4656. Heptachlor

Nomenclature

CAS number: 76-44-8
1H-1,4,5,6,7,8,8-Heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methanoindene; E-3314; Velsicol 104; Drinox; Heptamul.
C10H5Cl7; mol wt 373.32.
C 32.17%, H 1.35%, Cl 66.48%.

Description and references

Insecticide for soil and seed treatment. Prepn: Bluestone et al., US 2576666 (1951 to Julius Hyman); McKenna et al., US 2661377-8 (1953 to Shell); Kleiman, Tapas, US 2904599 (1959 to Velsicol). Toxicity data: T. B. Gaines, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 14, 515 (1969). Review of toxicology and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Heptachlor/Heptachlor Epoxide (PB93-182467, 1993) 162 pp.

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystals, mp 95-96°. Camphor-like odor. Vapor pressure at 25° = 3 × 104 mm Hg. Soly in g/100 ml solvent at 27°: acetone 75, benzene 106, carbon tetrachloride 112, cyclohexanone 119, alcohol 4.5, xylene 102. LD50 in male, female rats (mg/kg): 100, 162 orally (Gaines).

Caution

Poisoning may occur by ingestion, inhalation, skin contamination. May cause blood dyscrasias and liver necrosis. See: Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section II, pp 285-286.

Use

Formerly as insecticide for control of cotton boll weevil.