Thermal degradation of organophosphorus compounds.

As menazon [0,0-dimethyl-S-(4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylmethyl) phosphorodithioate] is an industrial product, the general information on its chemistry and chromatographic behaviour is contained in research reports of limited circulation. The relevant information has been abstracted from these reports and is summarised. The literature relating to the ultraviolet, infrared, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and mass spectra of 1,3,5-triazine and phosphorus compounds of relevance to the topic is briefly discussed. The behaviour of heated samples of menazon on paper (one and two dimensional) and thin layer (analytical and preparative) chromatography is described. Details are given of the chromatographic systems adopted for the separation and isolation of the products of thermal degradation. Infrared, ultraviolet, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra of the isolated compounds are recorded and evaluated. Structures are proposed for the isolated compounds and the spectroscopic properties of authentic samples compared with those of the isolated compounds. The validity of the proposals is discussed and areas requiring further study indicated. A discussion of some of the mass spectra which have been obtained in this work is presented.