title: Catalytic degradation of the nerve agent VX by water-swelled polystyrene-supported ammonium fluorides.
abstract: The catalytic degradation of the nerve agent VX (O-ethyl S-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothioate) by water-swelled polymer-supported ammonium fluorides is described. VX (0.06-0.53 mol/mol F(-)) is rapidly degraded (t(1/2) ∼ 10-30 min) to form the "G-analogue" (O-ethyl methylphosphonofluoridate), which hydrolyzes (t(1/2) ∼ 1-1.5 h) to the nontoxic EMPA (ethyl methylphosphonic acid). The toxic desethyl-VX is not formed. The catalytic effect of fluoride is maintained even when 6 equiv of VX are loaded. GB (O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) and desethyl-VX agents are also degraded under these conditions.
authors: The Department of Organic Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, 74100, Israel.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Marciano
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Goldvaser
authors: Ishay
authors: I
authors: Columbus
authors: Yossi
authors: Y
authors: Zafrani
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods*; D002959:Civil Defense; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012524:Sarin / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D005459:Fluorides; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D011137:Polystyrenes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012524:Sarin; D014867:Water; C108318:ethyl methylphosphonic acid; C024822:ammonium fluoride; C009680:VX-agent