HRMS studies on the fragmentation pathways of metallapentalyne.

The electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) using collision-induced dissociation (CID) method was applied to investigate the characteristic fragment ions of metalla-aromatic complexes for the first time. The fragmentation process of osmapentalyne, which contained metal-carbon triple bond in a five-membered ring, was discussed in detail. The ESI FT-ICR MS CID experimental results at high resolution mass spectra (HRMS) demonstrated the elemental composition of fragment ions unambiguously, thus a reasonable fragmentation pathway of osmapentalyne was proposed. In addition, the characteristic fragment ions have been investigated, which were specific and useful for the identification of some osmapentalynes complexes. These characteristic fragmentation pathways were helpful to analyze and interpret the stability and property of the parent ion. Also, this method could be used for the characterization of other organometallic complexes, especially containing characteristic isotopic peaks.