Carbonyl compounds
- The principle mode of fragmentation of all carbonyl-containing functional groups (aldehydes, ketones, esters, carboxylic acids, amides etc.) is _-cleavage.
- Involves loss of from both side chains of the carbonyl.
- A secondary fragmentation then involves loss of CO (m=28).
- Also applies to other hetero-unsaturated systems like nitriles and imines.