Re: Sigh...
Of course, you really need the CE knowledge so you don't off yourself in the process.
I am going to throw in my 0.02Eu of a Chemistry MSc which spent half of his degree thesis therm fighting with phospororganic synthesis (my degree is from the days when we actually had the course in toxic substances and toxicology. The first year after they stopped the lab exercises so I did not get to synthesize some of them though. Bummer).
For VX, Sarin, Soman and Tabun - yes. The trick is to remain alive after manufacturing it. The reason for this is that they volatile liquids and will escape via even the smallest gap in the apparatus used for synthesis. Compared to that the synthesis itself is relatively simple.
If I understand correctly the Novichock "discovery", the biggest advantage(s) of this class are that they are solids. So you do not need specialized one-off glassware made just for the purpose. They can be synthesized in a reasonably advanced lab without everyone kicking the bucket as a result. Additionally, some of the references available mention that some of them are binary compounds and can be made on the spot from 2 relatively safe reagents.
That is where this whole thing stops making sense and starts to contradict itself:
1. Binary compound which results in a solid in the correct concentration in the correct solvent to be used as an aerosol. That makes no sense. Sorry - you might as well win the grand lottery.
2. The formulae make no sense to me. VX and toxic phospororganics are AHE inhibitors. They must closely resemble the structure of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine to work. The Phosphorus goes into the enzyme where the Carboxy is on the original compound and permanently inhibits it. The blob on the side serves to orient it correctly and provide additional properties needed. The modifications on the blob in the several (probably false) formulae published for novichok are for an insecticide not for a super-duper meatsack killer compounds. In order for something to traverse the chitin cover efficiently you do exactly that - add a couple of strategically placed Fs here and there. That DECREASES the overall solubility in water though resulting in being less effective on mammals. So the claim that it is 5+ times more toxic as VX sounds like ratshit (not even bulshit).
3. The behavior of the cleanup crew still does not match what they are claiming is being used. While the physical property, delivery, etc are different from VX group, the decontamination is still identical. Take a f**** sprayer with diluted NaOH or whitewash and get on with it. In fact even soda bicarbonate may do depending on how reactive this legendary poison is in reality.
4. There is a very good indicator for the intensity of the research in a particular area - papers. Russian papers on phospororganics were petering out already when I was doing my MSc. The rumor is that they have switched to fentanyl and other (semi)-synthetic opioids - the stuff used in the Moscow theater siege. In fact, looking at the initial picture my guess was something from the Kolokol series - a Fentanyl derivative. MUCH MORE RUSSIAN (as per their current research) and much scarier too.
5. I have read the whole story of its "leak to the west". As someone who has worked in R&D in Eastern Europe during the same period I recognize all the hallmarks of a dieing non-subsidized research in a second tier lab with nearly dried up funding coming from the ministry of agriculture. On matter that has been chewed up to the death with scientists claiming they have discovered the holy grail as a desperate bid for more money which is not coming. Sorry, seen that too many times so a BelAz of salt (not a pinch) is needed.
All in all there is so much bullshit flying in the air at present that the hazmat suit is needed not to guard from the mythical supercompound used, but from all the flying fecal matter (in all directions).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
