:Phenyldichloroarsine

PD was prepared during 1917–18 in Germany and France, during World War II it was prepared in Germany.

Phenyldichloroarsine is an odorless, colorless substance that can form hydrochloric acid upon contact with water. The reaction with water is very slow, the substance sinks, and the reaction is considered non-hazardous.{{cite book | vauthors = Pohanish RP | title = HazMat Data | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3Tbl2W8j-3oC&q=Phenyldichloroarsine&pg=PA895 | publisher = Wiley-IEEE | date = 2005 | pages = 895–96 | isbn = 0471726109 }}) Another product of hydrolysis is phenylarsenious acid, which is a severe irritant to the mucous membranes and skin.{{cite book | vauthors = Leikin JB, McFee RB | title = Handbook of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Agent Exposures | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iB5pdQCKOZIC&q=Phenyldichloroarsine+chemical+weapon&pg=PA356 | publisher = Informa Health Care | date = 2007 | pages = 356–57 | isbn = 978-1420044775 }}) In an impure state, phenyldichloroarsine may have a slight brown color, in its purest form though there is no color and the substance has an oily texture. An impure solution of PD also emits a characteristically unpleasant horseradish or garlic-like odor, which is detectable at 0.1 ppm.{{cite book | vauthors = Ellison HD | title = Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=E58GAKMgcR4C&q=Phenyldichloroarsine&pg=PA156 | publisher = CRC Press | date = 2007 | pages = 156 | isbn = 978-0849314346}}

Phenyldichloroarsine is one of four organic arsenicals, the other three are lewisite (L), methyldichloroarsine (MD), and ethyldichloroarsine (ED).{{cite web | vauthors = Fitzgerald GM, Vollmer T | url = http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/832158-overview | title = CBRNE - Vesicants, Organic Arsenicals: L, ED, MD, PD, HL | work = emedicine | publisher = WebMD | date = 19 June 2006 | access-date = December 22, 2008 }} PD is considered an analog of lewisite. At its freezing point, -20 °C, PD becomes a microcrystalline solid mass.{{cite book | vauthors = Hills T | title = The Illustrated Dictionary of Organic Chemistry | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j4VHUen3bTYC&q=Phenyldichloroarsine&pg=PA149 | publisher = Lotus Press | location = Tokyo | date = 2007 | pages = 149 | isbn = 978-8189093518 }} The compound has a C-metalloid bond between the phenyl group and the arsenic and two covalent bonds between the arsenic and the chlorine.{{cite book | vauthors = Manahan SE | title = Industrial Ecology: Environmental Chemistry and Hazardous Waste | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_-GDMkpoA4YC&q=Phenyldichloroarsine&pg=PA189 | publisher = CRC Press | date = 1999 | pages = 189 | isbn = 1566703816 }}

Phenyldichloroarsine is produced by reacting benzene with arsenic trichloride. Anhydrous aluminum chloride acts as a catalyst in this reaction.{{cite book | vauthors = Ledgard J | title = A Laboratory History of Chemical Warfare Agents | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=atU4GuKE8x0C&q=Phenyldichloroarsine+chemical+weapon&pg=PA127 | publisher = Lulu.com | date = 2006 | pages = 127–29 | isbn = 1411694325 }}

Phenyldichloroarsine is an obsolete chemical warfare agent and is classified as a vesicant or a vomiting/incapacitating agent. It was used as a weapon during World War I, where it showed itself as less effective than other vomiting agents.{{cite book | vauthors = Cashman JR | title = Emergency Response Handbook for Chemical and Biological Agents and Weapons | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S4PW-5qHUU8C&q=Phenyldichloroarsine+chemical+weapon&pg=PA215 | publisher = CRC Press | date = 2008 | pages = 215–19 | isbn = 978-1420052657 }} Phenyldichloroarsine is an arsenical vesicant which can be mixed with mustard agents for use in chemical warfare.{{cite web | vauthors = Dire DJ | url = http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/832060-overview | title = CBRNE - Vesicants, Mustard: Hd, Hn1-3, H] | work = emedicine | publisher = WebMD | date = 21 December 2007 | access-date = 22 December 2008 }}

PD was developed for use in wet environments, because of its tendency to persist in cool and shaded areas. Phenyldichloroarsine can have a persistence lasting anywhere from 2 to 7 days under usual environmental conditions. In open areas, it is more useful as a vomiting agent but in closed-in areas, such as basements, trenches and caves, it is highly effective because of its "extreme" vapor density. Phenyldichloroarsine has also been used by banks and other high-security facilities to defend against security breaches.

PD damages the eyes, lungs, throat and nasal membranes. PD immediately affects the eyes and blindness can result, though it requires high doses. It also induces nausea and vomiting, an inhalation of as little as 5-50 milligrams can induce severe vomiting. Long-term exposure to PD can cause systemic damage by replacing calcium with arsenic, extensive bone marrow damage can also result. Due to PD being easily recognized in the field and a relatively fast rate for decontamination procedures to become effective, the chemical is not as useful as other blister agents. The blistering resultant from PD exposure may also be delayed, for as little as 30 minutes,{{cite web | vauthors = O'Connor RJ, McGown EL, Dill K | url = https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA175296.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043858/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA175296&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf | url-status = live | archive-date = May 22, 2011 | title = Interaction of Phenyldicholoroarsine with Biological Molecules | work = Department of Chemistry - Clemson University for U.S. Army, Letterman Army Institute of Research | date = August 1986 | access-date = 22 December 2008 }} or as long as 32 hours depending upon the concentration of the dose.

The molecular toxicology of PD is not well understood, but a 1986 U.S. Army-sponsored report did shed some light on that area. The Army report showed that PD penetrated the red blood cell membrane and interacted with something inside the cell. The study also found that hemoglobin was not responsible for "holding" the PD in its bond with the erythrocytes (red blood cells), instead glutathione was found to be a more likely interacting with PD inside the cell .{{cite book | vauthors = Byrnes ME, King DA, Tierno Jr PM | title = Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Terrorism: Emergency Response and Public Protection | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jOcXcdJuovgC&q=Phenyldichloroarsine+chemical+weapon&pg=PA57 | publisher = CRC Press | date = 2003 | pages = 57 | isbn = 1566706513 }}

• Diphenylchlorarsine

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Category:Arsenical vesicants

Category:Vomiting agents

Category:Organoarsenic chlorides

Category:Phenyl compounds

Category:Arsenic(III) compounds