Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of heterocycles. VII . Reinvestigation of fundamental processes in phenothiazines

Electron impact induced fragmentation patterns of simple phenothiazines have been reinvestigated using metastable ion studies, exact mass measurements and deuterated derivatives. Secondary fragmentation processes involving ions m/e 198, 171, 167, 166, 154, 140 and 139 have been clarified. Mechanisms for the release of sulfur (SH· and CSH·) nitrogen (HCN and H₂CN·) containing fragments from phenothiazine molecular ion are proposed based on the deuterium content of the daughter ions obtained from 1,9-dideutenophenothiazine. A revised mechanism for the expulsion of ketene from 10-acetylphenothiazine is suggested based on the fragmentation pattern of the 1,9-dideuterioderivative. The composition of m/e 140 was determined by high resolution measurement to be C₁₀H₆N and not C₁₁H₇ as previously reported.