Electric spray ionization mass spectrum of tetrazene

Tetrazene was analyzed by electric spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to study its fragmentation pathways and mechanism. Fragments and structurally informative spectra of tetrazene were obtained. Results show that the atom N is most likely to dissociate in neutral fragment forms of NH₂, HCN, HCN₂, N₃ and N₄, while the fragmentation mechanisms are the cleavage of C-N and N-N and the rearrangement. The relatively stronge peak at m/z 68. 9 indicates that tetrazole cycle is stable in the molecule. The presence of stronge peaks at m/z 68.9 and m/z 95.8 suggests that the cleavages of C(5)-N(1) bond and N(2)-N(3) bond are ready to form tetrazole radical, amino-guanidinyl radical and molecular nitrogen.