| Abstract: | The fragmentation patterns of a series of 1- and 2-alkylbenzotriazoles are recorded and interpreted in comparison with available literature data. 1- and 2-Substituted benzotriazoles are readily differentiated on the basis of the relative ease with which a 1-substituted isomer loses nitrogen compared with the corresponding 2-isomer, resulting in generally weak parent ions for the former and strong parent ions for the latter. This loss of nitrogen in the 1-isomer ultimately gives rise to a strong peak at m/z 104, which is small or absent in the 2-isomer. In addition, examination of the intensity and distribution of peaks clustered around m/z 118 reveals that weak signals with a maximum intensity at m/z 117 or 118 are indicative of the 1-isomers, while strong signals with a maximum intensity at 119 or 120 are typical of the 2-isomers. Thus, isomers are distinguished by analysis of mass spectral cracking patterns. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem. 8: 459–464, 1997 |
