Reactions of VX, GD, and HD with nanotubular titania

Reactions of VX [O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylethylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothioate], GD (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), and HD [bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide] have been examined with nanotubular titania (NTT) using P-31 and C-13 MAS NMR. All three agents hydrolyze on NTT with the reaction of VX being notably fast (t(1/2) < 30 min), approaching the rate achievable with liquid decontaminants. IT MAS NMR reveals that VX is adsorbed within the NTT tubules and/or its titania layers, perhaps providing optimum conditions for its hydrolysis by water sandwiched between the layers. Consistent with the availability of copious water on NTT, HD is hydrolyzed to its CH-TG sulfonium ion. GD hydrolysis is similarly efficient, with its products-PMPA and HF-attacking the titania structure to form a titanophosphonate species.