Gas phase protonolysis reactions

Abstract
Gas phase protonolysis reactions of a wide variety of N-nitrosamines have been studied utilizing methane chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS). N-Nitrosamines are protonated at either the N or O atoms of the N-nitroso triad (NNO) leading to aminium radicals, nitrenium ions, ammonium ions, carbenium ions and various elimination reaction. A structure-CIMS reactivity relationship of N-nitrosamines is presented.