Bicyclic phosphate is a class of

organophosphate In organic chemistry, organophosphates (also known as phosphate esters, or OPEs) are a class of organophosphorus compounds with the general structure , a central phosphate molecule with alkyl or aromatic substituents. They can be considered ...

compounds that are used as

flame retardant Flame retardants are a diverse group of chemicals that are added to manufactured materials, such as plastics and textiles, and surface finishes and coatings. Flame retardants are activated by the presence of an combustion, ignition source and pr ...

s, stabilizers and

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

s. They are also used in spectroscopic studies. Some bicyclic phosphates, such as

TBPS TBPS (''tert''-butylbicyclophosphorothionate) is a bicyclic phosphate convulsant. It is an extremely potent GABA receptor antagonist. See also * TBPO *IPTBO IPTBO (isopropylbicyclophosphate, also IPPO) is a bicyclic phosphate convulsant. It i ...

, TBPO and

IPTBO IPTBO (isopropylbicyclophosphate, also IPPO) is a bicyclic phosphate convulsant. It is an extremely potent GABA receptor antagonist that can cause violent convulsions in mice. IPTBO is found among a group of highly toxic bicyclic phosphates. Gen ...

, are highly toxic. They have toxicity comparable to

nerve agent Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemistry, organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (ACh ...

s. However, they are not

acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) also often called cholinesterase inhibitors, inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate, thereby increasing both the level an ...

s. They act as GABA receptor antagonists and have potent

convulsant A convulsant is a drug which induces convulsions or epileptic seizures, the opposite of an anticonvulsant. These drugs generally act as stimulants at low doses, but are not used for this purpose due to poor therapeutic indices. Most convulsant ...

effects.

References

Convulsants Neurotoxins GABAA receptor negative allosteric modulators Organophosphates Phosphate esters {{Neurotoxin-stub