The fragmentations of substituted cinnamic acids after electron impact

The fragmentations of a number of cinnamic acids substituted at the phenyl ring have been studied with the aid of 70 eV mass spectra and mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra. Evidence is presented that the formation of [C9H7O2]+ ions occurs by intramolecular aromatic substitution reactions. A mechanism is proposed for the energetically favourable loss of the substituents from meta and para positions of the phenyl ring. The analytical use of intramolecular aromatic substitution reactions is briefly discussed.