N,N-Dichlorovaleramide: An Efficient Decontaminating Reagent for Sulfur Mustard

An efficient and operationally simple method for the chemical decontamination of sulfur mustard (HD) has been reported herein. A newly synthesized (positive chlorine bearing) reagent N,N-dichlorovaleramide has been utilized for this purpose. Decontamination has been achieved in aqueous and aprotic media. The reaction was monitored by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. This reagent is more effective, stable, economical, and easy to synthesize and leads to instant decontamination of HD. The reaction was found to instantaneously and completely convert HD to innocuous products at different temperatures (−10 to 25 °C).