Kinetics and activation parameters for the alkaline aqueous rearrangement of trichorfon [O,O-dimethyl-(2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl) phosphonate] to dichlorvos [O,O-dimethyl-O-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)phosphate]

The kinetics of the alkaline rearrangement of O,O-dimethyl-(2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl)phosphonate, (trichlorfon, 1), the active insecticidal component in such formulations as Dylox, was followed at 25 +/-0.5 degreesC by high pressure liquid chromatography (UV-vis detector, 210 mm). The rearrangement product, O,O-dimethyl-O-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)phosphate (dichlorovos, 2), which is a more potent biocide than trichlorfon, undergoes further reaction, and the kinetics, consequently, cannot be treated by a standard pseudo-first-order plot. A two-point van't Hoff (initial rates) method was used to obtain pseudo-first-order rate constants ;(K psi) at 25, 35 and 45 degreesC: 2.6 x 10(-6), 7.4 x 10(-6) and 2.5 x 10(-5) s(-1), respectively. Arrhenius treatment of this data gave an activation energy (E-a) of 88 kJ(.)mol(-1) with a pre-exponential factor (A) of 5.5 x 10(9) s(-1). Kinetic trials at pH 8.0 using phosphate and tris buffer systems show no buffer catalysis in this reaction and indicate that the rearrangement is subject to specific base catalysis. Estimates are reported for pseudo-first-order half-lives for trichlorfon at pH 8.0 for environmental conditions in aqueous systems in the Corner Brook region of western Newfoundland, part of the site of a recent trichlorfon aerial spray program.