On the CO elimination from [M – CH3]+ ions in substituted phenyl methyl ethers

It was inferred from the collisional activation spectra that CO loss from M – CH₃]⁺ ions generated from o-,m- and p-cyanoanisole yields a common ion, presumably the cyanocyclopentadienyl cation. A similar product ion is found to be generated in the three dimethoxybenzene isomers. In case of o-dimethoxybenzene loss of CO was also found to occur via an important additional route, which leads to the formation of protonated phenol.