Electron impact induced fragmentations of 2-(2-nitroanilino)thiophens and Di(2-nitrophenyl)sulphides

A prominent ortho interaction occurs during the mass spectral fragmentation of di(2-nitrophenyl)sulphides. No such effects are observed for the corresponding ethers or 2-(2-nitroanilino)thiophens. Variation of aromatic substituents can dramatically alter the effect. Examination of analogous sulphone, sulphoxide, and disulphide molecules, implicates the involvement of the ortho nitro substituent and the sulphur atom in this rearrangement.