UNIMOLECULAR HF LOSS FROM THE MOLECULAR-IONS OF FLUOROPHENOLS AND FLUOROANILINES - A RING-WALK MECHANISM OF A FLUORINE ATOM

The loss of HF is one of the main fragmentation processes in the metas table molecular ions of fluorophenols and fluoroanilines. By investiga tion of D-labelled compounds, it could be established that the elimina ted HF molecule contains the hydroxylic or amino hydrogen atom. The ot her ring hydrogen atoms are not involved in the fragmentation In order to rationalize this process, a 'ring-walk' mechanism of the fluorine atom is proposed.