AN ELECTRON IMPACT STUDY OF SOME C8HI0 ISOMERS

Abstract

The mass spectra of 1-, 2-, and 6-methylspiro[2.4]hepta-1,3-diene have been measured and found to be very similar to the spectra of 7-methylcycloheptatriene and the isomeric alkyl benzenes. It is concluded that in all cases the major part of the fragmentation occurs by identical paths involving identical intermediates. This conclusion is supported by deuterium labelling and appearance potential data. On the other hand the mass spectrum of 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadien-3-yne, an acyclic C8H10 isomer, shows a number of significant differences in its fragmentation pattern. These differences are reflected in the energetics of ion formation and it is concluded that in this case the fragmentation proceeds through different intermediates.