Electron impact, chemical ionization and field desorption mass spectra of some anthraquinone and anthrone derivatives of plant origin

Abstract

The electron impact mass spectra of a series of natural anthraquinone, anthrone, dianthrone aglycones and their ‘O’ and ‘C’ linked glycosides have been studied. Electron impact mass spectrometry failed to provide molecular weight information for the dianthrone aglycones and for the ‘O’ linked glycosides. Ammonia chemical ionization and field desorption mass spectra were studied as techniques to overcome this deficiency. A combination of electron impact and field desorption mass spectrometry proved to be most effective for structural studies of the dianthrone aglycones and the ‘O’ linked glycosides.