Novichok
The name Novichok is used for a number of chemical compounds that have been used as nerve agents (similar to nerve gas) from the 1970s to at least the 1990s in the Soviet Union. There are 3–5 different substances, all called Novichok. The exact formula of these agents is unknown. The following facts are known or likely:
- Novichok is produced by combining two (or more) other substances. Unless they are combined, these other substances are not dangerous; as an example: fertilizer for agriculture
- At least four or five compounds are known to exist.
In 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned using Novichok. Novichok was also the agent in the 2018 Amesbury poisonings. It is likely that Alexei Navalny was poisoned using Novichok in 2020.
Novichok Media
Examples of structures claimed as Novichok agents
Chemical structure of the Novichok agent known as A-230
Example of a declared Novichok derivative, researched in Iran in 2016
Chemical structure of the Novichok agent known as A-234
Figure A. Procedure of retrospective assessment of exposure to Novichok type nerve agent. A-230 is used as an example. Ser-198 (the active site residue whose phosphonylation irreversibly inactivates the enzyme) is shown in red. The ion with m/z of 970.34750 is directly detected during LC-MS, whereas the ion with m/z of 193.11002 is observed during Collision Induced Dissociation experiments.
Supposed Novichok agent formula from the forensic analysis in the Kivelidi case
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