Identification of chiral isomers by fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry: Dialkyl tartrates

Abstract

A chiral effect has been observed for formation of protonated dimers of dialkyl tartrates under fast atom bombardment, analogous to the chemical ionization behaviour reported previously. Homochiral dimers show greater stability than the heterochiral dimers, as is evidenced by their enhanced formation and lesser tendency to undergo metastable breakdown. The difference in stability is related to the size of the alkyl group.