Consecutive loss of two benzyl radicals from the [M + Na]+ adduct ions of pyrogallol tribenzyl ether and its derivatives.

The electrospray ionization-collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of nine pyrogallol tribenzyl ethers, 2-10, and a catechol dibenzyl ether, 11, that bear various functional groups or larger structural extensions have been studied with respect to the occurrence of a highly characteristic consecutive loss of two benzyl radicals from the sodiated molecular ions, [M + Na]+. It is shown that this specific fragmentation reaction strongly dominates other fragmentation routes, such as loss of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and water. In addition, elimination of benzaldehyde occurs as a minor fragmentation channel in most cases. In contrast to these aryl-benzyl ethers, the consecutive two-fold loss of C7H7• is suppressed in the [M + Na]+ ions of dibenzyl ethers derived from multiply benzylated gallocatechin and catechin, where the elimination of benzyl alcohol prevails the primary fragmentation almost completely. The secondary fragmentation of the [M + Na]+ ions, which also comprises the two-fold loss of C7H7•, as well as a remarkable primary fragmentation of a flavene-based congener leading to particularly stable sodium-free chromylium product ions is also presented. † Deceased.