Electrospray ionisation and ion-trap fragmentation of substituted 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridin-2-ones.

A variety of 5-alkoxycarbonyl-4-aryl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridones and hexahydrofuro[3,4-b]-2(1H)-pyridones have been investigated by electron impact (EI) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) techniques. Sequential product ion fragmentation (MS(n)) was performed to elucidate the degradation pathways for these compounds. Comparisons are made between positive and negative even-electron ions from ESI spectra and the molecular radical cations obtained under EI conditions. The data collected in this paper provide information on the strong impact that different substituents have on the ion fragmentation process. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.