Electron impact fragmentation patterns of 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-norbornane derivatives

The electron impact mass spectra of several 3,3-dimethyl-1, 2-norbornanediols, diamines, amino alcohols and related derivatives have been studied and their fragmentation pathways discussed. Different fragmentation patterns were observed, depending not only on the nature of the substituents, but also on their relative positions on the norbornane framework. In general, the dominant peaks in the spectra of these compounds originate from initial C1-C2 bond cleavage (alpha-cleavage) with charge retention on the heteroatom (oxygen or nitrogen) attached at the bridgehead position, followed by hydride shift and loss of the C2-C3 fragment by homolytic cleavage of the C3-C4 bond. This fragmentation pathway leads to a highly stabilized cyclopentenylimmonium or cyclopentenyloxonium ion, which constitutes the base peak in the spectra in most of the studied compounds. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.