Unusual neutral and radical losses in 2′†substituted N†phenylanthranilic acids on electron impact

Unusual expulsions of [H2O + CO2] from the M+˙ of N‐(o‐carboxyphenyl)anthranilic acid, [H2O + CH2O] from the M+˙ of N‐(o‐methoxyphenyl)anthranilic acid and [H2O + ˙NO2] from the M+˙ of N‐(o‐nitrophenyl) anthranilic acid were observed under electron impact conditions. These processes are stepwise in the corresponding para‐substituted N‐phenylanthranilic acids. The proposed fragmentation pathways and their mechanisms are supported by B/E linked‐scan spectra, collision‐activated decomposition (CAD)–mass‐analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra, high‐resolution data, deuterium labelling and chemical substitution. Copyright © 1991 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.