Electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of exo-endo double-bond isomers of polycyano "push-pull" pentadienes derived from cycloalkylidene malonic acid derivatives

Electron ionization mass spectra and tautomerism of substituted 2-phenacylquinolines

Tautomerism has been studied conventionally in solutions or in the solid state. However, the importance of mass spectrometry in the gas phase was realized relatively late. 2-Phenacylquinolines are known to undergo ketimine-enaminone tautomerism. The ratio of tautomers is dependent on the nature of the phenyl ring substituent and the Hammett substituent constants sigma. Theoretical calculations indicate the presence of ketimine and enaminone tautomers in the gas phase. The electron ionization mass spectra of eight 2-phenacylquinolines (ketimine form) were recorded at 70 eV in order to determine the fragmentation routes and to screen for the presence of their enaminone tautomers, (Z)-2-benzoylmethylene-1,2-dihydroquinolines, in the gas phase. The relative abundances or total ion currents of some ions correlated with the Hammett substituent constants and Hammett-Brown constants. The product ions [M-CO](+.) and [M-HCO](+) were observed. A reaction mechanism is suggested for the formation of these ions, requiring skeletal rearrangements. The results furnish information relating to tautomerism in the gas phase.

Electron ionization mass spectra and tautomerism of 2-phenacylpyridines

The electron ionization mass spectra of 2-phenacylpyridine (ketimine form) and its 13 derivatives substituted in the benzene ring (1an: a R = H, b 3-Me, c 4-Me, d 4-NH(2), e 3-F, f 4-F, g 4-OMe, h 4-Cl,i 4-N(CH(3))(2),j 4-NO(2), k 4-CF(3), l 4-N(CH(2))(4), m 4- Br, n 3-Br) were recorded at 70 eV to determine the fragmentation routes and to screen the presence of their enolimine tautomers, (Z-)-2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylvinyl)pyridines in the gas phase. The total ion currents (TIC) of the ions [MH](+), [MHCO](+), 2-PyCH(2)O(+), and RC(6)H(4)CO(+) (= ArCO(+) ) showed a fair or good correlation with the Hammett s constants (R = 0.859, 0.876, 0.912, and 0.926, respectively). The relative abundances (RA) of both the [MCO](+.) and the [MHCO](+) ion increased with the decreasing electron donating ability of the substituents and also correlated relatively well with the Hammett constants (R = 0.834 and 0.907, respectively). These observations, in comparison to the NMR results, show that the relative contribution of the ketimine tautomer also increases in the gas phase with the increasing electron donating ability of the phenyl substituent, i.e. the TIC of the ArCO(+) ion decreases whereas that of [MH](+) ion increases.