Decomposition of Radioactive Octamethylpyrophosphoramide in Living Plants

Abstract

Gardiner and Kilby have described^1,2 the synthesis of the systemic insecticide bis (bis-dimethylaminophosphonous) anhydride (octamethylpyrophosphoramide) in radioactive form (with phosphorus-32) and its application to the study of its uptake by living plants². We also have experimented along these lines, but have extended our investigations to the study of the chemical fate of the substance, using for this purpose activities of about 400 µC./gm. to obtain the necessary sensitivity in analysis. Preparative details will be published elsewhere.