Mass Spectrometry of Aliphatic Macrolides, Important Semiochemicals or Pheromones

Macrolides are a relatively common structural motif prevalent in Nature. However, the structures of these large ring lactones have been relatively difficult to elucidate via NMR spectroscopy due to the minute amounts of compounds that are sometimes obtainable from natural sources. Thus, GC-MS analysis of individual macrolactones has become the method of choice for the structural identification of these compounds. Here we discuss the mass spectrometric behavior of aliphatic macrolides, evaluating spectra from numerous compounds of various ring size, including derivatives containing methyl branches as well as double bonds. The specific fragmentation of these macrolactones under electron impact conditions allows for the development of a general rule set aimed at the identification of similar compounds by mass spectrometry. In addition, the mass spectra of dimethyl disulfide adducts of unsaturated macrolides are discussed. The mass spectra of almost 50 macrolides are presented.