Phosgene oxime, orCX, is anorganic compound with theformulaCl2C=N−OH. It is a potentchemical weapon, specifically anettle agent. The compound itself is a colorless solid, but impure samples are often yellowish liquids. It has a strong, disagreeable and irritating odor. It is used as a reagent inorganic chemistry.[2]
The observation of a transient violet color in the reaction suggests intermediate formation oftrichloronitrosomethane (Cl3CNO). Early preparations, using stannous chloride as the reductant, also started with chloropicrin.[3]
Phosgene oxime is classified as avesicant even though it does not produce blisters.[6] It istoxic by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. The effects of the poisoning occur almost immediately. No antidote for phosgene oxime poisoning is known. Generally, any treatment is supportive. Typical physical symptoms of CX exposure are as follows:
Skin: Blanching surrounded by anerythematous ring can be observed within 30 seconds of exposure. Awheal develops on exposed skin within 30 minutes. The original blanched area acquires a brown pigmentation by 24 hours. Aneschar forms in the pigmented area by 1 week and sloughs after approximately 3 weeks. Initially, the effects of CX can easily be misidentified asmustard gas exposure. However, the onset of skin irritation resulting from CX exposure is a great deal faster than mustard gas, which typically takes several hours or more to cause skin irritation.
Respiratory: Irritation of themucous membranes may be observed on examination of the oropharynx and nose. Evidence of pulmonary edema, including rales and wheezes, may be noted onauscultation.Pulmonary thromboses are prominent features of severe CX exposure.
Gastrointestinal: Some animal data suggest that CX may cause hemorrhagic inflammatory changes in the GI tract.
^Prandtl, W.; Dollfus, W. (1932). "Über das Trichlor-nitroso-methan, das Dichlor-formoxim (Phosgen-oxim) und einige ihrer Derivate, 2. Mitteilung: Über zwei neue Derivate der Kohlensäure".Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft.65B (5):754–9.doi:10.1002/cber.19320650515.
^Chen, Wenwen; Zhang, Jianlan; Wang, Bo; Zhao, Zhouxing; Wang, Xinyan; Hu, Yuefei (2015). "Tandem Synthesis of 3-Chloro-4-iodoisoxazoles from 1-Copper(I) Alkynes, Dichloroformaldoxime, and Molecular Iodine".The Journal of Organic Chemistry.80 (4):2413–2417.doi:10.1021/jo502634h.PMID25594794.
^Pasinszki, Tibor; Westwood, Nicholas P. C. (1998). "Unstable Chloronitrile Oxide, ClCNO, and Its Stable Ring Dimer: Generation, Spectroscopy, and Structure".The Journal of Physical Chemistry A.102 (25):4939–4947.Bibcode:1998JPCA..102.4939P.doi:10.1021/JP981262E.
