MASS-SPECTROMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF PRODUCTS FORMED DURING DEGRADATION OF ETHYL DIMETHYLPHOSPHORAMIDOCYANIDATE (TABUN)

The major sample components in dichloromethane extracts of munitions-grade tabun decontaminated with methanol-potassium hydroxide, including nine compounds not previously associated with tabun, were identified following capillary column gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. Electron impact fragmentation ions provided valuable structural information for the unknown sample components, but the presence of little or no molecular ion information for many of the components made identification difficult. Ammonia chemical ionization analysis was required to provide the complementary molecular ion information necessary for identification or tentative identification of these compounds. All the major sample components exhibited significant (M + H)+ and (M + NH4)+ pseudo-molecular ions and in some cases structurally significant chemical ionization fragmentation ions during capillary column ammonia chemical ionization gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis.