OP nerve agents react with Ser hydrolases, such as AChE or gVIIA-PLA2. (A) The inhibition of a serine hydrolase with an OP compound, such as O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (sarin, GB) can stop at a non-aged complex, proceed to an “aged” complex through a carbocation mechanism (top branch), or be hydrolyzed to a harmless product (bottom branch). The aging path is promoted by a secondary or tertiary Cα, which stabilizes the developing positive charge. The hydrolysis path is promoted, if aging is not fast, and if a nucleophilic water can approach the non-aged species. (B) The OP compounds sarin, O-pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (soman, GD) and O,O-diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) have a branched side-chain that facilitates aging, whereas O,O-diethyl-O-nitrophenylphosphate (paraoxon) and ethyl N,N-dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate (tabun, GA) do not.