T. Jagadeshwar Reddy

Generation of Alkoxide Anions from a Series of Aliphatic Diols and Alcohols and Their Ion—Molecule Reactions with Carbon Dioxide in the Gas Phase:

Alkoxide anions, [M – H]− from a series of aliphatic diols and alcohols are generated in the source under negative ion electrospray ionisation conditions by cone-voltage fragmentation of the corresponding [M + F]− ions. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M – H]− ions consist of [M – H – 2H]− ions, in addition to the other characteristic fragment ions, and the relative abundance of [M – H – 2H]− ions among the series of diols varies as a function of chain length that could be explained based on their stabilities through intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The reactivity of alkoxide anions is studied through ion–molecule reactions with CO2 in the collision cell of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. All the alkoxide anions reacted with CO2 and formed corresponding carbonate anions, [M – H + CO2]− ions. The reactivity of alkoxide anions within the series of diols also reflected the stability of their [M – H]− ions.