8713. Soman

Nomenclature

CAS number: 96-64-0
Methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl ester; pinacoloxymethylphosphoryl fluoride; pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate; GD.
C7H16FO2P; mol wt 182.17.
C 46.15%, H 8.85%, F 10.43%, O 17.57%, P 17.00%.

Description and references

Nerve gas; potent cholinesterase inhibitor similar in structure and activity to sarin and tabun, q.q.v. Prepn: Holmstedt, Acta Physiol. Scand. 25, suppl. 90, p 106 (1951); Protar 16, 131 (1950); G. Schrader, Die Entwicklung neuer Insektizide auf Grundlage organischer Fluor- und Phosphor-Verbindungen [Monographie Nr. 62 zu Angewandte Chemie und Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik (Verlag Chemie 1951)]; B. C. Saunders, Some Aspects of the Chemistry and Toxic Action of Organic Compounds Containing Phosphorus and Fluorine (Cambridge, 1957) p 94. Toxicity study: Loomis, Salafsky, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 5, 685 (1963). Brief description: B. L. Harris in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 5 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1993) pp 795-816.

Chemical structure

Properties

LD50 in mice (mg/100 g): 0.062 i.p.; 0.78 dermally (Loomis, Salafsky).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure by inhalation are constriction of pupils of the eye, difficulty breathing followed by bronchial constriction, convulsions, death. Also toxic due to absorption through skin and eyes. See Chem. Eng. News 31, 4676 (1953).

Use

Chemical warfare agent.