Determination of alkylmethylphosphonic acids, the main metabolites of organophosphorus nerve agents, in biofluids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid-liquid-solid-phase-transfer-catalyzed pentafluorobenzylation

J Anal Toxicol. 1999 Mar-Apr;23(2):86-93. doi: 10.1093/jat/23.2.86.

Abstract

A simple gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) procedure has been developed for the main metabolites of organophosphorus nerve agents, alkylmethylphosphonic acids (AMPAs; alkyl = Et, i-Pr, and pinacolyl) in biofluids via extractive pentafluorobenzylation. The derivatization was carried out under liquid-liquid-solid-phase-transfer conditions using a polymer-bound tri-n-butylmethylphosphonium bromide as a catalyst. AMPAs in aqueous samples were semiquantitatively extracted into a small-volume organic layer as their pentafluorobenzyl derivatives at pH 4.5 (85 degrees C). Sample pretreatments for urine, serum, and saliva were each examined to minimize matrix interference. The detection limits of APMAs by electron-impact ionization GC-MS were around 50 ng/mL and 2.5-10 ng/mL in the full-scan and selected-ion monitoring modes, respectively. In order to detect trace-level AMPAs, negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) was also employed to enhance sensitivity. The detection limits of AMPAs in biofluids were typically 60 pg/mL by GC-NICI-MS.

MeSH terms

  • Body Fluids / chemistry*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / metabolism
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / blood
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / metabolism
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / urine
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Sarin / analysis*
  • Sarin / metabolism
  • Sarin / urine
  • Soman / analysis*
  • Soman / blood
  • Soman / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds
  • Soman
  • VX
  • Sarin