Surface-induced dissociation of diphenyl ether

The primary fragmentation of diphenyl ether and further secondary dissociation of its fragments have been studied by surface-induced dissociation (SID). In a tandem linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer, the dissociation of ions is studied as a function of the collision energy with a liquid perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) surface. In a tandem quadrupole instrument, an alkyl terminated (C₁₈) and a perfluoroalkyl terminated (FC₁₀) self-assembled monolayer surface have been used. The differences in the spectra obtained with the TOF and quadrupole instruments are attributed to the different time frames available for observation of the fragments. Deconvolution of the collision energy resolved SID spectra of diphenyl ether shows that above 50 eV collision energy, the energy deposition efficiency is similar in the two experimental set-ups, in spite of the different geometries. Ion/surface reactions are observed upon collisions of the diphenyl ether radical cation with the C 18 surface but not with the FC₁₀ surface. The rearrangement fragments, obtained from perdeuterated diphenyl ether, C₁₁D+₁₀ and C₁₁D+₉, react with both the C₁₈ and FC₁₀ surface. Hydrogen exchange with the surface combined with hydrocarbon loss from C₁₂D₁₀O⁺,C₁₁D⁺₁₀, and C₁₁D+₉ is observed.