The structure of the [C2H5O]+ ion in the mass spectrum of diethyl ether

Abstract
The structure of the [C2H5O]+ ion in the spectrum of diethyl ether was examined by use of deuterated ether, CH3CD2OCH2CH3. The results show that, at all electron energies from threshold to 70 eV, the predominant ion is a rearrangement ion, probably protonated acetaldehyde, with very little of the [C2H5O]+ being formed by direct carbon‐oxygen bond cleavage. Appearance potential measurements made on the m/e 45, m/e 46 and m/e 47 ions in the deuterated ether show that the threshold structure of the rearrangement ion is protonated acetaldehyde.
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