To dissociate or decompose : investigating gas phase rearrangement of some simple to complex compounds using mass spectrometry and thermal analysis

Abstract

Mass Spectrometry and Thermal Analysis were used to investigate the fragmentation/decomposition pathways of some organic compounds. The role the functional group plays in the fragmentation of the molecular ion was investigated by using substituted simple organic molecules along with similarly more complex organic molecules. By working with this array of compounds, it was determined that one fragmentation/decomposition pathway could be favored over another. The thermal stability, melting and boiling points, fragmentation patterns and decomposition pathways were determined for several phenolic analogs to correlate these variables.