Proximity effects in mass spectrometry. Electron impact ionization-induced cyclization of 1,2-bis(1,4-dithiafulven-6-yl)benzenes

Differentiation of isomeric sulfur heterocycles by electron ionization mass spectrometry: 1,4-dithiins, 1,4-dithiafulvenes and their analogues tetrathianaphthalenes, tetrathiafulvalenes and tetrathiapentalenes

The electron ionization mass spectra of the title compounds have been studied along with the product ion spectra of their metastable or collisionally activated molecular ions. The relative abundances of ions in the spectra allow unambiguous isomer differentiation. Isomerization of the molecular ions was observed in the metastable ion spectra of tetrathianaphthalenes and tetrathiafulvalenes. This isomerization reaction parallels the electrochemical or base-induced isomerization observed in solution. The studied tetrathiapentalene derivative does not rearrange to the corresponding tetrathiafulvalene or tetrathianaphthalene isomers.