The mass spectra of a series of aryltrimethyltins are described and analysed. The main features are: a relatively weak molecular ion, a very important ArSnMez+ ion (base peak), a low intensity ArSnMe+ fragment and a non negligible ArSn+ peak. These findings may be related to the well known stable valence states of tin (IVSn and IISn) and the unfavourdble 11% and ISn states. Whereas a methyl group is easier to cleave from the ArSnMes-" ion than the phenyl radical, n-butyl seems to be more strongly bound to the metal than the aryl moiety in ArSnnBu3+. The spectra of three aryltrimethylsilicons, recorded in the same conditions, show stronger molecular ions and weaker divalent fragments than in the corresponding tin derivatives. An interpretation of these various findings is attempted in terms of bond energies and electron delocalization.The mass spectra of tetramethyltin [ I , 2, 3,4, 51, tetraethyltin [4, 5, 6, 71, tetraphenyltin [2, 5, 71 and of a few other organotin molecules [4, 5, 71 can be found in the literature, but no systematic study of the fragmentation of aryltriallcyltins seems to have ever been published. We now report the mass spectra (+) of a large number of such organometallic compounds, which were previously used in kinetic studies [8].This series includes aryltrimethyltins with the following aryl groups: 9-phenanthryl (I), para-broniophenyl (II), para-trimethylsilylphenyl (III), para-neopentylphenyl (IV), I-naphthyl (V), 2-naphthyl (VI), para-methoxyphenyl (VII), mefamethoxyphenyl (*) (VIII), 2,6-dimethylphenyl (IX), para-tolyl (X), rneta-tolyl (XI), ortho-tolyl (Xll), and phenyl (XIII).The results given in table I show that the mass spectra of the aryltrimethyltins are not very different from one another and the following general description of the fragmentation patterns can be given.The following isotopic distribution has been used to analyse the spectra: 112 (0.95%); 120 (32.97%); 122 (4.71%); 124 (5.98%). All m/e values in the discussion are based on the 120 isotope [I]. All intensities are corrected for 13C natural isotopic abundance. We thank Mr. E. Hannecart for a sample of meta-methoxyphenyltrimethyltin. 114 (0.65%); 115 (0.34%); 116 (14.24%); 117 (7.57%); 118 (24.017:); 119 (8.58%);(*)