Conformational effects in the chemical ionization spectra of derivatives of isomeric 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐cyclopentanediols

The chemical ionization mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl and methylboronate derivatives of some isomeric 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐cyclopentanediols have been determinded using methane and isobutane as reagent gases. The degree of loss of TMSOH or CH3B(OH)2 appears to be strongly dependent upon the stereochemistry of the 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐cyclopentanediol moiety and permits differentiation between the structural isomers. The results obtained from the chemical ionization (isobutane) spectra of the methylboronates are in excellent agreement with those derived from infrared data.