Organophosphorus history

Henny, C.J., E.J. Kolbe, E.F. Hill, and L.J. Blus. 1987. Case histories of bald eagles and other raptors killed by organophosphorus insecticides topically applied to livestock. Jour. Wildl. Dis. 23 292-295. 

Wittig, G. Staudinger and the history of organophosphorus-carbonyl olefination. PureAppl. Chem. 1964, 9, 245-254. 

The production of a protonated molecule ion, [MH]+, for a pesticide under investigation is often the principle ion produced under the soft ionization conditions determined by the various LC/MS methods. While this ion is preferred for primary identification purposes, the lack of fragment ions places the burden of proof of presence on a single ion. Product ion spectra derived from protonated molecule ions can usually provide the additional information needed to satisfy the criteria for confirmation. Cases histories discussed for organophosphorus pesticides, methylureas, and carbamates indicate a strong trend towards the increased reliance of LC/MS/MS to satisfy the criteria for confirmation. 

Both isofenphos and fonofos were much less persistent in the history versus the nonhistory soils. A major difference between these insecticides and the carbamates was that considerable mineralization of the aromatic ring portion of the organophosphorus compounds occurred. For Isofenphos, considerable quantities (15.2/0 of isofenphos oxon accumulated only in the nonhistory, whereas no such accumulation was noted in the isofenphos-history soil. Several reports of the reduced persistence of isofenphos in field plots following repeated use have appeared (29.30). and isofenphos was withdrawn from the rootworm insecticide market after widespread experiences of control failure following second year applications. This is especially ironic because upon first application to soil isofenphos behaves as one of the most persistent organophosphorus insecticides (31). 

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