ISSN:
0030-493X
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The mechanisms for the major fragmentations obtained with selected substituted uracils are discussed. Interpretation of data was facilitated by use of metastable peaks, high-resolution data, and low-voltage spectra.The major fragmentation obtained with N-alkyl substituted uracils, when the alkyl group contains 2 or more carbons, is due to cleavage of the alkyl substituent. This cleavage is accompanied by a rearrangement of 1 or 2 hydrogens from the alkyl group to the uracil ring. Possible mechanisms for the rearrangements are discussed. It was found that the molecular ion of 1- and 3-alkyl substituted uracils (where the alkyl group has 2 or more carbons) does not undergo the expected ‘retro Diels-Alder Reaction’. Instead, the odd-electron ion formed by loss of the alkyl substituent with a single hydrogen rearrangement undergoes this reaction (loses HNCO). Since it is formed as a secondary reaction product, the relative abundance of the ‘retro Diels-Alder’ fragment is low compared to what is obtained in the spectra of the simple uracils.The ‘retro Diels-Alder Reaction’ can be used to differentiate between 2- and 4-thiouracils, and between 1- and 3-methyl and phenyl substituted uracils. It was found that 1- and 3-alkyl substituted uracils (alkyl group of 2 or more carbons) can be differentiated by the mass of the M-alkyl fragment since the 3-substituted compounds give predominantly a double hydrogen rearrangement and the 1-substituted compound gives mainly a single hydrogen rearrangement. In addition the intensity of the molecular ion, relative to the M-alkyl ion, is considerably stronger in the 1-substituted uracils.
Additional Material:
12 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/oms.1210020504
