Resonance electron capture for determining double bond and hydroxy group locations in fatty acids

Abstract

Abstract The nature and location of modifications of fatty acids are determined by resonance electron capture (REC) ionization of free acids and their methyl esters and pyrrolidides. The molecular negative ions (MNI) formed in the high resonance region undergo both charge‐remote and charge‐driven decomposition. The spectra of fragments arising from dissociation of these high‐energy MNI contain decisive information on the original structure of the neutrals. The pyrrolidides of fatty acids result in simpler spectra on the one hand, and on the other hand these spectra give complete structure information.