Permethrin

Description

A synthetic pyrethroid Insecticide. Permethrin is stable to light. Compared to other insecticides, pyrethrins have low toxicity to mammals. They break down fairly rapidly at leave no harmful residues. Permethrin is used for ticks, flies, bees, lice, and spiders. Some insect repellents also contain permethrin.

Synonyms and Related Terms

[(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate]; Constrain; Nix; Ambush; Eksmin; Talcord; 3-phenoxybenzyl (1RS)-cis-trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate

Risks

• Mildly irritating to skins and eyes.
• Highly toxic to cats
• EChemi: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Soluble in most organic solvents. Insoluble in water.

Composition	C21H20Cl2O3
CAS	52645-53-1
Melting Point	35 C
Density	1.190-1.272 g/ml
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 391.3
Boiling Point	200 C

Resources and Citations

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Marie Svoboda, Conservation Survey Index, unpublished, 1997

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 7321

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin (Accessed Mar. 20, 2006)