Fragmentation of certain substituted azadispiro(5.1.5.2)pentadec-9-ene and azadispiro(4.1.4.2)tridec-8-ene derivatives under electron ionization

A study of the electron ionization mass spectra of certain azadispiro(5.1.5.2)pentadec-9-ene-7,15-diones and azadispiro(4.1.4.2)tridec-8-ene-6,13-diones and their derivatives has revealed that these molecules undergo fragmentation primarily by two routes, viz. loss of CO and elimination of the substituent on the pyrrolidine nitrogen. Under positive ionization conditions loss of CO is the predominant process in the diones as it releases the ring strain, while in the 6- or 7-ols loss of the substituent on nitrogen is the favoured pathway. The further decomposition pathways of these primary fragments [M ? CO]⁺˙ and [M ? OR³]⁺ have been delineated with the help of high-resolution mass measurements, D₂O exchange and metastable spectra, These compounds give very simple negative ion spectra showing only [M ? OR³]^? and [NCO]^? ions except the N-hydroxy compounds which show [M ? H]^? ions as well.     

Ion-molecule reactions observed for nitroaromatic compounds in negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Analyses of a series of nitroaromatic compounds using fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry are discussed. An interesting ion-molecule reaction leading to [M + O ? H]^? ions is observed in the negative ion FAB spectra. Evidence from linked-scan and collision-induced dissociation spectra proved that [M + O ? H]^? ions are produced by the following reaction: M + NO₂^? → [M + NO₂]^? → [M + O ? H]^?. These experiments also showed that M^?˙ ions are produced in part by the exchange of an electron between M and NO₂^? species. All samples showed M^?˙, [M ? H]^? or both ions in their negative ion FAB spectra. Not all analytes studied showed either [M + H]⁺ and/or M⁺˙ in the positive ion FAB spectra. No M⁺˙ ions were observed for ions having ionization energies above ～9 eV.     

Characterization of C8H10 alkylbenzenes by negative ion mass spectrometry

The O^?˙ chemical ionization mass spectrri of the C₈H₁₀ alkylbenzenes, o-, m-. andp -xylene and ethylbenzene, show formation of [M ? H + O]^?, [M ? H]^?, [M ? H₂]^?˙ and, for the xylenes, [M ? CH₃ + O]^? as primary reaction products; the relative importance of these products depends on the isomer. However, [OH]^? is a primary product from reaction of O^?˙ with both the C₈H₁₀ isomers and hydrogen-containing impurities; [OH]^? reacts further with the alkylbenzenes to produce [M ? H]^? with the result that the chemical ionization mass spectra depend on experimental conditions such as sample size and the presence of impurities. The collision-induced charge inversion mass spectra of the [M ? H + O]^? and [M ? H]^? products allow only distinction of ethylbenzene from the xylenes. However, the collision-induced charge inversion mass spectra of the [M ? H₂]^?˙ ions show differences which allow identification of each isomer.     

Isomere η2-Acyl- und σ-Alkyl(carbonyl)-Komplexe von Molybdän und Wolfram. Eine Studie zum Bildungs-mechanismus,zur Isomerisierungsgeschwindigkeit und zur Steuerung der Gleichgewichtslage

η²-Acyl and σ-Alkyl(carbonyl) Coordination in Molybdenum and Tungsten Complexes: Synthesis and Studies of the Isomerization Equilibria and Kinetics The anionic molybdenum and tungsten complexes [L_RM(CO)₃]^? (L_R^? = [(C₅H₅)Co{P(O)R₂}₃]^?, R = OCH₃, OC₂H₅, O-i-C₃H₇; M = Mo, W) have been alkylated with the iodides R′ I, R′ = CH₃, C₂H₅, i-C₃H₇, and CH₂C₆H₅. The reactivity pattern of the alkylation is in accord with a S_N2 mechanism. Depending on M, R′, reaction temperature, and time the η-alkyl (carbonyl) compounds [L_RM(CO)₃R′] and/or the isomeric η²-acyl compounds [L_RM(CO)₂(η²-COR′)] can be obtained. 8 new σ-alkyl(carbonyl) compounds and 15 new η²-acyl compounds have been isolated and characterized. The ¹H NMR and the IR spectra give conclusive evidence that the σ-alkyl(carbonyl) compounds [L_RM(CO)₃R′] are formed as the primary products of the alkylation and that they isomerize partly or completely to give the η²-acyl compounds [L_RM(CO)₂(η²-COR′)]. The position of the equilibrium σ-alkyl(carbonyl)/η²-acyl is controlled by the steric demands of the groups R′ and the ligands L_R^?. The molybdenum compounds isomerize much more readily than the tungsten compounds. The rate constants of the isomerization processes [L_RMo(CO)₃CH₃] → [L_RMo(CO)₂(η²-COCH₃)], R = OCH₃, OC₂H₅, and O-i-C₃H₇, measured at 305 K in acetone-d₆, are 6–8 x 10^?3 s^?1.     

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.     

Studies in negative ion mass spectrometry. VIII—Electron capture by some monomeric and dimeric η5—cylcopentadienyl transition metal carbonyls

The negative ion mass spectra of a series of monomeric and dimeric η⁵-cyclopentadienyl transition metal carbonyls have been examined. The base peak in the case of the monomeric compounds (η⁵-C₅H₅)V(CO)₄, (η⁵-C₅H₅)Mn(CO)₃ and (η⁵-CH₃C₅H₄)Mn(CO)₃ arises from a reductive decarbonylation of the parent molecule—the resulting radical anion [M–CO]^? is formally isoelectronic with the molecular cations [M]^? observed in the positive ion mass spectra of these compounds and subsequently undergoes successive decarbonylations to the ‘aromatic’ cyclopentadienyl anions. For the compound (η⁵-C₅H₅)Co(CO)₂, however, a molecular anion was observed as the base peak which has been formulated as [(η³-C₅H₅)Co(CO)₂]^? in the light of considerations based on the rare gas rule. As expected, the dimeric molecules [(η⁵-C₅H₅)M(CO)₃]₂ (where M = Cr or Mo) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂]₂ (and its methyl analogue) undergo reductive cleavage of their metal-metal bonds to give the anions [(η⁵-C₅H₅)M(CO)₃]^? and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂]^? as the base peaks in their negative ion mass spectra. The dimeric nickel compound [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(CO)]₂, however, reductively decarbonylates to the [M-CO]^? radical anion as its predominant fragmentation in the gas phase. Very low abundances of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂] and [(η⁵-CH₃C₅H₄)Fe(CO)₂] were also observed.     

Zum Mechanismus massenspektrometrischer Fragmentierungsreaktionen—IXSterische Effekte in den Massenspekten der Stereoisomeren von Decalin-2,3-diolen,Decalin-2,4-Diolen und Ihen Dimethyläthern

The mass spectra of all stereoisomers of decalin-2,3-diol, the corresponding dimethyl ethers and of some deuterated derivatives are discussed. The mass spectra of isomeric decalin-2,3-diols differ only slightly in ion intensities. The mass spectra of the stereoisomeric 2,3-dimethoxy-decalins are nearly identical within the series of transand cisderivatives. A mass spectrometric identification of the stereoisomers of these compounds is therefore diffucult. Stereoselective eliminations from the molecular ion are not observed. The mass spectra -of stereoisomeric decalin-1,4-diols show characteristic differences in the intensities of the[M ? H₂O]⁺˙-ions, which can be related to the geometry of the molecules in a similiar mode as was the case with cyclohexane-1,4-diols, The sterechemical control of the elimination of H₂O from the molecular ions has been confirmed by deuterium labelling. The mass spectra of stereoismeric 1,4-dimethoxy-decalins also differ characteristically in the intensities of the [M ? CH₃OH]⁺˙ ions. Furthermore peak due to the [M ? CH₂O]⁺˙ ions are only observed in the mass spectra of those stereoisomers, which have at least one conformation with a short distance between the two methoxy. The stereospecifity of the CH₃OH- and CH₂O-eliminationjs has also been determined by deuterium labelling.     

Unusual neutral and radical losses in 2′-substituted N-phenylanthranilic acids on electron impact

Unusual expulsions of [H₂O + CO₂] from the M⁺˙ of N-(o-carboxyphenyl)anthranilic acid, [H₂O + CH₂O] from the M⁺˙ of N-(o-methoxyphenyl)anthranilic acid and [H₂O + ˙NO₂] from the M⁺˙ of N-(o-nitrophenyl) anthranilic acid were observed under electron impact conditions. These processes are stepwise in the corresponding para-substituted N-phenylanthranilic acids. The proposed fragmentation pathways and their mechanisms are supported by B/E linked-scan spectra, collision-activated decomposition (CAD)–mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra, high-resolution data, deuterium labelling and chemical substitution.     

Evaluation of methane negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and related compounds

Negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectra with methane as reagent gas and the ion abundance ratios of the negative to the positive base peak for 51 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and related compounds were measured and evaluated for highly sensitive detection and isomer differentiation. Either [M ? H]^?, M^?˙ or MH^? was the base peak, except for one compound with [M ? H₂]^?˙ as its base peak. The numbers of compounds with [M ? H]^?, M^?˙ or MH^? as their base peaks were 17, 26 and 7, respectively. Many of the compounds with [M ? H]^? as the base peak had an aliphatic part in their structure. The average value of N/P (negative/positive ion abundance ratio at the base peaks) was < 1. Many of the compounds with M^?˙ as the base peak had a relatively high electron affinity. A correlation between electron affinities and ion abundances was found. In most cases, the N/P ratios were > 1, and even reached 400 in benzo [a] pyrene. Many of the compounds with MH^? as their base peaks had a phenyl group, in which cases the N/P ratios were < 1. In the case of compounds with 18 or fewer carbon atoms, in particular, it was easy to distinguish isomers by comparing their NICI mass spectra. The N/P values served as a guideline in sensitive detection. Nine compounds achieved an N/P of ≥50.     

Evaluation of nitric oxide chemical ionization mass spectra of substituted benzenes

Nitric oxide chemical ionization mass spectra of substituted benzenes obtained with the Townsend discharge technique were studied. There were four kinds of base peaks in the mass spectra, i.e. [M + NO]⁺˙, M⁺˙, [M ? H]⁺ and [M ? OR]⁺ (R = H, CH₃). The formation of the specific ion [M + NO]⁺˙ was highly dependent on the kind of substituent, and it was produced more abundantly in the case of substitutions involving electron-accepting groups. The measure of [M + NO]⁺˙ production was evaluated from the value of the ratio [M + NO]⁺˙/M⁺˙. In mono-substitutions, it was clarified that the ratios of [M + NO]⁺˙/M ⁺˙ were correlated with the Hammett substituent constant s?_p or the electrophilic substituent constant s?_p⁺. Monosubstitutions (C₆H₅R) and toluene substitutions (CH₃C₆H₄R) could be classified into six groups in terms of base peak species, [M + NO]⁺˙/M⁺˙ ratios and substituents. In disubstitutions, the mass spectral patterns were governed by the combination of substituents. Mass spectral distinctions among ortho, meta and para isomers could be made in many cases.     

MALDI‐MS of flavonoids: a systematic investigation of ionization and in‐source dissociation mechanisms

Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a technique widely employed in the analysis of proteins and peptides, and nowadays it has also been applied to small molecules. There is little significant information regarding the in‐source dissociation processes on MALDI for natural products. Twenty‐six flavonoids (flavanones, flavones and flavonols) were analyzed by MALDI using different methods (with different matrices) and without matrix to comprehend the in‐source reactions and establish good analysis methods for these compounds. Depending on the class, structure and the laser intensity applied, methoxylated flavonoid aglycones can eliminate methyl radicals (˙CH₃) in the source, such as flavonols, but lithium 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoate matrix suppresses the ˙CH₃ eliminations and retro‐Diels–Alder cleavages in the source. All of the flavonoid O‐glycosides evaluated herein eliminated the sugar in source, even in the presence of the matrix, and its product radical ions ([M‐H‐sugar]^?˙) were observed in the negative mode. The flavone C‐glycosides suffered intense dissociation, which was reduced by the addition of a matrix and the application of low laser intensity, mainly in the negative mode. Depending on the hydroxyl substituents, the [M‐H‐H]^?˙ ion was observed with variable relative intensity in the spectra. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Loss of methyl from ionized 2-hydroxy-1,3-butadiene

The loss of methyl from unstable, metastable and collisionally activated [CH₂?CH? C(OH)?CH₂]⁺˙ ions (1⁺˙) was examined by means of deuterium and ¹³C labelling, appearance energy measurements and product identification. High-energy, short-lived 1⁺˙ lose methyl groups incorporating the original enolic methene (C(1)) and the hydroxyl hydrogen atom (H(0)). The eliminations of C(1)H(1)H(1)H(4) and C(4)H(4)H(4)H(0) are less frequent in high-energy ions. Metastable 1⁺˙ eliminate mainly C(1)H(1)H(1)H(4), the elimination being accompanied by incomplete randomization of the five carbon-bound hydrogen atoms. The resulting [C₃H₃O]⁺ ions have been identified as the most stable CH₂?CH? CO⁺ species. The appearance energy for the loss of methyl from 1 was measured as AE[C₃H₃O]⁺ = 10.47 ± 0.05 eV. The critical energy for 1⁺˙ → [C₃H₃O]⁺ + CH₃˙ is assessed as E_c ? 173 kJ mol^?1. Reaction mechanisms are proposed and discussed.     

Metastable [C4H8O]+˙ ions: Additional decompositions via the [2-butanone]+˙ ion

The losses of methyl and ethyl through the intermediacy of the [2-butanone]⁺˙ ion are shown to be the dominant metastable decomposition of 14 of 19 [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions examined. The ions that decompose via the [2-butanone]⁺˙ structure include ionized aldehydes, unsaturated and cyclic alcohols and enolic ions. [Cyclic ether]⁺˙ [cyclopropylmethanol]⁺˙ and [2-methyl-1-propen-1-ol]⁺˙ ions do not decompose through ionized 2-butanone. The rearrangements of various [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions the the 2-butanone ion were investigated by means of deuterium labeling. Those pathways involve up to eight steps. Ions with the oxygen on the end carbon rearrange to a common structure or mixture of structures. Those ions which ultimately rearrange to the [2-butanone]⁺˙ ion then undergo oxygen shifts from the terminal to the second and third carbons at about equal rates. However, this oxygen shift does not precede the losses of water and ethylene. Losses of water and ethylene were unimportant for ions with the oxygen initially on the second carbon. Ionized n-butanal and cyclobutanol, but not other [C₄H₈O]⁺˙ ions, undergo reversible hydrogen exchange between the oxygen and the terminal carbon. Rearrangement of ionized n-butanal to the [cyclobutanol]⁺˙ ion is postulated.     

Isomeric [C,H3,N,O]+˙ ions and their neutral counterparts

The isomeric ions [H₂NC(H)O]⁺˙, [H₂NCOH]⁺˙, [H₃CNO]⁺˙ and [H₂CNOH]⁺˙ were examined in the gas phase by mass spectrometry. Ab initio molecular orbital theory was used to calculate the relative stabilities of [H₂NC(H)O]⁺˙, [H₂NCOH]⁺˙, [H₃NCO]⁺˙ and their neutral counterparts. Theory predicted [H₂NC(H)O]⁺˙ to be the most stable ion. [H₂NCOH]⁺˙ ions were generated via a 1,4-hydrogen transfer in [H₂NC(O)OCH₃]⁺˙, [H₂NC(O)C(O)OH]⁺˙ and [H₂NC(O)CH₂CH₃]⁺˙. Its metastable dissociation takes place via [H₃NCO]⁺˙ with the isomerization as the rate-determining step. [H₂CNOH]⁺˙ undergoes a rate-determining isomerization into [H₃CNO]⁺˙ prior to metastable fragmentation. Neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry was used to identify the neutral counterparts of these [H₃,C,N,O]⁺˙ ions as stable species in the gas phase. The ion [H₃NCO]⁺˙ was not independently generated in these experiments; its neutral counterpart was predicted by theory to be only weakly bound.     

The unimolecular chemistry of [1,2-propanediol]+˙: a rationale in terms of hydrogen-bridged radical cations

By combining results from a variety of mass spectrometric techniques (metastatle ion, collisional activation, collision-induced dissociative ionization, neutralization–reionization spectrometry and appearance energy measurements) and the classical method of isotopic labelling, a unified mechanism is proposed for the complex unimolecular chemistry of ionized 1,2-propanediol. The key intermediates involved are the stable hydrogen-bridged radical cations [CH₂?C(H)? H…?O…?O(H)CH₃]⁺˙, which were generated independently from [4-methoxy, 1-butanol]⁺˙ (loss of C₂H₄) and [1-methoxyglycerol]⁺˙ (loss of CH₂O), [CH₃? C?O…?H…?O(H)CH₃]⁺˙ and the related ion-dipole complex [CH₂?C(OH)CH₃/H₂O]⁺˙. The latter species serves as the precursor for the loss of CH³˙ and in this reaction the same non-ergodic behaviour is observed as in the loss of CH³˙ from the ionized enol of acetone.     

Negative ion mass spectra of dicarboxylic acids

The negative ion mass spectra of dicarboxylic acids show [M]^?˙ and prominent [M – H]^?ions. These ions can therefore be used to determine the molecular weight of dicarboxylic acids which do not give positive molecular ions. The [C₂H₃]^? ion is a base peak in the spectra of maleic and fumaric acids. Isomeric phthalic acids are readily differentiated.     

Translational energy release and stereochemistry of steroids. VII—the loss of angular methyl groups after the dehydration of molecular ions of cholesterol and related C(5)-unsaturated 3β-hydroxy steroids

The translational energy, T, released during the loss of the angular 18- and 19-methyl groups both from metastable molecular ions and metastable [M ? H₂O]⁺ and [M ? 2H₂O]⁺ ions, in C(5)-unsaturated mono-and di-hydroxy steroids, as well as in their 19-nor and deuterated analogues bearing the label in the 19-methyl group, has been measured. It was found that, while the T values for the 19-CH₃ loss, following the dehydration of the molecular ions, are increased substantially when compared to those for the same loss from the molecular ions, the T values for the 18-CH₃ loss are increased much more moderately. Nevertheless, the amounts of translational energy released in the [M ? H₂O]⁺˙ ? 18-CH₃˙ and [M ? 2 H₂O]⁺˙ ? 18-CH₃˙ transitions are still higher than those found for the respective 19-methyl loss, in accordance with the general rule established recently.     

Identification of some isomeric [C8H6O]+˙ ions generated from phenyl substituted cyclic ketones using collisional activation

[C₈H₆O]⁺˙ ions with o-quinonoid ketene, benzocyclobutenone, phenyl ketene and benzofuran structures have been generated from various precursors. Their collisionally induced decompositions in both field free regions of a double focusing mass spectrometer with so-called reversed geometry have been studied using mass analysed ion kinetic energy scans and B/E linked scans. In both cases the abovementioned [C₈H₆O]⁺˙ structures can be distinguished–except the benzocyclobutenone ion which gives very similar spectra to the o-quinonoid ion–on the basis of the intensity ratios [m/z 77]/[m/z 76] and [m/z 104]/[m/z 102]. The stable [C₈H₆O]⁺˙ ions generated from the molecular ions of 7 -phenylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-6-one appear to have the phenyl ketene structure, as was suspected from previous kinetic energy release measurements.     

A mass spectral study of 1-(aryldimethylsilyl)-2-propanones and their isomeric 2-(aryldimethylsiloxy)-1-propenes

The mass spectra of a series of β-ketosilanes, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiCH₂C(O)Me and their isomeric silyl enol ethers, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiOC(CH₃)?CH₂, where Y = H, Me, MeO, Cl, F and CF₃, have been recorded. The fragmentation patterns for the β-ketosilanes are very similar to those of their silyl enol ether counterparts. The seven major primary fragment ions are [M? Me·]⁺, [M? C₆H₄Y·]⁺, [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙, [M? C₃H₄]⁺˙, [M? HC?CCF₃]⁺˙, [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙ and [C₃H₆O]⁺˙ Apparently, upon electron bombardment the β-ketosilanes must undergo rearrangement to an ion structure very similar to that of the ionized silyl enol ethers followed by unimolecular ion decompositions. Substitutions on the benzene ring show a significant effect on the formation of the ions [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙ and [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙, electron donating groups favoring the former and electron withdrawing groups favoring the latter. The mass spectral fragmentation pathways were identified by observing metastable peaks, metastable ion mass spectra and ion kinetic energy spectra.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of ionic gold(I) and gold(III) carbene derivatives: An investigation of the formation of [M – H]+ species

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry of the gold(I) and gold(III) derivatives, {Au[C(Y)–NHAr]₂}⁺X^? and {Au[C(Y)–NHAr]₂I₂} ⁺ X^? (Y =? OC₂H₅ or ? NHAr; X^? = CIO₄^? or BF₄^?; Ar = p-CH₃? C₆H₄) has led to the detection, for the alkoxyamino derivatives only, of [M–H]⁺˙ molecular species. The mechanism of the formation of these unusual species has been studied with respect to the oxidation state of gold, nature of the matrix, matrix acidity and ligand structure. The energetics of two possible alternative mechanisms has been studied by means of ab initio theoretical calculations. Both experimental and theoretical data indicate that [M–H]⁺˙ formation is due to the reaction of M⁺ with H⁺-philic and/or H˙-philic species produced from the matrix by FAB. Whatever the operative mechanism, the [M–H]⁺˙ formation is to be considered a FAB-induced oxidative process.