Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of heterocycles. IV . Tetracyclic phenothiazines. IX. Electron impact promoted mass spectral fragmentation of pyrrolo[3,2,1-kl]phenothiazine

The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of pyrrolo3, 2, 1-kl]phenothiazine ( 1 ) and its 1, 10-dideuterioderi-vative 2] are reported. The site of deuterium substitution in 2 was established by examination of its ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. The heteroaromatic stability of 1 to electron impact is exemplified by the occurrence of the molecular ion as the base peak and the formation of a reasonably intense M²⁺ ion. An intense M-1 ion is also observed. The more abundant fragment ions appear to result from sulfur ionization. Fragment ions arising from ionization of the nitrogen constitute only a small fraction of the total ion current. Proposed fragmentation pathways of 1 are supported by the detection of appropriate metastable ions, exact mass measurements, and electron impact spectrum of 2 .