The fragmentation of ortho-methoxyphenyl-2-propanone oximes and related compounds–further examples of an ortho-effect

An M ? 31]⁺ ion was a prominent fragment in the mass spectra of three ortho-methoxy-phenyl-2-propanone oximes and is shown to be due to the expulsion of a methoxyl radical from the molecular ion as a result of an ortho-effect. In contrast, an M ? 31]⁺ ion was absent from the spectra of a structurally related ketone and a hydroxylamine, and was not observed in the spectra of meta- and para-methoxyphenyl-2-propanone oximes.