Electron-impact induced fragmentation of thiirene and thiophene dioxides

The electron impact mass spectra of several substituted thiirene and thiophene oxides and dioxides have been investigated using both low and high resolution mass spectrometry. The predominant fragmentation process in the spectra of the thiirene compounds is the elimination of the hetero (SO or SO₂) function and formation of a substituted acetylene ion. The 5-membered ring thiophene dioxides exhibit mainly elimination of SO rather than SO₂. Plausible mechanisms leading to the formation of the principal ions are proposed on the basis of metastable transitions.