Charge stripping mass spectra: A method for identifying isomeric [C5H8]+˙ and [C3H6]+˙ ions

Abstract Charge stripping (collisional ionization) mass spectra are reported for isomeric [C 5 H 8 ] + ˙ and [C 3 H 6 ] + ˙ ions. The results provide the first method for adequately quantitatively determining the structures and abundances of these species when they are generated as daughter ions. Thus, loss of H 2 O from the molecular ions of cyclopentanol and pentanal is shown to produce mixtures of ionized penta‐1,3‐ and ‐1,4‐dienes. Pent‐1‐en‐3‐ol generates [penta‐1,3‐diene] + ˙. [C 3 H 6 ] + ˙ ions from ionized butane, methylpropane and 2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol are shown to have the [propene] + ˙ structure, whereas [cyclopropane] + ˙ is produced from ionized tetrahydrofuran, penta‐1,3‐diene and pent‐1‐yne.