IDENTIFICATION OF THE C3H7 MOIETY OF ISOPROPYLPHOSPHONATE AND PROPYLPHOSPHONATES BY LECTROSPRAY TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Structure analysis of phosphorus compounds within the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention requires the specific identification of a lkyl substituents on phosphorus. In this work the distinction of the P -propyl substituent in propylphosphonic acid derivatives by electrospr ay tandem mass spectrometry was investigated. P-Isopropyl and P-n-prop yl groups were readily distinguished and a mechanistic proposal was gi ven, based on labelling experiments, The findings were applied to the identification of the P-propyl moiety of two V-agents, O-ethyl S-[2-(d ialkylamino)ethyl] propylphosphonothiolates, and to a degradation prod uct of a G-agent, propyl propyl-phosphonate. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.