Steroid phosphorus compounds. V--Mass spectrometry of phosphinic esters of monohydroxy steroids.

The mass spectra of the dimethylphosphinic, dimethylthiophosphinic and dimethylphosphinous ester derivatives of several monohydroxy steroids are reported. The fragmentations of the derivatized steroids largely depend on the nature of the phosphorus-containing ester group. Phenolic ester derivatives exhibit the base peak at the molecular ion, whereas the spectra of the secondary phosphinic esters are dominated by very intense protonated phosphinic acid ions [Me2P(XH)(OH)]+ at m/e 95 (X =O) or at m/e 111 (x = s). The present results also indicate the low ionization potential for the phosphinic ester group. Due to their good gas chromatographic properties, these steroid derivatives appear to be particularly suitable for gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis of biochemical materials.