Mass spectrometric study of gamma-aryl-alpha,-gamma-diethoxy-alpha, beta-butenolides.

Electron impact mass spectra of eight of the title compounds are reported. Abundant fragment ions were produced under electron impact (EI) conditions and, with one exception, the ($¿hbox¿ArC¿¿equiv$ O) ions were the base peaks. The EI fragmentation mechanisms of two representative compounds were studied with the aid of high-resolution and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry (MIKES) data. The M(+) ions fragment to give both an odd-electron ion and an even-electron fragment ion. Two H-atom rearrangements proceeding via four-membered ring intermediates and three losses of CO through i- and alpha-fragmentations were observed under EI. On comparing fragmentations under EI conditions with those under FAB conditions for two of the compounds, the fragmentation mechanisms were reasonably similar, with additional fragmentations rationalized in terms of the ionization proton being located on the oxygen atom of the beta-ethoxy group.