Collisionally activated dissociation of some pyridinium cations: Novel fragmentation pathways

Three novel collisionally induced dissociation pathways, additional to the usual formation of pyridine or pyridinium cation, are described for laser-desorbed N-substituted pyridinium cations. Particularly prevalent is the formation of an ion of m/z 94, corresponding to PyCH₃]⁺. Doubly charged pyridiniums tend to lose H⁺, and one example of the apparent formation of the neutral radical C₅H₆N˙ is reported.