On the mechanism of isomerization in the esters of some α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids—II

Abstract The effect of a phenyl group on the mechanisms of isomerization in the ionized methyl esters of simple α,β‐unsaturated acids (methyl acrylate and related compounds) has been investigated with the aid of deuterium labelling as well as information from mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and first field free region metastable peak shapes. Substitution of a hydrogen atom of the OCH 3 group by a phenyl group (benzyl acrylate and …