Mass spectrometric analysis of long chain alk-1-enyl ether esters and alkyl ether esters of diols.

The mass spectra of homologous series of long chain alk-1-enyl ether esters and alkyl ether esters of short chain diols were determined, and general patterns of fragmentation were established. Both types of diol lipids yielded ions characteristic of the alkoxy or alk-1-enyloxy moiety and the acyl moiety, as well as ions indicative of the constituent short chain diol. Prominent ions were formed from both types of ether esters due to the loss of the alkoxy or alk-1-enyloxy moieties giving rise to ions for which cyclic structures are proposed. High resolution mass spectrometry and deuterium labeling techniques were used to verify the composition of ions and to substantiate fragmentation mechanisms.