Mass spectrometry of 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane and of some of its radical anion salts

We present mass spectrometry experiments on tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), deuteriated TCNQ and on some TCNQ salts. Apart from the usual nitrile fragmentation, at least two original features appear in the spectra. The first is the formation of TCNQ dimers, as evidenced by their molecular peaks and their fragmentation. The second aspect concerns the spectra of the ammonium salts, which show that hydrogen or alkyl groups add to TCNQ before its decomposition, leading to new fragments (as m/z 141).