Sesquimustard (military code Q) is the organosulfur compound with the formula (ClCH2CH2SCH2)2. Although it is a colorless solid, impure samples are often brown. The compound is a type of mustard gas, a vesicant used as a chemical weapon. From the chemical perspective, the compound is both a thioether and an alkyl chloride.
Names | |
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Preferred IUPAC name
1,2-Bis[(2-chloroethyl)sulfanyl]ethane | |
Other names
Agent Q
TL-86 One-and-one-half mustard | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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ChemSpider |
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PubChem CID
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UNII |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C6H12Cl2S2 | |
Molar mass | 219.18 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | white solid (impure samples: pale brown) |
Melting point | 56.5 °C (133.7 °F; 329.6 K) |
Insoluble, slowly degrades | |
Solubility | Alcohols, hydrocarbons, lipids, ethers, THF |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Because sesquimustard is a solid at room temperature, it is not as easily deployed as related liquid mustards. It was only ever deployed as mixtures with the original mustard, with phosgene, or as a solution. Since 1997, it has been listed under Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention, as a substance with few uses outside of chemical warfare[1][2][3] (although since then, it has been found to be useful in chemotherapy).[4]