Field-desorption mass-spectrometric investigation of photolysis products of phosphonates

Field-desorption mass spectrometry was used to study the photolysis of phosphonates (afos and butonat) used as plant-protection agents. Field-desorption mass spectra of the starting compounds were obtained, as well as of compounds that were phosphonate-decomposition products; some products of phosphonate decomposition under the effect of UV irradiation were identified. It was observed that association complexes could be formed between the solvents and the starting compounds with irradiation of the substances in alcohol and hexane. It was shown that compounds more toxic than the starting ones could be formed during photolysis of the phosphonates.