Fragmentation pathways in the mass spectra of isomeric phenylazoxypyridine-N-oxides

Abstract

The mass spectral fragmentation pathways of a series of phenylazoxypyridine-N-oxides have been studied under electron impact conditions using tandem mass spectrometry. Besides simple C—N cleavages, the azoxypyridine-N-oxides undergo deep-seated rearrangements directly from the molecular ion. In addition, the spectra are complicated by a purely chemical reduction of the N—O functionalities that occurs in the ion source prior to ionization.