Mass spectral fragmentation pathways in cyclic difluoramino and nitro compounds

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-2000

Abstract

The recently synthesized compounds 4,4-bis(difluoramino)-1-nitropiperidine (I), 1,4,4-trinitropiperidine (II), 1,1,4,4-tetranitrocyclohexane (III), 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(difluoramino)cyclohexane (IV) and 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(difluoramino)octahydro-1,5-dinitro-1,5-diazocine (HNFX, V) are being considered as potential energetic materials. The mass spectra of these compounds were studied using electron ionization (EI) mass spectrometry. A collision-induced dissociation (CID) study of the major EI peaks was carried out using a Finnigan TSQ 700 tandem mass spectrometer. The mass fragmentation pathways are constructed and discussed. The decomposition of HNFX (V), under EI, appeared to parallel the thermal decomposition of nitramines where N-NO2 cleavage is often the first step. However, the two nitramines with a six-membered ring structure (I and II) underwent initial loss of a geminal substituent; loss of a nitramine nitro group was the secondary step. The two cyclohexane structures (III and IV) showed similar initial fragmentation pathways, featuring successive losses of nitro or difluoramino groups. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Mass Spectrometry

Volume

35

Issue

7

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