Aporphines XXVI: GLC and mass spectrometric properties of trifluoracetyl derivatives of N-methyl-, N-propyl-, and noraporphines.

The O-trifluoroacetyl and N,O-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of a series of aporphine and noraporphine alkaloids were prepared, and their GLC and mass spectrometric characteristics were determined. The positional isomers apocodeine and isoapocodeine were resolved chromatographically as their trifluoroacetyl derivatives, and their mass spectra were distinctly different. Mass spectrometry fragmentation processes apparently unique to N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of nonraporphines were observed. Plausible mechanisms for the formation of the major ions in the mass spectra of the various compounds are given.