Mass spectrometry of onium salts—I. Studies on anilinium oxides

The mass spectra of the three isomeric trimethylanilinium oxides and their methyl-d₃ analogues show that the m- and p- isomers undergo intermolecular trans-O-alkylation before evaporation. In the o-isomer, only 10% transalkylated product is observed and there is strong evidence that most of this isomer evaporates without undergoing structural changes. By indirect introduction, however, the o-isomer showed only transalkylated product. The most important fragmentation patterns on electron-impact are α-cleavage on the N-methyl carbon or expulsion of the O-substituent with formation of a quinoid structure. The latter dominates for the o- and p-methyl ethers while the former is the most important pathway for the m-isomer and for the corresponding phenols. Lower fragments are of modest intensity.