Rearrangements and fragmentations of metastable [C13H9S]+, [C14H11]+, [C13H11]+ and [C8H7S]+ ions

C₁₃H₉S]⁺, C₁₄H₁₁]⁺, C₁₃H₁₁]⁺ and C₈H₇S]⁺ ions with unknown structures were generated from two C₁₄H₁₂S]^+·precursor ions by fragmentation reactions that must be preceded by extensive rearrangements. Ions with the same compositions, each with several initial structures, were prepared by simple bond-breaking reactions. Metastable characteristics were compared for each of the four types of ions. It was found than in all cases fast isomerization reactions occur prior to fragmentation, so that no information about the unknown ion structures could be obtained by comparison of the observed fragmentations of metastable ions.