Packed Capillary Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Mass Spectrometry and Tandem Mass Spectrometry of Hydrolysed HT and HQ

Abstract

Packed capillary column liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were used to identify munitions grade mustard hydrolysis products, including five longer chain diols, two partial hydrolysis products and three ether/thioether macrocycles. All ESI-MS data were collected under collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) conditions optimized to facilitate acquisition of both molecular and product ion information that could be useful for structural identification purposes. Interpretation of the ESI-MS data enabled characterization of the diols resulting from hydrolysis of all three principal sulfur vesicants, bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide (mustard or H), bis(2-chloroethylthio)ethane (sesquimustard or Q) and bis(2- CHLOROETHYLTHIO)ETHYLether (T), as well as novel products not previously associated with sulfur vesicant hydrolysis. The reported ESI-MS data could prove valuable for the identification of thiodiglycol and other sulfur vesicant hydrolysis products in samples collected by the Canadian Forces, during base cleanup operations or in support of United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention inspections.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA335365

Entities

People

  • James R. Hancock
  • Lionel R. Provost
  • Paul A. D'agostino

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acquisition
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Capillary Electrophoresis
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Chromatography
  • Identification
  • Ionization
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Security
  • Spectra
  • Spectrometry

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry