Fragmentation of deprotonated nitrophenol anions

This work examined the dissociation reactions and energetics of deprotonated nitrophenols. All species were generated using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source and were studied using tandem mass spectrometry. Collision induced dissociation studies revealed three common fragments: C6H4O−, NO2−, and C6H4O2−. Energy dependent collision induced dissociation showed the formation of C6H4O2− by the loss of NO is the lowest energy pathway for each isomer. The CN dissociation energy to yield NO2− is large, and is due to the stability of the nitrophenoxide anion.