Electron Ionization Mass Spectral Fragmentation of C19 Isoprenoid Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acid Methyl and Trimethylsilyl Esters

The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of saturated and alpha,beta-unsaturated C(19) isoprenoid aldehydes and carboxylic acid methyl and trimethylsilyl esters are reported. Different pathways are proposed in order to explain the main fragmentations observed. The conjugated double bond migrates more or less readily before gamma-hydrogen rearrangement according to the structure of the considered compound. Configurations of the double bond of alpha,beta-unsaturated C(19) isoprenoid aldehydes and fatty acid methyl and trimethylsilyl esters can be easily determined thanks to the peaks at m/z 97, 127 and 185, respectively, which are much more abundant in the mass spectra of the Z isomers owing to the formation of a cyclic ion. In the case of trimethylsilyl esters, subsequent fragmentation of the cyclic ion at m/z 185 affords two other diagnostic ions at m/z 95 and 169.