Main steps of developing chemical organophosphorus agents abroad

Organophosphorus compounds (OPC) occupy a special place among chemical warfare agents (CWA). High level of toxicity, a wide range of physicochemical properties, polyapplication of action already in the 1930s attracted the close attention of foreign military experts. In 1936, the German chemist Gerhard Schrader for the first time synthesized O-ethyl-dimethylamidocyanophosphate, known today as a herd. By the beginning of the Second World War, the staff of his laboratory synthesized over two thousand new OPC. Some of these compounds were selected for further study as CW agents and subsequently were adopted as weapons by the German army. In 1938 the same Gerhard Schrader have synthesized the organophosphorus compound, closed to tabun, but more toxic: O-isopropyl methyl fluorophosphate, called sarin. In 1944 the German chemist, the 1938 Nobel laureate in chemistry Richard Kuhn synthesized soman and revealed the damaging effect of organophosphorus CWA’s. In 1941 the British chemist Bernard Saunders synthesized diisopropyl fluorophosphate. During World War II the industrial production of organophosphorus CWA’s was organized in Germany, Great Britain and in the USA. Germany produced tabun, sarin and soman, the western allies: diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Till the end of world war ii the leadership in the sphere of the development of nerve agents belonged to Nazi Germany. After the end of the war the German scientists, many of whom were devoted Nazis, continued their work under the auspices of military departments of the USA and Great Britain. Sub consequently phosphorylated thiocholine esters: V-series substances (VG, VM, VR, VX, EA 3148, EA3317 agents etc.) were synthesized with their participation. The wide range of organophosphorus compounds was tested on volunteers in Porton Down (Great Britain) and in the Edgewood arsenal (USA). But after the synthesis of V-series agents the work on organophosphorus CWA’s did not stop. In recent years there appeared the tendency of the transformation of real threats connected with the chemical weapons use, to propaganda sphere. In recent years, there has been a tendency toward the transformation of real threats associated with the use of chemical weapons into provocation and an advocacy field, but this does not mean that the search for new CWA in Western countries has been stopped.