Ortho effects in organic molecules on electron impact. 14—Concerted and stepwise ejections of SO<inf>2</inf> and N<inf>2</inf> from N†arylidene 2†nitrobenzenesulphenamides

Unexpected ortho interaction of the nitro group has been noticed during the mass spectral fragmentations of N‐arylidene 2‐nitrobenzenesulphenamides, where the molecular ions expel SO2 and N2 both in concerted and stepwise processes. Loss of a hydrogen or the substituent from this fragment leads to a very abundant ion in all the compounds studied. Based on chemical evidence and linked‐scan studies, a 1,2‐phenylenetropylium cation structure has been postulated for the [M–SO2–N2–H/substituent]+ ion. Copyright © 1987 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.