The mass spectra of 4-aminophenanthrene and its trifluoroacetic anhydride and perflnoropropionic anhydride derivatives

Abstract

Several aminophenanthrenes have been examined with electron impact mass spectrometry. The trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and perfluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) derivatives of 4-aminophenanthrene have been studied with electron impact as well as both positive and negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry utilizing methane as a reagent gas. The resulting mass spectra indicate a loss of water from the derivatives and a mechanism is proposed to account for this loss. The spectra also indicate unique fragmentation patterns associated with the position of the substituent, particularly the four position which is in the region of the molecule termed the bay region. Another interesting aspect is the spectral differences observed for the TFAA and PFPA derivatives of 4-aminophenanthrene. The positive ion chemical ionization mass spectrum of the TFAA derivative indicates an ion [M + H - H2O]+; however, the mass spectrum of the PFPA derivative of 4-aminophenanthrene indicates no water loss from the [M + H]+ ion. The negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of the two derivatives are also very different. The mass spectrum of the TFAA derivative shows an [M - 18]- ion and the PFPA derivative shows successive losses of HF with no apparent loss of water.