Mass spectra of permethylates of spirostanol tetraosides

The design of the new MKh 1310 mass spectrometer with double focusing permits the recording of the spectra of sparingly volatile natural compounds with molecular weights of up to 1700 and, in particular, the permethylates and peracetates of spirostanol and furostanol saponins. The results are given of an investigation of the mass spectra of five spirostanol tetraosides in the form of their permethylates. The spectra contain the peaks of the molecular ions and of the products of their decomposition at the glycosidic bonds. The most important feature of the spectra is the fragmentation of the skeletons of the terminal saccharide residues starting directly from M⁺ in directions close to the directions of decomposition of the nonreducing unit of permethylates of oligosaccharides. The origin of the ions (M -191)⁺, (M - 175)⁺, (M - 162)⁺, (M - 147)⁺, (M - 131)⁺, (M - 118)⁺, and (M - 102)⁺ arising this way have been confirmed by measurements of their elementary compositions.     

Mass spectrometry of pennogenin glycosides

The electron-impact mass spectra of five unesterified pennogenin glycosides, which contain the M⁺ or (M - H₂O)⁺ peaks, have been obtained. The characteristic features of the fragmentation of these compounds have been studied. In addition to ions characterizing the successive elimination of carbohydrate units, fragments have been detected which show the breakdown of the terminal pyranose ring. Five new directions of the fragmentation of the spirostanol skeleton due to the presence of an OH group at C-17 have been found.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substance, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Pacific Ocean Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Science Center of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vladivostok. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 337–341, May–June, 1986.     

Mass spectrometic investigation of the structure and formation mechanism of ions in the autoionization of aliphatic alcohols

The structure and formation mechanism of ions in the field ionization of methanol and ethanol have been studied by isotopic labeling with O¹⁸ and deuterium, and mass spectrometric analysis. It is shown that these alcohols give identical mass spectra in the molecular ion region, these consisting of four lines: M+1, M, M–1, and M–2. The M+2 ions have the structure ROH·H⁺ while the M–1 ions are (R–H)·OH⁺. For methanol the M–2 ions have the structure of formaldehyde, and for ethanol they have those of both an aldehyde and a vinyl alcohol. It is also shown that field ionization may be used to study the catalytic oxidation of alcohols over platinum by free oxygen.     

Mass spectra of sulfinamide derivatives and identification of their thermal decomposition products

The mass spectra of 30 sulfinamide derivatives (RSONHR', R' alkyl or p-XC₆H₄) are reported. Most of the spectra had peaks attributable to thermal decomposition products. For some compounds these were identified by pyrolysis under similar conditions to be: RSO₂NHR', RSO₂SR, RSSR and NH₂R' (in all kinds of sulfinyl amides); RSNHR' (in the case of arylsulfinyl arylamides); RSO₂C₆H₄NH₂, RSOC₆H₄NH₂ and RSC₆H₄NH₂ (in the case of arylsulfinyl arylamides of the type of X = H) The mass spectra of the three thermally stable compounds showed that there are several kinds of common fragment ions. The mass spectra of the thermally labile compounds had two groups of ions; (i) characteristic fragment ions of the intact molecules and (ii) the molecular ions of the thermal decomposition products. It was concluded that the sulfinamides give the following ions after electron impact: [M]⁺, [M ? R]⁺, [M ? R + H]⁺, [M ? SO]⁺, [RS]⁺, [NHR']⁺, [NHR' + H]⁺, [RSO]⁺, [RSO + H]⁺, [R]⁺, [R + H]⁺, [R']⁺ and [M ? OH]⁺, and that the thermal decomposition products give the following ions: [RSO₂SR]⁺, [RSSR]⁺, [M ? O]⁺, [M + O]⁺ and [RSOC₆H₄NH₂]⁺.     

Differences in the mass spectra of isomeric benzolactams

It is shown that 3- and 4-substituted dihydro-2-quinolones can be distinguished from the isomeric dihydro-1-isoquinolones by mass spectrometry. The [M - CO]⁺ ion is characteristic for the mass spectra of dihydroquinolone derivatives, whereas retrodiene fragmentation of the molecular ion is characteristic for dihydroisoquinolone derivatives. The intense [M - R]⁺ and [M - R, - H₂O]⁺ ion constitute evidence that the substituent is located in the 3 (for dihydroisoquinolones) or 4 (for dihydroquinolones) position. The processes that occur in the fragmentation were confirmed by data from the high-resolution mass spectra, an analysis of the observed metastable ions, and an analysis of the mass spectra of 3-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1-isoquinolone and 4-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2-quinolone containing deuterium attached to the nitrogen atoms.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 246–249, February, 1979.     

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry of piperidine N-oxide derivatives and free radical quenching under FAB conditions

Mechanisms are proposed for the formation of M⁺, [M + 2H]⁺ and [M + 3H]⁺ ions in the fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of 4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxyl)-piperidol and its carboxylates. Free radical quenching induced by the fast atom beam has been observed. The effects of temperature on the radical quenching and of acid on the FAB mass spectra are discussed. The experiment showed that the volatile liquid samples with vapour pressures higher than that for glycerol produced M⁺ even-electron molecular ions, and the FAB mass spectra were similar to the corresponding electron ionization mass spectra. For the solid samples, it was found that the free radicals were quenched during the FAB process so that the mononitroxide and dinitroxide compounds produced [M + 2H]⁺ and [M + 3H]⁺ ions, respectively. Further experiments showed that the intensities and stabilities of [M + 2H]⁺ and [M + 3H]⁺ ions could be improved by addition of acids.     

Mass-spectrometric behavior of isomeric nitro- and nitroaminoindolizines and indoles

Peaks of [M — NO]⁺ and [M — NO₂]⁺ ions are characteristic for the mass spectra of nitroindolizines, whereas peaks of ions of the indole type, viz., [M — HCN]⁺ and [M- H,- HCN]⁺ (for alkylindoles), are not characteristic. In the mass spectra of nitroindoles the latter ions give more intense peaks, while the loss of a nitro group or its rearrangement is a considerably less significant process. When a dialkylamino group is introduced in the nitroindolizine molecule, the primary processes in the fragmentation of such compounds are due to fragmentation of the alkylamino group.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 765–768, June, 1982.     

Characterization of synthetic N-acetylcysteine conjugates by positive- and negative-ion 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry

N-Acetylcysteine and nine N-acetylcysteine conjugates of synthetic origin were characterized by positive- and negative-ion plasma desorption mass Spectrometry. For sample preparation the electrospray technique and the nitrocellulose spin deposition technique were applied. The fragmentation of these compounds, which are best seen as S-substituted desaminoglycylcysteine dipeptides, shows a similar behaviour to that of linear peptides. In the positive-ion mass spectra intense protonated molecular ion peaks are observed. In addition, several sequence-specific fragment ions (A⁺, B⁺, [Y + 2H]⁺, Z⁺), immonium ions (I⁺) and a diagnostic fragment ion for mercap-turic acids (R_M⁺) are detected. The negative-ion mass spectra exhibit deprotonated molecular ions and in contrast only one fragment ion corresponding to side-chain specific cleavage ([R_XS]^?) representing the xenobiotic moiety. In the case of a low alkali metal concentration on the target, cluster molecular ions of the [nM + H]⁺ or [nM - H]^? ion type (n = 1-3) are observed. The analysis of an equimolar mixture of eight N-acetylcysteine conjugates shows different quasi-molecular ion yields for the positive- and negative-ion spectra.     

Mass spectra of aroylindoles

The data from low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry constitute evidence for nonidentical structures of the excited molecular ions of 2- and 3-aroylindoles, and this makes it possible to reliably identify isomeric pairs. The presence of rearranged (M-H-CO)⁺, (M-OH)⁺, and (M-H₂O)⁺ ions was noted, and a mechanism for their formation was proposed.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 926–930, July, 1977.     

Features of the splitting out of a methyl radical from lycoctonine alkaloids under electron impact

The mass spectra of 53 alkaloids and their derivatives are considered. It is known that the presence of a C₆(OCH₃)-C₇(OH)-C₈ (OH) grouping in C₁₉-diterpene alkaloids leads to a high intensity of the (M - 15)⁺ ions at the expense of the C₆(OCH₃) group and considerably suppresses the competing processes of forming the [M - OH (OCH₃)]⁺ ions in the alkaloids and the (M - 56)⁺ ions in the anhydroxy bases. When the above-mentioned grouping is absent, the (M - 15)⁺ ions are formed mainly by the splitting out of a H₃ from a N-ethyl group.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii. No. 4, pp. 525–536, July–August, 1985.     

Intrinsic acidity and basicity of neutral and ionic species of some polyether-ester compounds as shown by mass spectrometry

The mass spectrometric behaviour of benzo-[o]-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacycloheptadecane-14,17-dione (1), 3,6,9,12,15-pentaoxabicyclo[15.3.1]heneicosa-1(21),17,19-triene-2,16-dione (2) and 1,15-dioxo-2,5,8,11,14-pentaoxa[15](1,4)benzenophane (3) has been studied in detail with the aid of linked scans, mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, collisionally activated decomposition experiments, exact mass measurements and different ionization techniques (electron impact, positive and negative ion chemical ionization, charge exchange, electron attachment). The very low abundance of molecular ions and the presence of abundant [M + H]⁺ and [M – H]⁺ ions under electron impact conditions indicate the presence of acidic and basic sites in the molecular ions and neutral molecules, respectively.     

Mass-spectrometric investigation of coordination compounds of nickel(II) with radical anions of S-alkyl-1-phenylisothiosemicarbazides

The electron-impact mass spectra of coordination compounds of nickel(II) with the general formula NiL₂, in which the radical anions [C₆H₅N -N-C(SR)=NR¹]^–, where R=CH₃ and R=H(I), R=CD₃ and R=H(II), R=C₂H₅ and R=H(III), and R=CH₃ and R=C₆H₅(IV), serve as the ligands, have been studied. In the mass spectra of compounds I–IV the peaks of the molecular ions have the highest intensity among the organometallic fragments. The initial stage of the fragmentation of [M]^+. is associated with the formation of the rearrangement ions [NiL + H]⁺, [NiL + C₆H₅]⁺, and [NiL + SR]⁺, ions, whose appearance becomes understood, if it is taken into account that the removal of one ligand is accompanied by the impairing of spins and the mass spectra of compounds I–IV is the presence of lines for the [NiL]⁺ ion in them. The dissociative ionization of compounds I–IV is strongly reminiscent of the behavior of ordinary complexes of metals with ligands of the nonradical type. The fragmentation scheme of the molecular ions under the effects of electron impact has been presented and discussed.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 368–371, May–June, 1990.     

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.     

Electron impact mass spectra of some dioximes of o-diacyl benzenes

The electron impact mass spectra of the new synthesized dioximes of o-diacyl benzenes (2) are reported. In addition to the molecular ion, characteristic peaks appear at values corresponding to the [M ? OH] ⁺, [M ? NOH]⁺ and [M ? NHOH]⁺ ions. No initial dehydration of the molecular ion has been observed.     

Mass spectrometric study of methyl-substituted 4-azaphenanthrenes and their nitration products

The mass spectral behavior of five derivatives of the 4-azaphenanthrene series — 1,3-dimethyl-(I), 2,3-dimethyl-(II), 1,2,3,-trimethyl-(III), 1,2,3-trimethyl-8-nitro-(IV), and 1,3-dimethyl-6,7-dinitro-4-azaphenanthrene (V) — was studied. The stabilities of the molecular ions with respect to gragmentation (W_M) are higher by a factor of two or more for the methyl-substituted I–III than for nitro derivatives IV and V. The intensity of the [M-H]⁺ ion peak in the mass spectra of I–V does not depend on the number of methyl groups but only on their positions: the presence of a CH₃ group in the 2 position leads to an [M-H]⁺ ion that is 1.5 times more intense than when there is a methyl group in the 1 position. The molecular ions of I–V do not eliminate HCN molecules; this constitutes evidence for the absence of randomization of their methyl groups. The presence of a CH₃ substituent in the 1 or 2 position does not affect the intensity of the [M-CH₃]⁺ ion peaks, while the simultaneous presence of CH₃ groups attached to the C₁ and C₂ atoms increases the intensity of the [M-CH₃]⁺ fragment peak by a factor of two. In the mass spectra of nitro derivatives IV and V, [M-O]⁺, [M-OH]⁺, [M-NO]⁺, and [M-NO₂]⁺ fragments are observed in the first step of the fragmentation of the M⁺ ion, whereas the [M-CO]⁺ ion peak characteristic for the dissociative ionization of 1-nitronaphthalene is also observed for 8-nitro-substituted IV.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1365–1369, October, 1977.     

Application of pentafluorophenyl hydrazine derivatives to the analysis of nabumetone and testosterone in human plasma by liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–tandem mass spectrometry

Two carbonyl compounds, nabumetone and testosterone, were derivatized with pentafluorophenyl hydrazine (PFPH) and analyzed by atmospheric-pressure chemical-ionization mass spectrometry. The PFPH derivatives underwent dissociative electron capture in negative-ion APCI (ECAPCI) and gave intense [M–20]^– ions in the mass spectra. In positive-ion APCI, the PFPH derivatives underwent efficient protonation and gave intense [M+H]⁺ ions in the mass spectra. In CID, the major product ions of the [M–20]^– ions in ECAPCI corresponded to the partial moiety of PFPH. In contrast, the major product ions of [M+H]⁺ corresponded to the partial moiety of the analyte. By using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) detection, low pg of nabumetone (1 pg) and testosterone (7 pg) could be detected in both ECAPCI and positive-ion APCI. In comparison with the detection limits (SRM) of the underivatized analytes, use of the PFPH derivatives resulted in 2500-fold and 35-fold sensitivity enhancements for nabumetone and testosterone, respectively. The PFPH derivatives were applied to the analysis of nabumetone and testosterone in human plasma by both ECAPCI and positive-ion APCI and were found to enable detection of 0.1 ng mL^–1 nabumetone in spiked plasma. For testosterone, endogenous testosterone in female plasma was detected in both ECAPCI and positive-ion APCI.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of halomethanes with tetramethylsilane as reagent gas

Chemical ionization mass spectra of halomethanes measured using tetramethylsilane as reagent gas exhibit three major peaks corresponding to [M + SiMe₃]⁺, [M − X]⁺ and (MeSi)₂X⁺ ions (X = Cl, Br or I). Dihalomethanes CH₂X₂ form the most stable silylated molecular ions, whereas in the mass spectra of tetrahalomethanes (CX₄) these ions have not been detected and the ions CX₃⁺ are the most abundant. Production of bistrimethylsilyl-halonium ions is the most pronounced process for haloforms (CHX₃).     

Mass-spectrometric study of 2- and 4-azafluorenones

A mass-spectrometric study of 2- and 4-azafluorenones and their mono- and polymethyl derivatives showed that the presence of a methyl group in the benzene ring leads to a sharp increase in the relative intensity of the [M — H]⁺ ion peak. In contrast to the fragmentation of 2- and 4-azafluorenes, the mass spectra of monomethyl-substituted compounds do not contain an [M — CH₃]⁺ fragment; this is probably associated with expansion of the pyridine or benzene ring to a seven-membered ring in the step involving the formation of the molecular ion due to inclusion of the methyl group. The intensity of the [M — CO]⁺ ion peak in the mass spectra of the 4-azafluorenones is higher by a factor of two with respect to the 2-azafluorenone isomers, and the [M — HCN]⁺ and [M — H, -HCN]⁺ ion peaks observed in the mass spectra of 2-azafluorenones are absent in them.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 89–95, January, 1979.     

Mass spectra of some (Z)-α-Phenyl-β-(2-thienyl)acrylonitriles

The mass spectra of some (Z)α-(4-R′-phenyl)-β-(2-thienyl-5-R)acrylonitriles (R = H, CH₃, Br; R′ = H, CH₃O, CH₃, Cl, NO₂) at 70 eV are reported. Mass spectra exhibit pronounced molecular ions. The compound's where R = H, and CH₃ are characterized by the occurrence of a strong [M - H]⁺ peak. Moreover, in all the compounds a m/z 177 peak occurs. In the compounds where R = H, [M - HS]* and [M - CHS]* ions are present except the nitroderivatives. Where R = CH₃, [M - HS]⁺ ion occurs.