Abstract: | Ortho Phthalamic acids under electron impact show a retrosynthetic reaction leading to both phthalic anhydride and amine complementary ions, the corresponding neutrals of which are the usual synthetic precursors of the original compounds. The single case of a primary amine derivative is examined, which shows the formation of M? H2O]+˙ ions having the structure of the related N-substituted imide, by a process which parallels a well known thermal reaction. It also gives the species C8H6NO2]+ (of the same nominal mass as phthalic anhydride), the structure of which is still under study. Ionic structures are supported by collision induced mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectra. |