A tandem mass spectrometry and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance study of ionized ethylated acetone and deuterated analogs

The unimolecular dissociation of (CH₃)₂C⁺OC₂H₅ ions (I) and their deuterated analogs, generated by ion-molecule reactions (IMR) in acetone-ethyl iodide mixtures was studied by tandem mass Spectrometry methods. Two significant processes that yielded I ions were identified. The Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance study showed that the reaction between ionized ethyl iodide and neutral acetone was the principal source of I. This process involved the formation of the stable mixed ionized dimer, [C₂H₅I^·O=C(CH₃)₂]^+· (II), which dissociated by the loss of an I atom. Other important fragmentation pathways of II were the formation of C₂H₅I^+·, (CH₃)₂CO^+·; and (CH₃)₂COI⁺ and the loss of CH₃CHI^·. The major dissociation of I was the loss of C₂H₄. The activation energy for this reaction was determined by metastable ion appearance energy measurements to be ～55 kJ mol^?1 above the thermochemical minimum. The analysis of the metastable and collision-induced dissociation of D-labeled I showed an unusual time-energy effect on the degree of H/D mixing, with the highest selectivity for the ethene loss [β-H(D)-atom shift] being observed for ions with the lowest internal energies. Collisional excitation could not produce significant H/D mixing among dissociating ions. The results were rationalized by the existence of two species— the classical (2-ethoxypropyl) and nonclassical (proton-bound acetone-ethene pair) isomers of I. The classical structure was originally formed by IMR or from II. The energy barrier for the classical to nonclassical isomerization lay well above the thermochemical threshold for C₂H₄ loss, providing only limited H-atom mixing in nonclassical ions that were always formed in their dissociative state. The effect of the proton affinity of the carbonyl compound on the H/D mixing in RR′C⁺OC₂H₅ ions was studied. It was shown that the selectivity for the ethene loss (β-H-atom shift) generally increased with the increase of the proton affinity of RR′CO. Neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry was applied to a study of (CH₃)₂C⁺OR ions, where R = H, I, C₂H₅. The observation of a recovery signal for the ion I was attributed to the formation of the 2-ethoxypropyl radical. Neutral counterparts of (CH₃)₂COI⁺ ions were also generated, being the first example of IO-substituted alkyl radicals.     

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.     

Multiple stage pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry for generation and characterization of gas-phase ionic species. The case of the PyC2H 5 +· isomers

Eleven isomers with the PyC₂H ₅ ^+· composition, which include three conventional (1–3) and eight distonic radical cations (4–11), have been generated and in most cases successfully characterized in the gas phase via tandem-in-space multiple-stage pentaquadrupole MS² and MS³ experiments. The three conventional radical cations, that is, the ionized ethylpyridines C₂H₅-C₅H₄N^+· (1–3), were generated via direct 70-eV electron ionization of the neutrals, whereas sequences of chemical ionization and collision-induced dissociation (CID) or mass-selected ion-molecule reactions were used to generate the distonic ions H₂C^·?C₅H₄N⁺?CH₃ (4–6), CH₃?C₅H₄N⁺?CH ₂ ^· (7–9), C₅H₅N⁺?CH₂CH ₂ ^· (10), and C₅H₅N⁺?CH^·?CH₃ (11). Unique features of the low-energy (15-eV) CID and ion-molecule reaction chemistry with the diradical oxygen molecule of the isomers were used for their structural characterization. All the ion-molecule reaction products of a mass-selected ion, each associated with its corresponding CID fragments, were collected in a single three-dimensional mass spectrum. Ab initio calculations at the ROMP2/6–31G(d, p)//6–31G(d, p)+ZPE level of theory were performed to estimate the energetics involved in interconversions within the PyC₂H₅ ^+· system, which provided theoretical support for facile 4?7 interconversion evidenced in both CID and ion-molecule reaction experiments. The ab initio spin densities for the a-distonic ions 4–9 and 11 were found to be largely on the methylene or methyne formal radical sites, which thus ruled out substantial odd-spin derealization throughout the neighboring pyridine ring. However, only 8 and 9 (and 10) react extensively with oxygen by radical coupling, hence high spin densities on the radical site of the distonic ions do not necessarily lead to radical coupling reaction with oxygen. The very typical “spatially separated” ab initio charge and spin densities of 4–11 were used to classify them as distonic ions, whereas 1–3 show, as expected, “localized” electronic structures characteristic of conventional radical ions.     

Electron ionization induced metastable decompositions of isomeric trimethylsilylmethanol, (CH3)3SiCH2OH, and methoxytrimethylsilane, (CH3)3SiOCH3

The metastable decompositions of trimethylsilylmethanol, (CH₃)₃SiCH₂OH (MW: 104, 1) and methoxytrimethylsilane, (CH₃)₃SiOCH₃ (MW: 104, 2) upon electron ionization have been investigated by use of mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectroscopy and D labeling. The metastable ions of 1 ^·+ decompose to give the fragment ions m/z 89 (CH ₃ ^· loss) and 73 (^·CH₂OH loss), whereas those of 2 ^·+ only yield the fragment ion m/z 89 (CH ₃ ^· loss). The latter fragment ion is generated by loss of a methyl radical from the trimethylsilyl group via a simple cleavage reaction as shown by D labeling. However, the fragment ions m/z 89 and 73 from 1 ^·+ are generated following an almost statistical exchange of the original methyl and methylene hydrogen atoms in the molecular ion as shown also by D labeling. This exchange indicates a complex rearrangement of the molecular ion of 1 ^·+ prior to metastable decomposition for which as key step a 1,2-trimethylsilyl group migration from carbon to oxygen is suggested. A different behavior is also found between the source-generated m/z 89 ions from 1 ^·+ which decompose in the metastable time region to give ions m/z 61 by loss of ethylene and those from 2 ^·+ which decompose in the metastable region to yield ions m/z 59 by elimination of formaldehyde.     

Site of protonation of benzonitrile hydrogen interchange in the protonated species

The site of protonation of gaseous benzonitrile in reactions with H ₃ ⁺ , CH₃OH ₂ ⁺ , and CH₃CNH⁺ as protonating agents has been examined by using tandem mass spectrometry in combination with deuterium and ¹³C labeling. Metastable and collision-induced dissociation studies of C₆X₅CNX⁺ (X = H or D) show that proton attachment occurs on the CN group. The metastably decomposing C₆X₅CNX⁺ leads only to C₆X₅ ⁺ + XCN. This reaction proceeds via a mechanism involving H⁺ (D⁺) transfer from the CN group to the phenyl ring in which H/D exchange occurs. The efficiency of the CN-to-ring H+ (DC ) transfer increases in the order para < meta < ortho position. Evidence for incomplete H/D atom randomization in C₆X₅CNX⁺ prior to XCN loss has been obtained. Both processes, CN-to-ring H/D exchange and H/D exchange at the phenyl ring, are affected by the internal energy of the C₆X₅CNX⁺ ions. The results have been interpreted in terms of the internal energy distribution of the ions fragmenting within the metastable time window. Collision-induced dissociation of C₆X₅CNX⁺ causes the energy-enriched ions to decompose by direct bond cleavage into C₆X ₅ ⁺ + XNC.     

Unimolecular reactions of the isolated immonium ions CH3CH = NH+C4H9, CH3CH2Ch = NH+C4H9 and (CH3)2C = NH+C4H9

The reactions of ten metastable immonium ions of general structure R¹R²C?NH⁺C₄H₉ (R¹ = H, R² = CH₃, C₂H₅; R¹ = R² = CH₃) are reported and discussed. Elimination of C₄H₈ is usually the dominant fragmentation pathway. This process gives rise to a Gaussian metastable peak; it is interpreted in terms of a mechanism involving ion-neutral complexes containing incipient butyl) cations. Metastable immonium ions ontaining an isobutyl group are unique in undergoing a minor amount of imine (R¹R²C?NH) loss. This decomposition route, which also produces a Gaussian metastable peak, decreases in importance as the basicity of the imine increases. The correlation between imine loss and the presence of an isobutyl group is rationalized by the rearrangement of the appropriate ion-neutral complexes in which there are isobutyl cations to the isomeric complexes containing the thermodynamically more stable tert-butyl cations. A sizeable amount of a third reaction, expulsion of C₃H₆, is observed for metastable n-C₄H₉ ⁺NH?CR¹R² ions; in contrast to C₄H₈ and R¹R²C?NH loss, C₃H₆ elimination occurs with a large kinetic energy release (40–48 kJ mol^?1) and is evidenced by a dish-topped metastable peak. This process is explained using a two-step mechanism involving a 1,5-hydride shift, followed by cleavage of the resultant secondary open-chain cations, CH₃CH⁺ CH₂CH₂NHCHR¹R².     

A comparative study on the behaviour of 1,3-diheterocyclopentanes (X = O,O; S,S; O,S) under electron impact. The formation of thioacetyl and thiiranyl cations

The electron-impact-induced mass spectra of 1,3-dioxolane (la), 1,3-dithiolane (2a) and 1,3-oxatbiolane (3a) and their 2-methyl (1b–3b) and 2,2-dimethyl [(CH₃)₂: 1c–3c or (CD₃)₂: 1d–3d] derivatives have been studied in detail to gain further insight into their ion structures and competing reaction pathways with low-resolution, high-resolution, metastable and collision-induced dissociation (CID) techniques. For compounds 1a–1d the most significant reaction is loss of H^˙ and CH₃^˙ by α-cleavage and a subsequent formation of CHO⁺ and C₂H₃O⁺ ions. The [M ? H]⁺ ions from 1a and 1b give a C₂H₃O⁺ ion which does not have the acyl cation structure as shown by their CID spectra. In compounds 3a–3d the sulphur-containing ions predominate, the C₂H₃O⁺ now having the acyl cation structure. 1,3-Dithiolanes (2a–2d) exhibit the most complicated fragmentation patterns. Furthermore the [M ? H]⁺ ion from 2a and [M ? CH₃]⁺ ion from 2b have different structures as well as the [M ? H]⁺ ion from 2b and [M ? CH₃]⁺ ion from 2c, as shown by their CID spectra. This can be utilized to explain why 3a–3c and 2a give principally a thiiranyl cation, whereas 2b gives a mixture of this and the thioacyl cation and 2c practically only the open-chain thioacetyl cation.     

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.     

The structure and mechanism of formation of C5H9O+ from ionized phytyl methyl ether

The recent proposal that ionized phytyl methyl ether [C₁₆H₃₃(CH₃)C=CHCH₂OCH ₃ ^+· ] undergoes an allylic rearrangement to ionized isophytyl methyl ether [CH₂=CHC(C₁₆H₃₃)(CH₃)OCH ₃ ^+· ] before elimination of an alkyl radical is discussed. Both literature precedent and new results in which the structure of the [M-C₁₆H ₃₃ ^· ]⁺ fragment ion is established by comparison of its collision-induced dissociation mass spectrum with the spectra of isomeric C₅H₉O⁺ ions of known structure are inconsistent with this proposal. The forma Hon of CH₃CH=CHCH=O⁺CH₃ by loss of a γ-alkyl substituent without skeletal isomerization rather than CH₂=CHC(CH₃)=O⁺CH₃ after allylic rearrangement is explained in terms of a mechanism that involves two 1,2-H shifts, followed by σ-cleavage of the resultant ionized enol ether, C₁₆H₃₃(CH₃)CH-CH=CHOCH ₃ ^+· .     

Gas-phase fragmentation reactions of protonated glycerol and its oligomers: Metastable and collision-induced dissociation reactions,associated deuterium isotope effects and the structure of [C3H5O]+, [C2H5O]+, [C2H4O]+. and [C2H3O]+ ions

The chemistry of glycerol subjected to a high-energy particle beam was explored by studying the mass spectral fragmentation characteristics of gas-phase protonated glycerol and its oligomers by using tandem mass spectrometry. Both unimolecular metastable and collision-induced dissociation reactions were studied. Collision activation of protonated glycerol results in elimiation of H₂O and CH₃OH molecules. The resulting ions undergo further fragmentations. The origin of several fragment ions was established by obtaining their product and precursor ion spectra. Corresponding data for the deuterated analogs support those results. The structures of the fragment ions of compositions [C₃H₅O]⁺, [C₂H₅O]⁺, [C₂H₄O]^+. and [C₂H₃O]⁺ derived from protonated glycerol were also identified. Proton-bound glycerol oligomers fragment principally via loss of neutral glycerol molecules. Dissociation of mixed clusters of glycerol and deuterated glycerol displays normal secondary isotope effects.     

Characterization of five [C4H7O]+ Ion structures. Fragmentation of the 2-pentanone molecular ion

The [C₄H₇0]⁺ ions [CH₂?CH? C(?OH)CH₃]⁺ (1), [CH₃CH?CH? C(?OH)H]⁺ (2), [CH₂?C(CH₃)C(?OH)H]⁺ (3), [Ch₃CH₂CH₂C?O]⁺ (4) and [(CH₃)₂CHC?O]⁺ (5) have been characterized by their collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra and charge stripping mass spectra. The ions 1–3 were prepared by gas phase protonation of the relevant carbonyl compounds while 4 and 5 were prepared by dissociative electron impact ionization of the appropriate carbonyl compounds. Only 2 and 3 give similar spectra and are difficult to distinguish from each other; the remaining ions can be readily characterized by either their CID mass spectra or their charge stripping mass spectra. The 2-pentanone molecular ion fragments by loss of the C(1) methyl and the C(5) methyl in the ratio 60:40 for metastable ions; at higher internal energies loss of the C(1) methyl becomes more favoured. Metastable ion characteristics, CID mass spectra and charge stripping mass spectra all show that loss of the C(1) methyl leads to formation of the acyl ion 4, while loss of the C(5) methyl leads to formation of protonated vinyl methyl ketone (1). These results are in agreement with the previously proposed potential energy diagram for the [C₅H₁₀O]⁺˙ system.     

Thermal energy collisions between metastable Ne⋆(2p 53s,3 P 0, 2) and H2(X,1Σ g + )

A crossed beam experiment is used to investigate the Ne*(2p ⁵ 3s,³ P _{0, 2}) ? H₂(¹Σ _g ⁺ ) collision at thermal energy (67 meV). The H₂ beam is supersonic, the Ne* beam is thermal. Different collision processes have been analyzed separately by means of a double chopping technique combined with a time of flight measurement. Ions produced by Penning effect and chemi-ionization have been separated from scattered metastable atoms by an accelerating electric field small enough to preserve a reasonable angular resolution: δ?(ions)=±5.5°, δ?(Ne*)=±1°, which allows a determination of differential cross sections. The attenuation method, combined with an absolute measurement of the total H₂ flux, has been used to measure the total cross section: σ _t =940±220a ₀ ² . Differential cross sections have been obtained, in arbitrary but unique unit, for the following processes: (1) elastic collisions, for a mixture (1:3) of para- and ortho-hydrogen; (2) rotationally inelastic collisions:J=0→2; (3) Penning ionization resulting into H ₂ ⁺ ions; (4) chemiionization yielding NeH⁺ ions.     

Massenaufgelöste Übergangssignale der Ionen C3H5O+ und C4H7O+

Abundance ratios of C₂H₄ and CO loss (CH₄ and O loss) in the field-free region of a mass spectrometer have been determined by mass resolution of metastable peaks. Using the method ofShannon andMcLafferty the abundance ratios have been applied to characterize the structure of metastable ions. C₃H₅O⁺ ions from 10 compounds and C₄H₇O⁺ ions from 14 compounds have been examined. In the case of C₃H₅O⁺, three types of structurally different isomers are present. C₄H₇O⁺ ions represent a not equilibrating mixture of different. structures in some cases. From examination of 2-pentanone-1,1,1,3,3-d ₅, metastable C₄H₇O⁺ ions from 2-pentanone have been shown to consist of two structurally distinct types of ions which are assumed to be $$\begin{array}{*{20}c} {CH_2 - O^ + } \\ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} | & {||} \\ \end{array} } \\ {CH_2 - C - CH_3 } \\ \end{array}$$ and butyryl ion.     

An energy-resolved study of the fragmentation of ionized 1-Penten-3-ol

A detailed energy-resolved study of the fragmentation of CH₂?CHCH(OH)CD₂CD₃ (1-d₅) has been carried out using metastable ion studies and charge exchange techniques, combined with collision-induced dissociation studies to establish the structures of fragment ions. At low internal energies (metastable ions) the molecular ion of 1-d₅ rearranges to the 3-pentanone structure and fragments by loss of C₂H₅ or C₂D₅ leading to the acyl structure, [CH₃CH₂C?O]⁺ or [CD₃CD₂C?O]⁺, for the fragment ion. However, with increasing internal energy of the molecular ion this rearrangement process decreases rapidly in importance and loss of C₂D₅ by direct cleavage, leading to [CH₂?CHCH?OH]⁺, becomes the dominant fragmentation reaction. As a result the [C₃H₅O]⁺ ion seen in the electron impact mass spectrum of 1-penten-3-ol has predominantly the protonated acrolein structure.     

Consecutive reactions in the vitamin D series. A New insight into the mechanism of vitamin D and provitamin D isomerizations in the mass spectrometer

The individual steps of the consecutive reactions arising from metastable molecular ions, derived from vitamin D₃, vitamin D₂ and their respective provitamins (7-dehydrocholesterol, ergosterol), were examined in different field-free regions of a triple-sector mass spectrometer of B/E/E geometry. The comparison of the translational energy release (T) and the metastable peak shapes corresponding to these reactions, as well as unimolecular and collision-induced dissociation mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, showed that there are probably two structures of the [M – H₂O]⁺˙ and [M – CH₃˙]⁺ ions depending upon whether the respective ions are formed in the ion source through high-energy reactions, or from the fragmentation of metastable molecular ions through slow, low-energy processes which occur in the first field-free region.     

Electron impact ionization of unstable enols: H2CCHOH,H2CC(OH)?CH3 and H2CC(OH)?C2H5

Ethenol, 2-hydroxypropene and 2-hydroxybutene-1 were prepared by low-pressure pyrolysis of cyclobutanol, 1-methylcyclobutanol and 1-ethylcyclobutanol, respectively. Mass spectra, ionization energies, appearance energies of metastable ions and kinetic energy releases were determined on a reverse Nier-Johnson double-focusing mass spectrometer. Mercury and CH₃ radicals from the pyrolysis of dimethylmercury were employed for calibration of the energy scale. The ionization energy of 2-hydroxybutene-1 is 8.55 ± 0.1 eV and the appearance energies of [C₂H₅CO]⁺ and [CH₃CO]⁺ from that molecule are 10.25 ± 0.1 and 10.40 ± 0.1 eV, respectively. Changes observed in metastable peak shapes for certain fragmentation reactions upon pyrolysis are discussed.     

The heats of formation of some protonated olefinic carbonyl compounds: [C5H9O]+ and [C4H7O2]+ ions

The proton transfer equilibrium reactions involving 3-penten-2-one, 3-methyl-3-buten-2-one, crotonic acid and methacrylic acid were carried out in an ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) spectrometer. The semiempirical method MNDO, used to estimate the heats of formation for 14 protonated [C₅H₉O]⁺ and [C₄H₇O₂]⁺ ions and the energetic aspect of the fragmentations of metastable [C₆H₁₂O]^+. and [C₆H₁₂O₂]^+. ions, leads to the conclusion that the ions corresponding to protonation at the carbonyl oxygen are the most stable. Thus the experimentally determined heats of formation of protonated olefinic carbonyl compounds can be attributed to the following structures: [CH₃COHCHCHCH₃]⁺ (δH_f = 490 KJ mol^?1), [CH₃COHC(CH₃)CH₂]⁺ (δH_f = 502 KJ mol^?1), [HOCOHCHCHCH₃]⁺ (δH_f = 330 KJ mol^?1) and [HOCOHC(CH₃)CH₂]⁺ (δH_f = 336 KJ mol^?1).     

Fragmentation of selected C6H10O isomers: Evidence for a common [C5H7O]+ ion generated by methyl loss from cyclohexene oxide and 5,6-dihydro-4-methyl-2H-pyran

The loss of CH₃˙ from the molecular ions of cyclohexene oxide and 5,6-dihydro-4-methyl-2H-pyran has been investigated. On the basis of metastable peak shape analysis, collision-induced dissociation/mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and thermochemical data it is concluded that the same [C₅H₇O]⁺ ion is formed in both cases.     

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions with CH4, N2, H2, C2H4, and C2H2

Reactivity of positively charged cobalt cluster ions (Co _n ⁺ ,n=2?22), produce by laser vaporization, with various gas samples (CH₄, N₂, H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₂) were systematically investigated by using a fast-flow reactor. The reactivity of Co _n ⁺ with the various gas samples is qualitatively consistent with the adsorption rate of the gas to cobalt metal surfaces. Co _n ⁺ highly reacts with C₂H₂ as characterized by the adsorption rate to metal surfaces, and it indicates no size dependence. In contrast, the reactions of Co _n ⁺ with the other gas samples indicate a similar cluster size dependence; atn=4, 5, and 10?15, Co _n ⁺ highly reacts. The difference can be explained by the amount of the activation energy for chemisorption reaction. Compared with neutral cobalt clusters, the size dependence is almost similar except for Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ . The reactivity enhancement of Co ₄ ⁺ and Co ₅ ⁺ indicates that the cobalt cluster ions are presumed to have an active site for chemisorption atn=4 and 5, induced by the influence of positive charge.     

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.