Ring Cleavages of Dimethylphenoxide Anions

Abstract

The major fragmentations of isomeric dimethylphenoxide anions upon collisional activation are losses of H· and Me·. Two minor processes involve the formation of m/z 79 (C6H7-) (-C2H2O) and m/z 77 (C6H5-) [- (Me· + CHO·)]. The former is only observed when (at least) one of the ortho carbons bears a hydrogen substituent, the latter only when there is a 4-methyl substituent