Rapid cleavage of phosphate triesters by the oxime 2‐(hydroxyimino)‐<i>N</i>‐phenyl‐acetamide

Abstract

We report the dephosphorylation reactions of the organophosphates diethyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl phosphate ( DEDNPP ) and dimethyl 4‐nitrophenyl phosphate (methyl paraoxon) by the oxime 2‐(hydroxyimino)‐ N ‐phenyl‐acetamide ( Ox 1 ). Rate enhancements of 10 7 ‐fold over the rate constant for the spontaneous hydrolysis are observed in aqueous medium in presence of the anionic form of the oxime. Ox 1 represents a new family of nucleophiles which could be used for the degradation of toxic organophosphates. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.