Fragmentation of a valine molecule by electron impact

Abstract

The formation of ion products of single and dissociative ionization of a valine molecule (C₅H₁₁NO₂) by high-energy (11.5 MeV) and low-energy (below 150 eV) electrons has been investigated by mass spectrometry. Mass spectra of this molecule and near-threshold functions of yield of its ion fragments, for which the magnitudes of occurrence energies are determined, have been obtained. The analysis of the changes in mass spectra of valine molecules irradiated with doses of 5 and 20 kGy in comparison with those for unirradiated molecules shows that high-energy irradiation changes irreversibly the structure of some of the initial molecules.