Electron impact induced fragmentations and rearrangements of some phenyl substituted phosphine oxides

Electron impact induced fragmentations and rearrangements of 1-phenyl-2,2,3-trimethylphosphetane 1-oxide, 1-phenylphospholane 1-oxide and 1-phenylphosphorinane 1-oxide were investigated. A process common to all of these phosphine oxides was electron impact induced formation of new carbon-carbon bonds involving the phenyl rings. Evidence for such rearrangements included observation of hydrocarbon fragment ions containing seven or more carbons.