Identification of certain chemical agents in complex organic solutions by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Analytical methods that are used for the detection and identification of chemicals related to the Chemical Weapons Convention in complex organic solutions were developed. A matrix modified by the addition of complex diesel oil background compounds and interferences was used for the development of a gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry or gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS or GC‐MS/MS) method for unambiguous identification of the scheduled chemicals. Co‐elution of diethyl N , N ‐dimethylphosphoramidate and ethyl N , N ‐dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate, which are not separated by GC, was identified by GC‐MS. Although GC‐MS can identify the compounds, GC‐MS/MS identification has greater accuracy and sensitivity in the case of complex matrixes. Four scheduled chemicals were accurately and selectively identified against numerous interfering substances by GC‐MS/MS. The fragmentation chemistry of these compounds using MS/MS analysis was investigated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.