Identification of hydroxylated chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, chlorodibenzofurans, chlorodiphenyl ethers and chloronaphthalenes as their methyl ethers by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

The methyl ethers of a number of hydroxylated (poly)chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, chlorodibenzofurans, chlorodiphenyl ethers and chloronaphthalenes, representing all different hydroxy substitutions, were synthesized and their mass spectra investigated. With the exception of the methoxy derivatives of the chlorodibenzofurans, it appeared that the mass fragmentation patterns of the structural isomers of each class of compounds were very specific and allowed unambiguous assignment of the position of the methoxy group in the molecule. The different fragmentation patterns can be explained in terms of plausible mechanisms resulting in stable charge delocalized (oxonium) ions. Because of its diagnostic value, this method is useful in the structure elucidation of hydroxylated metabolites of pure isomers of chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, chlorodiphenyl ethers and chloronaphthalenes.