Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide

The course and kinetics of the reactions of sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard and their selected analogues with sodium ethoxide were studied using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analogue of sulfur mustard (HD), bis(2-chloroet...

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Main Authors: Klaudia Kozon, Jakub Nawała, Paweł Sura, Stanisław Popiel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/780
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author Klaudia Kozon
Jakub Nawała
Paweł Sura
Stanisław Popiel
author_facet Klaudia Kozon
Jakub Nawała
Paweł Sura
Stanisław Popiel
author_sort Klaudia Kozon
collection DOAJ
description The course and kinetics of the reactions of sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard and their selected analogues with sodium ethoxide were studied using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analogue of sulfur mustard (HD), bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (BCEE), an oxygen analogue of sulfur mustard, and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine, an analogue of nitrogen mustard HN-3, in which one hydrogen atom remains unsubstituted with a chloroethyl group, were used as imitators of mustards. For the study, the last mentioned compound was given the acronym HN-0. The research included checking how the form of sodium ethoxide influences the reaction rate. Two solutions were used: sodium ethoxide solution obtained by dissolving a commercially available compound in crystalline form and ethoxide solution obtained by dissolving sodium in ethanol. Additionally, the extent to which diethylenetriamine (DETA) accelerates the reactions of the studied compounds with sodium ethoxide was checked. The decontamination reactions were carried out in an anhydrous environment at a constant temperature of 25.0 °C. The rate of the mustard decontamination reaction increased significantly in systems containing DETA. Therefore, this amine can be used as a catalyst for this reaction. DETA has the most significant effect on the rate of the reaction of sodium ethoxide with CEES. The effect of the EtONa form was tested in the decontamination reaction of HD, revealing that both forms are equally effective, with only minor differences in reaction rates. Freshly synthesised sodium ethoxide reacts with HD 1.24 times faster. The study also assessed whether selected non-CWA compounds can be successfully used in studies as mustard imitators. Nitrogen mustard and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine reactions proceed according to the same mechanism—nucleophilic substitution. Bis(2-chloroethyl)amine reacts slightly faster than HN-3, both in solution with and without the addition of a catalyst. Sulfur mustard (HD) and CEES with sodium ethoxide and DETA undergo an elimination reaction, while BCEE undergoes a substitution reaction, which proceeds much slower. The observed differences disqualify BCEE as a sulfur mustard imitator. HD and CEES react with sodium ethoxide and DETA so quickly that the exact kinetic parameters under the developed experimental conditions could not be determined.
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spelling doaj-art-f7eafa58bb504e4d8cd645ab0d35e7fb2025-08-20T02:03:28ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130478010.3390/molecules30040780Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium EthoxideKlaudia Kozon0Jakub Nawała1Paweł Sura2Stanisław Popiel3Institute of Chemistry, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Chemistry, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Chemistry, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Chemistry, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, PolandThe course and kinetics of the reactions of sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard and their selected analogues with sodium ethoxide were studied using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analogue of sulfur mustard (HD), bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (BCEE), an oxygen analogue of sulfur mustard, and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine, an analogue of nitrogen mustard HN-3, in which one hydrogen atom remains unsubstituted with a chloroethyl group, were used as imitators of mustards. For the study, the last mentioned compound was given the acronym HN-0. The research included checking how the form of sodium ethoxide influences the reaction rate. Two solutions were used: sodium ethoxide solution obtained by dissolving a commercially available compound in crystalline form and ethoxide solution obtained by dissolving sodium in ethanol. Additionally, the extent to which diethylenetriamine (DETA) accelerates the reactions of the studied compounds with sodium ethoxide was checked. The decontamination reactions were carried out in an anhydrous environment at a constant temperature of 25.0 °C. The rate of the mustard decontamination reaction increased significantly in systems containing DETA. Therefore, this amine can be used as a catalyst for this reaction. DETA has the most significant effect on the rate of the reaction of sodium ethoxide with CEES. The effect of the EtONa form was tested in the decontamination reaction of HD, revealing that both forms are equally effective, with only minor differences in reaction rates. Freshly synthesised sodium ethoxide reacts with HD 1.24 times faster. The study also assessed whether selected non-CWA compounds can be successfully used in studies as mustard imitators. Nitrogen mustard and bis(2-chloroethyl)amine reactions proceed according to the same mechanism—nucleophilic substitution. Bis(2-chloroethyl)amine reacts slightly faster than HN-3, both in solution with and without the addition of a catalyst. Sulfur mustard (HD) and CEES with sodium ethoxide and DETA undergo an elimination reaction, while BCEE undergoes a substitution reaction, which proceeds much slower. The observed differences disqualify BCEE as a sulfur mustard imitator. HD and CEES react with sodium ethoxide and DETA so quickly that the exact kinetic parameters under the developed experimental conditions could not be determined.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/780chemical warfare agentssulfur mustardnitrogen mustardchemical warfare agent analoguesdecontaminationreaction kinetics
spellingShingle Klaudia Kozon
Jakub Nawała
Paweł Sura
Stanisław Popiel
Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
Molecules
chemical warfare agents
sulfur mustard
nitrogen mustard
chemical warfare agent analogues
decontamination
reaction kinetics
title Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
title_full Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
title_fullStr Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
title_full_unstemmed Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
title_short Study on the Reaction Kinetics of Sulfur Mustard, Nitrogen Mustard and Their Chosen Analogues with Sodium Ethoxide
title_sort study on the reaction kinetics of sulfur mustard nitrogen mustard and their chosen analogues with sodium ethoxide
topic chemical warfare agents
sulfur mustard
nitrogen mustard
chemical warfare agent analogues
decontamination
reaction kinetics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/780
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AT pawełsura studyonthereactionkineticsofsulfurmustardnitrogenmustardandtheirchosenanalogueswithsodiumethoxide
AT stanisławpopiel studyonthereactionkineticsofsulfurmustardnitrogenmustardandtheirchosenanalogueswithsodiumethoxide