Mass spectrometric study of α-carbolines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00742839

A series of α-carbolines were subjected to mass-spectrometric analysis. It is shown that these compounds are extremely stable with respect to electron impact. From 40 to 60% of the total ion current goes into the production of molecular ions during dissociative ionization. The mass spectra of these compounds are simple: the maximum peak corresponds to the molecular peak in the spectrum. The formation of the [M-1]⁺ ion and the detachment of a methyl group in monomethylcarbolines ([M-15]) are determined by the position of the methyl group. The mass-spectral fragmentation confirms the proposed scheme for the formation of α-carbolines from arylhydrazones and δ6-keto nitriles. A method for the synthesis of α-carbolines on the basis of accessible arylsulfamidoindoles is proposed.