Tabun (GA)

Tabun
TABUN (GA)
(nerve-paralytic agent)



Tabun was the first of the nerve-paralytic agents developed by the Germans. The danger is primarily from its inhalation. It lasts 1-4 days in the field - depending on the temperature.


Basic Data:

Name: Tabun
Designation: GA

Other Names: Trilon 83 (German)

CAS Registration Number: 77-81-6



Physical and Chemical Properties:

chemical name: O-ethyldimethylamidocyanophosphate
formula: CH3CH2O-PO(CN)-N(CH3)2

molecular weight:162.13
common physical state: colorless to brownish liquid
odor: weakly fruity, clear odorless
boiling point: 108°C 2); 248°C (extrapolated) 1)
melting point: -50°C (freezing point)
density:
1.0756 g/ml at 25°C; 1.0999 g/ml at 0°C 1)
1.073 g/ml at 20°C 2)
vapor pressure: (extrapolated)
7.599 Pa at 25°C
0.633 Pa at 0°C
viscosity:
2.277 mPa.s at 25°C
4.32 mPa.s at 0°C
surface tension:
32.5 mN/m at 25°C
35 mN/m at 0°C
heat of ignition: 78°C (closed container)
temperature of decomposition: complete decomposition at 150°C after 180-195 min.
solubility:solubility in water:
7.2 g/100 g solution at 20°C
9.8 g/100 g solution at 0°C
easily soluble in common organic solvents
hydrolysis:slow in water (t1/2 = 8.5 hours at 20°C and pH=7); relatively rapid with strong acids and bases
at pH<4 it is autocatalytic; products are hydrogen cyanide, dimethylaminocyanophosphonic acid, and others

storage stability:when stabilized with 5% chlorobenzene, it can be stored in steel containers for several years at normal temperatures; stability decreases with increasing temperature; decomposes in 6 months at 50°C and in 3 months at 65°C
reactions with metals and other materials: when stabilized with 5-20% chlorobenzene, it corrodes steel at a rate of 863.6 nm/month at 65°C



Sources:
1) POTENTIAL MILITARY CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND COMPOUNDS, 2005
2) Weapons of Mass Destruction - Current Security Threat, INSTITUTE OF SECURITY AND DEFENCE STUDIES MOSR, Bratislava, 2005
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#373327 Version : 0
toxicity:

eye: greater toxicity than skin contact
skin: penetrates skin
inhalation: most toxic by inhalation
protection: readily penetrates normal clothing; special protection required
substance type: immediate-acting nerve agent
effect: rapid



toxicity estimate:
contact
effect
contact method
effective dose
exposure time
exposure toxicity
reliability of data
death
inhalation/eye contact
LD50: 70 mg.min./m3
2 min.
1.5
medium
death
skin
with fluid
LD50: 1500 mg
-
-
low
death
skin contact
with gas
LD50: 15000 mg.min./m3 at 18-29°C
LD50: 7500 mg.min./m3 at more than 29°C 3)
30-360 min.
?
low
severe effects,

possible death
inhalation/eye contact
ED50: 50 mg.min./m3
2 min.
1.5
medium
severe effects,

possible death
skin contact
with fluid
ED50: 900 mg
-
-
low
severe effects,
possible death
skin contact
with gas
ED50: 12000 mg at 18-29°C
ED50: 6000 mg at greater than 29°C 3)
30-360 min.
?
low
threshold effects
(slight inhibition of
cholinesterase)
skin
contact
with gas
ED50: 2000 mg.min./m3 at 18-29°C
ED50: 1000 mg.min./m3 at more than 29°C 3)
30-360 min.
?
medium
mild effects
(miosis, rhinitis)
inhalation/eye contact
ED50: 0.4 mg.min./m3 3)
2 min.
1.5
low





Source: POTENTIAL MILITARY CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND COMPOUNDS, 2005


3) based on data on sarine
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#373328 Version : 0
Tabun was discovered by the German chemist Dr. Schrader in the laboratories of IG-Farben in Leverkusen (formerly and later Bayer AG) in 1937.
The production of Tabun was patented by IG-Farben in 1939 with a secret Rice patent (Schrader, Gebhardt). At the end of 1940, the construction of a large-scale Tabun factory at Dyhernfurth a.d. Oder (in today's Poland, near Wroclaw) was started, which was put into operation at the end of 1942. Between 1942 and 1945, under the codename Trilon 83, or Gelan, a Tabun was manufactured here under the Anorgana company for the production of chemical munitions (primarily 250 kg aerial bombs and 105 and 150 mm artillery shells); the munitions were produced by Tabun partly at Dyhernfurth, partly at the Munster-Raubkammer munitions and research complex in north-western Germany. The total amount of warfare agent produced is estimated at 12,000 tons.
Two warfare mixturas were produced, first Tabun A, consisting of 95% technical Tabun and 5% chlorobenzene, and later the more stable Tabun B, consisting of 80% technical Tabun and 5% chlorobenzene, and later the more stable Tabun B, consisting of 80% technical Tabun. Tabun and 20% chlorobenzene.



The production consisted of two steps: in the first step (1) phosphorus oxychloride (phosphoryl trichloride, (I)) was allowed to react under controlled conditions under a protective atmosphere with anhydrous dimethylamine (II); the resulting N,N-dimethylamidophosphoryl dichloride (codenamed "Product 39" and "Product 39", respectively) was reacted with anhydrous dimethylamine (II); N,N-dimethylamidophosphoryl dichloride (Product 39, (I)) was reacted with anhydrous dimethylamine (I)). "D 4", (III)) was then purified by vacuum distillation under a protective atmosphere and transported to Tabun's own line.


In the second step (2), "D 4" was reacted with equimolar amounts of anhydrous ethanol (IV) and sodium cyanide (V) in a chlorobenzene environment to form a mixture of Tabun (VI), hydrogen chloride (VII), and sodium chloride (VIII) in chlorobenzene; after filtering out the sodium chloride and expelling the hydrogen chloride, the crude product of the reaction remained, consisting of ca. 25% of technical Tabun and ca. 75% of chlorobenzene; this crude product was treated by vacuum distillation to a finished combat latke, which was labored into munitions.






Sources:


Franke, S. et al.: Lehrbuch der Militärchemie, Band 1. Berlin, Militärverlag d. DDR, 1977.


Lohs, KH: Synthetische Gifte, Berlin, Militärverlag d. DDR, 1974.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#234509 Version : 0
Ethyldimethylamidophosphoryl cyanide, discovered by Dr. Gerhard Schräder in his search for an effective herbicide and insecticide in the late 1930s. The substance also proved to be an effective warfare gas, so eventually the Anorganawerke factory was built for further research near Dyherfurth (Brzeg Dolny) in Silesia a few kilometres from Wroclaw. After problems with converting the laboratory results into mass-producible form, by 1942 the factory was already producing 1,000 tons per month, which was the final production capacity. It is believed that about 15,000 tons of tabun were produced before the factory was occupied by the Russians; after the occupation of Dyhernfurth, the factory was immediately dismantled and shipped to the USSR without informing the Allies.
The gas was filled into artillery shells, such as those found by the Allies in some warehouses , e.g. 105 mm howitzer. These were marked with a green stripe and the letters GA. Eventually, about half a million artillery shells and more than 100,000 aerial bombs containing the substance were discovered, although some reports suggest that the bombs were only used to store the gas, not to drop it from aircraft.
Tabun is a nerve gas, converting cholinesterase to prevent the breakdown of a substance called acetylcholine, which prevents the passage of nerve impulses. The brain is then no longer in control of bodily functions.
The gas acts by inhalation of the vapours or by contact with the liquid and the progression is very rapid, lethal concentrations can cause death within a minute or two. The victim's nose begins to run, he has difficulty breathing, his vision blurs, he feels sick to his stomach, vomits, has no control over his bladder and bowels, convulsions, coma and then death.
It has never been used by the Germans. Probably because after the British banned the publication of scientific journals on organophosphates, the Germans expected the British to discover these gases as well. In reality, they were only researching fertilizers based on this base, and wanted to conceal their economic situation.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#25345 Version : 0
Tabun is classified as a nerve agent.
Formula: N(CH3)2PO2FCHCHCH3C(CH3)3
Described in the autumn of 1935.
It is a brownish liquid with a faint smell of fruit.
Stability 3 - 7 hours, longer in winter.
It is absorbed through the entire surface of the body.
It was apparently used in the Iraq-Iran conflict.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#95056 Version : 0

Diskuse

The Munster-Raubkammer ammunition and research complex in northwest Germany is of great interest to me. On the occasion of another area of interest of my research, I got my hands on some very interesting material in the form of an old photo album, which is literally full of period pictures from this complex and events around it. Actually there are two albums, but in the second one the theme of the German army and Africa predominates. So back to the opening sentence. Not only are the individual images devoted to the various buildings on this complex, but a number of officers are recorded, including doctoral functions. Among them, for example, Major ???? Harsdorf, Dr. Marin, ??? Stener, Dr. Brinkmann, ??? Mengele, Dr. Gabel, Dr. Nobbe, etc.
The content is devoted to the period between 1937 and 1953. The complex was most likely visited by A. Hitler accompanied by a large group of various elitists and generals. If my eyesight does not deceive me, I can see Hess, among others, in this group, but even though the photograph is of very high quality and large format, I may still be wrong, of course. Then there are a number of pictures of examples of chemical equipment, gear and armament (among other things, there is a disassembled bomb shelter strongly resembling the picture in one of the posts here by my colleague Aubi). This event was attended by a number of senior officers and generals of various arms.
And something else for researchers, this time Czechoslovak fortifications. A group of specialists from the research institute in Raubkammer took part in the tests in Bohemia. According to contemporary photographs and descriptions, the year was 1940 - autumn. The main polygon was the heavy objects K-25 and 26 in the Orlické Mountains, where the chemical munitions were tested in a fictitious attack on the entrance of the bunker. Interestingly, these tests took place several months after the attack on the fortifications in France and Belgium. But that does not mean that the chemical squad was not operating there before the westward invasion. There is just a lack of photo documentation.
In conclusion, I would like to mention the years 1952 and 53, which I mentioned above. In the album there are unique pictures from the post-war destruction and delaboration of chemical munitions in Raubkammer.
So if anyone has anything else to add to this topic, I would be happy to get to know this issue in more depth. Of course I would be grateful for any links to relevant sites.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Tabun-GA-t8636#253404 Version : 0
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