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7549808 
Journal Article 
N,N-Dichlorobenzyl amine: An effective decontaminant for highly toxic chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard and VX 
Gutch, PK; Mazumder, A; Gupta, AK 
2020 
1 
Indian Journal of Chemistry. Section B
ISSN: 0376-4699
EISSN: 0975-0983 
59 
9 
1400-1408 
WOS:000583441200004 
The chemical decontamination of vesicant, bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide (Sulfur Mustard, SM) and nerve agent O-ethyl S-2-(N,N-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate (VX) has been achieved by an operationally simple method by using a new positive chlorine bearing reagent N,N-dichlorobenzylamine. Deactivation of these highly toxic chemical warfare agents has been achieved in acetonitrile-water medium. Before attempting the reactions on these highly toxic real agents, the reagent has been successfully tested for its decontaminating efficiency on the non-toxic simulants (2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide, a simulant of Sulfur Mustard and O,S-diethyl methylphosphonothioate, simulant of VX). Progress of the decontamination reactions have been monitored by gas chromatography coupled with a flame photometric detector working in sulfur detection mode (GC-FPD(S)), H-1 and P-31{H-1} NMR spectroscopy. The products obtained after decontamination of Sulfur Mustard (SM) and VX have been thereafter identified by GC-MS technique. This reagent has been found to be highly advantageous over earlier reported decontaminating reagents in terms of - ease of preparation, cost effectiveness, stability, good shelf life and instantaneous conversion of both SM and VX into nontoxic products at room temperature.