PROPARGITE

Propargite is a non-systemic acaricidal active ingredient developed for controlling phytophagous mites, with its strongest practical value against the mobile stages of spider-mite populations.
Its performance is governed by direct contact, crop-surface coverage and mitochondrial energy inhibition rather than movement through plant tissues.
For technical buyers, Propargite is also unusual because the commercial active is a hydrophobic, viscous sulfite ester supplied as a stereoisomeric mixture and formulated mainly as emulsifiable liquids, aqueous emulsions or wettable powders.

CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND COMMON NAMES

Propargite is the accepted common name for the mixed sulfurous-acid ester formed from 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexanol and propargyl alcohol.
The systematic name [2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl] prop-2-ynyl sulfite describes the same molecule and identifies both the substituted cyclohexyl group and the terminal propargyl group attached through oxygen to sulfur.
BPPS is an established pesticide code for Propargite, while D-014 and DO14 occur as development identifiers.
The substance is a sulfite ester, not a sulfate ester or a sulfonate, and that distinction explains its characteristic alkaline hydrolysis behaviour.

Synonyms and Common Names: Propargite, BPPS, D-014, DO14, Propargil, 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl prop-2-ynyl sulfite, [2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl] prop-2-ynyl sulfite, 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl 2-propynyl sulfite, 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl propargyl sulfite, 2-(p-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl propargyl sulfite, 2-(p-t-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl propargyl sulfite, 2-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenoxy]cyclohexyl 2-propynyl sulfite, 2-(4-(tert-butyl)phenoxy)cyclohexyl prop-2-yn-1-yl sulfite, prop-2-ynyl 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl sulfite, cyclohexanol, 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)-, prop-2-ynyl sulfite, sulfurous acid, 2-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenoxy]cyclohexyl 2-propynyl ester, sulfurous acid, mixed 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl and prop-2-ynyl ester

TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION

CAS Number: 2312-35-8
EC / EINECS Number: 219-006-1
CLP Index Number: 607-151-00-7
Molecular Formula: C19H26O4S
Molar Mass: 350.47 g/mol
Chemical Class: Organosulfur sulfite ester acaricide
Structural Features: Para-tert-butylphenoxy group, 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexyl group, mixed sulfite ester and terminal alkyne
InChIKey: ZYHMJXZULPZUED-UHFFFAOYSA-N

A TECHNICAL ACTIVE WITH EIGHT STEREOISOMERS

Propargite has two stereogenic carbon atoms on its 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexane ring and a stereogenic sulfur centre in the unsymmetrical sulfite ester.
The fully resolved molecular identity therefore encompasses eight stereoisomers, arranged into cis and trans cyclohexyl configurations and their associated sulfur configurations.
Commercial technical Propargite is a stereoisomeric mixture under one common name and one CAS number rather than a single isolated stereoisomer.

This distinction has a practical analytical consequence.
An achiral gas-chromatographic or liquid-chromatographic assay can measure total Propargite, while determination of the individual stereoisomers requires a suitable chiral separation.
Routine technical-active purchasing is centred on total assay, related substances, water, acidity and insoluble matter; stereoisomer profiling becomes an additional requirement for chiral research, metabolism work, reference-material preparation or a regulatory programme that specifies isomer composition.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROFILE

Appearance: Brownish-yellow to dark amber oily material
Physical State: Viscous liquid at ambient temperature
Relative Density: 1.085–1.115 at 25 °C
Melting Behaviour: Below 25 °C for the technical stereoisomeric mixture, without a sharp single-compound melting transition
Thermal Behaviour: Decomposes on strong heating rather than providing a practical atmospheric boiling point
Flash Point: Approximately 71 °C by closed-cup testing
Vapour Pressure: Very low at 25 °C
Water Solubility: Approximately 0.215 mg/L at 20 °C
Organic-Solvent Behaviour: Soluble in many aromatic, chlorinated, ketone and hydrocarbon formulation solvents
Partition Coefficient: log Kow 5.7
Ionisation: Neutral under ordinary formulation conditions, with no practically relevant aqueous pKa
Hydrolytic Behaviour: Relatively stable at pH 4–5, slower hydrolysis near neutral pH and rapid cleavage under alkaline conditions
Hydrolysis Half-Life: Approximately 66–75 days at pH 7 and 1–2 days at pH 9 at 25 °C
Aqueous Photolysis Half-Life: Approximately 6 days in an illuminated pH 5 solution

The tert-butylphenoxy and cyclohexyl portions give the molecule strong affinity for organic phases, waxy plant surfaces and suspended or sediment-bound matter.
Its very low water solubility makes solvent choice, emulsification or fine-particle suspension essential for spray delivery.
Low vapour pressure limits redistribution through volatilisation, so deposited spray coverage remains the main path to mite contact.

THE SULFITE ESTER SETS THE FORMULATION WINDOW

The sulfurous-acid ester is the chemically sensitive part of Propargite.
Acidic to mildly neutral aqueous conditions support useful formulation stability, whereas alkalinity accelerates ester cleavage and loss of active ingredient.
Strongly alkaline water, alkaline carriers and caustic tank partners are therefore poor choices for extended contact with the active.

Water content and acidity are not merely general purity measurements for technical Propargite.
Together with storage temperature, they help reveal whether the material has been protected from conditions that promote hydrolysis.
Finished liquid formulations also require emulsion-stability and storage-stability testing because a chemically intact active can still perform poorly if the emulsion separates, creams excessively or deposits unevenly.

MODE OF ACTION AND FIELD BEHAVIOUR

Propargite is classified in IRAC Group 12C as an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase.
Interference with mitochondrial energy production deprives susceptible mites of the adenosine triphosphate needed for movement, feeding and cellular maintenance.
This biochemical effect develops after the active reaches the pest through contact and, to a lesser extent, ingestion.

The active is non-systemic and has little capacity to redistribute through plant tissues.
It is used principally against larvae, nymphs and adults of phytophagous mites, including economically important spider mites.
Egg activity is limited, so treatment timing is directed toward exposed mobile stages and the emerging generation rather than relied upon as a stand-alone ovicidal treatment.

Coverage is consequently part of efficacy rather than a secondary spray-quality issue.
The spray deposit must reach leaf undersides, inner canopy surfaces and other protected feeding sites where mites concentrate.
Dense foliage, heavy mite webbing, poor droplet penetration and untreated surface areas reduce the number of pests that contact an effective deposit.

PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL-ACTIVE COMPOSITION

A practical manufacturing route begins with reaction of 4-tert-butylphenol and 1,2-epoxycyclohexane to form 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)cyclohexanol.
Conversion of this precursor alcohol with a sulfur chlorinating reagent, followed by esterification with propargyl alcohol in the presence of a base, produces the unsymmetrical sulfite ester.
The non-stereoselective sequence generates the commercial mixture of Propargite stereoisomers.

Technical-active control focuses on Propargite assay and the residual precursor alcohol, phenolic material, propargyl-derived components, hydrolysis products, residual solvent, water, acidity and insoluble matter.
Technical concentrate is commonly traded at about 90% active ingredient and serves as the feedstock for registered agricultural formulations.
The dark, viscous physical form calls for controlled transfer, temperature-managed pumping where necessary and equipment designed to prevent aerosol formation.

APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIES

Motile-stage spider-mite control:
The central commercial use of Propargite is foliar control of phytophagous mites, especially spider mites in their larval, nymphal and adult stages.
Direct contact with a well-distributed deposit is the key exposure route, making application timing, spray volume, droplet placement and underside coverage decisive operating variables.
Treatment rates, intervals and harvest restrictions are taken from the authorised product label for the crop and jurisdiction.

Vines, orchards and nut crops:
Registered Propargite formulations have been used in vineyards and in pome fruit, stone fruit, citrus and nut production where mites occupy waxy leaves, fruiting structures and dense canopies.
Air-assisted or other canopy-directed application systems are used to carry the spray into protected foliage and cover both sides of the leaf.
Crop stage, variety, temperature, beneficial-mite programme and residue requirements shape the selection of formulation and treatment window.

Field crops, vegetables and ornamentals:
Authorised uses in different markets include cotton, maize, sorghum, peanuts, hops, tea, selected vegetables and ornamental production.
These crop systems differ substantially in canopy architecture, sprayer type and acceptable residue profile, but each depends on exposure of mobile mites to the deposit.
Only agricultural or ornamental uses present on the applicable registration and product label belong in a commercial treatment programme.

Resistance-management programmes:
Propargite provides a Group 12C mode of action for mite-control sequences that also contain acaricides acting at other biochemical sites.
Successive mite generations should not be exposed repeatedly to the same mode-of-action group, and the product is best integrated with monitoring, economic thresholds, cultural measures and effective alternatives from different groups.
Cross-resistance planning considers the whole Group 12 sequence rather than treating the lettered subgroup as an unlimited rotation option.

Integrated crop protection:
The non-systemic deposit can fit programmes that combine crop inspection, hotspot treatment, sanitation and biological control, but selectivity toward predatory mites and other beneficial arthropods is species- and exposure-dependent.
Spray placement and timing can reduce unnecessary contact with beneficial populations while maintaining coverage of the pest habitat.
Compatibility with a particular integrated programme is based on its target species, beneficial community and authorised label directions.

Formulation manufacture:
Formulators use technical Propargite to produce emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions and wettable powders.
Liquid systems use an organic phase and an emulsifier package to deliver the hydrophobic active as fine droplets after dilution, while wettable powders use fine active-containing particles, wetting agents and dispersants to create a stable spray suspension.
The formulation type changes handling, dilution, packaging, low-temperature behaviour, spray-deposit character and quality-control requirements without changing the chemical identity of the active.

Residue, environmental and stereochemical analysis:
Analytical-grade Propargite is used for calibration in residue testing of crops, foods, soil, water and biological matrices.
Gas chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry are established routes for sensitive residue determination after matrix-appropriate extraction and cleanup.
Chiral chromatography is reserved for work that must distinguish the individual Propargite stereoisomers rather than report total residue.

FORMULATION DESIGN IS PART OF PERFORMANCE

An emulsifiable concentrate must create a fine, persistent emulsion when added to spray water and must retain active content during accelerated and low-temperature storage.
The solvent and surfactant package is selected for active solubility, flash point, container compatibility, dilution behaviour and crop-surface deposition.
Prolonged exposure to alkaline diluent is avoided because chemical hydrolysis continues even when initial emulsification appears satisfactory.

An oil-in-water emulsion lowers the continuous organic-solvent phase but places greater emphasis on droplet-size control, preservative strategy, rheology and protection against creaming or coalescence.
A wettable powder depends on rapid wetting, high suspensibility, controlled particle size and low wet-sieve residue so that the active stays distributed in the tank and passes through application equipment.
Agitation is important for suspension formulations, whereas order of addition and adequate dilution water are particularly important for concentrated emulsifiable products.

Tank-mixture decisions account for pH, physical compatibility, authorised combinations, crop safety and the time between mixing and application.
Strong alkaline materials are excluded from prolonged mixtures with Propargite because they promote cleavage of the sulfite ester.
Clean water, suitable agitation and prompt use of the prepared spray preserve both chemical integrity and deposit uniformity.

GRADE SELECTION AND PROCUREMENT LOGIC

Technical-active Propargite is selected for registered formulation manufacture and is evaluated by active assay, related-substance profile, water, acidity, insoluble matter, density and physical appearance.
Its viscosity affects drum emptying, metering and transfer, while low water solubility makes formulation-solvent compatibility a core development criterion.
A formulation producer also needs the regulatory identity and impurity information associated with the manufacturing source.

Finished agricultural formulations are selected by authorised active concentration, formulation code, crop label, target mite, application method, packaging and destination-market registration.
Emulsifiable concentrates and oil-in-water emulsions call for emulsion, foam, pH, storage and pourability data.
Wettable powders call for moisture, wettability, suspensibility, particle-size distribution, wet-sieve residue, persistent foam and package-integrity data.

Analytical reference material is a different purchasing category from technical active.
Neat standards support identity and calibration-solution preparation, while accurately prepared solution standards simplify routine instrument calibration.
Total-Propargite analysis uses the technical stereoisomeric identity; stereoisomer-specific projects require composition-assigned chiral reference materials.

QUALITY CONTROL AND DOCUMENTATION

Gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography provides a quantitative assay for technical active and formulated products.
Mass spectrometry supports identity and related-substance investigation, while infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can confirm the propargyl, phenoxy and sulfite-ester structure.
Karl Fischer analysis measures water, titration measures acidity, and gravimetric testing addresses solvent-insoluble matter.

Formulation release testing connects chemical content with delivery performance.
For emulsifiable and aqueous-emulsion products, active content, pH, emulsion stability, spontaneous emulsification, persistent foam, pourability, low-temperature stability and accelerated storage form a coherent test set.
For wettable powders, active content, moisture, wettability, suspensibility, wet-sieve residue, foam and storage stability are the more relevant controls.

The Certificate of Analysis identifies the tested batch and records its release parameters.
The Technical Data Sheet describes product form, composition and performance-related characteristics, while the Safety Data Sheet provides classification, exposure controls, transport and emergency information for the supplied grade.
For regulated pesticide manufacture, procurement documentation also covers manufacturing-source identity, impurity profile, formulation composition and destination-market dossier requirements.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND EXPOSURE CONTROL

With a log Kow of 5.7 and water solubility near 0.215 mg/L, Propargite strongly partitions toward organic matter, biota, suspended solids and sediment.
Measured soil organic-carbon partition coefficients of approximately 2,963–57,966 indicate slight to negligible mobility through most soils, while erosion and particle movement can transport sorbed residues into surface water.
Aerobic soil dissipation half-lives of about 50–67 days place the active in a moderately persistent range under the tested conditions.

In water, photolysis and pH-dependent hydrolysis contribute to degradation, with alkaline water producing much faster cleavage than acidic water.
Very low vapour pressure and strong sorption limit loss by volatilisation from moist soil and water.
The combination of hydrophobicity and strong sorption creates high bioconcentration potential and a pronounced need to prevent entry into aquatic systems.

Propargite is very toxic to aquatic life and can cause long-lasting aquatic effects.
Spray drift, drain discharge, equipment washings and contaminated absorbents are controlled as pesticide waste streams.
Secondary containment, closed transfer and prompt collection of spills protect soil, surface water and wastewater systems during storage and formulation.

SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

Propargite is toxic by inhalation, causes skin irritation and serious eye damage, is suspected of causing cancer and presents severe acute and chronic aquatic hazards.
The applicable hazard classifications include H315, H318, H331, H351, H400 and H410, with the signal word Danger.
Engineering controls are used to keep vapour, mist and dust exposure low, and open handling is minimised.

Chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, tightly fitting eye protection and face protection are required for direct handling.
Respiratory protection is selected for the physical form and exposure assessment, particularly during aerosol-generating transfer, powder charging, spill response and equipment cleaning.
Work areas require effective ventilation, access control, hygiene facilities and separation from food, drink and personal items.

Propargite is an active pesticide substance rather than a general-purpose industrial ingredient.
In the European Union it is not approved as an active substance for plant-protection products, and its pesticide use is prohibited under that framework.
In the United States, registered Propargite pesticide products are restricted-use products handled and applied by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.
Other markets impose their own active-substance approvals, crop registrations, maximum residue limits, pre-harvest intervals, re-entry periods, packaging rules and import controls.

FIRST AID

Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air, keep the person at rest and obtain immediate medical attention because inhalation exposure can be toxic.

Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash the skin thoroughly with water and soap, then obtain medical attention for persistent irritation or significant exposure.

Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with clean water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses when easy to do and obtain immediate medical attention because serious eye damage can occur.

Ingestion: Rinse the mouth, do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel and obtain immediate medical attention.

Note to Physicians: Treatment is supportive and directed toward the route of exposure and clinical condition because no specific antidote is established.

HANDLING, STORAGE AND SPILL RESPONSE

Store Propargite in tightly closed, clearly identified containers in a cool, dry, secure and well-ventilated pesticide area.
Keep it away from heat, ignition sources, strong oxidising agents, strong acids and alkaline materials.
Prevent water ingress, prolonged exposure to alkaline conditions and cross-contamination with food, feed, seed or incompatible chemicals.

Use closed or mechanically assisted transfer for technical liquid and local exhaust where mist or vapour can form.
Bonding, grounding and ignition control are appropriate when flammable formulation solvents are present.
Pumps, seals, hoses and gaskets are selected for the supplied formulation rather than for the active ingredient alone.

For a spill, isolate the area, stop the release when this can be done safely and prevent material from reaching drains or water.
Absorb liquid with a non-combustible inert material, or collect powder by a low-dust method, and place the recovered material in a labelled waste container.
Contaminated absorbent, wash liquid and damaged packaging remain controlled pesticide waste.

PACKAGING AND SUPPLY CONSIDERATIONS

Technical Propargite is packed in compatible, tightly sealed containers designed for a dense, viscous organic liquid and fitted for controlled discharge.
Finished emulsions, concentrates and wettable powders require package systems matched to solvent resistance, moisture exclusion, seal integrity and hazardous-goods classification.
Drum or container size is selected together with batch consumption, transfer method, storage layout and waste-minimisation objectives.

A complete enquiry identifies the required product category, active concentration, formulation code, destination country, registered use, batch quantity, packaging size, delivery schedule and documentation set.
Technical-active buyers add assay and impurity requirements, formulators add performance-test criteria, and analytical laboratories add reference-material format, concentration, solvent and metrological documentation.

Ataman Kimya supports professional enquiries for Propargite technical active, formulation requirements and analytical-reference applications with attention to specification, documentation, packaging and destination-market supply needs.
For product and procurement discussions, contact Ataman Kimya at +90 216 577 10 10 or info@atamankimya.com.