MASS-SPECTRAL FRAGMENTATION PATHWAYS IN 1,3,3-TRINITROAZETIDINE

The electron impact (EI) fragmentation pathways of 1,3,3-trinitroazeti dine (TNAZ) along with some N-15 and H-2 analogs were studied. Collisi on-induced dissociation was also used to investigate important peaks i n the EI spectra Isotopically labeled compounds allowed tbe determinat ion of most of the major fragmentation peaks. It was found that the ma jor pathway involves the loss of NO2 or HNO2 from the dinitroalkyl gro up followed by a loss of NO2 or NO from the nitramine group. The peak at m/z 46, [NO2](+), the base peak, resulted primarily from N-N bond s cission while the peak at m/z 30, [NO](+), was equally likely to come from any NO2 bond. The fragmentation pathway of TNAZ showed similariti es with other nitramine and nitrocarbon explosives. (C) 1997 by John W iley & Sons, Ltd.