INTERACTION OF THE TRIMETHYLSILYL CATION WITH MOLECULES OF ALIPHATIC NITRO-COMPOUNDS IN THE GAS-PHASE

Interaction of mononitroalkanes with the trimethylsilyl cation in the gas phase under chemical ionization (CI) conditions results in the for mation of [M+SiMe3](+) ions, which are more stable than the correspond ing protonated molecular ions. In the case of 2-nitro-2-methylpropane and 2-nitropentane, fragmentation of the [M+SiMe3](+) ions occurs with the formation of C4H9+ and C5H11+ carbocations, respectively. In the case of 1,1-dinitroethane and 1-halo-1, 1-dinitroethane, fragmentation of the [M+SiMe3](+) ions occurs with splitting off of a NO2. radical or an XNO2 molecule (X = H, F, or Cl).