Studies in organic mass spectrometry. Part 17—Formation of phenol radical ions by rearrangement of the molecular ions of someN-arylthiophenecarboxamides and -benzamides

It has been shown by exact mass measurements and collision-induced dissociation mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra that the structure of the m/z 124 ion observed in the mass spectra of N-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide, N-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiophene-3-carboxamide, N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-nitrothiophene-3-carboxamide and N-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzamide is identical with that of the molecular ion of 4-methoxyphenol. This ion becomes abundant in metastable energy window reactions. A probable mechanism for its formation is discussed.