Application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for studies of anionic σ-adducts of aromatic nitrocompounds

It has been found that anionic σ-adducts formed in the reactions of highly electrophilic nitroarenes with selected carbanions, alkoxide anions and amines can be transferred to the gas phase using an electrospray ion source and the resulting ions can be studied using various mass spectrometry techniques in the solvent-free environment. This method can also be used for estimating the relative equilibrium constants of the σ-adduct formation reactions in a liquid phase.