Cyclosarin

This article is about the nerve agent. For the tuberculosis medicine, see Cycloserine.
Cyclosarin
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate
Other names
GF;(Fluoro-methyl-phosphoryl)oxycyclohexane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
UNII
UN number 2810
  • InChI=1S/C7H14FO2P/c1-11(8,9)10-7-5-3-2-4-6-7/h7H,2-6H2,1H3 checkY
    Key: SNTRKUOVAPUGAY-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C7H14FO2P/c1-11(8,9)10-7-5-3-2-4-6-7/h7H,2-6H2,1H3
    Key: SNTRKUOVAPUGAY-UHFFFAOYAC
  • O=P(F)(OC1CCCCC1)C
Properties
C7H14FO2P
Molar mass 180.159 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Density 1.1278 g/cm3
Melting point −30 °C (−22 °F; 243 K)
Boiling point 239 °C (462 °F; 512 K)
Almost insoluble
Hazards
Flash point 94 °C (201 °F; 367 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Cyclosarin or GF (cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is an extremely toxic substance used as a chemical weapon.[1] It is a member of the G-series family of nerve agents, a group of chemical weapons discovered and synthesized by a German team led by Gerhard Schrader. The major nerve gases are the G agents, sarin (GB), soman (GD), tabun (GA), and the V agents such as VX. The original agent, tabun, was discovered in Germany in 1936 in the process of work on organophosphorus insecticides. Next came sarin, soman and finally, cyclosarin, a product of commercial insecticide laboratories prior to World War II.

As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations. Pursuant to UN Resolution 687 its production and stockpiling was outlawed globally by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) of 1993, although Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan have not ratified the CWC (thus not outlawing their own stockpiling of chemical weapons).

  1. ^ Ellison, D. Hank (2008), Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents (Second ed.), CRC Press, pp 20-21. ISBN 978-0-849-31434-6