Studies in mass spectrometry—XV: Retro-diels-alder fragmentation and double hydrogen migration in some polycyclic diketones

In contrast to adducts I of bi-1-cycloalken-1-yls and p-benzoquinone, their reduction products II do not exhibit a double hydrogen migration from δ positions accompanying a ‘retro-Diels-Alder’ type fragmentation. An ordinary retro-Diels-Alder fragmentation was found to take place, with charge retention in the diene portion of the molecule. A double hydrogen migration has been detected in II leading to m/e 112 ion c₂, which differed, however, from that in I in charge retention and in the origin of the migrating hydrogen atoms. Adducts III of di-1-cycloalken-1-yls and naphthoquinone behave similarly to II. They exhibit relatively low abundance ions a, however, due to a double hydrogen migration from δ positions, similarly to I. The origin of the migrating hydrogen atoms have been determined by deuterium labelling. Mechanistic suggestions are presented to explain the observed facts.     

Stereospecific synthesis of some polycyclic cis-β-lactams

Amides 1 on reaction with P₂S₅ in pyridine give thioamides 2 which on treatment with methyl iodide afford the corresponding 1-methylthio-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 3. Annelation of these imines with phenoxyacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine furnish 6-methylthio-7-phenoxy-2',3' - dimethoxybenzo[a]octem 4a and 6-methylthio-7-phenoxy-2,3-methylenedioxybenzo[a]octem 4b respectively. Desulphurisation of these β-methylthio-β-lactams with Raney nickel yield the novel polycyclic cis-β-lactams 5a and 5b.     

One and two hydrogen atom migrations in the retro-diels-alder fragmentation of norbornene and bicyclo [2.2.2] octene derivatives under electron impact

Norbornene derivatives with one or two carbonyl-containing substituents at positions 5 and 6 (anhydrides, esters, amides, cyclic ketones) undergo an electron impact induced rerro-Diels-Alder fragmentation accompanied by the migration of one hydrogen atom (RDA + H) giving rise to the [dienophile + H]⁺ ions. Bicyclo[2.2.2]octene derivatives substituted at C(5) and C(6) by a ring with two carbonyl groups (anhydrides, imides, diketones) undergo an RDA fragmentation accompanied by the transfer of two hydrogen atoms (RDA + 2H). Bicyclo[2.2.2]octene 5,6-diesters undergo both the RDA + H and RDA + 2H fragmentations, and the relative abundance of the resulting [dienophile + H]⁺ and [dienophile + 2H]⁺˙ ions is strongly affected by configuration.     

Pyrolysis of some perfluoroalkylene-linked aromatic imides

The pyrolysis of perfluoroalkylene-linked polyimides in an inert atmosphere has been studied using a pyrolysis-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. The major primary gaseous degradation products were carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In addition large amounts of silicon tetrafluoride were produced by secondary reactions. Results obtained with 1,3-di-(3-phthalimidophenyl)hexafluo0ropropane and bis[N-phenyl-1,3-dioxo-isoindolyl(5,5′)]hexafluoropropane suggest that the perfluoroalkylene groups have a greater influence on the electron-impact induced fragmentation of the imide ring than on its thermal breakdown.     

Single and double hydrogen migration in the fragmentation of 3-methyl-2-butyl trifluoroacetate

Three of the main oxygen-containing fragments resulting from 3-methyl-2-butyl trifluoroacetate (11) had been identified previously as the 1-triflnoroacetoxyethyl cation (m/z 141, 12, product of simple cleavage), and the products of single (m/z 142) and double hydrogen transfer (m/z 143, protonated ethyl trifluoroacetate). Collisionally activated dissociation of m/z 142 and the isotopomers resulting from 11-2-d, 11-1-d₃, 11-5,6-d₆, and 11-¹⁸O₂ has established that m/z 142 is the oxygen protonated 1-trifluoroacetoxyethyl free radical (17) formed by hydrogen shift irom a γ-methyl group to oxygen in the molecular ion, rather than in a complex (18) between 12 and the 2-propyl free radical, as expected based on a mechanistic model existing in the literature. The second hydrogen transferred originates in the other γ-methyl group; its migration may occur, but does not have to, in the complex between 17 and a molecule of propene, prior to dissociation of the two fragments. Collision-activated dissociation has now shown that the m/z 140 ion observed in the spectrum is the molecular ion of vinyl trifluoroacetate, possibly formed by a hydrogen transfer from 12 to the 2-propyl radical in the complex 18. The hydrogen migration to oxygen exhibits no isotope effect, whereas the transfers to carbon atoms exhibit small primary and α secondary kinetic isotope effects. Exclusive migration of the tertiary hydrogen from C(3) occurs in the formation of 2-methylbutene cation radical (m/z 70) from the molecular ion. The hydrocarbon ion fragments and the heteroatom-containing fragments are formed from 11 by disjoint pathways.     

Stereospecific fragmentation of starfish polyhydroxysteroids in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectra and collision-induced dissociation mass spectra in positive and negative ion modes of five polyhydroxysteroid compounds from starfish were studied. Tandem mass spectra exhibit extensive fragmentation, including sequential neutral losses of H₂O molecules and cleavages in the tetracyclic nucleus and side chains. The relative intensity of some peaks in tandem mass spectra enables stereoisomers with the different orientations of the hydroxyl group at C15 in the tetracyclic nucleus to be distinguished. Some data on the fragmentation mechanisms were obtained by H–D exchange and mass spectrometry analysis.     

Stereospecific polymerization of some methyl aryloxymethacrylates

By exposure to ultraviolet and gamma radiation and by the usual methods of thermal polymerization, the stereospecific polymerization of methyl aryloxymethacrylates was carried out at different temperatures in several solvents. Triad tacticity values of the polymers obtained by free-radical and ionic routes were computed from nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. Results of this investigation support our earlier observation

1 See: K. Saunders, T. Balakrishnan, R. W. Lenz, and K. Hatada, Macromolecules, 12 , 392 (1979).

that, under the conditions used, heterotactic content is the maximum in most of these polymers, thereby justifying the high steric effect of the bulky and polar aryloxy side chain which offers equal isotactic and syndiotactic placements.     

Stereospecific synthesis of some tertiary homoallyl monoterpene alcohols

Conclusions Metallation of 2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl bromide and subsequent reaction with C₅ aldehydes yielded the corresponding C₁₀ cyclopropylcarbinols whose acid-catalyzed rearrangement gave trans-homoallyl tertiary monoterpene alcohols with high regio- and stereospecificity.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2545–2548, November, 1982.     

Phenyl versus alkyl migration in the fragmentation of alkoxychlorocarbenes

Phenyl versus methyl (alkyl) group migration is assessed in the fragmentations of neophyloxychlorocarbene, 2,2-diphenylpropyloxychlorocarbene, and 1-phenylcyclopropylmethoxychlorocarbene. Rate constants and activation parameters of the fragmentations are also reported.     

Electron impact-induced fragmentation of some aminonitropyridines

The fragmentation behaviour of 18 vicinally substituted aminonitropyridines was studied under electron impact conditions. Tbe decomposition patterns were found to be strongly dependent on the position of substituents. The formation of the aza analogue of carbazole seems to affect considerably the fragmentation of 3-nitro-2-phenylaminopyridine.     

Electron-impact-induced fragmentation of some phthalazinone derivatives

The mass spectra of 4-(ω-hydroxyalkylamino)-phthalazinone derivatives (I to IV) have been studied. The most important primary fragmentation process is the fission of the alkyl chain β to the amino group, combined with an intramolecular cyclisation reaction. This process results an ion of tricyclic structure, possessing a 4-membered ring, as was established by partial ¹⁵N labelling.     

Mass spectrometric fragmentation of some lignans

Mass spectra of some lignans containing either γ-butyrolactone, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalene or the 3,7-dioxabicyclo[3. 3. 0]octane ring systems are reported. Probable structures are presented for the more abundant ions in the mass spectra of these lignans.     

Tracking radical migration in large hydrogen deficient peptides with covalent labels: Facile movement does not equal indiscriminate fragmentation

Photodissociation of iodo-tyrosine modified peptides yields localized radicals on the tyrosine side chain, which can be further dissociated by collisional activation. We have performed extensive experiments on model peptides, RGYALG, RGYG, and their derivatives, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying backbone fragmentation at tyrosine. Neither acetylation nor deuteration of the tyrosyl phenolic hydrogen significantly affects backbone fragmentation. However, deuterium migration from the tyrosyl β carbon is concomitant with cleavage at tyrosine. Substitution of tyrosine with 4-hydroxyphenylglycine, which does not have β hydrogens, results in almost complete elimination of backbone fragmentation at tyrosine. These results suggest that a radical situated on the β carbon is required for a-type fragmentation in hydrogen-deficient radical peptides. Replacement of the αH of the residue adjacent to tyrosine with methyl groups results in significant diminution of backbone fragmentation. The initial radical abstracts an αH from the adjacent amino acid, which is poised to “rebound” and abstract the βH of tyrosine through a six-membered transition-state. Subsequent β-scission leads to the observed a-type backbone fragment. These results from deuterated peptides clearly reveal that radical migration in peptides can occur and that multiple migrations are not infrequent. Counterintuitively, close examination of all experimental results reveals that the probability for fragmentation at a particular residue is well correlated with thermodynamic radical stability. A-type fragmentation therefore appears to be most likely when favorable thermodynamics are combined with the relevant kinetic control. These results are consistent with ab initio calculations, which demonstrate that barriers to migration are significantly smaller in magnitude than probable dissociation thresholds.     

Electron-impact-induced fragmentation of some diterpenoid acetals

Study of the low and high-resolution mass spectra of a series of diterpenoid acetals, including both positional isomers and stereoisomers, has permitted the proposal of some characteristic fragmentation pathways leading to analytically distinctive peaks. The mass spectrum was particularly informative in the assignment of structure to an unexpected rearrangement product (V).