Main fragmentation routes of functionally substituted cyclopropenes under electron impact

The behaviour of substituted cyclopropenes under electron impact is to a large extent determined by the presence of the unsaturated three-membered ring which is capable of efficient delocalization of the positive charge. The loss of one of the substituents at the C(3) position of the small ring is characteristic for the fragmentation of cyclopropenes; the loss of the substituent which is less electron donating occurs preferentially. The presence of substituents with heteroatoms on the three-membered ring may lead to changes in the fragmentation scheme characteristic for the specific set of substituents.