Influence of oxidation state of sulfur on the dissociation of [Tz-(CH2)n-S(O)m-(CH2)n-Tz + Na+] adducts generated by electrospray ionization (Tz = tetrazole ring; n = 2, 3; m= 0, 1, 2).

Sodium adducts of six organosulfur-α,ω-ditetrazole compounds (Tz-(CH(2))(n)-S(O)(m)-(CH(2))(n)-Tz; where Tz = tetrazole ring; n = 2, 3; m = 0, 1, 2) were generated via electrospray ionization (ESI) and their fragmentation pattern assessed via collision-induced dissociation (CID). Two main dissociation channels were observed: (a) losses of N(2) and HN(3) from the tetrazole rings; (b) cleavage of the C-S bond. The sulfoxides pass predominantly through the second fragmentation pathway, but for the sulfides and sulfones the tetrazole ring fragmentation occurs.