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Methyl fluoroacetate
Methyl fluoroacetate (MFA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula FCH2CO2CH3. It is the extremely toxic methyl ester of fluoroacetic acid. It is a colorless, odorless liquid at room temperature. It is used as a laboratory chemical and as a rodenticide. Because of its extreme toxicity, MFA was studied for potential use as a chemical weapon.
The general population is not likely to be exposed to methyl fluoroacetate. People who use MFA for work, however, can breathe in or have direct skin contact with the substance.
MFA was first synthesized in 1896 by the Belgian chemist Frédéric Swarts by reacting methyl iodoacetate with silver fluoride. It can also be synthesized by reacting methyl chloroacetate with potassium fluoride
Because of its toxicity, MFA was studied for potential use as a chemical weapon during World War II. It was considered a good water poison since it is colorless and odorless and therefore it can toxify the water supply and kill a big part of the population. By the end of the war, several countries began to make methyl fluoroacetate to debilitate or kill the enemy.
The synthesis of methyl fluoroacetate consists of a two-step process:
Methyl fluoroacetate is a methyl ester of fluoroacetic acid.
MFA is a liquid, which is odorless or can have a faint, fruity smell. The boiling point of MFA is 104.5 °C and the melting point is −35.0 °C. It is soluble in water (117 g/L at 25 °C) and slightly soluble in petroleum ether.
MFA is resistant to the displacement of fluorine by nucleophiles, so there is higher stability of the C−F bond compared to the other halogens (C−Cl, C−Br, C−I). The other haloacetates are more powerful alkylating agents that react with −SH group of proteins. This, however, does not happen for MFA and gives it a unique toxic action. Moreover, MFA is a derivative of fluoroacetate (FA) compound which is as toxic and has similar biotransformation to MFA.
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Methyl fluoroacetate
Methyl fluoroacetate (MFA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula FCH2CO2CH3. It is the extremely toxic methyl ester of fluoroacetic acid. It is a colorless, odorless liquid at room temperature. It is used as a laboratory chemical and as a rodenticide. Because of its extreme toxicity, MFA was studied for potential use as a chemical weapon.
The general population is not likely to be exposed to methyl fluoroacetate. People who use MFA for work, however, can breathe in or have direct skin contact with the substance.
MFA was first synthesized in 1896 by the Belgian chemist Frédéric Swarts by reacting methyl iodoacetate with silver fluoride. It can also be synthesized by reacting methyl chloroacetate with potassium fluoride
Because of its toxicity, MFA was studied for potential use as a chemical weapon during World War II. It was considered a good water poison since it is colorless and odorless and therefore it can toxify the water supply and kill a big part of the population. By the end of the war, several countries began to make methyl fluoroacetate to debilitate or kill the enemy.
The synthesis of methyl fluoroacetate consists of a two-step process:
Methyl fluoroacetate is a methyl ester of fluoroacetic acid.
MFA is a liquid, which is odorless or can have a faint, fruity smell. The boiling point of MFA is 104.5 °C and the melting point is −35.0 °C. It is soluble in water (117 g/L at 25 °C) and slightly soluble in petroleum ether.
MFA is resistant to the displacement of fluorine by nucleophiles, so there is higher stability of the C−F bond compared to the other halogens (C−Cl, C−Br, C−I). The other haloacetates are more powerful alkylating agents that react with −SH group of proteins. This, however, does not happen for MFA and gives it a unique toxic action. Moreover, MFA is a derivative of fluoroacetate (FA) compound which is as toxic and has similar biotransformation to MFA.