The ultimate test of fluency in MS and IR is whether you can determine a moderately complex structure from just the MS and the IR, with no additional information. The IR and MS of a compound are shown below. Use everything you know about IR and MS, plus reasoning and intuition, to determine a likely structure. Then show how your proposed structure is consistent with these spectra.
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Verified step by step guidance

1. Examine the mass spectrum provided. Identify the molecular ion peak (M+) which represents the molecular weight of the compound. In this case, the peak at m/z = 107 is likely the molecular ion peak.
2. Look for significant fragment peaks in the mass spectrum. For example, peaks at m/z = 77 and 79 suggest the presence of a benzene ring or aromatic structure due to common fragmentation patterns.
3. Analyze the IR spectrum (not shown here). Identify key functional group absorptions, such as C=O stretching (around 1700 cm⁻¹), O-H stretching (broad peak around 3200-3600 cm⁻¹), or C-H stretching (around 2800-3000 cm⁻¹). These will help narrow down the functional groups present in the compound.
4. Combine the information from the mass spectrum and IR spectrum. For example, if the IR spectrum shows a strong C=O stretch, the compound may contain a ketone or aldehyde. If an O-H stretch is present, it may be an alcohol or carboxylic acid.
5. Propose a structure consistent with the molecular weight (107), fragmentation patterns (aromatic ring), and functional groups identified in the IR spectrum. Ensure the structure accounts for all observed peaks and spectral data.

Key Concepts

Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It provides information about the molecular weight of compounds and their structural features by generating a mass spectrum, which displays the relative abundance of ions at different m/z (mass-to-charge) values. Key peaks in the spectrum correspond to the molecular ion and fragment ions, which can help deduce the structure of the compound.

Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)

Infrared spectroscopy is a technique that measures the absorption of infrared light by a compound, providing information about its molecular vibrations and functional groups. The resulting IR spectrum displays peaks corresponding to specific bond vibrations, allowing chemists to identify functional groups present in the molecule. This information is crucial for confirming the presence of certain structures and guiding the interpretation of the mass spectrum.

Structural Elucidation

Structural elucidation involves determining the molecular structure of a compound based on analytical data from techniques like MS and IR. By analyzing the mass spectrum for molecular weight and fragmentation patterns, alongside the IR spectrum for functional group identification, chemists can propose a likely structure. This process requires integrating data from both techniques to ensure consistency and accuracy in the proposed molecular structure.