Ortho effects in organic molecules on electron-impact I—Oxidation of olefinic double bond by the ortho nitro group in stilbazoles

The electron-impact-induced fragmentation in 2′-nitro-4-stilbazole is triggered by the oxidation of the olefinic double bond by the ortho nitro group in the initial step, while such an interaction under the same condition is totally absent in the meta and para isomers. The important fragmentation in 2′-nitro-2-stilbazole is the formation of a cyclised ion with the elimination of the nitro group.     

The mass spectra of benzamide and thiobenzamide

The mass spectra of benzamide, thiobenzamide and their N-d₂ analogues have been studied In addition to fragmenting by simple bond cleavages the molecular ions dissociate partly from their imide forms. Equilibration or ‘scrambling’ of ortho ring hydrogen atoms with amide hydrogen did not occur in benzamide but such exchange must take place in the thiocompound whose fragmentation behaviour is very complex. Neither labelled compound produced the label-retaining benzoyl (thiobenzoyl) cation which has been the subject of much interest in the mass spectrum of O-d₁ benzoic acid.     

The mass spectrometry of DT-and monosubstituted biphenyls: Dependence of fragmentation patterns on position of substitution

This paper describes the mass spectroscopy of a series of biphenyl derivatives substituted in the 2,2′, 4,4′ and 2 positions. The substitutent functional groups are carbomethoxy, carbothoxy, carboxylic acid and hydroxymethyl. In addition, some results are reported on the spectroscopy of the d₅-carboethoxy derivatives, the 2- and 2,2′-αd₂- hydroxymethyl derivatives and fluorene-4-methanol. The molecular ions of the 4,4′-disubstituted biphenyl derivatives are far more stable than those of the 2,2′ isomers. It is also observed that the fragmentation patterns of these two sets of isomers are sharply different. Paradoxically, the 2-substituted biphenyl derivatives give relatively stable molecular ions and their fragmentation patterns are frequently different from those of the corresponding 2,2′-disubstituted biphenyls. The bulk of the evidence presented in this paper suggests that the usual sort of ‘ortho effect’ is not a significant factor in the fragmentation mechanisms proposed for the 2,2′-disubstituted biphenyl derivatives.     

Formation of Cyclic ‘ortho’-Anhydrides of Heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylic Acids

1-(Alkoixycarbonyl)heptalene-2-carboxylic acids as well as 2-(alkoxycarbonyl)heptalene-1-carboxylic acids react with the iminium salt formed from N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and oxalyl chloride, in the presence of an alcohol, to yield the corresponding cyclic ‘ortho’ -anhydrides (ψ-esters; cf. Schemes 2,3,6, and 8). When the alkoxy moiety of the acids and the alcohols is different, then diastereoisomeric ‘ortho’ -anhydrides are formed due to the non-planarity of the heptalene skeleton. The approach of the alcohol from the β-side is strongly favored (cf. Scheme 5 and Table 1). This effect can be attributed to the bent topology of the heptalene skeleton which sterically hinders the approach of the nucleophile from the α-side of the postulated intermediates, i.e. the charged O-alkylated anhydrides of type 19 (cf. Scheme 6). Whereas the ‘ortho’-anhydrides with four substituents in the ‘peri’ -positions of the heptalene skeleton are configurationally stable up to 100°, the ‘ortho’ -anhydrides with only three ‘peri’ -substituents slowly epimerize at 100° (cf. Scheme 7) due to the thermally induced inversion of the configuration of the heptalene skeleton.     

The gas enhanced negative ion mass spectra of polychloroanisoles

Methane or a methane–oxygen mixture was used as an enhancement gas to obtain negative ion mass spectra of polychloroanisoles. Dichloroanisoles did not react with oxygen but the more highly chlorinated anisoles did. Compounds with hydrogen ortho to the methoxy group had [M? 1]^? ions, while others gave . The fragment arose through loss of an ortho chlorine and amethyl hydrogen. The loss of HCl followed by oxygen displacement of a remaining ortho or para chlorine produced [M? 55]^? ions; the para position was the preferred site of displacement. Another ion-molecule reaction with oxygen leads to [M? CH₂Cl]^?. The fragmentations resemble those of chlorinated aromatics such as the polychlorodibenzodioxins.     

Electron-impact induced fragmentation of 2-substituted pyridines and picolines

The fragmentation patterns obtained upon electron impact on 2-nitro-, 2-chloro, and 2-aminopyridines, as well as those of the corresponding 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-picolines were examined. There was considerable departure from those patterns reported for the corresponding benzenoid derivatives. Although the molecular ion from 2-nitro-3-picoline did not show fragment ions attributable to an “ortho-effect” (unlike o-nitrotoluene), those from 2-chloro- and 2-amino-3-picolines did show a loss of HCl and NH₃, respectively. Quite unexpectedly the ions from 2-chloro- and 2-amino-6-picolines also lost HCl and NH₃. Such meta-eliminations for the 2-substituted-6-picolines are postulated to be preceeded by either hydrogen or methyl migration. The mass spectra of 2-pyridone, 2-pyridthione and their respective 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-methyl analogs were also studied. The primary fragmentations of the 2-pyridones were as expected from those reported in the literature. The ions from 3- and 6-methyl-2-pyridones lost water also, the former being another example of an “ortho-effect” observed in this series. Of the thiones, the fragmentations of 3-methyl-2-pyridthione proved most unique since its molecular ion showed besides the loss of HS, the pronounced elimination of H₂S, the latter presumably due to an “ortho-effect.” Figures are presented to illustrate the patterns and metastable ions are indicated when found for the transitions discussed.     

Mass spectrometry of trialkylsilyl and acyl derivatives of 2′-deoxynucleosides

The electron impact mass spectra of monosilyl and mixed acyl-silyl derivatives of 2′-deoxynucleosides are described in detail. (Silyl = tert-butyldimethylsilyl, cyclo-tetramethylene-isopropylsilyl, or cyclo-tetramethylene-tert-butylsilyl; acyl = acetyl or trifluoroacetyl.) The interpretation of the fragmentation pathways was aided by metastable ion decomposition studies, precise mass and deuterium labelling measurements. Mass spectrally, the acyl substituents are mostly ‘passive’ and have (with possibly one exception) little fragmentation directing capability. In contrast, the silyl groups have powerful fragmentation directing properties. Elimination of the bulky alkyl radical R^˙ (tert-butyl or isopropyl) from the molecular ion produces the siliconium ion, [M–R]⁺, which is the precursor for most of the other prominent ions in the spectra. These arise from ‘siliconium ion rearrangements’ resulting from the interaction of the positively charged siliconium ion centre with the electron dense regions (i.e. oxygens) in the molecule, to form cyclic silyloxonium ions which subsequently decompose. Since the interacting oxygen and silicon must be sterically accessible, the fragment ion types and their abundances are very dependent upon structure. Consequently, [M–R]⁺ ions formed from 3′- or 5′-O-silyl groups give rise to different sets of daughter ions which, for the most part, are not found, or have very low abundances, in the mass spectra of underivatized or trimethylsilylated nucleosides. Detailed information on sugar and base moieties and isomeric substitution is readily obtained.     

Internal reactions of ion–neutral complexes from some disubstituted protonated benzaldehydes and acetophenones

Protonated benzaldehydes ‘a’ and protonated acetophenones ‘b’, substituted by a methoxymethyl group, a hydroxy-methyl group and a mercaptomethyl group, respectively, in position 3, in addition to a methoxymethyl side chain at position 5, have been prepared by electron impact induced dissociation from the corresponding benzylic alcohols. The spontaneous fragmentations of metastable ions of ‘a’ and ‘b’ have been investigated with the aid of specifically deuterated derivatives. Large signals arc observed for the loss of methanol induced by a proton migration across the aromatic ring. The competing loss of H₂O and H₂S, respectively, from the second side chain is less abundant, in agreement with the smaller PA's of HO? and HS? groups. The elimination of HCOX and CH₃COX (X = OCH₃, OH, SH), respectively, from ‘a’ and ‘b’ is also observed. The label distributions for these reactions are in agreement with a mechanism corresponding to an internal reaction of [CHO] ⁺ and [CH₃CO] ⁺, respectively, with the functional group of the side chains in an intermediary ion–neutral complex. In addition, fragmentations are observed arising from reactions between the two side chains at positions 3 and 5. The D labelling proves specific reactions without any H/D exchange and thus reaction channels separated from the methanol loss. The results are explained by internal ion-molecule reactions in an intermediary ion-neutral complex of a methoxymethyl cation, a hydroxymethyl cation and a mercaptomethyl cation, respectively, formed by a protolytic bond cleavage of the side chains.     

Gas-phase nazarov cyclization of protonated 2-methoxy and 2-hydroxychalcone: An example of intramolecular proton-transport catalysis

Upon CA, ESI generated [M + H]⁺ ions of chalcone (benzalacetophenone) and 3-phenyl-indanone both undergo losses of H₂O, CO, and the elements of benzene. CA of the [M + H]⁺ ions of 2-methoxy and 2-hydroxychalcone, however, prompts instead a dominant loss of ketene. In addition, CA of the [M + H]⁺ ions of 2-methoxy-β-methylchalcone produces an analogous loss of methylketene instead. Furthermore, the [M + D]⁺ ion of 2-methoxychalcone upon CA eliminates only unlabeled ketene, and the resultant product, the [M + D − ketene]⁺ ion, yields only the benzyl-d ₁ cation upon CA. We propose that the 2-methoxy and 2-hydroxy (ortho) substituents facilitate a Nazarov cyclization to the corresponding protonated 3-aryl-indanones by mediating a critical proton transfer. The resultant protonated indanones then undergo a second proton transport catalysis facilitated by the same ortho substituents producing intermediates that eliminate ketene to yield 2-methoxy- or 2-hydroxyphenyl-phenyl-methylcarbocations, respectively. The basicity of the ortho substituent is important; for example, replacement of the ortho function with a chloro substituent does not provide an efficient catalyst for the proton transports. The Nazarov cyclization must compete with an alternate cyclization, driven by the protonated carbonyl group of the chalcone that results in losses of H₂O and CO. The assisted proton transfer mediated by the ortho substituent shifts the competition in favor of the Nazarov cyclization. The proposed mechanisms for cyclization and fragmentation are supported by high-mass resolving power data, tandem mass spectra, deuterium labeling, and molecular orbital calculations.     

A study of rearrangement processes in the mass spectra of substituted diphenyl-ethers

An investigation of the mass spectra of a number of substituted diphenyl ethers has shown that the major fragment ions are commonly due to cleavage of the molecule into the two benzene ‘half’ fragments although in many cases the molecular ion is the most abundant species observed. Little evidence is seen of M? CO or M? CHO peaks in these molecules but a large number of different rearrangement processes have been observed which involve ortho-substituents. These rearrangement ions, although in some cases not very abundant, can be diagnostic in the problem of locating substituents in the diphenyl ether nucleus.     

Michael-Addition von Thiocarbonsäureestern Anwendung bei der Synthese von (±)-Jasminketolacton

Michael addition of carbothioates. Application to the synthesis of (±)-jasmine ketolactone It is shown that the lithium enolate of S-t-butyl thioacetate adds to 2-cyclopentenone in the β-position and that fluoride ions catalyze the 1, 4-addition of the trimethylsilyl enol ether of S-t-butyl thioacetate ( 5 ) to 2-cyclopentenone ( 4 ) to give 6 . These novel versions of the Michael addition have been applied to a synthesis of jasmonoid compounds. Cleavage of the trimethylsilyl enol ether in 6 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride produced the corresponding ketone enolate which could be trapped in situ by alkylation with 1-bromo-5-(2′-tetrahydropyranoxy)-2-pentyne ( 7 ) to form 8 . Removal of the alcohol protecting group in 8 , followed by partial hydrogenation of the triple bond over Lindlar palladium and mercury ion promoted hydrolysis of the carbothioate moiety in 9 , led to 5′-hydroxy jasmonic acid ( 10 , Scheme 3). 10 was converted into the S-(2-pyridyl) carbothioate and cyclized in dilute benzene solution under the influence of silver ion to give (±)-jasmine ketolactone ( 1 , Scheme 4), a component of the essential oil of Jasminum grandiflorum, in 72% yield. Similarly, methyljasmonate ( 2 , Scheme 2) was obtained from 6 by the reaction with 1-bromo-2-pentyne and tetrabutylammonium fluoride followed by methanolysis and partial hydrogenation of the triple bond.     

The fragmentation of 5- and 3-substituted thiophene-2-carboxamides under electron impact

The 70 eV electron impact mass spectra of twelve 5- and 3-substituted thiophene-2-carboxamides are discussed with the aid of exact mass measurements and labelling experiments. All mass spectra exhibit pronounced molecular ions. Some isomeric 5- and 3-substituted title compounds can be differentiated by mass spectrometry. The fragmentation is influenced by a strong ‘ortho-effect’ which activates the NH₃ elimination. In the other cases the most important fragmentation is NH₂˙ loss, followed by CO elimination.     

The mass spectrometric fragmentation of n-alkanes

The fragmentation of n-hexane, n-nonane and n-tetradecane under electron impact has been investigated, using ¹³C labelled compounds. The mechanism of the formation of the alkyl radical ions is quantitatively explained by using a method of calculation developed in an earlier publication for n-heptane. It is assumed that these ions are formed either by a direct C-C bond cleaveage or by a secondary olefin loss from an alkyl radical ion. In the latter case the probability for a particular carbon to be lost in the neutral fragment is assumed to be random. The probability for a direct cleavage to an alkyl ion is about 80% for an ion containing at least half of the number of carbon atoms of the molecular ion and 15% for the smaller ions. The [M? H]⁺ ion seems to be a special case not yet clearly understood. Former results about the loss of methyl from the molecular ion are confirmed.     

Novel Ortho effects detected in the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of substituted bisaryl phosphate antagonists of platelet-activating factor

A series of substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds, (R¹CH₂)⁺ ArOP = O(O^?)(OArR²R₃), was analyzed and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Abundant fragment ions were observed and correlated with the proposed structures. From fragmentation pattersn, ‘ortho effect’ reactions were demonstrated to have occurred when the phosphoryl oxygen reacted with the (CH₂R¹)⁺ and C?O(OCH₃) substituents in the ortho position, relative to the phosphate group, and displaced the R¹ and OCH₃ groups, respectively, to produce phosphorus containing six-membered rings fused to the aryl moiety. When the (CH₂R¹)⁺ substituents were in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were not observed. However, when the C?O(OCH₃) substituent was in the meta position relative to the phosphate group, an abundant fragment ion containing a five-membered phosphate ring fused to the aryl ring was detected with the original phosphoryl oxygen ortho to both the phosphate oxygen and a formyl group, formed from the original C?O(OCH₃) substituent. All other fragmentations not involving the ‘ortho effect’ reactions were nearly identical for the different structural isomers of the substituted bisaryl phosphate compounds.     

Reductive Radical Cyclisations of Bromo Acetals and (Bromomethyl)silyl Ethers of Terpenoid Alcohols

The tin hydride promoted and the reductive vitamin B₁₂ catalysed radical cyclisation of mixed 2-bromo-acetaldehyde acetals and of (2-bromomethyl)dimethylsilyl ethers of allylic terpenoid alcohols has been investigated: 3-oxadeca-5,9-dien-l-yl radicals undergo 5-‘exo’ cyclisation to oxolanes (Scheme 4), 3-oxa-2-siladeca-5,9-dien-1-yl radicals sequential 6-‘endo’→5-‘exo’ tandem cyclisation to cis-3-oxa-4-silabicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes (Scheme 5), and 3-oxa-2-silatetradeca-5,9,13-trien-l-yl radicals sequential 6-‘endo’→6-‘endo’→5-‘exo’ triple cyclisation to trans-transoid-trans- 12-oxa-11-silatricyclo[7.4.0.0^2,6] tridecanes (Scheme 6).     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of β-allenic and γ-acetylenic alcohols

The main fragmentation pathway of ionized hydroxyallenes (1) consists of a methyl loss. Extensive deuterium-labelling experiments indicate that the terminal allenic carbon is implied in this fragmentation. Collisional activation spectra indicate a propenyl-acylium structure (a) for these [M – CH₃]⁺ ions which can originate from a 1,4-hydroxyl migration followed by hydrogen rearrangements. Isomeric hydroxyacetylenes (2) behave similarly, also giving rise, by methyl loss, to acylium ions a. It is proposed that 2^{+ ˙} is irreversibly isomerized into 1^{+ ˙} by a 1,3-hydrogen transfer ‘catalysed’ by the hydroxy group. The proposed internal proton-bound complex justifies also the easier loss of water from 2⁺˙. Ethyl loss is also a prominent fragmentation for the hydroxyallene and hydroxy-acetylene homologues.     

Mass spectra of sterically crowded trialkylsilyl derivatives of nucleosides

The electron impact mass spectra of tert-butyldimethylsilyl-, cyclo-tetramethylene-tert-butylsilyl and cyclo-tetramethylene-isopropylsilyl- ether derivatives of ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides are described in detail. The interpretation of fragmentation pathways of full and mixed derivatives was aided by metastable ion decomposition studies, precise mass and deuterium labelling measurements, and spectra of mixed derivatives containing the ‘passive’ (in these spectra) trimethylsilyl group. The sterically crowded silyl groups have a powerful fragmentation directing effect. Elimination of a bulky radical, R˙ (tert-butyl or isopropyl), from the molecular ion produces the siliconium ion [M? R]⁺, which is the precursor for most of the other prominent ions in the spectra. These arise from ‘siliconium ion rearrangements’ resulting from the interaction of the positively charged siliconium ion center with electron dense regions (i.e. oxygens) in the molecule, to form cyclic silyloxonium ions which subsequently decompose. Since the interacting oxygen and silicon must be sterically accessible, the fragment ion types and their abundances are very dependent upon structure. Consequently, [M? R]⁺ ions formed from 2′, 3′ or 5′-O-silyl groups give rise to different sets of daughter ions which, for the most part, are not found, or have very low abundances, in the mass spectra of underivatized or trimethylsilylated nucleosides. Detailed information on sugar and base moieties and isomeric substitution is readily obtained.     

Collision-induced decompositions of [M – H]− and [M + Li]+ ions from fast atom bombardment of dinucleoside phenylphosphonates

The collision-induced decompositions of the [M – H]^? and [M + Li]⁺ ions of a few dinucleoside phenylphosphonates were studied using fast atom bombardment and linked scanning at constant B/E. Deprotonation takes place on the base or sugar moieties. The [M – H]^? ion decomposes mainly by cleavage on either side of the phosphonate linkage, leading to the formation of mononucleotide fragment ions and also by cleavage of the basesugar bond. Rupture of the 3′-phosphonate bond is preferred. Unlike the normal charged nucleotides, these neutral nucleotides do not eliminate a neutral base from the [M – H]^? ion. However, the mononucleotide fragment ions which can have the charge on the phosphorus oxygen eliminate neutral bases by charge-remote fragmentation. The 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl (DMT)-protected nucleotides show the additional fragmentation of loss of DMT. Li⁺ attachment can occur at several sites in the molecule. As observed for the [M – H]^? ion, the major cleavage occurs on either side of the phosphonate bond in the fully deprotected nucleotides, cleavage of the ester bond on C(3′) being preferred. Cleavage of the 5′-phosphonate bond is not observed in the DMT-protected nucleotides. Many of the fragmentations observed can be explained as arising from charge-remote reactions.     

Mass spectral fragmentation pathways in some dinitroaromatic compounds studied by collision-induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry

A collision-induced dissociation study of a series of dinitroaromatic compounds was carried out using a tandem BB mass spectrometer. Fragmentation pathways were determined in the electron impact mode. Loss of NO₂˙ from the molecular ion was observed In most of the investigated compounds. In some compounds loss of NO₂˙ occurred only after loss of OH˙. In other compounds it was not observed at all because of competitive processes, such as loss of NO˙, CO₂, CH₂O, C₂H₄ or H₂O. Loss of NO˙ was a major decomposition pathway, forming ‘dished peaks’ in some of the compounds having a nitro group ortho to a phenyl group, indicating a release of kinetic energy associated with the decomposition. Loss of OH˙ due to an ‘ortho effect’ occurred in compounds where a nitro group was ortho to a group containing a labile hydrogen, but was not observed when competitive processes such as loss of NO˙, NO₂˙ or H₂O occurred. ‘Nitro to nitrite’ isomerization was suggested to explain the decarboxylation process in 2,4- and 2,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and the loss of COH₂ in 2,4-dinitroanisole.     

Studies in mass spectrometry. IV—Fragmentation of aryltriflates. Substituent effects on [ArO]+ ion abundances: Looking for a best suited electron energy in the steady state approach. Experimental evidence for the ‘through bond’ stabilization of aryl cations by meta electron donor Substituents

The fragmentation patterns of 24 substituted phenyltrifluoromethanesulfonates has been determined by exact mass and metastable transition measurements. The influence of the ring substituent(s) on the abundance of the [ArO]+ ions has been investigated at low energies and a new standard parameter for plotting against Hammett's ó constants is proposed. The direct loss of CF₃SO₃ from the molecular ion of 3,5-(diisopropyl)-phenyl-, 3,5-(dicyclopropyl)phenyl- and 3,5-di(α-methylcyclopropyl)-phenyl-methanesulfonate, and further observations on the fragmentation processes of these compounds are consistent with M.O. calculations on the ‘through bond’ stabilization of the [Ar]+ σ state by meta electron donor substituents.