Alcohols mass spectral fragmentation

An example of how information from fragmentation patterns can be used to solve structural problems is given in Worked Example 12.1. This example is a simple one, but the principles used are broadly applicable for organic structure determination by mass spectrometry. We ll see in the next section and in later chapters that specific functional groups, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and amines, show specific kinds of mass spectral fragmentations that can be interpreted to provide structural information. 

Further work on the free and ester-bound triterpenoid alcohols in cellular subtractions of Calendula officinalis flowers has appeared. An investigation of the mass spectral fragmentation of pentacyclic hydrocarbons in petroleum has been published. ... 

Several 21,22-seco-diacids (150) have been prepared in the 20/S,28-epoxy-18a,19/8H-ursane series by oxidation of the corresponding 22-hydroxymethylene-21-ketones (151). Reaction of the 21-ketone (152) with oxygen in an alkaline medium afforded the a-hydroxy-acid (153) and the seco-diacid (150). ° Several interesting reactions were observed during this work. ° While pyrolysis of the a-acetoxy-acid (154) yielded the ketone (155) pyrolysis of the seco-diacid anhydride resulted in loss of carbon monoxide and formation of the lactone (156). Lead tetra-acetate oxidation of the ketone (155) [or the hydroxy-acid (153)] followed a Baeyer-Villiger pathway to the lactone (156). The ketone (155) was very susceptible to reduction in the presence of alcoholic alkali. The mass spectral fragmentation of a series of compounds based on 20/8,28-epoxy-18a,19/8H-ursane has been examined. ... 

We ll see in the next section and in later chapters that specific fiinctional groups, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and amines, show specific kinds of mass spectral fragmentations that can be interpreted to provide structural information. 

Mass spectral peaks are often seen corresponding to loss of small, stable molecules. Loss of a small molecule is usually indicated by a fragment peak with an even mass number, corresponding to loss of an even mass number. A radical cation may lose water (mass 18), CO (28), C02 (44), and even ethene (28) or other alkenes. The most common example is the loss of water from alcohols, which occurs so readily that the molecular ion is often weak or absent. The peak corresponding to loss of water (the M-18 peak) is usually strong, however. 

Mass spectral papers include another compilation of monoterpenoid alcohol spectra, a comparison of fragmentation patterns for camphor and menthone with their oxime, semicarbazone, and nitrophenylhydrazone derivatives, and a comparison of collisional activation mass spectra of ten related acyclic, monocyclic, and bicyclic monoterpenoid hydrocarbons together with derived 7119 ions. ... 

The feasibility of on-line electrochemistry mass spectrometry in the study of electrode processes has recently been demonstrated by Heitbaum et al. . We have tested the potential of on-line mass spectrometry in the study of redox reactivity of biological compounds with uric acid as a probe. Electrochemical oxidation of uric acid has been studied extensively . The scheme in Figure 6 shows the electrochemical oxidation pathway of uric acid and indicates intermediates and products which were identified by on-line electrochemistry thermospray mass spectrometry (EC/TSP/MS/MS) . In our studies, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to obtain structurally informative fragmentation patterns (daughter spectra) of standards for comparison to the mass spectra of intermediates and products obtained by EC/TSP/MS/MS. This, for example, allowed identification of allantoin through its characteristic daughter spectrum. It also allowed confirmation of the structural features of the intermediate, bicyclic carboxylic acid, which apparently forms from the imine alcohol in the oxidation of uric acid. The intermediates and products which were identified in this way are indicated in the scheme, and mass spectral results are summarized in Table 1. 

Compound 168 (CjiHjsNjOj) had a UV spectrum typical of an indole and the IR spectrum indicated the presence of methyl ester and NH/OH functions. The M peak was 18 mass units higher compared with coronaridine and fragments due to loss of 17 arid 31 mass units suggested the presence of a primary alcohol function. The NMR spectral data resembled that of coronaridine except for the H(3) signal which was shifted to lower field and the C(3) signal which was an oxymethylene (8 67.7). These observations are consistent with the proposed... 

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