George W. Wagner

Destruction of chemical warfare agents using metal–organic frameworks

Chemical warfare agents containing phosphonate ester bonds are among the most toxic chemicals known to mankind. Recent global military events, such as the conflict and disarmament in Syria, have brought into focus the need to find effective strategies for the rapid destruction of these banned chemicals. Solutions are needed for immediate personal protection (for example, the filtration and catalytic destruction of airborne versions of agents), bulk destruction of chemical weapon stockpiles, protection (via coating) of clothing, equipment and buildings, and containment of agent spills. Solid heterogeneous materials such as modified activated carbon or metal oxides exhibit many desirable characteristics for the destruction of chemical warfare agents. However, low sorptive capacities, low effective active site loadings, deactivation of the active site, slow degradation kinetics, and/or a lack of tailorability offer significant room for improvement in these materials. Here, we report a carefully chosen metal-organic framework (MOF) material featuring high porosity and exceptional chemical stability that is extraordinarily effective for the degradation of nerve agents and their simulants. Experimental and computational evidence points to Lewis-acidic Zr(IV) ions as the active sites and to their superb accessibility as a defining element of their efficacy.

Trifluoromethylsulfenylation of Masked Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract Incorporation of fluorine and fluorine containing groups such as trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethylthio moieties considerably enhances the biopharmacological properties of the parent precursors. Trifluoromethylsulfenylation of masked carbonyl functions, such as the enamines using N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide is described in this communication.

Effective, Facile, and Selective Hydrolysis of the Chemical Warfare Agent VX Using Zr6-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

The nerve agent VX is among the most toxic chemicals known to mankind, and robust solutions are needed to rapidly and selectively deactivate it. Herein, we demonstrate that three Zr6-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, UiO-67, UiO-67-NH2, and UiO-67-N(Me)2, are selective and highly active catalysts for the hydrolysis of VX. Utilizing UiO-67, UiO-67-NH2, and UiO-67-N(Me)2 in a pH 10 buffered solution of N-ethylmorpholine, selective hydrolysis of the P-S bond in VX was observed. In addition, UiO-67-N(Me)2 was found to catalyze VX hydrolysis with an initial half-life of 1.8 min. This half-life is nearly 3 orders of magnitude shorter than that of the only other MOF tested to date for hydrolysis of VX and rivals the activity of the best nonenzymatic materials. Hydrolysis utilizing Zr-based MOFs is also selective and facile in the absence of pH 10 buffer (just water) and for the destruction of the toxic byproduct EA-2192.

Tailoring the Pore Size and Functionality of UiO-Type Metal–Organic Frameworks for Optimal Nerve Agent Destruction

Evaluation of UiO-66 and UiO-67 metal-organic framework derivatives as catalysts for the degradation of soman, a chemical warfare agent, showed the importance of both the linker size and functionality. The best catalysts yielded half-lives of less than 1 min. Further testing with a nerve agent simulant established that different rate-assessment techniques yield similar values for degradation half-lives.

Broad-Spectrum Liquid- and Gas-Phase Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agents by One-Dimensional Heteropolyniobates.

A wide range of chemical warfare agents and their simulants are catalytically decontaminated by a new one-dimensional polymeric polyniobate (P-PONb), K12 [Ti2 O2 ][GeNb12 O40 ]⋅19 H2 O (KGeNb) under mild conditions and in the dark. Uniquely, KGeNb facilitates hydrolysis of nerve agents Sarin (GB) and Soman (GD) (and their less reactive simulants, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)) as well as mustard (HD) in both liquid and gas phases at ambient temperature and in the absence of neutralizing bases or illumination. Three lines of evidence establish that KGeNb removes DMMP, and thus likely GB/GD, by general base catalysis: a) the k(H2 O)/k(D2 O) solvent isotope effect is 1.4; b) the rate law (hydrolysis at the same pH depends on the amount of P-PONb present); and c) hydroxide is far less active against the above simulants at the same pH than the P-PONbs themselves, a critical control experiment.

TRIFLUOROMETHYLTHIOLATION OF NORBORNENE

Treatment of norbornene with trifluoromethylsulfenyl chloride at −80°C furnishes, in addition to trifluoromethylthionortricyclane, four isomeric (chloro) (trifluoromethylthio)-norbornanes and bis-(2, 6-trifluoromethylthio)norbornane. The probable mechanism of the formation of the various compounds via free radical intermediates and their mass spectral characterization are described in this communication.

Microwave Induced Reaction of H-Dimethylphosphonate with Styrene Oxide

Microwave catalyzed reaction of a neat mixture of styrene oxide and H-dimethylphosphonate furnished dimethyl methylphosphonate, trimethylphosphate, phenylacetaldehyde, 1-methoxy-2-phenylethanol, 1-phenylethleneglycol, cis- and trans-1,3-diphenylcyclobutanes, hydrogen 1-(2-phenylethyl)methylphosphinate, (1-phenylethyl)dimethylphosphonate, and (1-phenylethyl)dimethylphosphonate via free radical processes.

THERMAL DEGRADATION OF BIS (2-CHLOROETHYL) SULFIDE (MUSTARD GAS)

Abstract The thermal degradation of mustard gas (ClCH2CH2SCH2CH2Cl, “HD”), with and without 5% added water, is examined. GC/MS, LC/MS and NMR were employed to comprehensively analyze the products. After 75 days at 90°C, 91% HD remains (80% with 5% water). After 40 days at 140°C, 30% HD remains (24% with 5% water) and black “tar” precipitates form. The apparent Ea is 22.4 kcal/mol. Major products include Q (ClCH2CH2SCH2CH2SCH2Cl), 1,2-dichloroethane, polysulfides and 1,4-dithiane. With 5% water, oxygenates such as 1,4-thioxane and 2-chloroethanol are produced as are numerous sulfonium ions, including S-(2-chlorethyl)-1,4-dithianium, a major component of “mustard heels.” The decomposition does not go to completion due to the equilibrium nature of the reaction at these temperatures.

Degradation of Sulfur Mustard on Moist Sand as Determined by 13C Solid‐State Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Abstract The degradation of sulfur mustard, bis(2‐chloroethyl) sulfide, on three types of moist sand at 22°C and 35°C was followed using 13C solid state‐magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (SSMAS NMR). The sulfur mustard degraded completely on moist sand within 8 weeks at 22°C and 1 week at 35°C, whereas degradation on dry sand at 22°C required more than 6 weeks. The major product, the toxic sulfonium ion H‐2TG, and the minor product, nontoxic thiodiglycol, were detected on all sand samples. The intermediate chlorohydrin was detected on one sand at 22°C, and evidence for the intermediates CH‐TG and H‐TG was detected on this same sand at 35°C. The H‐2TG that was initially formed degraded to thiodiglycol; completion of this degradation would require months. The lack of reaction on the ambient substrates, plus the formation of sulfonium ions, similar to the products that were previously seen in water and on moist soil, suggested that the sand functioned as a support on which the reaction between sulfur mustard and water occurred.

Trifluoroethanol and 19F Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as a Basic Surface Hydroxyl Reactivity Probe for Zirconium(IV) Hydroxide Structures

A novel technique for determining the relative accessibility and reactivity of basic surface hydroxyl sites by reacting various zirconium(IV) hydroxide materials with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and characterizing the resulting material using (19)F magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is presented here. Studied here are three zirconium hydroxide samples, two unperturbed commercial materials, and one commercial material that is crushed by a pellet press. Factors, such as the ratio of bridging/terminal hydroxyls, surface area, and pore size distribution, are examined and found to affect the ability of the zirconium(IV) hydroxide to react with TFE. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen isotherms, and (1)H MAS NMR were used to characterize the unperturbed materials, while thermogravitric analysis with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry along with the (19)F MAS NMR were used to characterize the materials that were reacted with TFE. Zirconium hydroxide materials with a high surface area and a low bridging/terminal hydroxyl ratio were found to react TFE in the greatest amounts.