Ionization and dissociation of C6F6 isomers under electron impact

The mass spectra of hexafluorobenzene, hexafluorobicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (perfluoro-Dewar benzene) and 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluorohexa-2,4-diyne, and the fragmentation mechanisms of their parent ions are reported. The behaviour of the two cyclic isomers under electron impact is very similar; the linear one behaves quite differently. The ionization potentials of the molecules and the appearance potentials of the fragment ions (both normal and metastable) have been measured. The heats of formation of [C₆F₅]⁺ and [C₅F₃]⁺ are calculated. A value for the heat of formation of 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluorohexa-2,4-diyne is proposed.