Ion–neutral complex formation and hydrogen‐shifts in the alkene loss from ionized alkyl phenyl thioethers in the gas phase

Abstract

AbstractThe mechanistic aspects of alkene loss from ionized ethyl‐and n‐propyl phenyl thioethers have been studied by use of deuterium labelling and tandem mass spectrometry. Loss of ethene from the molecular ion of ethyl phenyl thioether proceeds predominantly by a specific H‐shift from the β‐position of the ethyl group to the remaining part of the ion. In contrast, deuterium labelling reveals that elimination of propene from the molecular ions of the n‐propyl phenyl and n‐propyl 2,6‐dimethylphenyl thioethers involves three competing reactions: (i) a 1,2‐hydride shift assisted cleavage of the bond between the propyl group and the sulfur atom yielding an ion–neutral complex of a thiophenyoxy radical and a secondary propyl carbenium ion, which reacts further by proton transfer prior to dissociation; (ii) a partially reversible 1,5‐H shift from the β‐position to the 2‐ or 6‐position of the ring; and (iii) a 1,3‐H shift from the β‐position to the sulfur atom. The preference for transfer of a hydrogen atom from the β‐position is particularly pronounce for the reactions of the metastable molecular ions of the n‐propyl phenyl and n‐propyl 2,6‐dimethylphenyl thioethers. This indicates that the critical energies of the processes involving H‐shifts are lower than the critical energy for propene loss with intermediate formation of an ion–neutral complex. In addition to ethene elimination, ionized ethyl phenyl thioether expels a HS+· radical. This reaction is preceded by an interchange between the hydrogen atoms at the α‐methylene group and the hydrogen atoms at the 2‐ and 6‐positions of the ring as observed also for ionized methyl phenyl thioether.