Methyldichloroarsine, sometimes abbreviated "MD" and also known as methyl Dick, is an

organoarsenic compound Organoarsenic chemistry is the chemistry of Chemical compound, compounds containing a chemical bond between arsenic and carbon. A few organoarsenic compounds, also called "organoarsenicals," are produced industrially with uses as insecticides, herb ...

with the formula CH₃AsCl₂. This colourless volatile liquid is a highly toxic

vesicant A blister agent (or vesicant) is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation in the form of severe chemical burns resulting in fluid filled blisters. Named for their ability to cause vesication, blister a ...

that has been used in chemical warfare.

History

German chemists weaponized methyldichloroarsine during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, between 1917 and 1918. It was the first organoarsenic compound to be weaponized.

Structure, synthesis, reactivity

Focusing on the

arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol As and atomic number 33. It is a metalloid and one of the pnictogens, and therefore shares many properties with its group 15 neighbors phosphorus and antimony. Arsenic is not ...

center, the molecule geometry is trigonal pyramidal with the Cl-As-Cl and C-As-Cl angles approaching 90° (see image). Virtually all related arsenic(III) compounds adopt similar structures. Methyldichloroarsine is produced by the reaction of

methylmagnesium chloride Methylmagnesium chloride is an organometallic compound with the general formula . This highly flammable, colorless, and moisture sensitive compound is the simplest Grignard reagent and is commercially available, usually as a solution in tetrahydro ...

and arsenic trichloride: :AsCl₃ + CH₃MgCl → CH₃AsCl₂ + MgCl₂ Typically such syntheses are conducted in ether or THF solutions and typically the product is isolated by

distillation Distillation, also classical distillation, is the process of separating the component substances of a liquid mixture of two or more chemically discrete substances; the separation process is realized by way of the selective boiling of the mixt ...

. Use of larger amounts of the magnesium reagent affords greater amounts of dimethylchloroarsine ((CH₃)₂AsCl) and trimethylarsine ((CH₃)₃As). In World War I, the German manufacturing method consisted of a three-step reaction beginning with

methylation Methylation, in the chemistry, chemical sciences, is the addition of a methyl group on a substrate (chemistry), substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replac ...

sodium arsenite Sodium arsenite usually refers to the inorganic compound with the formula NaAsO2. Also called sodium ''meta''-arsenite, it is an inorganic polymer consisting of the infinite chains sO2associated with sodium cations, Na+. The polymer backbone ...

: :2 Na₃AsO₃ + (CH₃O)₂SO₂ → 2 CH₃AsO(ONa)₂ + Na₂SO₄, followed by reduction of the disodium monomethylarsonate with

sulfur dioxide Sulfur dioxide (IUPAC-recommended spelling) or sulphur dioxide (traditional Commonwealth English) is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless gas with a pungent smell that is responsible for the odor of burnt matches. It is r ...

: :CH₃AsO(ONa)₂ + SO₂ → CH₃AsO + Na₂SO₄, subsequently reacting the monomethylarsine oxide thus formed with

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 ...

to yield methyldichloroarsine: :CH₃AsO + 2 HCl → CH₃AsCl₂ + H₂O The As-Cl bonds in MD are susceptible toward

nucleophilic attack In chemistry, a nucleophile is a chemical species that forms bonds by donating an electron pair. All molecules and ions with a free pair of electrons or at least one pi bond can act as nucleophiles. Because nucleophiles donate electrons, they a ...

. Reduction of MD with sodium metal affords the polymer H₃Assub>n.

Use as a weapon

Symptoms of poisoning

Although some of its symptoms resemble those from

poison ivy Poison ivy is a type of allergenic plant in the genus '' Toxicodendron'' native to Asia and North America. Formerly considered a single species, '' Toxicodendron radicans'', poison ivies are now generally treated as a complex of three separate s ...

, other symptoms include

irritation Irritation, in biology and physiology, is a state of inflammation or painful reaction to allergy or cell-lining damage. A stimulus or agent which induces the state of irritation is an irritant. Irritants are typically thought of as chemical age ...

to the eyes and to the nose, although

blister A blister is a small pocket of body fluid (lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus) within the upper layers of the skin, usually caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled ...

ing may be delayed for hours. Other symptoms include: dermal burns with vesicle formation;

blepharospasm Blepharospasm is a neurological disorder characterized by intermittent, involuntary spasms and contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle, orbicularis oculi (eyelid) muscles around both eyes. These result in abnormal twitching or blinking, an ...

and

photophobia Photophobia is a medical symptom of abnormal intolerance to visual perception of light. As a medical symptom, photophobia is not a morbid fear or phobia, but an experience of discomfort or pain to the eyes due to light exposure or by presence o ...

Convulsion A convulsion is a medical condition where the body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in uncontrolled shaking. Because epileptic seizures typically include convulsions, the term ''convulsion'' is often used as a synony ...

abdominal pain Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues. Since the abdomen contains most of the body's vital organs, it can be an indicator of a wide variety of diseases. Given th ...

coughing A cough is a sudden expulsion of air through the large breathing passages which can help clear them of fluids, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. As a protective reflex, coughing can be repetitive with the cough reflex following three ...

, and

shortness of breath Shortness of breath (SOB), known as dyspnea (in AmE) or dyspnoea (in BrE), is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that con ...

with damage to the

respiratory system The respiratory system (also respiratory apparatus, ventilatory system) is a biological system consisting of specific organs and structures used for gas exchange in animals and plants. The anatomy and physiology that make this happen varies grea ...

can be delayed for about three to five days;

hemolysis Hemolysis or haemolysis (), also known by #Nomenclature, several other names, is the rupturing (lysis) of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the release of their contents (cytoplasm) into surrounding fluid (e.g. blood plasma). Hemolysis may ...

can also occur. MD is not persistent, meaning that it will dissipate after a short time. It is, however, still quite lethal. The LCt/50 for MD is about 3,000 mg/(min * m³).

Protection

Besides avoiding situations in which it might be used, an

activated charcoal "Activated" is a song by English singer Cher Lloyd. It was released on 22 July 2016 through Vixen Records. The song was made available to stream exclusively on ''Rolling Stone'' a day before to release (on 21 July 2016). Background In an inter ...

filter and a protective mask can help protect against MD. It should, however, be noted that MD can penetrate

rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Types of polyisoprene ...

, so some masks and clothing are ineffective. Other protective clothing, such as full body protection, are useful as well. Among the agents useful for decontamination of MD are

bleach Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color from (i.e. to whiten) fabric or fiber (in a process called bleaching) or to disinfect after cleaning. It often refers specifically t ...

and caustic soda.

References