Gas chromatographic retention indices of sulfur vesicants and related compounds

Temperature-programmed retention indices, relative to a n-alkane homologous series, were determined for 37 sulfur vesicant or vesicant-related compounds using DB-1, DB-5 and DB-1701 fused-silica capillary columns. Many of the compounds, including long chain dichloro, vinylchloro, vinylalcohol and macrocyclic compounds have either not been previously identified or have not been associated with sulfur vesicant analysis. Reproducibility of the retention indices, based on Van den Dool's equation, was excellent over the course of the study. In addition, changes in retention index (delta RI), which may enable the prediction of uncharacterized homologue chromatographic behaviour, were calculated for several homologous series.