Use of Giant Nano-Polyoxotungstate as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Green Selective Oxidation of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract

Background: Selective oxidation of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants including the 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) and other analogs through a green method in the presence of keplerate Cu20-Polyoxotungstate [Cu20Cl(OH)24(H2O)12(P8W48O184)]25- supported on magnetic nanoparticles was investigated. Keplerate nano-polyoxometalates, a new class of polyoxometalates which commonly known as “Giant”, are desirable materials, used for rapid selective oxidation bis (2 chloroethyl) sulfide to sulfoxid due to the toxic nature of mustard gas, the less toxic but structurally similar analogue 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) is commonly used to study this reaction. Keywords: Sulfur mustard, nano-polyoxotungstate, chemical warfare agent, hydrogen peroxide, sulfoxidation.