I belong to an internet humor writer’s group (The NetWits). I just got an e-mail from one of the members asking a two part chemistry question.
Does anyone
a) Know how to synthesize methylphosphonyl difluoride easily
or
b) Know of a commercial use for it?
He says he’s serious about wanting to know this, but he doesn’t say why. Quite possibly for a humor column he’s writing. Since I don’t know anything about chemistry I don’t even know if this stuff is leagal or not, but if you could help me out in helping him out, I’d appreciate it.
Methylphosphonyl difluoride appears to be a relatively harmless chemical that is an immeadiate precursor to Sarin (also known as GB) nerve gas.
I didn’t find any syntheses online, but if I did you’ll forgive me for not telling. There is something about posting information about how to make weapons of mass destruction that makes me anxious.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in a fact sheet entitled “Chemical Warfare in the Iran-Iraq War” lists it in a short list of controlled vhemicals, and notes:
That’s one cite that it’s not useful for anything else.