Analysis of organophosphate pesticides by a trochoidal electron monochromator mass spectrometer system.

An electron monochromator mass spectrometer was used to study the resonant electron energies versus negative ion masses of the organophosphate insecticides dicapthion, EPN, ethion, fenitrothion, leptophos, leptophosoxon, paraoxon, and parathion. Each compound yielded a unique two-dimensional electron energy/mass spectrum. The most abundant ions are produced with electrons of energies between 0.03 and 1 eV, but ions result also from capture of electrons with energies ranging to 8.5 eV. Both resonance electron capture ions and dissociative electron capture ions are produced with electrons of energies ranging from 0.03 to 8.5 eV, and ions may have as many as three observable resonance states from which they are formed. Substituted thiophenoxide ions are postulated to arise by rearrangement of the parent thiophosphate ions through a spiro intermediate. Most fragment ions can be rationalized as arising through simple homolytic cleavage of the parent radical anions.