Fragmentation of xanthene dyes by laser activation and collision-induced dissociation on a high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer.

Surprising fragmentation reactions in different xanthene dyes have been investigated by means of photodissociation and collision-induced dissociation in a 9.4 T FT-ICR mass spectrometer. It is shown that extensive rearrangement reactions lead to the formation of unexpected fragments which are identified for the first time by the use of high resolving mass power. The observed reactions are an example of the fragmentation of a quinoidal even-electron cation.