimination of the ring oxygen atom, plus the adjacent carbon atom with its substituents, as a neutral carbonyl molecule such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or acetone. Deuterium labelling has uncovered the existence of a rearrangement involving hydrogen transfer in an even-electron ion, and a mechanism involving a six-membered transition state is proposed for this. The bond fissions, common to all the lactones, by which the principal ions in the mass spectra arise, are summarised.     

Mass spectra of esters of α-hydroxy and α-methoxy acids

The most abundant fragment produced by electron bombardment of esters of the type R¹R²C(OR³)CO₂R⁴ is the R¹R²C = \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{{\rm + } \cdot } $\end{document}R³ ion. Methyl glycollate (R¹ = R² = R³ = H, R⁴ = Me) eliminates the HCO˙ radical by a complex rearrangement involving the methylenic hydrogen atoms. The methyl and ethyl esters of methoxyacetic acid (R¹ = R² = H, R³ = Me, R⁴ = Me or Et) eliminate formaldehyde by the McLafferty rearrangement.     

High resolution field desorption mass spectrometry—I: Nucleosides and nucleotides

The first complete high resolution (HR) field desorption (FD) mass spectra (MS) are presented and constitute a helpful tool in the structure elucidation of biologically significant compounds. This is especially relevant for the determination of the molecular weight of substances with very low volatilities which suffer from thermal decomposition when evaporated into the ion source. An additional advantage is the very small sample consumption (in the submicrogram range). Further improvements in the ion production method are the introduction of high temperature activated emitters and a specially designed micromanipulator for optimal adjustment of the field anodes. These enabled values of mass resolution between 15000 and 25000 (10% valley definition) to be achieved when vacuum evaporated Ag Br plates were used for photographic recording.     

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.     

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.     

Chiral Zn-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of α-hydroxy ketones

The aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic α-hydroxy ketones was accomplished using a chiral Zn-quinine complex as the catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen. The resulting optimized reaction conditions were applied to resolute different types of racemic α-hydroxy ketones and a maximum of 9.2 selectivity (s) was obtained with 88% ee for the recovered α-hydroxy ketone.     

High resolution mass spectrometry—III: Loss of water from a nitro compound under electron-impact

Deuterium labelling has been utilised to elucidate the mechanism by which a molecule of water is eliminated from a heterocyclic nitro compound under electron-impact.     

High resolution mass spectrometric studies of some bicyclic γ-lactones

The mass spectra of three bicyclic γ-lactones have been studied, and the fragmentation pathways have been proposed with the aid of accurate mass measurements and metastable transitions. An unusually low [M ? CH₃] ion and the presence of an abundant [M ? C₅H₉] ion in the mass spectrum of dihydroactinidiolide were interpreted as a possible rearrangement involving a methyl migration. The eliminations of methyl radical, carbon monoxide and ketene are important processes in many cases.     

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.     

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.     

The high resolution mass spectra of α,β-unsaturated and α-chloromercuri-α,β-unsaturated steroidal ketones

The high resolution mass spectra (500 eV) of some α,β-unsaturated steroidal ketones have been studied and compared with the spectra of the corresponding α-chloromercuri ketones. In the latter, the carbon-mercury bond frequently remains intact at the expense of the fission of two carbon-carbon bonds. The abundance of mercury-containing ions allows the use of the mercury atom fingerprint in confirming ring B fragmentation of the steroid nucleus at C(6)–C(7) and C(9)–C(10) for 5α-androst-1-ene-3,17-dione, 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione and their 2-chloromercuri derivatives; and at C(7)–C(8) and C(9)–C(10) for 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione, 1,4,6-androstarien-17 β-ol-3-one and their 2-chloromercuri derivatives. 2-Chloromercuri-1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione and 2-chloromercuri-1,4,6-androstatrien-17 β-ol-3-one also give an abundant ion as the result of ring C fragmentation at C(8)–C(14) and C(11)–C(12), the chloromercuri group being replaced by a hydrogen atom. This ring C cleavage gives the only recognizable distinctive fragmentation ion for 1,4,6-pregnatriene-3,20-dione and 2-chloromercuri-1,4,6-pregnatriene-3,20-dione. For most of the mercurated steroids, the low resolution mass spectra (70 eV) are reported. In these spectra, the fragmentation patterns are similar to those obtained using the higher ionization energy employed for the high resolution spectra.     

Studies in organic mass spectrometry-XIII: Investigation of electron-induced isomerisation of αβ- and βγ-unsaturated esters

The mass spectral fragmentation of methyl esters of α,β- and β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been studied. Deuterium labelling, metastable ion analysis and high resolution mass spectrometry have been utilised to elucidate the mechanism of a number of fragmentations and to check possible double bond migration prior to fragmentation. Some breakdown modes were found to occur through double bond migration. Additional support was provided by application of the ‘Metastable Ion Characteristics’ method. Partial isomerisation of molecular ions must therefore be accepted.     

α-Silyl ketones: A high resolution mass spectrometric study

The mass spectrometric fragmentation modes of a series of α-silyl phenyl ketones are reported. For comparison, the fragmentation modes of the analogous silanol and α,β-epoxysilane are also reported. Migration of phenyl moieties to silicon is common throughout the ketone series.     

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.     

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.     

Studies in organic mass spectrometry—VI. The fragmentation of enol derivatives of acyclic β-diketones

The mass spectra of enol derivatives of β-diketones, such as enol ethers and enaminies are discussed. Their behaviour under electron-impact is in accordance with the fragmentation we suggested for an acyclic β-diketone in the enol form. Rearrangement of the enol functional group is observed in the spectra. This process is a general one, as it show not only migration of oxygen and nitrogen in the enol ethers and enamines, but also migeration of sulphur and chlorine in the thio-ether and in 4-chloro-3-pentene-2-one. Enol derivatives are suitable compounds for determining the branching of alkyl chains in β-diketones.     

Naturally occuring lactones and lactames—V: Halogenated β-keto esters as starting materials for the synthesis of tetronic acids

In an effort to improve and simplify the synthetic route to tetronic acids 15 differently substituted β-keto esters were investigated as potential starting materials. The β-keto esters were brominated and cyclised with 2·5 N KOH as cyclising agent. Tetronic acid and seven derivatives including the naturally occuring carolinic acid were obtained. In a number of cases products arising from a Favorskii rearrangment were isolated. The NMR spectroscopic data are discussed.     

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.