Methylthiophosphonic acid O -ethyl ester
Structural formula | ||||||||||||||||
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General | ||||||||||||||||
Surname | Methylthiophosphonic acid O -ethyl ester | |||||||||||||||
other names |
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Molecular formula | C 3 H 9 O 2 PS | |||||||||||||||
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properties | ||||||||||||||||
Molar mass | 140.14 g mol −1 | |||||||||||||||
Physical state |
liquid |
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density |
1.18 g cm −3 |
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boiling point | ||||||||||||||||
safety instructions | ||||||||||||||||
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As far as possible and customary, SI units are used. Unless otherwise noted, the data given apply to standard conditions . |
Methylthiophosphonsäure- O -ethyl ester (also EMPTA from engl. O- E thyl m ethyl p hosphono t hioic a cid ) is an organic phosphorus compound .
The best known use of methylthiophosphonic acid O -ethyl ester is that as a possible starting material for the production of the chemical warfare agent VX . Since EMPTA cannot be easily synthesized , it is also considered a “smoking gun” for the manufacture of chemical weapons. The compound can also be formed in small quantities as a decomposition product from the hydrolysis of VX.
Methylthiophosphonic acid O- ethyl ester (as EMPTA) gained some public attention in connection with the bombing of the Asch-Schifa drug factory .
It is recorded as a Schedule 2 substance in the Chemical Weapons Convention and is therefore subject to the corresponding restrictions.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d data sheet O-Ethyl methylphosphonothioate from Sigma-Aldrich , accessed on April 10, 2011 ( PDF ).
- ↑ NB Munro, SS Talmage, GD Griffin, LC Waters, AP Watson, JF King, V. Hauschild: The sources, fate, and toxicity of chemical warfare agent degradation products. In: Environmental health perspectives. Volume 107, Number 12, December 1999, pp. 933-974, PMID 10585900 , PMC 1566810 (free full text) (review).