Destruction of chemical warfare agents VX and soman by alpha-nucleophiles as oxidizing agents

Reactions of O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothiolate, V X 1, were investigated with five oxidizing agents. In all the cases, the fo rmation of the VX N-oxide 7 was observed prior to the subsequent oxidation and hydrolysis into the nontoxic O-ethyl methylphosphonate 2. Magnesium mon operoxyphthalate (MMPP) is probably one of the most active reagents to achi eve the complete detoxification of VX 1. The decontamination using MMPP was also extended with success to soman 13, a G-type agent. (C) 2001 John Wile y & Sons, Inc.