²⁷Al, ⁴⁷,⁴⁹Ti, ³¹P, and ¹³C MAS NMR Study of VX, GD, and HD Reactions with Nanosize Al₂O₃, Conventional Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, and Aluminum and Titanium Metal

Reactions of VX, GD, and HD with Al 2 O 3, TiO 2 (anatase and rutile), aluminum, and titanium metal powders have been studied by 27 Al, 47,49 Ti, 31 P, and 13 C MAS NMR. VX, GD, and HD hydrolyze on both nanosize and conventional Al 2 O 3 . A significant droplet size effect on the reaction kinetics is observed. For VX and GD, 27 Al and 31 P MAS NMR detect the formation of aluminum phosphonate complexes. Similarly, GD hydrolysis on TiO 2 yields titanium phosphonate species as detected by 31 P MAS NMR. Attempts at obtaining 47,49 Ti NMR spectra of these species and those of titanium phosphonate model compounds at 14 T were marginally successful. 47,49 Ti NMR spectra were obtainable for anatase and titanium metal; thus, severe second-order quadrupolar linebroadening is suspected for the titanium phosphonate complexes. 47,49 Ti NMR spectra obtained for anatase at high magnetic field (17.5 and 21 T) showed anticipated improvement in peak width and resolution. GD reacted with aluminum and titanium powder in the presence of water results in acid-dissolution of the metals and the formation of their respective metal phosphonates.