Mass spectrometric studies. X. Phenacylpyridinium enol-betaines

Abstract

Phenylpyridinium enol-betaines have mass spectra containing abundant molecular ions which decompose by loss of a hydrogen atom to give intense M- 1 species. Both ions eliminate CO and CHO units, and the courses of the various decompositions have been established by making use of deuterium labelling. The ion at m/e 92 in the spectrum of the parent compound is best described by an azatropylium structure.