Formation of· CH2CH2CO + and C2H6+· in the metastable decompositions of ionized ethyl formate

The products of the metastable decompositions of ionized ethyl formate (a) are characterized. The loss of water from a produces ^·CH₂CH₂CO⁺, a rarely reported product. Loss of H appears to produce CH₂=CHC(OH). The third decomposition is an unusual formation of C₂H. This work demonstrates that a previous supposition that isomerization to different intermediates is involved in the losses of ethene and of water from a is correct.