Field desorption mass spectrometry of carboxylic acids: characteristic spectra and analysis of mixtures and impure samples

Abstract

Field desorption mass spectra were obtained for a variety of saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids containing 12 or more carbons. At best anode temperature molecular ions were dominant and small peaks representing [M + 1]+, [2M + 1]+, [M − 17]+, and [Formula: see text] were present in several compounds. At higher temperatures several novel ions were found, including one corresponding to [2M + 1 – 18]+ which may represent anhydride formation. In a mixture of cis-5-eicosenoic and elaidic acids each molecular ion desorbed as expected but at higher temperatures the three possible anhydride ions appeared, with the cross product [M1 + M2 + 1 − H2O]+ as the base peak. Isomeric hydroxystearic acids (2-OH, 12-OH, 17-OH) gave predominantly ions in the molecular ion region with some differences in spectra which may relate to structure. Apparent polyester formation has been observed in 3-hydroxypropanoic acid where ions of the general formula [xM − (x − 1)H2O + H]+ with x = 2, 3, … 13 were found. Several other hydroxyacids show dimer formation and lactic acid has ions up to x = 5 in the above formula. Two of four technical grade dicarboxylic acids tested were seriously contaminated by sodium ions and gave useful spectra only after extraction by dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether. After this treatment both adipic and azelaic acid have [M + 1]+ as base peak, although adipic acid decarboxylates readily ([Formula: see text] = 74%) Other technical grade acids showed the presence of homologues and related structures as impurities.