Electron impact induced fragmentations and rearrangements of some phenyl substituted phosphine oxides

Electron impact induced fragmentations and rearrangements of 1‐phenyl‐2,2,3‐trimethylphosphetane 1‐oxide, 1‐phenylphospholane 1‐oxide and 1‐phenylphosphorinane 1‐oxide were investigated. A process common to all of these phosphine oxides was electron impact induced formation of new carbon‐carbon bonds involving the phenyl rings. Evidence for such rearrangements included observation of hydrocarbon fragment ions containing seven or more carbons.