Synthesis, characterization and mass spectrometric fragmentation of gem-dicyanooxiranes derived from benzylidene malononitrile

Benzylidene Malononitriles react with calcium hypochlorite in carbon tetrachloride at room temperature to afford substituted phenyl-1,1'-dicyanooxiranes, a class of important synthetic intermediates. The structure of these phenyl gem-dicyanooxiranes have been confirmed by spectral methods. The electron impact mass spectrometric fragmentation of these gem-dicyanooxiranes show some interesting features which have been substantiated by using tandem mass spectrometry.