Chapter 15
Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Methods
Mass Spectrometry: Long-Chain Alkane Fragmentation
The molecular ions of linear alkanes prefer to fragment at the carbon-carbon bond away from the end of the chain since the cleavage of an inner bond ...
Mass Spectrometry: Branched Alkane Fragmentation
This lesson delves into the mass spectrometry of branched alkane fragmentation. Branched alkanes possess secondary or tertiary carbon atoms, which ...
Mass Spectrometry: Cycloalkane Fragmentation
In mass spectrometry, cycloalkanes exhibit distinct fragmentation patterns due to the inherent stability of their molecular ions compared to linear or ...
Mass Spectrometry: Alkene Fragmentation
Alkenes lose one electron from the unsaturated π bond upon ionization and form stable molecular ions. Further fragmentation of alkenes occurs through ...
Mass Spectrometry: Cycloalkene Fragmentation
The molecular ions of cycloalkenes undergo fragmentation via a retro-Diels–Alder reaction.
The reaction proceeds via the cleavage of two ...
Mass Spectrometry: Alkyne Fragmentation
The fragmentation of alkynes preferentially occurs at the carbon–carbon bond between the α and β carbon of the alkyne bond to generate a ...
Mass Spectrometry: Alcohol Fragmentation
Alcohols (R-OH) ionize to lose one non-bonded electron from the oxygen atom, forming molecular ions. Due to their tendency to fragment rapidly, the ...
Mass Spectrometry: Aromatic Compound Fragmentation
Upon ionization, aromatic compounds generate a molecular ion that is observed as a prominent peak in their mass spectra. For example, the molecular ion ...
Mass Spectrometry: Amine Fragmentation
Amines can be identified using mass spectroscopy based on their characteristic fragmentation patterns. The molecular ions of amines undergo fragmentation ...
Mass Spectrometry: Alkyl Halide Fragmentation
Chlorine isotopes exist as 35Cl and 37Cl in a 3:1 ratio, while bromine isotopes exist as 79Br and 81Br in a 1:1 ratio. The mass spectrum of alkyl halides ...
Mass Spectrometry: Aldehyde and Ketone Fragmentation
In mass spectrometry, the fragmentation of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones generally occurs through three key mechanisms: α-cleavage, inductive ...
Mass Spectrometry: Carboxylic Acid, Ester, and Amide Fragmentation
The fragmentation patterns observed for compounds such as carboxylic acids, esters, and amides in the mass spectra include ⍺-cleavage and McLafferty ...
Chemical Ionization (CI) Mass Spectrometry
The molecular ion peak of a molecule in the mass spectrum provides vital information for molecular identification. However, conventional electron impact ...
Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry
Higher molecular weight biomolecules are nonvolatile compounds that may decompose before ionizing or vaporizing during mass analysis with conventional ...
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a powerful analytical technique used in mass spectrometry. It enables the identification and ...
Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved