| Abstract: | The mass spectra of nineteen substituted benzothiazoles have been recorded and the identity of the various ions in the mass spectra has been established by high resulution (accurate) mass measurement. Deuterium labelling has been used to elucidate the fragmentation processes of these compounds. The parent compound of the series, benzothiazole, exhibits the loss of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monosulphide from the parent ion as the most important decomposition pathways. The hydrogen atom concerned in the loss of hydrogen cyanide is shown to originate from the 2-position of benzothiazole, while in 2-substituted benzothiazoles, different mechanisms are apparent for the loss of hydrogen cyanide, and these are clarified by deuterium labelling. Some substituted benzothiazoles can lose sulphur from their molecular ions, a process which does not occur in benzothiazole itself. The substituted benzothiazoles undergo many other types of fragmentations, in some cases retaining the substituent, and in other cases losing it prior to collapse of the thiazole ring. |
