Electron impact induced fragmentation of ( p-substituted phenyl)-(4'-methylphenacyl) sulfones: contribution of sulfinate ester rearrangements
The molecular ions of the title compounds are usually very unstable. The main fragmentation corresponds to the formation of p-MeC(6)H(4)CO(+) as would be expected. Another abundant fragment ion was [M - SO(2)](+) which is formed both from the original sulfone and from the rearranged sulfinate esters. There are, however, three primary ions which can be traced back to each isomeric molecular ion: p-RC(6)H(4)SO(2)(+) to the original sulfone, p-RC(6)H(4)SO(+) to the.CH(2)S(=O)O-. type sulfinate ester and p-RC(6)H(4)OH(+.) to the.CH(2)OS(=O). type sulfinate ester of which the latter seems by far to dominate. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.