Mass spectrometry of organic compounds of the group V Elements: VI—A new type of amine fragmentation under electron impact

A new type of amine fragmentation under electron impact is elucidated for proline, sarcosine and aspartic acid derivatives and aminomethylphosphines of the general formula R₂NCH₂X. Ordinary α-cleavage affording the \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm R}_2 \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } {\rm = CH}_{\rm 2} $\end{document} ion is suppressed by elimination of a neutral HX particle and M - HX]⁺ ion formation, or M-HX neutral particle ejection and generation of an HX]⁺ ion from M]⁺˙. Such fragmentation is ensured by the presence of an α-heteroatom (N, O, P, S) in one substituent (X) and a CO₂R type delocalizing group in the α-position of the other substituent (R₂N).