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Heterocycles containing an integrated 2-nitrobenzaldehyde imine moiety produce ions of m/z 134 with high abundance under electron impact. As shown by kinetic energy release measurements these ions have the same structure in all the cases studied, identical to m/z 134 formed from the reference compound 2-nitrobenzoylpiperidide. The mechanism of formation of m/z 134 most probably involves isomerization of its precursor ion to give a spiro intermediate, from which m/z 134 arises either synchronously or after a second isomerization. Both alternatives formally represent an oxygen transfer from the nitro group to the imino carbon via a 5-membered transition state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]