Selective Oxidation with N-Iodosuccinimide for the Detection and Identification of Sulfur Mustard using LC-ESI-MS/MS - A Novel Approach

Hagit Prihed, Analytical Chemistry, IIBR, Ness-Ziona, Israel (hagitp@iibr.gov.il)
Avital Shifrovich, Analytical Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Tamar Shamai Yamin, Analytical Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Moran Madmon, Analytical Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Boris Smolkin, Organic Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Ravit Chen, Organic Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Merav Blanca, Analytical Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel
Avi Weissberg, Analytical Chemistry, Iibr, Ness-ziona, Israel

A new derivatization strategy for the detection and identification of sulfur mustard (HD) via liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) is developed. The method incorporates selective oxidation of the sulfide group by the electrophilic iodine reagent N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) to produce sulfur mustard monoxide (HDSO). The derivatization reaction efficiencies were evaluated with acetonitrile extracts of soil, asphalt, cloth, formica and linoleum spiked with HD at concentrations of 50-5000 pg/mL and found to be similar to that with pure acetonitrile. The current derivatization approach is the first to preserve the identity of chloride groups, support HD regulation and evidentiary findings.