Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of dimethyl acetals and diethyl dithioacetals of aldopentoses and aldohexoses, and the influence of stereochemical configuration

Chemical ionization mass spectra have been recorded for the title compounds having the four pentose configurations and the eight hexose configurations, with ammonia and isobutane as the reagent gases. The ammonia mediated spectra display [NH 4 ] + capture ions with successive loss of one or two molecules of methanol (acetals) or ethanethiol (dithioacetals), whereas when isobutane was the reagent gas, loss from the protonated acetals of one or two molecules of methanol and of water, and loss from the protonated dithioacetals of one or two molecules of ethanethiol and of water were featured. Significant differences in the ion intensities as a function of stereochemistry in the precursor are noted, and are discussed in terms of the ease of formation of cyclic fragment ions.