Identification of Alkyl-9-Fluorenones in Diesel Exhaust Participate

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Abstract
A homologous series of 9-fluorenones ranging from the parent compound through C4-alkyl-9-fluorenone were identified in a fraction of diesel exhaust particulate extracts. A variety of analytical techniques was employed to achieve identification, including high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/computer (GC/MS) using both electron impact (El) and chemical ionization (Cl), gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID), high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and high resolution gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (GC/FT-IR). The identification of the 9-fluorenone derivatives was made on the basis of precise mass determinations using HRMS, infrared spectra of one of the GC/FT-IR peaks, comparison of retention times with authentic compounds, and interpretation of the mass spectra. Any single analysis would have been insufficient for confident identification, and indeed, the mass spectra strongly correlated with standard spectra of alkyl benzo[c]cinnolines. The results of this study clearly illustrate the need for complementary analytical techniques for analyses of complex unknowns.