| Abstract: | Isobutane CIMS is useful for determining the molecular weight of morphine and its derivatives, as well as for identifying labile acyl substituents on morphine's O-6 position. Furthermore, this technique will provide information relating to the presence or absence of pi-bonding on the C-7 carbon. The spectra of morphine derivatives can be further simplified by employing ethylenediamine as a reagent gas. This approach proves useful for eliciting or confirming molecular weight information from the CI spectrum. In our laboratory extended use of ethylenediamine has been accomplished without any deleterious effect on the mass spectrometer's source or its vacuum system. The utility of isobutane and ethylenediamine CI rests with its ability to supply the analyst with structure elucidation data that may be used to complement more detailed information extractable from either EI or CE spectra. This aspect of mass spectrometry is especially useful when one is dealing with an unknown member of a particular class of organic compounds. |
