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Mass spectral interpretation is the systematic analysis of mass spectra for molecule identification. It is most often used for the identification of organic compounds from electron ionization mass spectrometry. Organic chemists obtain mass spectra of chemical compounds as part of structure elucidation and the analysis is part of many organic chemistry curricula.

Electron ionization mass spectrum of the steroid alcohol brassicasterol

Electron ionization

Electron ionization (EI) is a type of mass spectrometer ion source in which a beam of electrons interacts with a gas phase molecule M to form an ion according to

$M+e^{-}\to M^{+\bullet }+2e^{-}$

with a molecular ion $M^{+\bullet }$. The superscript "+" indicates the ion charge and the superscript "•" indicates an unpaired electron of the radical ion. The energy of the electron beam is typically 70 electronvolts and the ionization process typically produces extensive fragmentation of the chemical bonds of the molecule.

The peak in the mass spectrum with the greatest intensity is called the base peak. The molecular ion is often, but not always, the base peak.

Identification of the molecular ion can be difficult. Examining organic compounds, the relative intensity of the molecular ion peak diminishes with branching and with increasing mass in a homologous series. In the spectrum for toluene for example, the molecular ion peak is located at 92 m/z corresponding to its molecular mass. Molecular ion peaks are also often preceded by a M-1 or M-2 peak resulting from loss of a hydrogen radical or dihydrogen.

More peaks may be visible with m/z larger than the molecular ion peak due to isotope distributions, called isotope peaks. The value of 92 in the toluene example corresponds to the monoisotopic mass of a molecule of toluene entirely composed of the most abundant isotopes (1H and 12C). The so-called M+1 peak corresponds to a fraction of the molecules with one higher isotope incorporated (2H or 13C) and the M+2 peak has two higher isotopes. The natural abundance of the higher isotopes is low for frequently encountered elements such as hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen and the intensity of isotope peaks subsequently low. In halogens on the other hand, higher isotopes have a large abundance which results in a specific mass signature in the mass spectrum of halogen containing compounds.

Peaks with mass less than the molecular ion are the result of fragmentation of the molecule. Many reaction pathways exist for fragmentation, but only newly formed cations will show up in the mass spectrum, not radical fragments or neutral fragments.

Metastable peaks are broad peaks with low intensity at non-integer mass values. These peaks result from ions with lifetimes shorter than the time needed to traverse the distance between ionization chamber and the detector.

Fundamental Fragmentation Processes

Unimolecular Fragmentation

With high vacuum pressure in the ionization chamber, the mean free path of molecules are from 10 cm to 1 km and then the fragmentations are unimolecular processes. Once the fragmentation is initiated, the electron is first excited from the site with the lowest ionization energy. Since the order of the electron energy is non-bonding electrons > pi bond electrons > sigma bond electrons, the order of ionization preference is non-bonding electrons > pi bond electrons > sigma bond electrons.

Energy diagram for a fluorophore

Stevenson's Rule

The more stable the product cation ion, the more abundant the corresponding decomposition process.Thus, the difficulty of formation of the ions increases in the order as illustrated below. Several theories can be utilized to predict the fragmentation process, such as the electron octet rule, the resonance stabilization and hyperconjugation and so on.

Ion detection

Two different type of ions can be generated via the fragmentation, including odd electron ions (OE) and even electron ions (EE). For the former case, it can fragment to produce odd or even electron products, as depicted below. And N stands for neutral, closed-shell species: H₂O, HCl, CO, CO₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₂. For the latter case, under most circumstances, it can only fragment to yield the even electron products and neutral,closed-shell species.For the mass spectrometry, it can only detect the charged species. The neutral, closed-shell species are deduced from the mass difference between the ion peaks in the mass spectrum.

OE^+•→EE⁺+ R^•, OE^+•→OE^+•+ N

Fundamental fragmentation mechanisms

One Bond Fragmentation

Sigma-bond Cleavage

The ionization of alkanes weakens the C-C bond, ultimately resulting in the decomposition. As bond breaks, A charged, even electron species (R+) and a neutral radical species (R•) are generated. Highly substituted carbocations are more stable than the nonsubstituted ones. An example is depicted as below.

Sigma bond cleavage example

α - cleavage

This cleavage results from the tendency of the unpaired electron from the radical site to pair up with an electron from another bond to an atom adjacent to the charge site, as illustrated below.This reaction is defined as a homolytic cleavage since only a single electron is transferred. The driving forces for such reaction is the electron donating abilities of the radical sites: N > S, O,π > Cl, Br > H.

Inductive cleavage

This reaction results from the inductive effect of the radical sites, as depicted below.This reaction is defined as a heterolytic cleavage since a pair of electrons is transferred. The driving forces for such reaction are the electronegativities of the radical sites: halogens > O, S >> N, C. this reaction is less favored than radical-site reactions.

Rearrangement Reactions

McLafferty Rearrangement

The “1,5 ” hydrogen shift does not cause fragmentation, only transfer of one γ- hydrogen to an unsaturated functional group. There are several requirements for such rearrangements to occur, including the existence of γ- hydrogen, γ- hydrogen acceptor, a sterically favorable six-member cyclic transition state and weak α,β carbon-carbon bond. Following “1,5 ” hydrogen shift, β -bond cleavage is favored, resulting in the formation of ionized enol and an olefin. This rearrangement occurs in ionized ketones, aldehydes and olefins.

Hydrogen Rearrangement to a Saturated Heteroatom

The “1,5 ” hydrogen shift cause transfer of one γ- hydrogen to a radical site on a saturated heteroatom. The same requirements for McLafferty rearrangement apply to hydrogen rearrangement to a saturated heteroatom. Such rearrangement initiates charge-site reaction, resulting in the formation of an odd electron ion and a small neutral molecule ( water, or acid and so on). For alcohols, this heterolytic cleavage releases a water molecule. Since the charge-site reactions are dominant in the less bulky alcohols, this reaction is favored for alcohols as primary > secondary > tertiary.

Double-Hydrogen Rearrangement

The “1,5 ” hydrogen shift cause transfer of two γ- hydrogen to two radical sites on two different unsaturated atoms. The same requirements for McLafferty rearrangement apply to double-hydrogen rearrangement. This reaction is observed for three unsaturated functional groups, namely thioesters, esters and amides.

Ortho Rearrangement

The “1,5 ” hydrogen shift cause transfer of two γ- hydrogen to two radical sites on two different unsaturated atoms. The same requirements for The “1,5 ” hydrogen shift occur between proper substituents in the ortho positions of the aromatic rings. The same requirements for McLafferty rearrangement apply to ortho rearrangement except for the strong α,β carbon-carbon double bond. Such rearrangement initiates charge-site reaction, resulting in the formation of an odd electron ion and a small neutral molecule ( water, or HCl and so on). This reaction can be utilized to differentiate ortho from para and meta isomersMcLafferty rearrangement apply to double-hydrogen rearrangement. This reaction is observed for three unsaturated functional groups, namely thioesters, esters and amides.

Ortho Rearrangement

Double bond Fragmentation

Retro-Diels-Alder reaction

This reaction occurs mainly in cyclohexene and it's derivatives. Upon ionization, the pi electrons are excited and generate a charge site and a radical site. Following this, two successive α cleavages yield a butadiene radical and a neutral ethene since ethene has a higher ionisation energy than butadiene ( Stevenson's rules).

Cycloreversion reaction

This reaction occurs mainly in four-membered cyclic molecules. Once ionized, it produces a distonic ion and then further fragments to yield an ethene radical ion and a neutral ethene molecule.

General concepts for MS spectra interpretation

Nitrogen rule

The nitrogen rule states that organic molecules that contain hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and the halogens have an odd nominal mass if they have an odd number of nitrogen atoms or an even mass if they have an even number of nitrogen atoms are present. The nitrogen rule is true for structures in which all of the atoms in the molecule have a number of covalent bonds equal to their standard valency, counting each sigma bond and pi bond as a separate covalent bond.

Rings plus double bonds

From degree of unsaturation principles, molecules containing only carbon, hydrogen, halogens, nitrogen, and oxygen follow the formula

$Rings+\pi Bonds=u=C-{\frac {H}{2}}-{\frac {X}{2}}+{\frac {N}{2}}+1\,$

where C is the number of carbons, H is the number of hydrogens, X is the number of halogens, and N is the number of nitrogen.

Even electron rule

The even electron rule states that ions with an even number of electrons (cations but not radical ions) tend to form even-electron fragment ions and odd-electron ions (radical ions) form odd-electron ions or even-electron ions. Even-electron species tend to fragment to another even-electron cation and a neutral molecule rather than two odd-electron species.

Rule of 13

The Rule of 13 is a simple procedure for tabulating possible chemical formula for a given molecular mass. The first step in applying the rule is to assume that only carbon and hydrogen are present in the molecule and that the molecule comprises some number of CH "units" each of which has a nominal mass of 13. If the molecular weight of the molecule in question is M, the number of possible CH units is n and

${\frac {M}{13}}=n+{\frac {r}{13}}\,$

where r is the remainder. The base formula for the molecule is

$C_{n}H_{n+r}\,$

and the degree of unsaturation is

$u={\frac {\left(n-r+2\right)}{2}}\,$

A negative value of u indicates the presence of heteroatoms in the molecule and a half-integer value of u indicates the presence of an odd number of nitrogen atoms. On addition of heteroatoms, the molecular formula is adjusted by the equivalent mass of carbon and hydrogen. For example, adding N requires removing CH₂ and adding O requires removing CH₄.

Isotope effects

Isotope peaks within a spectra can help in structure elucidation. Compounds containing halogens (especially chlorine and bromine) can produce very distinct isotope peaks. The mass spectrum of methylbromide has two prominent peaks of equal intensity at m/z 94 (M) and 96 (M+2) and then two more at 79 and 81 belonging to the bromine fragment. Chloromethane produces two large peaks at M and M+2 peaks, whose ratio is 3:1. Even when compounds only contain elements with less intense isotope peaks (carbon or oxygen), the distribution of these peaks can be used to assign the spectrum to the correct compound. For example, two compounds with identical mass of 150 Da, C₈H₁₂N₃⁺ and C₉H₁₀O₂⁺, will have two different M+2 intensities which makes it possible to distinguish between them.

Fragmentation patterns of specific organic compounds

Alkanes

For linear alkanes, molecular ion pearks are often observed. However, for long chain compounds, the intensity of the molecular ion peaks are often weak. Linear fragments often differ by 14 Da (CH₂ = 14). For example, hexane fragmentation patterns. The m/z=57 butyl cation is the base peak, and other most abudant peaks in the spectrum are alkyl carbocations at m/z=15, 29, 43 Da.

The possible mechanisms for EI ionization spectra of hexane

Branched alkanes have somewhat weaker molecular ion peaks in the spectra.They tend to fragment at the brached point. For the the 2,3-dimethylbutane, an isopropyl cation peak (m/z=43) is very strong .

Branched alkane

Cycloalkanes have relatively intense molecular ion peaks (two bonds have to break). Alkene fragmentation peaks are often most significant mode. Loss of “CH₂CH₂“ (= 28) is common, if present. However, for the substituted cycloakanes, they prefer to form the cycloalkyl cations by cleavage at the branched points.

Alkenes

Alkenes often produce stronger molecuar ion peaks than alkanes due to the lower ionization energy of a pi electron than a σ electron. After the ionization, double bonds can migrate easily, resulting in almost impossible determination of isomers. Allylic cleavage is most significant fragmentation mode due to resonance stabilization.

Most possible ionization mechanism of acyclic alkenes

McLafferty-like rearrangements are possible (similar to carbonyl pi bonds). Again, bond migration is possible.

McLafferty-like rearragements of alkenes

Cyclohexenes often undergo retro Diels-Alder reactions.

Alkynes

Similiar to alkenes, alkynes often show strong molecular ion peak. Propargylic cleavage is a most significant fragmentation mode.

Most possible ionization mechanism of alkyne

Aromatic hydrocarbons

Aromatic hydrocarbons show distinct molecular ion peak.benzylic cleavage is pretty common.When alkyl groups are attached to the ring, a favorable mode of cleavage is to lose a H-radical to form the tropylium cation (m/z 91).

Benzylic cleavage

Another common mode of fragmentation is the McLafferty rearrangement, which requires the alkyl chain lengh to be at least longer than 3 carbons.

McLafferty rearrangement of aromatics

Alcohols

Alcohols generally have weak molecular ion peaks due to the strong electronegativity of oxygen. “Alpha” cleavage is common due to the resonance stabilization. The largest alkyl group will be lost.

α-cleavage fragmentation mechanism of alcohols

Another common fragmentation mode is dehydration (M-18). For longer chain alcohols, a McLafferty type rearrangement can produce water and ethylene (M -46).

McLafferty type rearrangement for long chain alcohols

Cyclic alcohols tend to show stronger M+ peaks than linear chains. And they follow similar fragmentation pathways: Alfa cleavage and dehydration.

Phenol

Phenol exhibit a strong molecular ion peak. Loss of H· is observed (M – 1) , CO (M – 28) and formyl radical (HCO·, M – 29) is common observed.

Possible fragmentation mechanism of phenols

Ether

Ethers produce slightly more intense molecular ion peaks compared to the corresponding alcohols or alkanes. There are two common cleavage modes. α-cleavage and C-O bond cleavage.

Fragmentation modes of aliphatic ethers

Aromatic ethers can generate the C6H5O+ ion by loss of the alkyl group rather than H; this can expel CO as in the phenolic degradation.

Fragmentation mechanism of aromatic ethers

Carbonyl compounds

There are five types of carbonyl compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and esters. The principal fragmentation modes are described as follows:

Alpha-cleavage can occur on either side of the carbonyl functional group since an oxygen lone pair can stabilize the positive charge.

Alpha cleavage of carbonyl compounds

β-cleavage is a characteristic mode of carbonyl compounds' fragmentation due to the resonance stabilization.

Beta cleavage of carbonyl compounds

For longer chain carbonyl compounds ( carbon number is bigger than 4), McLafferty rearrangement are dominant.

McLafferty rearrangement of carbonyl compounds

According to these fragmentation patterns, the characteristic peaks of carbonyl compounds are summerized in the following table.

		m/z of ion observed
Fragmentation	Path	Aldehydes G = H	Ketones G=CH3	Esters G=OCH3	Acids G = OH	Amides G = NH2
Alpha-cleavage	Loss of R radical	29	43	59	45	44
Alpha-cleavage	Loss of G radical	M-1	M-15	M-59	M-45	M-44
Beta-cleavage		M-43	M-57	M-73	M-59	M-58
McLafferty rearrangement		44	58	74	60	59

For aromatic carbonyl compounds, Alpha-cleavages are favorable primarily to lose G· (M – 1,15, 29…) to form the C6H5CO+ ion (m/z=105), which can further lose CO (m/z= 77) and HCCH (m/z=51).

Aromatic carbonyl compound fragmentation mechanism

Amines

Amines follow nitrogen rule. Odd moleular ion mass to charge ratio suggests existence of odd numbers of nitrogens. Nonetheless, molecular ion peaks are weak in aliphatic amines due to the ease of gragmentation next to amines. Alpha-cleavage reactions are the most important fragmentation mode for amines; for 1° n-aliphatic amines, there is a intense peak at m/z 30.

Alpha cleavage of amines

Aromatic amines have intense molecular ion peaks. For anilines, they prefer to lose a hydrogen atom before the expulsion of HCN.

Aniline fragmentation mechanism

Nitriles

The principle fragmentation mode is the loss of an H-atom (M – 1) from the carbon next to the CN group due to the resonance stabilization. McLafferty rearrangement can be observed when they have longer chain lengths.

Nitrile fragmentation

Nitro compounds

The aliphatic nitro compounds normally show weak molecular ion peaks while the aromatic nitro compounds give a strong peak.Common degradation mode is loss of NO⁺ and NO²⁺ .

Nitro compound fragmentation

Electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

Electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization have different rules for spectrum interpretation due the different ionization mechanisms.

See also

• COmponent Detection Algorithm (CODA), an algorithm used in mass spectrometry data analysis
• List of mass spectrometry software