Stability of the Nerve Gas Antidote BIS (4-Hydroxyiminomethyl-1-Pyridinomethyl) Ether Dichloride (Toxogonin®)

Abstract

The products and kinetics of hydrolysis of the nerve gas antidote bis(4-hydroxyiminomethyl - 1 - pyridinemethyl) ether dichloride (Toxogonin ®) have been investigated. A survey of these studies is given: The hydrolytic reactions were studied in the pH range 1 M hydrochloric acid to 1 M sodium hydroxide at 25, 45, 75 and 85° C. Rate constants were determined in dilute aqueous solution, generally with an initial Toxogonin concentration of 0.01 mg per ml. In addition, a report is given concerning two-year storage of 25 percent (w/v) Toxogonin solutions at pH 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5. The solutions were stored in glass or polypropylene ampuls at 5, 15, 25 and 45°C. At 5 and 15C° decomposition was negligible, at 25 and 45 °C average decomposition was 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively.