Even-electron organic anions fragment primarily by loss of neutral molecules. The basic fragmentation types have been reviewed and are proposed lo involve the anion centre [1-3]. However there has been much interest recently in the possible operation of "Charge Remote" processes for negative ions, i.e, fragmentations which occur remote from and uninfluenced by the centre of charge in the anion [4-5].

A number of simple organic negative ions, in which the negative charge is blocked due to structural constraints in the molecule, have been studied for loss of methanol to authenticate the charge remote process.

The fragmentation patterns and mechanistic pathways for the loss of methanol in these negative ions will be discussed.

1. J.H.Bowie, in Mass Spectrometry Specialist Reports, The Chemical Society, London, 1989, 10, 145.
2. J.H.Bowie, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 1990, 9, 349.
3. J.H.Bowie, in Experimental Mass Spectrometry, ed D.H.Russell, Plenum Press, New York, 1994, pp 1-38.
4. J. Adams, Mass Spectrom Rev., 1990, 9, 141.
5. M.L.Gross, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes, 1992,118/119, 137.