Organic Mass Spectrometry, 1974, Vol. 8, pp. 129 to 146. Heyden & Son Limited.

Printed in Northern Ireland

MASS SPECTRAL FRAGMENTATION STUDIES

IN USNIC ACID AND RELATED
COMPOUNDS
P. KUTNEY,IGNACIO
JAMES H. SANCHEZ H. YEE
and TREVOR
Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver 8, British Columbia, Canada

(Received 15 January 1973; accepted (revised) 23 May 1973)

Abstract-A study of the fragmentation patterns of the naturally occurring lichen substance, usnic
acid (I) and various other chemically and biochemically derived compounds is reported and discussed.
From these results it is demonstrated that the characteristic fragmentation patterns observed are of
considerable utility in determining not only the substitution patterns on these highly oxygenated
molecules, but also the structural elucidation of new compounds within the series.

INTRODUCTION
NATURALLY occurring oxygen heterocycles, particularly those found in lichens,
have been studied for a long time.1,2 The structural modifications exhibited by these
compounds are extensive, and so is the number of compounds thus far isolated and
~haracterized.~ More recently a great deal of interest has been directed towards the
biosynthesis4 and biodegradation of these molecules, and for this reason the identifi-
cation of even minute amounts of materials has become essential. Our interest in this
area, ranging from the chemical to the biochemical behavior of usnic acid, required a
careful investigation of the fragmentation of these molecules in the mass spectrometer.
The mass spectra of usnic acid5 and a few chemically derived compounds6 and various
other lichen compounds7 have appeared, but in general little is known about the
behavior of this large family of compounds.
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
The present discussion will be concerned mainly with presenting and rationalizing
the fragmentation patterns of these molecules, a number of which are novel and
isolated during our studies. All fragmentation processes are supported by accurate
mass measurements of the various fragments as well as the corresponding metastable
peaks.
Usnic acid (I), the parent member of the series, as expected from two
of the possible keto-enol tautomers. A retro Diels-Alder process is an important
fragmentation pathway (Scheme 1 and Fig. 1) which yields fragment a(m/e 260);
this further fragments to b(m/e 232) and c(m/e 217) as indicated.' Ion d(m/e 233)
arising from the alternate tautomer gives rise to the base peak, which subsequently
fragments in two different modes. On the one hand dehydration of d leads to the
cyclobutanone ion e,7 (m/e 2 1 9 , while isomerization to the 4-methylchromenyl ion
f 8 and subsequent loss of carbon monoxide affords ion g(m/e 205).
Minor pathways are the initial loss of methyl radical giving rise to the [M - 151
peak, ion h(m/e 329) and loss of carbon monoxide from ion h to produce i(m/e 301).
Isousnic acid (11): the natural isomer of I, exhibits the [M - 841 fragment a,
(m/e 260) arising from the retro Diels-Alder cleavage of ring C as the base peak.
129
130 JAMESP. KUTNEY,IGNACIO
H. SANCHEZ
and TREVOR
H. YEE

m* 158.2

-H 2 0
‘m* 1983

(4 (4
[Ci,HiiO3]
2 I S(40)
[Ci3Hi30J
233(100) 1
COCH,

[ClZHl2O3]+
205(5)
* \ \
CH3 H
OH CH3
(f)
1. Postulated fragmentation pattern for usnic acid (I)
SCHEME
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 131

COCH3

Ho+-pco:.3
C" 3 OH OH I

r5o.o 300.0 3 : o o . o

FIG.1

As in the case of usnic acid, the latter suffers loss of carbon monoxide to afford
fragment b(m/e232) and of methyl radical to ion c(m/e217). The alternate fragmenta-
tion yields the important [M - l l l ] peak d(m/e233). It is significant to note that in
this case, owing to a difference in the substitution pattern of ring A, the loss of water
within the o-hydroxy-acetophenone moiety has been minimized (Scheme 2 and Fig. 2).
Usnic acid monoacetatelo (111) (Scheme 3 and Fig. 3) exhibits a dual fragmentation
pathway which is seen in all the mono- and poly-acetylated compounds of the series;
namely, fragments arise from both the acetylated and free phenolic hydroxylic
groupings. The deacetylation to usnic acid via loss of ketene is a facile process and
the latter then fragments in the manner already described. On the other hand the
characteristic retro Diels-Alder fragmentation of ring C directly on the monoacetate
(m/e 386) affords the [M - 841 species a(m/e 302), which after loss of ketene gives
ion b(m/e 260). The alternate cleavage giving rise to the [M - 1111 peak is also
present, producing ion c(m/e 275). Further fragmentations occur as previously
postulated.
Dihydrousnic acid (IV)" has a unique fragmentation scheme (Scheme 4 and
Fig. 4). The retro Diels Alder cleavage is not present, but instead cleavage with
accompanying hydrogen elimination gives rise to the corresponding [M - 1131 peak,
fragment a(m/e 233). Cleavage of the ,%ketonic system yields the important 3-
methylbenzofuranyl ion b(m/e 220) which as expected12loses methyl radical to c(m/e
205) and then carbon monoxide to d(m/e 177). A minor fragmentation is the loss of
carbon monoxide from the molecular ion to e(m/e 318).
There is a variety of usnic acid derivatives in which ring C has been cleaved and
their fragmentation patterns are uniquely different from those already presented.
Thus the ketoester (V),1O normally called usnic acid ethoxide, fragments in the manner
of a simple b-diketone or /3-ketoester13 (Scheme 5 and Fig. 5). The important cleav-
ages occur from its keto-enol tautomers. A P-ketoester cleavage produces ethyl
alcohol and fragment a(m/e 344). Fragmentation of the acyl chain affords the base
10
132 and TREVOR
JAMES P. KUTNEY,IGNACIOH. SANCHEZ H. YEE

-co
m* 207.0

I
m* 158.2

OH

[C13H13041
233(90)

(4
2. Postulated fragmentation pattern for isousnic acid (11)
SCHEME

+----I
0 100.0 150.0 200.0 350.0 400.0
M/E
FIG. 2
H

CH3
O O

OH
p O

H3C
OH
COCHs
1

CC13Hi1031
215(183

SCHEME
3. Postulated fragmentation pattern for usnic acid monoacetate 011)
133
 JAMES P. KLJTNEY,
IGNACIO
H. SANCHEZ H. YEE
and TREVOR

COCH3

R
N
a

FIG.3
300.0 350.0
L400.0

COCH3
OH OH

0 I I

FIG.4

peak b(m/e 233) which loses water to c(m/e 215). McLafferty rearrangement of the
p-diketocarboethoxy side chain13yields the abundant ion d(m/e 260) whose fragmenta-
tion has already been discussed for usnic acid (Scheme l). A significant process is
acyl chain cleavage with hydrogen transfer giving rise to the 2,3-dimethylbenzofuranyl
ion e(rn/e 234), which behaving as a methyl ketone loses methyl radical tof(m/e 219)
and then CO to g(m/e 191).
Ethyl acetusnetate (VI),lo another member of this series, behaves quite differently
(Scheme 6 and Fig. 6) as its base peak arises from acyl chain cleavage a(rn/e 233).
Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 135

(4
CClOH9031
177(7)

COCH3

+. c0ch3

m* 154.3
___3

I-co

[C13H1103]
215(20)

SCHEME
4. Postulated fragmentation pattern for dihydrousnic acid (IV)
136 JAMES P. KUTNEY,IGNACIOH. SANCHEZ
and TREVOR
H. YEE
-CHj
[Ci3Hiz04]+' [CizH84]'
232(1 I) 217(11)

COCH, t.

COCHs 1+.

5. Postulated fragmentationpattern for usnic acid ethoxide (V)

SCHEME
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 137

+'

nije 348 (21 %)

m* 1560

""0
CH3
\
'cCHt

+ CH3
-H20
____,
m* 198.3

CH3
\
0

,fH.

+
CHI
OH OH

6. Postulated fragmentation pattern for ethyl acetusnetate (VI)

SCHEME
 and TREVOR
JAMES P. KUTNEY,IGNACIOH. SANCHEZ H. YEE

OH

0 100.0 150.0 200.0

M/E
L
FIG.5
250.0 300.11 350.0 1
400.0

OH

w
, , , f, , ! , , I ,,,!,
250.0 300.0 350.0 400.0

FIG.6

The decreased significance of the McLafferty process, minimized to a relative abund-

ance of 5 % , is probably due to a low relative abundance of the relevant P-ketoester
tautomer. Side chain cleavage with hydrogen transfer affords c(nz/e 234), again with
diminished intensity. Fragment c suffers further loss of methyl radical to give d(m/e
219).
Decarbousnic acid, another member of the seco ring C series, has been shown to
have a fragmentation pattern' similar to that of ethyl acetusnetate.
Usnetol (VII)' behaves predominantly as an aryl methyl ketone (Scheme 7 and
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 139

OH

HO

I-"'
COCH,

SCHEME7. Postulated fragmentation pattern for usnetol (VII)

 P. KUTNEY,IGNACIO
JAMES H. SANCHEZ
and TREVOR
H. YEE

1 ' ' ~ ~ 1 ' ' ~ ' 1 ~ ~ ~ ' I

0 100.0 150.0 250.0 300.0 350.0 400.0

FIG.7

Fig. 7). As expected loss of methyl radical affords the base peak a(m/e 219). Loss of
water from the parent compound is observed yielding ion c(m/e 216) as a prominent
peak. Another facile process significant in most 2- or 3-alkylbenzofurans12but not in
2,3-unsubstituted benzofurans,14*15 is loss of hydrogen from VII to give ion d(m/e 233),
which can isomerize to the 4-methyl-chromenyl ion eSJ2and then lose carbon monoxide
to provide f(m/e 205).
The deacylusnic acid derivative (VIII)1G.17presents the essential features discussed
for usnic acid itself, namely retro Diels-Alder fragmentation to give a(m/e 218).
This is a most important process because it allows determination of substitution pat-
terns on these molecules (compare for example with compound IX). Further loss of
carbon monoxide yields b(mle 190) and of methyl radical c(m/e 175). Fragmentation
involving hydrogen transfer furnishes the base peak d(m/e 191), again very useful in
determining the substitution pattern of the molecule. Minor fragmentations involve
loss of methyl radical from the molecular ion to give e(m/e 287) and then expulsion of
carbon monoxide affordsf(m1e 259) (Scheme 8 and Fig. 8).
We shall also discuss the effect of reverse substitution as found in 2-desacetylusnic
acid (IX).lG The retro Diels-Alder process affords a [M - 42]+. fragment as the
base peak a(m/e 260) (Scheme 9 and Fig. 9). Comparison with usnic acid, which gives
a [ M - 84]+ ion loss for the same process, readily allows determination of the
substitution pattern. This species further fragments by loss of carbon monoxide to
b(m/e 232) and methyl radical to c(m/e 217). It is noticeable that the major frag-
mentation process for both usnic acid and its 6-desacetyl analogue is in this case
observed with a substantially decreased relative intensity (30%) as ion d(m/e233). Its
occurrence establishes the presence of a 6-acetyl grouping in the molecule. Similarly to
other / ? - d i k e t o n e ~direct
l ~ * ~ loss
~ of carbon monoxide is possible and produces g(m/e246).
Reaction of usnic acid with BF, provided a difluoroborate derivatelGin which an
enolic hydroxyl group in ring C was involved. This compound was utilized in order
to test the postulate that usnic acid indeed fragments from its two different keto-en01
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 141

COCH,
OH OH (VIII) OH
[CiaHiaOe]

m* 272.7

I
(4
[CisHii06]
-CHa

+
mle 302 (67 %)
m* 1241

287(5)

OH

(f) (4
CCi4HiiOsI + [CiiHiiOa]
259(5) 191 ( I 00)

8. Postulated fragmentationpattern for 6-desacetylusnicacid (VIII)

SCHEME

FIG.8
142 IGNACIO
JAMES P. KUTNEY, H . SANCHEZ
and TREVOR
H . YEE

J
(4
[CiaHizOs]
26ql FO)
SCHEME
9. Postulated fragmentationpattern for 2-desacetylusnicacid (IX)

COW3
c

3)$qJH
H3 H C
1

OH OH

100.0 150.0 300.0 350.0 40.0

FIG.9
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 143

tautomers. An analysis of the fragmentation pattern of this compound which can

exist in only one tautomeric form, showed as expected the retro Diels-Alder process as
the only active fragmentation pathway.
We have also investigated different heterosubstituted derivatives of usnic acid.
These are important because they permit a study of the effect of the heteroatom 0 or N
in directing the fragmentation processes.
One of the compounds studied was A2J1-enaminousnic acid @).I6 Its base peak
arises from the retro Diels-Alder cleavage of the B-diketoenamino system, giving
fragment a(m/e260) (Scheme 10 and Fig. 10) whose subsequent fragmentation has been
previously discussed (see Scheme 1). The important feature in the spectrum of this
compound is the low relative intensity for fragments arising from the alternate p-
imino-keto-enolic tautomer which produces ion b(m/e 233, 34%). Further loss of
water from the latter gives c(m/e 215) and loss of methyl radical from the molecular
ion d(m/e 328).

10. Postulated fragmentation pattern for A2.11-enaminousnicacid (X)

SCHEME
 JAMES P. KUTNEY,IGNACIO
H. SANCHEZ H. YEE
and TREVOR

,o LOO.0 150.0 '250.0 300.0 350.0 40.0

$YE0
FIG.10

COCH3

COCH3

0 100 0 150 0
i

200 0 250 0

FIG. 11
-r -l-
,

300.0
M/E
,y I,,
350.0
,

7
400.0
- 450.0

When the N-methyl derivative16of X was studied no [M - OH]+ ions, which are
known to increase rapidly in relative abundance as the basic enamino nitrogen atom is
changed from primary to secondary to tertiary,lg were observed. The fragmentation
[M - O]+* produced in some cases both by aromatic B-diketones20 and the
corresponding enamineslg has not been found in this series of compounds.
It is appropriate to mention briefly the characteristic mass spectral fragmentations
of the di- and tri-acetylated derivatives of these compounds. As observed for usnic
and diacetate (XI)l0for example, the fragmentation patterns (see Scheme 11 and Fig.
11) strongly resemble those of the parent molecules with fragmentation pathways
arising from both keto-enol tautomers. The facile loss of ketene from both phenolic
acetate groupings21s22is observed yielding the partially or totally desacetylated com-
pounds.
 Mass spectral fragmentation studies in usnic acid and related compounds 145

COCH3 l+*

2HJ
O

OAc
ic

H3C
OH
COCH3
1''m/e 428 (79 "/o)

-C4Ha02

ni* 236.2
> H

CH3
O

OAc
O yITC=O
t.

[CZOHISOHI [CiaHiaOe]
396191) 302(79)

I
m* 223.8 - C ~ H Z O

11. Postulated fragmentation pattern for usnic acid diacetate (XI)

SCHEME
146 JAMESP. KUTNEY,IGNACIO
H. SANCHEZ H. YEE
and TREVOR

In conclusion, the above study has provided an invaluable aid to the structure
elucidation of a variety of novel systems in this family of oxygen heterocycles. We hope
that these results will also be helpful to other workers in the field.
EXPERIMENTAL
The mass spectra were determined on Atlas CH-4B or AEI MS-902 mass spectrometers using a
heated inlet system or a direct insertion method. The latter technique was utilized for polyacetylated
molecules. The source temperature was 170 to 180°C and the inlet temperature was 170°C. The
energy of the electron beam was 70 eV.

Acknowledgement-Financial support from the National Research Council of Canada is gratefully

acknowledged.
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3. C. F. Culberson, Chemical and Botanical Guide to Lichen Products, The University of North
Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1969.
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Tetrahedron 24,2707 (1968).
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Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 11, Holden-Day, San Francisco, 1964, Chapter 29.
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The Ring Index, American Chemical Society, Washington D.C. 1960, p. 388.
18. D. M. Mattsson, Acta Chem. Scand. 22,2479 (1968).
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(B) 940 (1966).
20. J. H. Bowie, D. H. Williams, S. 0. Lawesson and G. Schroll, J. Org. Chem. 31, 1384 (1966).
21. A. A. Gamble, J. R. Gilbert and J. G. Tillett, Org. Mass Spectrom. 5, 1093 (1971).
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