Issue 47, 2020, Issue in Progress

A theoretical study of the hydrolysis mechanism of A-234; the suspected novichok agent in the Skripal attack

Abstract

A-234, [EtO–P([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(F)–N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me)–N(Et)2], is the suspected A-type nerve agent used in the Skripal attack on the 4th of March 2018. Studies related to the structure and reactivity of this compound are limited. We, therefore, aimed at understanding the underlying hydrolysis mechanism of A-234 within the DFT framework. The attack of the water molecule can occur at the phosphinate and acetoamidine reactive centres. Our theoretical findings indicate that the hydrolysis at the acetoamidine centre is thermodynamically favoured compared to the hydrolysis at the phosphinate centre. The hydrolysis at the acetoamidine moiety may proceed via two pathways, depending on the nitrogen atom participating in the hydrolysis. The main pathway consists of four distinct channels to reach the final product, with the concerted 1,3-proton shift favoured kinetically and thermodynamically in the gas phase and water as solvent. The results are in good agreement with the literature, although some differences in the reaction mechanism were observed.

Graphical abstract: A theoretical study of the hydrolysis mechanism of A-234; the suspected novichok agent in the Skripal attack

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Jun 2020
Accepted
17 Jul 2020
First published
27 Jul 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2020,10, 27884-27893

A theoretical study of the hydrolysis mechanism of A-234; the suspected novichok agent in the Skripal attack

Y. A. Imrit, H. Bhakhoa, T. Sergeieva, S. Danés, N. Savoo, M. I. Elzagheid, L. Rhyman, D. M. Andrada and P. Ramasami, RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 27884 DOI: 10.1039/D0RA05086E

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