Decomposition, induced

Also in general terms, the TOF part of the hybrid is used mostly for MS/MS studies in which ions produced in the magnetic sector are collided with neutral gas molecules to induce decomposition (see Chapter 23). In this mode the instrument produces more highly resolved product ion spectra than can be attained in simple magnetic-sector instruments. 

Metastable ions yield valuable information on fragmentation in mass spectrometry, providing insight into molecular structure. In electron ionization, metastable ions appear naturally along with the much more abundant normal ions. Abundances of metastable ions can be enhanced by collisionally induced decomposition. 

By introducing a collision gas into Q2, collision-induced dissociation (CID) can be used to cause more ions to fragment (Figure 33.4). For example, with a pressure of argon in Q2, normal ions (mj ) collide with gas molecules and dissociate to give mj ions. CID increases the yield of fragments compared with natural formation of metastable ions without induced decomposition. 

The importance of linked scanning of metastable ions or of ions formed by induced decomposition is discussed in this chapter and in Chapter 34. Briefly, linked scanning provides information on which ions give which others in a normal mass spectrum. With this sort of information, it becomes possible to examine a complex mixture of substances without prior separation of its components. It is possible to look highly specifically for trace components in mixtures under circumstances in which other techniques could not succeed. Finally, it is possible to gain information on the molecular structures of unknown compounds, as in peptide and protein sequencing (see Chapter 40). 

Ions can be induced to fragment by increasing an electric potential known as a cone voltage, which speeds them. Accelerating the ions causes them to collide more energetically with neutral molecules, a process that causes them to fragment (collision-induced decomposition). 

Decomposition. Acetaldehyde decomposes at temperatures above 400°C, forming principally methane and carbon monoxide [630-08-0]. The activation energy of the pyrolysis reaction is 97.7 kj/mol (408.8 kcal/mol) (27). There have been many investigations of the photolytic and radical-induced decomposition of acetaldehyde and deuterated acetaldehyde (28—30). 

The activation parameters for an initiator can be deterrnined at normal atmospheric pressure by plotting In vs 1/T using initiator decomposition rates obtained in dilute solution (0.2 M or lower) at several temperatures. Rate data from dilute solutions are requited in order to avoid higher order reactions such as induced decompositions. The intercept for the resulting straight line is In and the slope of the line is —E jR therefore both and E can be calculated. 

Two secondary propagating reactions often accompany the initial peroxide decomposition radical-induced decompositions and -scission reactions. Both reactions affect the reactivity and efficiency of the initiation process. Peroxydicarbonates and hydroperoxides are particularly susceptible to radical-induced decompositions. In radical-induced decomposition, a radical in the system reacts with undecomposed peroxide, eg ... 

The extent of decarboxylation primarily depends on temperature, pressure, and the stabihty of the incipient R- radical. The more stable the R- radical, the faster and more extensive the decarboxylation. With many diacyl peroxides, decarboxylation and oxygen—oxygen bond scission occur simultaneously in the transition state. Acyloxy radicals are known to form initially only from diacetyl peroxide and from dibenzoyl peroxides (because of the relative instabihties of the corresponding methyl and phenyl radicals formed upon decarboxylation). Diacyl peroxides derived from non-a-branched carboxyhc acids, eg, dilauroyl peroxide, may also initially form acyloxy radical pairs however, these acyloxy radicals decarboxylate very rapidly and the initiating radicals are expected to be alkyl radicals. Diacyl peroxides are also susceptible to induced decompositions ... 

As a peroxide class, dialkyl peioxydicaibonates are very susceptible to ladical-induced decompositions ... 

However, because of the high temperature nature of this class of peroxides (10-h half-life temperatures of 133—172°C) and their extreme sensitivities to radical-induced decompositions and transition-metal activation, hydroperoxides have very limited utiUty as thermal initiators. The oxygen—hydrogen bond in hydroperoxides is weak (368-377 kJ/mol (88.0-90.1 kcal/mol) BDE) andis susceptible to attack by higher energy radicals ... 

Eurther reactions of the alkylperoxy radical (ROO-) depend on the environment but generally cause generation of other radicals that can attack undecomposed hydrosend peroxide, thus perpetuating the induced decomposition chain. Radicals also can attack undecomposed peroxide by radical displacement on the oxygen—oxygen bond ... 

This is basically the same type of induced decomposition that occurs with other peroxide classes, eg, the dialkyl peioxydicaibonates and diacyl peroxides. Table 8. Commercial rerf-Alkyl Hydroperoxides ... 

Chemical off—on switching of the chemiluminescence of a 1,2-dioxetane (9-benzyhdene-10-methylacridan-l,2-dioxetane [66762-83-2] (9)) was first described in 1980 (33). No chemiluminescence was observed when excess acetic acid was added to (9) but chemiluminescence was recovered when triethylamine was added. The off—on switching was attributed to reversible protonation of the nitrogen lone pair and modulation of chemically induced electron-exchange luminescence (CIEEL). Base-induced decomposition of a 1,2-dioxetane of 2-phen5l-3-(4 -hydroxyphenyl)-l,4-dioxetane (10) by deprotonation of the phenoHc hydroxy group has also been described (34). 

Red mercuric oxide generally is prepared in one of two ways by the heat-induced decomposition of mercuric nitrate or by hot precipitation. Both methods require careful control of reaction conditions. In the calcination method, mercury and an equivalent of hot, concentrated nitric acid react to form... 

Hydroperoxides are photo- and thermally sensitive and undergo initial oxygen—oxygen bond homolysis, and they are readily attacked by free radicals undergoing induced decompositions (eqs. 8—10). 

Therefore, first-order, decomposition rates for alkyl hydroperoxides, ie, from oxygen—oxygen bond homolysis, are vaUd only if induced decomposition reactions... 

Although primary and secondary alkyl hydroperoxides are attacked by free radicals, as in equations 8 and 9, such reactions are not chain scission reactions since the alkylperoxy radicals terminate by disproportionation without forming the new radicals needed to continue the chain (53). Overall decomposition rates are faster than the tme first-order rates if radical-induced decompositions are not suppressed. 

The ultimate fate of the oxygen-centered radicals generated from alkyl hydroperoxides depends on the decomposition environment. In vinyl monomers, hydroperoxides can be used as efficient sources of free radicals because vinyl monomers generally are efficient radical scavengers which effectively suppress induced decomposition. When induced decomposition occurs, the hydroperoxide is decomposed with no net increase of radicals in the system (see eqs. 8, 9, and 10). Hydroperoxides usually are not effective free-radical initiators since radical-induced decompositions significantly decrease the efficiency of radical generation. Thermal decomposition-rate studies in dilute solutions show that alkyl hydroperoxides have 10-h HLTs of 133—172°C. 

Primary and secondary dialkyl peroxides undergo thermal decompositions more rapidly than expected owing to radical-induced decompositions (73). Such radical-induced peroxide decompositions result in inefficient generation of free radicals. 

Because di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides are less susceptible to radical-induced decompositions, they are safer and more efficient radical generators than primary or secondary dialkyl peroxides. They are the preferred dialkyl peroxides for generating free radicals for commercial appHcations. Without reactive substrates present, di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides decompose to generate alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and minor amounts of ethers, epoxides, and carbon monoxide. Photolysis of di-/ fZ-butyl peroxide generates / fZ-butoxy radicals at low temperatures (75), whereas thermolysis at high temperatures generates methyl radicals by P-scission (44). 

Thermal or photo-induced decompositions of dialkyl peroxides in the presence of suitable substrates yield various products. For example, with nitric oxides, alkyl nitrites or nitrates are formed and, with carbon monoxide, Z fZ-alkyl esters are obtained (44) ... 

Diacyl peroxides (20, = alkyl oi aiyl) also undergo three types of radical induced decomposition (187) all of which produce the radical... 

As a consequence of their susceptibility to radical-induced decomposition, neat and concentrated solutions of diacyl peroxides undergo self-accelerating... 

Alkyl peroxyesters are much less sensitive to radical-induced decompositions than diacyl peroxides. Induced decomposition is only significant in peroxyesters containingnonhindered a-hydrogens or a, P-unsaturation (213,242). 

The first-order decomposition rates of alkyl peroxycarbamates are strongly influenced by stmcture, eg, electron-donating substituents on nitrogen increase the rate of decomposition, and some substituents increase sensitivity to induced decomposition (20). Alkyl peroxycarbamates have been used to initiate vinyl monomer polymerizations and to cure mbbers (244). They Hberate iodine quantitatively from hydriodic acid solutions. Decomposition products include carbon dioxide, hydrazo and azo compounds, amines, imines, and O-alkyUiydroxylarnines. Many peroxycarbamates are stable at ca 20°C but decompose rapidly and sometimes violently above 80°C (20,44). 

The use of monomers that do not homopolymerize, eg, maleic anhydride and dialkyl maleates, reduces the shock sensitivity of tert-huty peroxyesters and other organic peroxides, presumably by acting as radical scavengers, that prevent self-accelerating, induced decomposition (246). 

The thermal decompositions described above are unimolecular reactions that should exhibit first-order kinetics. Under many conditions, peroxides decompose at rates faster than expected for unimolecular thermal decomposition and with more complicated kinetics. This behavior is known as induced decomposition and occurs when part of the peroxide decomposition is the result of bimolecular reactions with radicals present in solution, as illustrated below specifically for diethyl peroxide. 

The amount of induced decomposition that occurs depends on the concentration and reactivity of the radical intermediates and the susceptibility of the substrate to radical attack. The radical X- may be formed from the peroxide, but it can also be derived from subsequent reactions with the solvent. For this reason, both the structure of the peroxide and the nature of the reaction medium are important in determining the extent of induced decomposition, relative to unimolecular homolysis. 

The iodide ion induced decomposition of trimethyl (trifluoromethyl) tin and of phenyl (trifluoromethyl) mercury represent additional interesting possibilities. The reaction of the tin reagent and iodide ion with (31, X = H) in refluxing glyme for 168 hr gives (32) and the corresponding 6jff,7j0-difluoromethylene adducts in 46% and 7% yields, respectively. ... 

As electrophilic substitutes for peracids, the use of borate ester induced decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides and molybdenum VI peroxy-complexes have been reported in the recent literature. Although these reagents have led to the epoxidation of olefins in greater than 90% yield there are no reports yet of their application to steroid olefins. 

Fig. 5. HREM of enclosed silver particles in CNTs. The metallic particles were obtained by electron irradiation-induced decomposition of introduced silver nitrate. Note that the gases produced by the nitrate decomposition have eroded the innermost layer of the tube.

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