Studies on the series of azoles and azines. 65. Mass spectra of 5-arylidene-, 5-ethoxycarbonylmethylene-hydantoins and their derivatives

Abstract

The mass spectra of 5-m- and p-substituted benzylidenehydantoins, their thio analogs and 5-carbethoxymethylenehydantoins with a substituent at the α-carbon atom of the side chain were studied. The fragmentation of the molecular ions of 5-arylidenehydantoins proceeds in one direction, splitting of the X=C-NR-C=O fragment, irrespective of the substituent in the benzene ring. The peak intensity of the fragmentary ions formed from the molecular ions is linearly dependent on the σ-constants of the substituent. The direction of the fragmentation of 5-ethoxycarbonylmethylenehydantoins markedly depends on the substituent at the α-carbon atom in the side chain that determines the stability of the hydantoin ring and the carboethoxyl group. The fragmentation of these compounds under electron impact proceeds by five paths, related to splitting of fragments O=C₍₂₎NCH₍₄₎=O, C₂H₄, C₂H₅O, C₂H₅OH, and COOC₂H₅.