The behaviour of beryllium μ₄‐oxo‐μ‐carboxylates under electron impact

Abstract

Abstract The electron impact mass spectra of eight polynuclear beryllium complexes Be 4 O(RCO 2 ) 6 (RH, CH 3 , C 2 H 5 ) and Be 4 O(RCO 2 ) 5 OR′ (RCH 3 , R′H, CH 3 , C 2 H 5 , C 3 H 7 ; RC 2 H 5 , R′C 2 H 5 ) are reported. The major fragmentations involve the elimination of (RCO) 2 O (RCOOR′) or Be(RCO 2 ) 2 (Be(RCO 2 )OR′) from the ions [ML] + and of {(RH)CO}, (R′H), H 2 O and BeO from the lighter ions. The fragmentation patterns are practically independent of the organic groups present and can be rationalized by stereochemical considerations.