Dimethylamidophosphoric dichloride is a chemical used in industrial applications. It is used for synthesizing

phosphoramidate In organophosphorus chemistry, phosphoramidates (sometimes also called amidophosphates) are a class of phosphorus compounds structurally related to phosphates (or organophosphates) via the substitution of an group for an amine group (). They ar ...

s as well as tabun, which is used as a

chemical weapon A chemical weapon (CW) is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), this can be any chemical compound intended as ...

Safety

Due to its nature, this chemical is

corrosive Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engine ...

flammable A combustible material is a material that can burn (i.e., sustain a flame) in air under certain conditions. A material is flammable if it ignites easily at ambient temperatures. In other words, a combustible material ignites with some effort ...

, and

neurotoxic Neurotoxicity is a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical, or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It occurs when exposure to a substance – specifical ...

if ingested or absorbed through the skin. In contact with water, it is expected to give off

hydrogen chloride The Chemical compound, compound hydrogen chloride has the chemical formula and as such is a hydrogen halide. At room temperature, it is a colorless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric water vapor. Hyd ...

and dimethylamidophosphoric acid vapors.

History

First synthesis of the substance dates back to turn of the 19th century, when a student of German chemistry professor

August Michaelis August Michaelis (26 December 1847 – 31 January 1916) was a German people, German chemist and discovered the Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction. Michaelis studied at the University of Göttingen and University of Jena and became professor for chemist ...

Ernst Ratzlaff made dimethylamidophosphoric dichloride as well as its diethyl analog for experiments of another PhD student of Michaelis Adolph Schall. He obtained a PhD at

University of Rostock The University of Rostock () is a public university located in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Founded in 1419, it is the third-oldest university in Germany. It is the oldest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Se ...

with a thesis titled ''Über die Einwirkung primärer und sekundärer Amine auf Phosphoroxychlorid und Äthoxylphosphoroxychlorid'' later in 1901. The high toxicity of the substance (as well as the high toxicity of ethyl diethylaminocyanophosphonate, an analog of tabun synthesised by Schall) wasn't noticed at the time, most likely due to the low yield of synthetic reactions used.

References

{{Chemical agents Nerve agent precursors Chlorides Phosphorus-nitrogen compounds

Safety

History

See also

References