Negative-ion mass spectra of diterpene alkaloids with the keto group in the 6- or 7-position

Processes resulting in the formation of negative ions by molecules of some diterpene alkaloids via resonance electron capture have been studied. The mass spectra of these compounds have a small number of lines represented largely by intense peaks in the thermal electron energy region and are due to electron capture onto the lower unoccupied molecular orbital, which is π*-C=O or π*-Ph-C=O in character.