On the significance of [M−HCl]− fragment ions in gas chromatography/electron capture negative ionization mass spectra of octachloro compounds of technical toxaphene

Abstract

The response factors of compounds of technical toxaphene vary significantly in GC/ECNI-MS. The response of 2-endo,3-exo,5-endo,6-exo,8,8,9,10-octachlorobornane (B8-1412) was twice as high as in GC/ECD if compared with 2-endo,3-exo,5-endo,6-exo,8,8,10,10-octachlorobornane (B8-1413 or Parlar #26). One explanation was found with the simultaneous formation of [M-HCl]− with the [M-Cl]− fragment ion which usually dominates the ECNI-MS chromatograms. The significance of [M-HCl]− fragment ions in the ECNI mass spectra of octachlorobornanes was studied by monitoring m/z 374 in standards and technical toxaphene. This technique is an interesting tool to identify B8-1413 in complex mixtures. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.