VX and VG chemical warfare agents bidentate complexation with lanthanide ions.

Investigations into V-agent interaction with 1,10-phenanthroline nitrate Ln(III) complexes (Eu and Tb) were carried out using luminescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Addition of several equivalents of agent resulted in the loss of luminescence intensity and the observation of free 1,10-phenanthroline by UV-Vis. We propose a displacement mechanism in which the V-agent acts as a bidentate ligand to the lanthanide ion. Association constants were determined by luminescence titrations and found to be 10(5) mol(-1) dm(3).