Diethylhydrogensilyl cyclic diethylsilylene derivatives in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of hydroxylated steroids. III-Fragmentations of 5β-pregnane-17,20,21-triol derivatives

A reaction of N,O-bis-(diethylhydrogensilyl) trifluoroacetamide with 5β-pregnane-17,20,21-triols afforded diethylhydrogensilyl (DEHS) cyclic diethylsilylene (DES) derivatives. 5β-Pregnane-3α,17α,20β,21-tetraol yielded the 3α,21-bis-DEHS-17α,20β-DES compound, whereas the structure of the major product from its 20α isomer was assigned as the 3α,17α-bis-DEHS-20α,21-DES derivative, which would undergo facile isomerization to the unstable 3α,21-bis-DEHS-17α,20α-DES structure under electron ionization. Fragmentations of these DEHS-DES compounds are discussed on the basis of isotope labelling experiments, linked scanning data, and accurate mass measurements.