Amber liquid; amine odor. Miscible with water and organic
solvents.
Metepa is a chemosterilant.
Chemosterilant; in creaseproofing and flameproofing textiles.
Metepa was produced commercially through the synthesis of tris(2 methyl 1 aziridinyl)phosphine oxide, an organophosphorus compound. Industrial manufacture involved reacting phosphorus oxychloride with 2 methylaziridine under controlled conditions, allowing three aziridine groups to attach to the phosphorus centre. The process required strict regulation of temperature and solvent environment to prevent polymerisation or hazardous by products, as metepa is highly reactive and toxic.
ChEBI: Tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl)phosphine oxide is a phosphoramide.
Toxic by ingestion and skin absorption,
strong irritant to skin.
Causes reproductive sterility in the pest
Poison by ingestion,
skin contact, intraperitoneal, and
subcutaneous routes. Experimental
teratogenic and reproductive effects.
Questionable carcinogen with experimental
carcinogenic data. Animal experiments
suggest cholinesterase inlubition, possibly
due to metabolic products of this material in
the body. When heated to decomposition it
emits very toxic fumes of NOx and POx.
