Electron-impact fragmentation of aliphatic polynitro compounds

✍ Scribed by J. T. Larkins; F. E. Saalfeld; Lloyd Kaplan

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1969
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 529 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1076-5174
• DOI: 10.1002/oms.1210020207

✦ Synopsis

The mass spectra of two series of aliphatic polynitro compounds are reported and discussed. The fragmentation patterns of aliphatic nitro and polynitro compounds are similar in that no appreciable molecular ion current is observed; however, there are several otherfeaturesinthefragmentation of aliphatic polynitro compounds which differ from that of nitroalkane spectra. Both series of compounds studied-C(NO,),(CH,),-,, where x = 4 to 0 and Cz(N02)z(CH3)6-E, where x = 6,4,2-show a decrease in the number and intensity of alkyl ions with an increase in the NO+ and NO,' ion current as x increases. Themain ionsresultingfroni the more nitrated compounds are [NO]+, [NO#, [CO,]+ and [CH,COJ', whose noncharged counterparts are the principal species produced in the detonation of these compounds. This similarity of the products of the two processes suggests the use of mass spectroscopy for the investigation of the initial explosive processes. The principal fragmentation pathways of the polynitroalkanes have been elucidated by exact mass measurements and the ob- servation of metastable ion transitions.