Isopropyl aminoethylmethyl phosphonite (NATO designation QL), also known as ''O''-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) '-ethyl methylphosphonite, is a precursor chemical to the

nerve agent Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemistry, organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (ACh ...

VX and VR-56. It is a colorless liquid with a strong fishy odor, and is slightly soluble in water.

Synthesis

QL is manufactured by the

transesterification Transesterification is the process of exchanging the organic functional group R″ of an ester with the organic group R' of an alcohol. These reactions are often catalyzed by the addition of an acid or base catalyst. Strong acids catalyze the r ...

of diethyl methylphosphonite with 2-(diisopropylamino)ethanol.

Uses in chemical warfare

QL is a component in

binary chemical weapon __NOTOC__ Binary chemical weapons or munitions are chemical weapons which contain the toxic agent in its active state as chemical precursors that are significantly less toxic than the agent. This improves the safety of storing, transporting, and ...

s, mainly VX

. National Research Council, et al. ''Systems and Technologies for the Treatment of Non-stockpile Chemical Warfare Materiel'',
Google Books)
National Academies Press, 2002, p. 14, (), accessed October 21, 2008. It, along with methylphosphonyl difluoride (DF), was developed during the 1980s in order to replace an aging stockpile of unitary

chemical weapons 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 ...

. QL is listed as a Schedule 1 chemical by the

Chemical Weapons Convention The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), officially the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, is an arms control treaty administered by the Organisation for ...

."Schedule One Chemicals"
Chemical Weapons Convention
, US Government website, Retrieved November 15, 2008.

Toxicity

QL itself is a relatively non-toxic chemical.Croddy, Eric and Wirtz, James J. ''Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History'',
Google Books
, ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 238, (), accessed October 21, 2008. However, when reacting with sulfur, the corresponding sulfide of QL isomerizes into the highly toxic VX molecule.

References

{{U.S. chemical weapons Nerve agent precursors Phosphonites Diisopropylamino compounds Ethoxy compounds