Collisionally activated mass spectra of [MH] ions of polyhydroxy and hydroxy ether compounds

Abstract

AbstractCollision‐induced decomposition/mass‐analyzed ion kinetic energy or collisionally activated mass spectra of [M − H]− ions of polyhydroxy compounds and other alcohols and ethers are reported. The [M − H]− ion of each compound is produced under OH− negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric conditions. Characteristic fragmentations are observed that include production of [M − H − 2]−, [M − H − 18]− and [M − H − 32]− ions. Certain other fragment ions in the collisionally activated mass spectra make it possible to distinguish among structural isomers. In polyhydroxy compounds, fragmentation increases as the number of hydroxyl groups increase, and carbon‐carbon bond cleavage becomes favored.