Organophosphate nerve agents (tabun and sarin)
Agentes nerviosos organofosforados (tabún y sarín)
- Date
- 1936-1938 · confidence high
- Place
- Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Credited to
- Gerhard Schrader (IG Farben)
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Organophosphorus compounds discovered while seeking insecticides that inhibit acetylcholinesterase and cause paralysis and death within minutes. Tabun (1936) and sarin (1938) were the first nerve agents with military use.
Schrader discovered tabun in 1936 while seeking insecticides, and sarin in 1938; Germany stockpiled over 12,000 tonnes of tabun but did not use it for fear of retaliation. His laboratory is usually placed at Leverkusen (IG Farben).
What it led to
- VX and Novichok agents
- chemical weapons bans (CWC, 1993)
- studies of acetylcholinesterase inhibition