| Abstract: | The fragmentation patterns and major metastable ions of the mass spectra of the neopentyl-phosphorus derivatives [(CH3)3CCH2]3P, [(CH3)3CCH2]2P(O)H, [(CH3)3CCH2]nPX3-n (n = 1 and 2; X = H, Cl, C6H5 and CH = CH2), [(CH3)3CCH2]3PS, [(CH3)3CCH2]nP(S)R3-n (n = 1 and 2; R = C6H5 and CH = CH2), [(CH3)3 CCH2]2PCH2CH2P[CH2C(CH3)3]2, ([CH3)3CCH2]2PCH2PCH2-CH2P(H)C6H5 and [(CH3)3CCH2]2PCH2CH2P(S)(CH3)2 are described. Fragmentation of a neopentyl group by elimination of either C4H8 or CH3 is very favourable when the neopentyl group is bonded to either a tricoordinate or tetracoordinate phosphorus atom. In neopentylphosphines with two or three neopentyl groups, stepwise elimination of C4H8 from all of the neopentyl groups occurs very readily. The resulting [(CH3)nPX]+.3-n ions are often the most intense ions in the mass spectra. |
