Sulfur mustard (HD (military designation), sometimes H (Levinstein process))

Sulfur mustard, commonly referred to as mustard gas, is an oily, yellow-to-brown liquid at room temperature with a garlic or mustard odor, primarily known as a chemical warfare agent. Its chemical formula is C₄H₈Cl₂S and it is a potent alkylating agent, capable of irreversibly alkylating DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. Upon exposure, it causes severe blistering (vesication), tissue necrosis, immune suppression, and has carcinogenic properties. Sulfur mustard is not soluble in water but dissolves readily in organic solvents, and is highly persistent and hazardous in the environment. It is not a biological target for therapeutic intervention, but rather a harmful xenobiotic chemical with a distinct toxicologic mechanism of action.

Other names

Mustard gasbis(2-chloroethyl) sulfideHDYperiteLostdichloroethyl sulfide

Not applicable for drugs targeting sulfur mustard. In terms of its toxicity, sulfur mustard acts as a bifunctional alkylating agent, forming cyclic sulfonium ions that react with DNA and proteins, resulting in cell death, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis.