An ionic route to the CS2 degradation was studied by mass spectrometric and theoretical methods. Ionized mixtures containing carbon disulfide and ozone prove an effective source of S-2(+) and SO+ ions, formed by remarkable molecular reorganization and open to further reactions with ozone and surrounding species. Both the O-transfer and dissociative oxidation processes, typical of the 03 reactivity in ionized mixtures, were observed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.