Xanthene dyes such as rhodamine B undergo an interesting mass-spectrometric fragmentation reaction that eliminates small neutral alkanes such as propane. This fragmentation reaction has been investigated in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometer by means of laser photodissociation with visible light as well as by collision-induced dissociation. Different isotopically labeled decarboxyrhodamine B compounds were used to investigate the fragmentation mechanism. The results support a concerted mechanism for the formation of the alkanes instead of a two-step radical mechanism.

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The fragmentation reactions of Rhodamine B have been investigated by the use of electrospray ionization mass spectra in a high mass resolving ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Using high resolution, it could be shown that the loss of 44 mass units from the molecular ion is due to propane; the measured masses were inconsistent with loss of carbon dioxide. These conclusions are supported using deuterium-labeled Rhodamine B. This sample again only shows the loss of fully-deuterated propane verifying the high-resolution data. These findings illustrate very clearly that the conclusions based solely on low resolution spectra were false. The general implication on fragmentations of aromatic acids is discussed.

The fragmentation behavior of N, N-diethylamino-substituted azobenzene derivatives is investigated by high-resolving mass spectrometry using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Former investigations by photodissociation as well as collision-induced dissociation experiments used to induce a loss of CH from the diethylamino group. The position of the additional proton in [M + H] ions is important due to the sequences of radical fragmentation reactions. Two possibilities arise. First, a charge is located at the azo group leading to a methyl radical loss. The second possibility is that the charge has been located on the aniline nitrogen of the molecule resulting in an ethyl radical loss. Only o-ethyl red has shown the overall loss of CH in a two-step radical reaction mechanism. Nevertheless, p-ethyl red and ethyl yellow have shown systematic fragmentation reactions as well. Loss of CH has not been likely regarding both these molecules. All experimental findings together with quantum chemical calculations as well as kinetic calculations support the proposed fragmentation mechanisms of the three azo dyes.