The dissociation chemistry of low-energy N-formylethanolamine ions: Hydrogen-bridged radical cations as key intermediates

► Metastable N-formylethanolamine ions lose H2O, CH2O and CH2CHO. ► Hydrogen-bridged radical cations are predicted by theory to be key intermediates. ► Part of the C2H3O loss may involve CH3CO, generated by quid-pro-quo catalysis.