Q6(j). Butyrophenone: McLafferty rearrangement and α-cleavage
Mass spectrum of butyrophenone shows two peaks m/z 106 and 120 due to McLafferty rearrangement. Justify your answer.
Answer in brief
m/z 120 = M − 28 (ethene lost): the McLafferty peak. The other characteristic peak is m/z 105, C₆H₅CO⁺, from α-cleavage.
Part of VKC Basic
Read the key points and the full model answer with VKC Basic
VKC Basic (₹999 for 6 months) opens every solved answer, the notes, the handbook and the daily answer archive. Every Mains test series includes it.
The full model answer
As written for the answer booklet: the diagram carries the working, the lines stay short. Read here only; it is not offered as a download.
CoversMcLafferty rearrangementbutyrophenoneα-cleavageacylium ionmass spectrometry
All parts of Question 6
- 6(a) Chlorocarbene from CH₂Cl₂; ring expansion of 3-methylindole4 marks
- 6(b) Ozonolysis of camphene, then Wolff–Kishner reduction4 marks
- 6(c) Reductive amination, then intramolecular aza-Michael addition4 marks
- 6(d) Benzaldehyde and ethane-1,2-dithiol: a 1,3-dithiolane4 marks
- 6(e) Amidomercuration–demercuration of hex-1-ene in acetonitrile4 marks
- 6(f) Dimerisation of cyclopentadiene: endo rule by frontier orbitals4 marks
- 6(g) Two isomeric esters C₇H₁₄O₂ from ¹H NMR4 marks
- 6(h) Mass spectrum of 3-butyn-2-ol: the ion of m/z 554 marks
- 6(i) Acetone: solvent shift of the n → π* band4 marks
- 6(j) Butyrophenone: McLafferty rearrangement and α-cleavage4 marks