MASS-SPECTRAL STUDY OF TAUTOMERISM IN SOME SCHIFF-BASES

Mass spectra of a series of substituted salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxyn aphthaldehyde Schiff bases were used to investigate enol-keto tautomer ic equiulibrium. Two model compounds, namely, salicylidinaniline and n aphthylidinequinorineamine Schiff bases were used to represent the eno l and keto forms, respectively Mass spectral measurements reveal the f ragmentation pattern in all compounds studied. Only naphthylidinequino line amine Schiff base show a different fragmentation pattern compared to the other Schiff bases in the series which give an evidence for it s suggested keto structure.