AbstractThe mass spectra of various ring‐substituted salicylic acids and derivatives thereof have been examined. Fragmentation pathways for derivatives of salicylic acid; 3‐NO2salicylic acid; 5‐I salicylic acid; 3‐NO2, 5‐I salicylic acid; and 3‐NH2, 5‐I salicylic acid are suggested. The major dissociations of these compounds are by elimination of the elements of neutral molecules, e.g. water, methanol, ketene (from the acetylated compounds) carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, leading to (iodo) phenoxy and (iodo) quinone type ion structures. These ions further decompose to yield the corresponding substituted cyclopentadienyl and cyclop