REACTIONS OF IONIZED NORMAL-PROPAN-1-OL IN THE GAS-PHASE

The reactions of metastable ionized n-propan-1-ol have been reinvestigated by means of extensive H-2-labeling experiments. The major fragmentation, by loss of water, proceeds by a specific and unidirectional 1,4-hydrogen migration from the methyl group to the oxygen atom. Collision-induced dissociation of the M.+ and [M-H2O].+ ions is consistent with the involvement of the distonic ion .CH2CH2CH2OH2+ and, probably, the ion-neutral complex CH2CH2CH2.+OH2 in water elimination. A very minor amount of hydrogen atom expulsion also occurs from metastable CH3CH2CH2OH.+ radical cations; this process involves only the alpha-hydrogen atoms. Both water and hydrogen atom losses manifest extremely large deuterium isotope effects