The fragmentation of chalcogen containing fatty acids and their methyl esters

Electron impact mass spectral fragmentation patterns of a series of fatty acids and the corresponding methyl esters substituted in the alkyl chain with sulfur, selenium and tellurium heteroatoms (chalcogens) have been studied. Fragmentation pathways have been investigated via metastable analysis and high resolution measurements have been performed to confirm the elemental composition of various fragment ions. Several trends in the fragmentation attributable to the specific chalcogen in the molecule are discussed.