Mass spectra of 1-(2′-hydroxy-5′-alkylphenyl)-1-alkanone (E)-oximes

The mass spectra of 1-(2′-hydroxy-5′-alkylphenyl)-1-ethanone (E)-oximes 1–6 and 1-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl)-1-alkanone (E)-oximes 7–12 are given and the major fragmentation pathways discussed. The simultaneous loss of water and alkyl moieties from the molecular ion indicates that a skeletal rearrangement take place and a cycloheptatrienyloheterocyclic system is formed. The McLafferty rearrangement, γ-fission in the side aliphatic chain and oxygen expulsion are discussed with evidence being drawn from accurate mass measurements, metastable ions and comparison with mass spectral data of related compounds.     

The structure of the product ion of a ‘McLafferty’ rearrangement

A series of alkylphenylketones has been examined. Whenever the alkyl chain is three or more carbon atoms long, the well-known McLafferty rearrangement occurs with elimination of the elements of a neutral olefin. The further fragmentation of the ion formed in this rearrangement reaction has been studied using the technique of ion kinetic energy (IKE) spectroscopy. The measured release of kinetic energy has been used to show that the rearrangement ion has an enolic type structure.     

The mass spectra of diaziridinones

The electron-impact induced fragmentation of four N,N′-di-t-alkyl-substituted diaziridinones (I to IV) has been studied by both conventional and high resolution mass spectrometry. All diaziridinones exhibit weak molecular ions. Ejection of an alkyl isocyanate, corresponding to the N-alkyl substituent, from the molecular ion, is a dominant and general fragmentation process. Isocyanate-type odd-electron fragment ions occur only in III and IV (where at least one R group is phenyl) and are of low abundance. Elimination of a hydrocarbon radical from the tertiary alkyl substituents is observed in all compounds investigated. McLafferty rearrangement with elimination of a neutral alkene occurs in all compounds. Abundant even-electron hydrocarbon ions corresponding to the mass of the N-alkyl substituent are prevalent. The complete absence of elimination of carbon monoxide is noted. Loss of oxygen from the [M ? RCH²]+ species has been confirmed by accurate mass measurement. Several remarkable rearrangement reactions have been uncovered by high resolution studies and deuteration experiments.     

Letter: electron impact mass spectrometry study of a series of substituted 5- aminoalkylmethyl-cytosines and their 1-N-(o-, m- and p-)bromobenzyl-substituted derivatives

The electron-impact mass spectra of 5-aminoalkylmethyl-substituted cytosine and of their 1-N- o-(m- or p-)bromobenzyl-substituted derivatives are discussed. The influence of 5-aminoalkyl and 1-N-bromobenzyl substituents on the mode of mass fragmentation occurring upon electron impact ionization was demonstrated. The fragmentation pathways of all compounds and the characteristic ions in these spectra originating from the McLafferty rearrangement, RDA reactions and simple cleavages are presented.     

Electron-impact induced fragmentation of partially fluorinated β-diketones

The ionic fragmentation of twelve partially fluorinated β-diketones, RCOCH₂COCF₃ was studied with a medium resolution mass spectrometer. In addition to the anticipated fragmentation by β-cleavage, a number of interesting rearrangements are observed. [CF₃COCH₂CO]⁺., an ion common to all of the compounds investigated, decomposes predominantly by elimination of HF. When R is an alkyl group containing hydrogen γ to the adgacent carbonyl, the McLafferty rearrangement occurs. The [RCOCH₂CO]⁺.ion eliminates neutral RH when R is phenyl, thienyl, or cyclopropyl. An intense metastable peak, absent when R is an alkyl substituent, accompanies the rearrangement in these three compounds. A number of fragments characteristic of the R substituent are also observed in many cases. This is interpreted as indicating a considerable degree of charge localization on the R moiety.     

Fragmentation sous impact electronique de l'acetate de tertiobutyle

The mass spectral fragmentation of tert-butylacetate has been studied by means of high resolution studies, deuterium labelling and metastable transition determinations. Besides the McLafferty rearrangement, two less classical rearrangement mechanisms of oxygen-containing ions are observed and some isotope effects are reported.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of steroidal diketones with ‘abnormal’ stereochemistry

The mass spectral fragmentations of steroidal diketones with ‘unnatural’ sterechemistry at positions 8, 9 and 14 have been examined by the use of high resolution, metastable defocusing and isotopic labeling techniques. In addition, the elucidation of fragmentation pathways was greatly facilitated by the use of the INTSUM computer program. In contrast to 14α-11-ones, where the McLafferty rearrangement is of minor importance in directing the fragmentation, it is suggested that the ketones in the present study, by virtue of their ring C flexibility, readily undergo the McLafferty rearrangement. If correct, this would represent a further example of available ground state conformations controlling fragmentation after electron impact.     

浅析质谱中的广义麦式重排

麦氏重排是对质谱分析中分子离子的重排反应提出的经验规则。对经典麦式重排的概念、裂解过程及其应用做进一步拓展,形成了广义麦式重排。在广义麦式重排中,γ-H的经典麦式重排是一步完成的六元环协同裂解,分子离子亦可通过六元环或五元环过渡态进行协同重排裂解,发生相应的γ-R、β-H(或R)的迁移,产生不同的碎片离子。这种广义麦氏重排在各种常见官能团化合物中均可发生,其在质谱解析和化合物结构研究中具有广泛应用。     

Spectrométrie de Masse—IV: Fragmentation des Dicétones—ϵ

The mass spectra of ten symmetrical ?-diketones are reported and a number of fragmentation patterns are documented by deuterium labelling experiments. The McLafferty rearrangement involving one of the carbonyl groups is not an important fragmentation pathway although such a double rearrangement is observed for long-chained ?-diketones. Special attention has been given to the ions resulting from the loss of either a molecule of water or the neutral species C₂H₄ which may involve an electron-impact induced formation of cyclobutanol-type ions analogous to the photochemical Yang's reaction.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CXCIX Contrasting fragmentations of singly- and doubly-charged o-, m- and p-hydroxyalkylphenones and their trimethylsilyl ethers

High resolution mass spectrometry, metastable defocusing and deuterium labeling of trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers have been used to study the electron-impact induced fragmentations of o-, m- and p-hydroxyalkylphenones and their TMS ether derivatives. These derivatives have proven useful in contrasting the fragmentation patterns of singly- and doubly-charged ions because of the competing fragmentations: α-cleavage and a McLafferty rearrangement from the ketone moiety and methyl cleavage from the TMS group. A proximity effect was responsible for a markedly increased methyl radical loss from the o-TMS ether. This fragmentation was minor with the m- and p-isomers. Significantly intense doubly-charged ions were formed from ketonic cleavage and by the loss of a TMS methyl radical. The sequence of fragmentation depended on the size of the alkyl group attached to the ketone carbonyl. There was no evidence found for a McLafferty rearrangement occurring from the doubly-charged molecular ion of the TMS ethers of the hydroxyalkylphenones but the rearrangement occurred from the doubly-charge molecular ion of bis-3-(1-oxopentyl)-4-hydroxy-phenyl-methane and, of course, from the singly charged [M]^+. The bis-p-hydroxyphenylmethane derivatives were studied in an effort to increase the intensity of the doubly-charged ions as it was expected that the charges would be separated by a longer distance.     

The mass spectra of some aliphatic and alicyclic sulphoxides and sulphones

Characteristic fragmentation processes of aliphatic sulphoxides and sulphones such as loss of hydroxyl, ‘alkene’ and/or ‘alkenyl’ are associated with hydrogen migrations to oxygen. A study of the mass spectra of di-n-butyl sulphoxide and sulphone, the saturated five-, six- and seven-membered ring sulphoxides and sulphones and their site-specifically deuterated analogues shows that these hydrogen migrations are nonspecific. Apparently steric factors play an important role in determining the relative contributions of initial hydrogen transfer from the various positions. The sites of abstraction probably determine the extent of competition between consecutive or concerted loss of hydroxyl, carbon-sulphur fission or other processes (e.g. McLafferty rearrangement). Apart from the McLafferty rearrangement only the loss of hydroxyl from sulphones shows a strong dependence on the site of initial hydrogen abstraction: γ-hydrogen is lost preferentially, yielding a cyclized [M ? OH] ion.     

Fragmentation of oxime and silyl oxime ether odd‐electron positive ions by the McLafferty rearrangement: new insights on structural factors that promote α,β fragmentation

The McLafferty rearrangement is an extensively studied fragmentation reaction for the odd‐electron positive ions from a diverse range of functional groups and molecules. Here, we present experimental and theoretical results of 12 model compounds that were synthesized and investigated by GC‐TOF MS and density functional theory calculations. These compounds consisted of three main groups: carbonyls, oximes and silyl oxime ethers. In all electron ionization mass spectra, the fragment ions that could be attributed to the occurrence of a McLafferty rearrangement were observed. For t‐butyldimethylsilyl oxime ethers with oxygen in a β‐position, the McLafferty rearrangement was accompanied by loss of the t‐butyl radical. The various mass spectra showed that the McLafferty rearrangement is relatively enhanced compared with other primary fragmentation reactions by the following factors: oxime versus carbonyl, oxygen versus methylene at the β‐position and ketone versus aldehyde. Calculations predict that the stepwise mechanism is favored over the concerted mechanism for all but one compound. For carbonyl compounds, C–C bond breaking was the rate‐determining step. However, for both the oximes and t‐butyldimethylsilyl oxime ethers with oxygen at the β‐position, the hydrogen transfer step was rate limiting, whereas with a CH₂ group at the β‐position, the C–C bond breaking was again rate determining. n‐Propoxy‐acetaldehyde, bearing an oxygen atom at the β‐position, is the only case that was predicted to proceed through a concerted mechanism. The synthesized oximes exist as both the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers, and these were separable by GC. In the mass spectra of the two isomers, fragment ions that were generated by the McLafferty rearrangement were observed. Finally, fragment ions corresponding to the McLafferty reverse charge rearrangement were observed for all compounds at varying relative ion intensities compared with the conventional McLafferty rearrangement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aryl versus alkyl and vinyl migration in the mass spectra of sulphone derivatives

The 2-acetoxyethyl aryl sulphones were found to be unsuitable for a comparative study with the corresponding chlorides and alcohols as their predominant fragmentation involved cleavage of the aliphatic carbon-sulphur bond with charge retention on the aliphatic part of the molecule The expected McLafferty rearrangement to yield an intermediate vinyl species was only a minor fragmentation path. Indirect evidence for alkyl migration in the molecular ion was found in the spectrum of 2-acetoxyethyl 1-paranitro phenyl sulphone. The spectra of the aryl vinyl sulphones revealed intense [Aryl SO]+ ions resulting from preferred migration of the vinyl group from sulphur to oxygen.     

Single and double hydrogen rearrangements in the mass spectra of O-ethyl,S-alkyl methanephosphonothioates

Whereas the oxygen analogues of the title series gives rise to double hydrogen rearrangement on electron-impact, alkylthiophosphonates show in addition a McLafferty rearrangement. The quantitative relationship between these two rearrangements in the thio series is dependent upon the chain length and branching on the alkyl group attached to sulphur. Comparison of the mass spectra of these compounds indicates that in the pathway of the double hydrogen rearrangement the hydrogen transferred to the sulphur atom originates primarily from the carbon δ to sulphur.     

The mass spectra of some α-lactams

The electron-impact induced fragmentation of eight aziridinones has been studied by conventional as well as by high resolution mass spectrometry. All α-lactams exhibit a molecular ion. The major primary step, in the fragmentation, is the ejection of carbon monoxide from the molecular ion. Ions of the general formula R₁? NC and R₂R₃C?O were found in the mass spectra of all α-lactams investigated. A skeletal rearrangement to rationalize these ions is proposed. The fragmentation of the molecular ion is affected by the N-substituent. Exact mass measurement and specific deuterium labeling indicate the absence of McLafferty rearrangement from either the N- or C-substituent.     

Characterization of different poly(2‐oxazoline) block copolymers by MALDI‐TOF MS/MS and ESI‐Q‐TOF MS/MS

A complete library of poly(2‐oxazoline) block copolymers was synthesized via cationic ring opening polymerization for the characterization by two different soft ionization techniques, namely matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐Q‐TOF MS). In addition, a detailed characterization was performed by tandem MS to gain more structural information about the block copolymer composition and its fragmentation behavior. The fragmentation of the poly(2‐oxazoline) block copolymers revealed the desired polymer structure and possible side reactions, which could be explained by different mechanisms, like 1,4‐ethylene or hydrogen elimination and the McLafferty +1 rearrangement. Polymers with aryl side groups showed less fragmentation due to their higher stability compared to polymers with alkyl side groups. These insights represent a further step toward the construction of a library with fragments and their fragmentation pathways for synthetic polymers, following the successful examples in proteomics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Structural analysis of diacyl peroxides by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with ammonium acetate: bond homolysis of peroxide-ammonium and peroxide-proton adducts

Organic peroxides have significant implications in organic chemistry and biological processes. The weak O-O bond makes them extremely difficult to characterize by conventional analytical methods. Diacyl peroxides are one of the major radical sources in polymerization and organic synthesis. It is well known that diacyl peroxides are thermal labile and thus are not amenable to study by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) has been applied to the structural analysis of diacyl peroxides by formation of ammonium adducts. Collision induced dissociation (CID) studies of the ammonium adducts of the peroxide [M + NH(4)](+) give collision energy dependent fragments. For most diacyl peroxides, homolysis of the peroxy bond predominates the fragmentation pathways of the peroxide-ammonium adducts. Deuterated substrates have been employed to provide evidence for typical fragmentation pathways. The CID studies were also used to locate the O-18 in some O-18 specifically labeled diacyl peroxides. For branched alkyl or alkoxy substrates, McLafferty rearrangement and decarboxylation become a major pathway. By comparison with some anhydride analogues, ESI-MS/MS can also be used to study this class of compounds.     

Gaseous alkyne ions

Using the relative abundance of metastable ions, collisional activation spectra, field ionization kinetic measurements, isotopic labelling, appearance energy and kinetic energy release data, it is shown that linear alkyne radical cations with more than six carbon atoms do not isomerize to equilibrating structures prior to decomposition. At the shortest ion lifetimes the molecular ions of linear alkynes decompose mainly by simple β-bond fission which allows an unequivocal localization of the triple bond. At medium ion lifetimes fragmentation occurs predominantly via a McLafferty rearrangement, while at long ion lifetimes competing alkyl losses prevail. These alkyl losses occur via cyclic intermediates leading to thermochemically stable cycloalkenyl ions. All these reactions occur with a high specificity with respect to the carbon and hydrogen atoms involved and are preceded by little or no hydrogen exchange reactions.     

Massenspektrometrische Fragmentierungen β-Substituierter Adamantanone und Adamantandione

High resolution mass measurements and defocused metastable ion detection have been employed in an investigation of the electron-impact-induced fragmentation of a series of β-substituted adamantanones and adamantanediones. Whereas the isomeric bromo-, iodo- and thiocyanato-adamantanones give almost identical spectra, the fragmentation of the fluoro and chloro derivatives is dependent on whether the substituents are ‘axial’ or ‘equatorial’. Hydroxy- and acetoxy-adaman-tanones exhibit rather complex mass spectra. Adamantanediones, substituted in the β-position by various COR- and NR₁R₂-groups, exhibit characteristic ion peaks which are formed by McLafferty rearrangement and α-cleavage with subsequent elimination of carbon monoxide and allylic bond fission. The mass spectral behaviour of the isomeric hydroxy-carbomethoxy-adamantanones and dihydroxy-adamantanes is determined by the orientation of the functional groups.