Synthesis, characterization and mass spectrometric fragmentation of gem-dicyanooxiranes derived from benzylidene malononitrile

Benzylidene Malononitriles react with calcium hypochlorite in carbon tetrac hloride at room temperature to afford substituted phenyl-1,1'-dicyanooxiran es, a class of important synthetic intermediates. The structure of these ph enyl gem-dicyanooxiranes have been confirmed by spectral methods. The elect ron impact mass spectrometric fragmentation of these gem-dicyanooxiranes sh ow some interesting features which have been substantiated by using tandem mass spectrometry.