Fragmentation of some 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyran-4-one and pyridin-4-one derivatives under electron impact

Fragmentation of 13 compounds of the 4H-pyran-4-one and pyridin-4-one series under electron impact involves formation of rearrangement ions stabilized by multiple bonds and oxygen atoms (mostly [RC≡O]⁺ and RCH=OR′]⁺), as well of neutral molecules with low enthalpies of formation (CO, H₂O, CH₂O, CO₂, CH₂=C=O, C₃O₂, and RCOOH; R = H, Me, HC≡C, HOC≡C).     

Dissoziative ionisierung von 2-trimethylsilyl-1-phenoxyethan. Nachweis des nicht-klassischen ethylen-trimethylsilanium-ions in der gasphase

The mass spectrometric investigation of specifically deuterium and ¹³C labelled 2-trimethylsilyl-l-phenoxyethanes proves that the dissociative ionization of β-silyl-substituted ethane derivatives (loss of PhO^?; p-CH₃C₆H₄O^?; and C₄H^?₉ from PhOCH₂CH₂SiMe₃, p-MeC₆H₄OCH₂CH₂SiMe₃ and CH₃CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂-CH₂SiMe₃, respectively) yields the non-classical bridge ethylene trimethylsilanium ion and not the open-chain isomer. Other stable C₅H₁₃Si^+? ions, characterised by collisional activation mass spectrometry, are the dimethyl n-propyl silicenium ion and the l-trimethylsilyl ethyl cation, both generated from the molecular ions of CH₃CH₂CH₂Si(Cl)Me₂ and CH₃CH(Cl)SiMe₃ via unimolecular loss of Cl^?.     

A multinuclear NMR spectroscopy study of alkoxysilanes

¹⁷O, ²⁹Si, and ¹³C NMR spectra of more than 100 mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-alkoxysilanes R_4−nSi(OR′)_n; R = C_nH_2n+1, Ph, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br; R′ = C_nH_2n+1, CH₂Ph, CH₂CH₂Cl, CH₂CHCH₂, CH₂CCH, CH₂CF₃. (CH₂)₃Cl, (CH₂)₃CN have been studied.Linear relationships between the chemical shifts of ¹⁷O, ²⁹Si, ¹³C in alkoxysilanes and the inductive and steric constants of substituents R and R′ were observed. Different transmission of electronic effects along the SiO bond in various directions was revealed by means of ¹³C, ²⁹Si, ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy and correlation analysis. The results are discussed in terms of (pd)_π-bonding between the oxygen and silicon atoms in compounds containing an SiO bond.     

Elucidating the structures of isomeric silylenium ions (SiC3H 9 + , SiC4H 11 + , SiC5H 13 + ) by using specific ion/molecule reactions

Specific ion/molecule reactions are demonstrated that distinguish the structures of the following isomeric organosilylenium ions: Si(CH₃) ₃ ⁺ and SiH(CH₃)(C₂H₅)⁺; Si(CH₃)₂(C₂H₅)⁺ and SiH(C₂H₅) ₂ ⁺ ; and Si(CH₃)₂(i?C₃H₇)⁺, Si(CH₃)₂(n?C₃H₇)⁺, Si(CH₃)(C₂H₅) ₂ ⁺ , and Si(CH₃)₃(π?C₂H₄)⁺. Both methanol and isotopically labeled ethene yield structure-specific reactions with these ions. Methanol reacts with alkylsilylenium ions by competitive elimination of a corresponding alkane or dehydrogenation and yields a methoxysilylenium ion. Isotopically labeled ethene reacts specifically with alkylsilylenium ions containing a two-carbon or larger alkyl substituent by displacement of the corresponding olefin and yields an ethylsilylenium ion. Methanol reactions were found to be efficient for all systems, whereas isotopically labeled ethene reaction efficiencies were quite variable, with dialkylsilylenium ions reacting rapidly and trialkylsilylenium ions reacting much more slowly. Mechanisms for these reactions and differences in the kinetics are discussed.     

Quelques precisions sur les effets catalytiques des micelles cationiques hydroxylees

The alkaline hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate and of CH₃CO₂(CH₂)₂N⁺(CH₃)₂C₁₆H₃₃, Br^? was studied in the presence of micelles C₁₆H₃₃N⁺(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂OH, Br^? and CTAB, C₁₆H₃₃N⁺(CH₃)₃,Br^?. A pathway involving an intermediate is suggested for the hydrolysis of the ester. Hydrolysis rate of the intermediate in the presence of micelles is the same as hydrolysis rate for the ester in the absence of micelles. Consequently, hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate is not catalysed by one type of micelle, while it is enhanced by another type of micelle.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H6O]+˙ ions: 1—The enolic ions [CH2C(OH)?CHCH2]+˙ and [CH2CH?CHCH(OH)]+˙ and their relationship with their keto counterparts

The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion of structure [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ (a) is generated by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 6,6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The heat of formation ΔH_f of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ was estimated to be 736 kJ mol^?1. The isomeric ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ (b) was shown to have ΔH_f, ? 761 kJ mol^?1, 54 kJ mol^?1 less than that of its keto analogue [CH₃COCH?CH₂]^+˙. Ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ may be generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized hex-1-en-3-one or by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized 2-cyclohexen-1-ol was shown to consist of a mixture of the above enol ions by comparing the metastable ion and collisional activation mass spectra of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ ions with that of the above daughter ion. It is further concluded that prior to their major fragmentations by loss of CH₃˙ and CO, [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]⁺˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ do not rearrange to their keto counterparts. The metastable ion and collisional activation characteristics of the isomeric allenic [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion [CH₂?C?CHCH₂OH]^+˙ are also reported.     

The Reactive Sites of Methane Activation: A Comparison of IrC3+ with PtC3+

The activation reactions of methane mediated by metal carbide ions MC₃⁺ (M = Ir and Pt) were comparatively studied at room temperature using the techniques of mass spectrometry in conjunction with theoretical calculations. MC₃⁺ (M = Ir and Pt) ions reacted with CH₄ at room temperature forming MC₂H₂⁺/C₂H₂ and MC₄H₂⁺/H₂ as the major products for both systems. Besides that, PtC₃⁺ could abstract a hydrogen atom from CH₄ to generate PtC₃H⁺/CH₃, while IrC₃⁺ could not. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the MC₃⁺ (M = Ir and Pt) ions have a linear M-C-C-C structure. The first C–H activation took place on the Ir atom for IrC₃⁺. The terminal carbon atom was the reactive site for the first C–H bond activation of PtC₃⁺, which was beneficial to generate PtC₃H⁺/CH₃. The orbitals of the different metal influence the selection of the reactive sites for methane activation, which results in the different reaction channels. This study investigates the molecular-level mechanisms of the reactive sites of methane activation.     

Ethene elimination from CH3CH2NH=CH 2 + : Reaction pathways at the boundary between stepwise and concerted processes

The elimination of ethene from CH₃CH₂NH=CH ₂ ⁺ is characterized by ab initio procedures. This reaction occurs through several asynchronous stages, but without passing through formal intermediates. A potential energy barrier to hydrogen migration from the β carbon to N is largely determined by the energy required to cleave the CN bond, but is lowered slightly by H transfer from the β to the α carbon and then to N. The complex [C₂H ₅ ⁺ NH=CH₂] is bypassed, even though that complex could exist at energies only slightly above that of the transition state for ethene elimination. Furthermore, conversion of a substantial reverse activation energy into energy of motion causes CH₂=NH ₂ ⁺ and CH₂=CH₂ to dissociate faster than they can form [CH₂=NH ₂ ⁺ CH₂=CH₂]. Comparison of results for CH₃CH₂NH=CH ₂ ⁺ to ab initio ones for methane from CH₃CH₂CH ₃ ⁺ and elimination of ethene from CH₃CH₂O=CH ₂ ⁺ and CH₃CH₂CH=OH⁺ reveals that these dissociations occur in a similar but, in each case, a distinct series of asynchronous steps or stages, and that there is no sharp demarcation between concerted and stepwise eliminations as presently defined. In dissociations of CH₃CH₂NH=CH ₂ ⁺ , loss of electron density at the C in the breaking N bond leads the transfer of electron density to that carbon by migration of a hydrogen from the adjacent C. We attribute this to a requirement for the moving H to be close to Cα before the moving H can start to develop covalent bonding to Cα. It is also concluded that elimination of ethene from CH₃CH₂NH=CH ₂ ⁺ avoids a Woodward-Hoffmann symmetry-imposed barrier by H migrating sufficiently from the β to the α carbon on the way to N, so that the dissociation is essentially a 1,1 rather than a 1,2 elimination.     

A Correlation of the Chemistry with the Polymerization Rate in an rf Discharge of Methane

In a 150-V methane discharge, the rate of polymerization is approximately 3 times greater on the electrodes than on the walls. The sum of the C₁ and C₂ ions is 2 to 3 times higher in the dark space adjacent to the electrodes than in the space adjacent to the walls. Ethylene and acetylene are present in about equal amounts in all regions of the discharge. It is concluded that the ions C₂H₃ ⁺, C₂H₂ ⁺, CH₃ ⁺CH₈ ⁺, and CH⁺ have the greatest influence on the rate of polymerization, while the neutrals CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆ have the least influence.     

The role of ion–neutral complexes in the reactions of onium ions and related species

An account is given of the development of the proposal that ion–neutral complexes are involved in the unimolecular reactions of onium ions (R¹R²C?Z⁺R³; Z = O, S, NR⁴; R¹, R², R³, R⁴ = H, C_nH_{2n + 1}), with particular emphasis on the informative C₄H₉O⁺ oxonium ion system (Z = O; R¹, R² = H; R³ = C₃H₇). Current ideas on the role of ion-neutral complexes in cation rearrangements, hydrogen transfer processes and more complex isomerizations are illustrated by considering the behaviour of isomeric CH₃CH₂CH₂X⁺ and (CH₃)₂CHX⁺ species [X = CH₂O, CH₃CHO, H₂O, CH₃OH, NH₃, NH₂CH₃, NH(CH₃)₂, CH₂?NH, CH₂?NCH₃, CO, CH₃˙, Br˙ and I˙]. Attention is focused on the importance of four energetic factors (the stabilization energy of the ion–neutral complex, the energy released by rearrangement of the cationic component, the enthalpy change for proton transfer between the partners of the ion neutral complex and the ergicity of recombination of the components) which influence the reactivity of the complexes. The nature and extent of the chemistry involving ion-neutral complexes depend on the relative magnitudes of these parameters. Thus, when the magnitude of the stabilization energy exceeds the energy released by cation rearrangement, the ergicity of proton transfer is small, and recombination of the components in a new way is energetically favourable, extensive complex-mediated isomerizations tend to occur. Loss of H₂O from metastable CH₂?O⁺C₃H₇ ions is an example of such a reaction. Conversely, if the stabilization energy is small compared with the magnitude of the energy released by eation rearrangement, the opportunities for complex-mediated processes to become manifest are decreased, especially if proton transfer is endoergic. Thus, CH₃CH₂CH₂CO⁺ expels CO, with an increased kinetic energy release, after rate-limiting isomerization of CH₃CH₂CH₂⁺? CO to (CH₃)₂CH⁺? CO has taken place. When proton transfer between the components of the complex is strongly exoergic, fragmentation corresponding to single hydrogen transfer occurs readily. The proton-transfer step is often preceded by cation rearrangement for CH₃CH₂CH₂X⁺ species. In such circumstances, the involvement of ion–neutral complexes can be detected by the observation of unusual site selectivity in the hydrogen-transfer step. Thus, C₃H₆ loss from CH₂?N⁺(R¹)CH₂CH₂CH₃ (R¹ = H, CH₃, C₃H₇) immonium ions is found by ²H-labelling experiments to proceed via preferential α-and γ-hydrogen transfer; this finding is explained if the incipient ⁺CH₂CH₂CH₃ ion isomerizes to CH₃CH⁺CH₃ prior to proton abstraction. In contrast, the isomeric CH₂?N⁺(R¹)CH(CH₃)₂ species undergo specific β-hydrogen transfer because the developing CH₃CH⁺CH₃ cation is stable with respect to rearrangements involving a 1,2-H shift.     

Product distributions in the addition of the hydride ion to cyclopentadienyliron complexes of substituted benzenes

Fifteen [C₆H₅(X)FeCp]⁺ cations with substituents X having different electron-donating or electron-withdrawing effects were treated with NaBH₄ in glyme or THF. The relative distributions of products from o-, m-, p- and ipso-additions of the hydride ion to the arene ring were determined by high resolution ¹H NMR. For the η⁶-N,N-dimethylaniline-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron cation with the most electron-donating of the substituents studied, only m- and p-hydride addition products were obtained, while in the reaction with the η⁶-nitrobenzene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron cation, which contained the most electron-withdrawing of the substituents investigated, only the o-addition product was formed. For the other 13 cations, with X  C₆H₅O, CH₃O, p-CH₃C₆H₄S, C₆H₅CH₂, (CH₃)₃C, CH₃, CH₃CH₂, C₆H₅, Cl, COOCH₃, C₆H₅CO, CN and p-CH₃C₆H₄SO₂, o-, m- and p-hydride addition products were obtained in all cases, with a few instances also giving very minor amounts of ipso-adducts. The relative product distributions observed were interpreted by suggesting that while electronic effects played a major role, steric factors and free valency effects favoring o-addition as suggested by MO calculations [5] could also exert their influence in giving rise to the overall results.     

Formation and hydrolysis of gas‐phase [UO2(R)]+: R═CH3, CH2CH3, CH═CH2, and C6H5

The goals of the present study were (a) to create positively charged organo‐uranyl complexes with general formula [UO₂(R)]⁺ (eg, R═CH₃ and CH₂CH₃) by decarboxylation of [UO₂(O₂C─R)]⁺ precursors and (b) to identify the pathways by which the complexes, if formed, dissociate by collisional activation or otherwise react when exposed to gas‐phase H₂O. Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of both [UO₂(O₂C─CH₃)]⁺ and [UO₂(O₂C─CH₂CH₃)]⁺ causes H⁺ transfer and elimination of a ketene to leave [UO₂(OH)]⁺. However, CID of the alkoxides [UO₂(OCH₂CH₃)]⁺ and [UO₂(OCH₂CH₂CH₃)]⁺ produced [UO₂(CH₃)]⁺ and [UO₂(CH₂CH₃)]⁺, respectively. Isolation of [UO₂(CH₃)]⁺ and [UO₂(CH₂CH₃)]⁺ for reaction with H₂O caused formation of [UO₂(H₂O)]⁺ by elimination of ·CH₃ and ·CH₂CH₃: Hydrolysis was not observed. CID of the acrylate and benzoate versions of the complexes, [UO₂(O₂C─CH═CH₂)]⁺ and [UO₂(O₂C─C₆H₅)]⁺, caused decarboxylation to leave [UO₂(CH═CH₂)]⁺ and [UO₂(C₆H₅)]⁺, respectively. These organometallic species do react with H₂O to produce [UO₂(OH)]⁺, and loss of the respective radicals to leave [UO₂(H₂O)]⁺ was not detected. Density functional theory calculations suggest that formation of [UO₂(OH)]⁺, rather than the hydrated U^VO₂⁺, cation is energetically favored regardless of the precursor ion. However, for the [UO₂(CH₃)]⁺ and [UO₂(CH₂CH₃)]⁺ precursors, the transition state energy for proton transfer to generate [UO₂(OH)]⁺ and the associated neutral alkanes is higher than the path involving direct elimination of the organic neutral to form [UO₂(H₂O)]⁺. The situation is reversed for the [UO₂(CH═CH₂)]⁺ and [UO₂(C₆H₅)]⁺ precursors: The transition state for proton transfer is lower than the energy required for creation of [UO₂(H₂O)]⁺ by elimination of CH═CH₂ or C₆H₅ radical.     

Structure and fragmentations of [C3H7S]+ ions

The principal fragmentation reactions of metastable [C₃H₇S]⁺ ions are loss of H₂S and C₂H₄. These reactions and the preceding isomerizations of [C₃H₇S]⁺ ions with six different initial structures were studied by means of labelling with ¹³C or D. From the results it is concluded that the loss of H₂S and C₂H₄ both occur at least mainly from ions with the structure [CH₃CH₂CH? SH]⁺ or from ions with the same carbon sulfur skeleton, with the exception of the ions with the initial structure [CH₃CH₂S? CH₂]⁺, which partly lose C₂H₄ without a preceding isomerization. For all ions, more than one reaction route leads to [CH₃CH₂CH?SH]⁺. It is concluded that the loss of H₂S is at least mainly a 1,3-elimination from the [CH₃CH₂CH?SH]⁺ ions. Both decomposition reactions are preceded by extensive but incomplete hydrogen exchange.     

Gas-phase ion equilibria studies of protons and chloride ions in propanol and acetone

The gas-phase clustering reactions of proton in propanol and acetone, and chloride ions in acetone were investigated. The −ΔH_n−1,n values obtained for clustering reactions (n−1,n) were as follows: H⁺ (C₃H₇OH)_n−1 + C₃H₇OH ⇄ H⁺ (C₃H₇OH)_n, (2, 3) 18.9 kcal mol⁻¹, (3, 4) 14.2 kcal mol⁻¹, (4, 5) 11.7 kcal mol⁻¹; H⁺ (CH₃COCH₃)₂ + CH₃COCH₃ ⇄ H⁺ (CH₃COCH₃)₃, 14.2 kcal mol⁻¹; and Cl⁻ + CH₃COCH₃ ⇄ Cl⁻ (CH₃COCH₃), 12.4 kcal mol.⁻¹. For clustering reactions, Cl⁻ (CH₃COCH_3n−1 + CH₃COCH₃ ⇄ Cl⁻ (CH₃COCH₃)_n where n ≥ 2, the equilibria could not be established; probably due to the isomerization of ligand acetone molecules from the keto to enol form.     

C-C and C-H bond activation in the fragmentation of the [M + Ni]+ adducts of aliphatic amino acids

The major metal-containing species formed upon fast atom bombardment of amino acid/Ni⁺² mixtures is the [M + Ni]⁺ adduct, involving reduction of the Ni⁺² to the +1 oxidation state. By contrast, electrospray ionization of amino acid/Ni⁺² mixtures produces predominantly [Ni(M ? H)M]⁺; this species, on collisional activation, produces predominantly [M + Ni]⁺ by elimination of [M - H], presumably a carboxylate radical. The unimolecular fragmentation reactions occurring on the metastable ion time scale for the [M + Ni]⁺ adducts of a variety of α-amino acids have been recorded. The adducts with phenylalanine, α-aminoisobutyric acid and α-aminobutyric acid fragment by elimination of H₂O, H₂O + CO and, to a minor extent, by elimination of CO₂. These reactions are similar to those observed for the [M + Cu]⁺ adducts of α-amino acids. A reaction distinctive for the [M + Ni]⁺ adducts involves formation of the immonium ion RCH=NH ₂ ⁺ . By contrast, the [M + Ni]⁺ adducts with leucine, isoleucine, and norleucine show extensive metastable ion fragmentation by elimination of H₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₄H₈, with the relative importance of the different fragmentation channels depending on the configuration of the C₄H₉ side chain. These results are interpreted in terms of C-C and C-H bond activation of the C₄H₉ side chain by the Ni⁺. The adducts with valine and norvaline fragment in a fashion similar to the adduct with phenylalanine, except that minor elimination of C₃H₆ is observed.     

Mass spectrometry of transition metal π-complexes. XV—The effect of substituents on the fragmentation of benchrotrenyls under electron impact

Mass spectra of substituted benchrotrenyls RC₆H₅Cr(CO)₃ where R?H, F, CI, I, CH₃, OCH₃, COOCH₃, C₂H₅, N(CH₃)₂, NH₂, C₆H₅, C(CH₃)₃, p-C₆H₄NH₂, CH₂C₆H₅, CH₂CH₂C₆H₅), 1,3,5-(CH₃)₃C₆H₃Cr(CO)₃ and 1,2,3,5-(CH₃)₄C₆H₂Cr(CO)₃ have been studied. It has been found that for monosubstituted benchrotrenyls there is a linear dependence of the parameter log [Cr]⁺/[RC₆H₅Cr]⁺) on the number of degrees of freedom of the [RC₆H₅Cr]⁺ ion. Decarbonylation of the molecular ions is not affected by the nature of the substituent R. The results are interpreted in terms of the quasi-equilibrium theory of mass spectra.     

Temperature-programmed desorption/pulse surface reaction (tpd/tpsr) studies of CH4, C2H6, C2H4, and CO over a cobalt/MWNTs catalyst

Summary Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, and CO and temperature-programmed pulse surface reactions (TPSR) of CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, CO, and CO/H₂ over a Co/MWNTs catalyst have been investigated. The TPD results indicated that CH₄ and C₂H₆ mainly exist as physisorbed species on the Co/MWNTs catalyst surface, whilst C₂H₄ and CO exist as both physisorbed and chemisorbed species. The TPSR results indicated that CH₄ and C₂H₆ do not undergo reaction between room temperature and 450^oC. Pulsed C₂H₄ can be transformed into CH₄ at 400 ^oC whilst pulsed CO can be transformed into CO₂ at 100 or 150^oC. In gaseous mixtures of CO and H₂ containing excess CO, the products of pulsed reaction were CH₃CHO and CH₃OH. When the ratio of CO and H₂ was 1:2, pulsed CO and H₂ were transformed into CH₃CHO, CH₃OH and CH₄. In H₂ gas flow, pulsed CO was transformed into a mixture of CH₃CHO and CH₄ between 200 and 250^oC and was transformed into CH₄ only above 250^oC.     

The structure and energy of SiH+5. comparisons with CH+5 and BH5

Differences between SiH⁺₅ and CH⁺₅ are more significant than the similarities. The proton affinity of SiH₄ exceeds than of CH₄ by ≈25 kcal/mol. but the heat of hydrogenation of SiH⁺₃ is smaller than that of CH⁺₃ by nearly the same amount. Like CH⁺₅ the C₅ structures of SiH⁺₅ are preferred, but SiH⁺₅ is best regarded as a weaker SiH⁺₃—H₂ complex. D_3h, C_2v, and C_4v forms are much higher in energy and SiH⁺₅ should not undergo hydrogen scrambling (pseudorotation) readily, as does CH⁺₅ The neutral BH₅ is only weakly bound toward loss H₂, and the D_3h. C_2v, and C_4v forms are also high in energy. The contral-atom electronegativities, C⁺ > B > Si⁺, control this behavior. The electronegativities also determine the ability to bear positive charges. Thermodynamically. SiH⁺₅ and SiH⁺₃ are more stable than CH⁺₅ and CH⁺₃, respectively; hydride transfer occurs from SiH₄ to CH⁺₃ and proton transfer from CH⁺₅ to SiH₄.     

Loss of methyl from [H2CC(OH)?CH3]+˙ ions prepared by electron impact ionization of unstable 2-hydroxypropene

Unstable 2-hydroxpropene was prepared by retro-Diels-Alder decomposition of 5-exo-methyl-5-norbornenol at 800°C/2 × 10^?6 Torr. The ionization energy of 2-hydroxypropene was measured as 8.67±0.05 eV. Formation of [C₂H₃O]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺ ions originating from different parts of the parent ion was examined by means of ¹³C and deuterium labelling. Threshold-energy [H₂C?C(OH)? CH₃]^+˙ ions decompose to CH₃CO⁺+CH₃^˙ with appearance energy AE(CH₃CO⁺) = 11.03 ± 0.03 eV. Higher energy ions also form CH₂?C?OH⁺ + CH₃ with appearance energy AE(CH₂?C?OH⁺) = 12.2–12.3 eV. The fragmentation competes with hydrogen migration between C(1) and C(3) in the parent ion. [C₂H₃O]⁺ ions containing the original methyl group and [CH₃]⁺ ions incorporating the former methylene and the hydroxyl hydrogen atom are formed preferentially, compared with their corresponding counterparts. This behaviour is due to rate-determining isomerization [H₂C?C(OH)? CH₃]^+˙ →[CH₃COCH₃]^+˙, followed by asymmetrical fragmentation of the latter ions. Effects of internal energy and isotope substitution are discussed.     

Formation and fragmentation of gas-phase ion-molecule complexes of transition-metal ions with organic molecules containing two functional groups

A mass spectrometer fast atom bombardment source has been used to synthesize, in the gas phase, the ion-molecule complexes of transition-metal ions (Ni⁺, CO⁺, Fe⁺, and Mn⁺) with α- or β-unsaturated alkenenitriles, RCH=CHCN (R=H, CH₃, and C₂H₅) and CH₃CH=CHCH₂CN, and 2-methyl glutaronitrile. The metastable ion fragmentations of the complexes are monitored in the first held-free region by B/E linked scans. Surprisingly, an intense HCN loss via an intermediate (C _n H_2n ?2)?M⁺?(HCN) is observed for the complexes of the alkenenitriles. The metal ions significantly affect the fragmentation processes. The coexistence of both end-on and side-on coordination modes is suggested to explain the fragmentations.