Mass spectrometric criteria of the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary higher aliphatic alcohols

Abstract

1. The peculiarities of fragmentation of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols under electron impact were the basis for a statistical analysis of the distribution of the intensities of oxonium ions, on the basis of which criteria were formulated for distinguishing primary aliphatic alcohols with composition C6 and above from nonprimary alcohols, permitting a correct selection in 98% of the cases. 2. A rule was formulated for distinguishing secondary higher alcohols from tertiary alcohols on the basis of their mass spectra, permitting correct estimates to be made in 97% of the cases.