Characterization of 1,2,3,4-tetrabromocyclohexane isomers by GC-matrix isolation FTIR-MS

Abstract

Isomers of 1,2,3,4-tetrabromocyclohexane have been synthesized and characterized in an effort to identify methodologies capable of detecting and identifying nanogram levels of unknown individual degradation products and residues of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in environmental and biological matrices. Analysis of the reaction mixture by GC-matrix isolation FTIR-MS indicates the presence of four epimeric products, all of which are identified on the basis of comparison of their vibrational (FTIR) spectra with simulated vibrational spectra derived by molecular modelling techniques. The results demonstrate that GC-matrix isolation FTIR-MS can be used to definitively identify individual BFRs and/or their degradation products present at trace levels in environmental or biological matrices, even in cases where individual analytes may not be isolatable in sufficient quantities for conventional analysis.