9135. Temephos

Nomenclature

CAS number: 3383-96-8
OP,OP′-(Thiodi-4,1-phenylene)phosphorothioic acid OP,OP,OP′,OP′-tetramethyl ester; O,O′-(thiodi-4,1-phenylene)bis(O,O′-dimethylphosphorothioate); O,O,O′,O′-tetramethyl O,O′-thiodi-p-phenylene phosphorothioate; phosphorothioic acid O,O-dimethyl ester O,O-diester with 4,4′-thiodiphenol; ENT-27165; AC-52160; Abate (BASF).
C16H20O6P2S3; mol wt 466.47.
C 41.20%, H 4.32%, O 20.58%, P 13.28%, S 20.62%.

Description and references

Organophosphate insecticide; cholinesterase inhibitor. Prepn: J. B. Lovell, R. W. Baer, BE 648531; eidem, US 3317636 (1964, 1967 both to Am. Cyanamid). Metabolism: R. C. Blinn, J. Agric. Food Chem. 17, 118 (1969) DOI. Toxicity study: T. B. Gaines, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 14, 515 (1969) DOI PubMed. HPLC determn and degradation in water: S. Lacorte et al., J. Chromatogr. A 777, 99 (1997) DOI.

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystalline solid, mp 30.0-30.5°. Optimum stability at pH 5-7. Sol in acetonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, ether, dichloroethane, toluene. Almost insol in water, hexane. LD50 in male, female rats (mg/kg): 8600, 13000 orally (Gaines).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are eye irritation, blurred vision; dizziness, confusion; dyspnea; salivation; abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 296.

Use

Insecticide; used for mosquito control.