Elimination of AgR (R = H, CH3, C6H5) from collisionally-activated argentinated amines

Fragmentation of collisionally-activated argentinated amines results in the formation of Ag+ and non-silver-containing ions. The latter are likely immonium ions that are formed after elimination of AgH and, when the ion structures permit, AgCH3 or AgC6H5, The H, CH3 and C6H5 groups are attached to the carbon alpha to the amino nitrogen, and are believed to be cleaved with the Ag in a 1,2-elimination. This hypothesis is supported by potential energy hypersurfaces calculated using density functional theory for the reactions involving methanamine and ethanamine.