Abstract: | The suitability of n-hexane and n-octane as reactant gases in chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been investigated. The mass spectra of these substances have been investigated as a function of pressure up to 2·4 Torr for n-hexane and 1·7 Torr for n-octane. The major ion present in n-hexane at 0·8 Torr is C6H13]+ (m/e 85) with a relative intensity of 0·65. In n-octane at 0·8 Torr the major ions are C8H17]+ (m/e 113), C6H13]+ (m/e 85) and C5H11]+ (m/e 71). The relative intensities of these ions are 0·38, 0·12 and 0·19, respectively. These alkyl ions in both n-hexane and n-octane are thought to have tertiary structures. Rate constants for the rates of reaction of the primary ions in the two compounds have been determined. The n-hexane chemical ionization spectra of 26 compounds were determined. The spectra of polar compounds are dominated by proton transfer, whereas those of nonpolar compounds exhibit proton transfer and in addition often surprisingly large amounts of electron transfer. The n-octane chemical ionization spectra of 15 compounds were determined and the spectra in general are quite similar to those obtained with n-hexane. n-Hexane and n-octane can be used as reagents in analytical chemical ionization mass spectrometry, but except in certain specialized uses they would probably have no advantage over i-butane. |