Mass spectrometric studies on azidomorphine derivatives

The mass spectrometric behaviour of nine azidomorphine derivatives have been studied. These compounds proved to have surprisingly specific and selective fragmentation under electron-impact. For 6-deoxy-6-azido-dihydro-isomorphine derivatives (I to V) the main decomposition pathway involves the loss of an N2 molecule followed by a very rapid and selective fragmentation process. On the other hand, the molecular ions of 6-deoxy-8-azido-pseudomorphine derivatives (VI to VIII) and 6-deoxy-6-azido-14-hydroxy-isocodein (IX) primarily decompose by loss of the N3 radical. This is due to the allylic effect of the double bond in ring C, corresponding to the chemical behaviour of these compounds.