Abstract: | The principal feature of the mass spectra of o-nitroanils, ArCH?NC6H4NO2(o-), is an intense peak corresponding to the [ArCO]+ ion; this implies oxygen transfer from the nitro group to the azomethine carbon during the fragmentation process. In this series of anils, loss of OH from the molecular ion is not apparently an important fragmentation pathway, in contrast to the fragmentation of o-nitrobenzylideneanilines. Benzylideneaniline derivatives with an o-nitro substituent in both rings have mass spectra which indicate interaction of both nitro groups with the ? CH?N? group, but in this series of spectra the [M—17]+ ion is again of low intensity. |