Reactions of the mustard simulant 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide with self-decontaminating sorbents. A C-13 MAS NMR study

Decomposition reactions for the mustard simulant 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide (C-13-labelled, CEPS*) sorbed on gamma-alumina, polydivinylbenzene (impregnated with NaOH, polyethylene glycol and polyethylenimine) (DVB/NaOH), and Ambergard(R) XE-555, were characterized in situ using C-13 MAS NMR. CEPS* hydrolyzes on gamma-alumina to form 2-hydroxyethyl phenyl sulfide. On DVB/NaOH, CEPS* eliminates HCl to yield vinyl phenyl sulfide, No products were observed on XE-555, where the applied CEPS* was spectroscopically observed to adsorb entirely within the micropores of the carbonaceous resin component of this material. Toxicities of the mustard products analogous to the degradation products observed for CEPS* are discussed.