PROPOXUR

Propoxur is a non-systemic carbamate insecticide and acaricide with contact and stomach action against crawling, flying, sucking, and chewing pests.
It provides rapid knockdown through acetylcholinesterase inhibition and can retain residual activity on treated surfaces.
Propoxur has been used in structural, public-health, household, veterinary, ornamental, and agricultural pest-control products, although permitted uses are tightly controlled by jurisdiction.
Commercial selection focuses on technical purity, crystal modification, formulation type, hydrolytic stability, toxicological controls, and destination-market registration.

CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND COMMON NAMES

Propoxur is an aromatic phenyl methylcarbamate containing an ortho-positioned isopropoxy group.
It belongs to the carbamate insecticide class and is neither an organophosphate nor a pyrethroid.
The molecule has no stereogenic center and is commercially supplied without stereoisomer specifications.

Chemical Name: 2-Isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate
Current IUPAC Name: 2-(Propan-2-yloxy)phenyl N-methylcarbamate
CAS Name: 2-(1-Methylethoxy)phenyl methylcarbamate
Chemical Family: Phenyl methylcarbamate
Pesticide Class: Carbamate insecticide and acaricide

Synonyms and Common Names: Propoxur, Propoxure, Propoksur, PHC, PPX, o-IMPC, ENT 25,671, OMS 33, NSC 379584, 2-Isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate, 2-Isopropoxyphenyl N-methylcarbamate, 2-Isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate, 2-(1-Methylethoxy)phenyl methylcarbamate, 2-(1-Methylethoxy)phenyl N-methylcarbamate, 2-(1-Methylethoxy)phenol methylcarbamate, 2-(Propan-2-yloxy)phenyl methylcarbamate, 2-(Propan-2-yloxy)phenyl N-methylcarbamate, 2-[(Propan-2-yl)oxy]phenyl methylcarbamate, 2-[(1-Methylethyl)oxy]phenyl methylcarbamate, 2-Isopropyloxyphenyl N-methylcarbamate, o-Isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate, o-Isopropoxyphenyl N-methylcarbamate, N-Methyl-2-isopropoxyphenylcarbamate, O-(2-Isopropoxyphenyl) N-methylcarbamate, Carbamic acid, methyl-, o-isopropoxyphenyl ester, Carbamic acid, methyl-, 2-(1-methylethoxy)phenyl ester, Phenol, 2-(1-methylethoxy)-, methylcarbamate, Phenol, o-isopropoxy-, methylcarbamate

TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION

CAS Number: 114-26-1
EC Number: 204-043-8
Chemical Formula: C11H15NO3
Molar Mass: 209.24 g/mol
CIPAC Number: 80
Pesticide Chemical Code: 047802
InChIKey: ISRUGXGCCGIOQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Canonical SMILES: CC(C)OC1=CC=CC=C1OC(=O)NC
Mode-of-Action Group: Group 1A carbamate acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance: Colourless to pale-yellow crystals or a white-to-tan crystalline technical powder
Odour: Faint characteristic or phenolic odour
Physical State: Solid
Crystal Forms: Modifications I and II
Melting Point: 87.5–90.0 °C, depending on crystal modification
Boiling Behaviour: Decomposes before normal boiling or distillation
Thermal Stability: No significant decomposition below approximately 150 °C
Decomposition Temperature: Decomposition becomes significant near 220 °C
Density: Approximately 1.17 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Technical Bulk Density: Approximately 0.52 kg/L
Water Solubility: Approximately 1.75 g/L at 20 °C
Solubility in Isopropanol: Approximately 200 g/L at 20 °C
Solubility in Toluene: Approximately 94 g/L at 20 °C
Solubility in Hexane: Approximately 1.3 g/L at 20 °C
Vapour Pressure: Approximately 0.00129 Pa at 20 °C
Vapour Pressure: Approximately 0.00278 Pa at 25 °C
Henry’s Law Constant: Approximately 1.50 × 10⁻⁴ Pa·m³/mol at 25 °C
Log Kow: Approximately 1.56 at 20 °C
Soil Adsorption Coefficient: Approximately 30 mL/g
Representative Soil DT50: Approximately 28–79 days
Combustibility: Combustible under specific fire conditions

Propoxur is comparatively stable in acidic media but undergoes progressively faster hydrolysis as alkalinity increases.
Representative hydrolysis half-lives at 22 °C exceed one year at pH 4, are approximately 93 days at pH 7, and decline to approximately 30 hours at pH 9.
Alkaline formulation components, alkaline wash water, and high-pH spray mixtures therefore cause rapid active-ingredient loss.

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Propoxur reversibly carbamylates acetylcholinesterase.
This action prevents normal breakdown of acetylcholine and produces excessive stimulation at nerve junctions.
The resulting insecticidal effect includes rapid knockdown, paralysis, and death.

Propoxur acts primarily through direct contact and ingestion.
It is non-systemic and does not rely on movement through plant vascular tissue.
Surface deposits provide residual control when formulation, application quality, and treated-surface characteristics support continued availability.
Surface porosity, cleaning, light, temperature, placement, and formulation determine residual performance.

Propoxur controls numerous crawling and flying pests, including cockroaches, ants, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, bugs, and selected other nuisance or agricultural insects.
Repeated use against the same pest population selects resistance.
Resistance management requires rotation with effective insecticides from different mode-of-action groups and integration with sanitation, exclusion, monitoring, and nonchemical control.

PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL FORMS

Commercial production commonly begins with selective mono-O-alkylation of catechol to produce 2-isopropoxyphenol.
The intermediate is reacted with a methylcarbamoylating reagent, commonly methyl isocyanate, to form propoxur.
Controlled crystallization, filtration, washing, and drying provide the purified technical active ingredient.
Closed processing, temperature control, containment, gas detection, and effective scrubbing are essential during operations involving highly hazardous reactive intermediates.

Process control addresses residual catechol, 2-isopropoxyphenol, dialkylated phenolic by-products, hydrolysis products, residual carbamoylating reagents, solvents, and water.
Crystallization conditions also determine the ratio of propoxur crystal modifications.
Technical material normally contains predominantly modification I.
Excess modification II can impair the suspensibility and physical stability of water-dispersible formulations.

Propoxur has been commercialized as technical active ingredient, wettable powder, water-soluble-bag wettable powder, dustable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, granules, aerosol, ready-to-use spray, bait, pest strip, and veterinary ectoparasite-control product.
The legal availability of each form depends on product registration, user classification, application site, and destination market.

APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIES

Structural and Public-Health Pest Control

Propoxur formulations have been used for residual treatment of cracks, crevices, wall surfaces, harbourages, service areas, and other pest-resting locations.
Target pests include cockroaches, ants, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and selected crawling insects.
Food, feed, utensils, preparation surfaces, and occupied areas must be protected from contamination.

Household Pest Control

Registered baits, bait trays, aerosols, dusts, and ready-to-use products have been used for domestic pest management.
Indoor exposure concerns have resulted in substantial restrictions or withdrawal of many household uses.
Only the registered product label defines permitted indoor sites, application methods, re-entry controls, and user requirements.

Vector Control

Propoxur has been used in residual and targeted treatments against mosquitoes and other disease-vector insects.
Resistance monitoring is particularly important because carbamate resistance occurs in several vector populations.
Public-health use requires an authorized formulation and an approved operational program.

Veterinary and Companion-Animal Products

Propoxur has been incorporated into selected flea and tick collars, sprays, powders, and premises treatments.
Many jurisdictions restrict or prohibit specific animal uses because of exposure risks to animals, handlers, and children.
Direct animal treatment requires a product expressly registered for the target species and use pattern.

Agriculture, Horticulture, and Forestry

Historical and regional applications include control of sucking and chewing pests in sugarcane, cocoa, grapes, maize, rice, cotton, forage crops, vegetables, greenhouse crops, forestry, ornamentals, lawns, and turf.
Plant-protection uses have been withdrawn or prohibited in numerous markets.
Agricultural application is limited to destinations retaining an active registration for the specific crop, pest, formulation, and application method.

Analytical and Research Use

High-purity propoxur reference material supports residue analysis, environmental monitoring, toxicological work, analytical method development, and instrument calibration.
Reference-standard material requires characterized identity, assay, traceable documentation, and controlled storage.

GRADE SELECTION AND PRODUCT SUITABILITY

Technical Grade

A high-purity technical benchmark uses a propoxur content of at least 980 g/kg.
Typical accompanying limits include water at no more than 2.0 g/kg, acetone-insoluble matter at no more than 1.0 g/kg, acidity at no more than 0.5 g/kg calculated as sulfuric acid, and alkalinity at no more than 0.1 g/kg calculated as sodium hydroxide.
A suitable crystal profile contains more than 950 g/kg modification I and less than 50 g/kg modification II.

Wettable Powder Grade

A representative public-health wettable powder contains 500 g/kg propoxur.
Important performance criteria include active-content uniformity, controlled moisture, rapid wetting, fine particle distribution, adequate suspensibility, limited persistent foam, and storage stability.
A representative specification uses complete wetting within two minutes, at least 60 percent suspensibility after 30 minutes, no more than 2 percent retained on a 75-micrometre sieve, and pH between 4.5 and 7.5.

Water-Soluble-Bag Presentation

A sealed water-soluble bag reduces operator contact with concentrated wettable powder.
The bag must retain strength during storage and handling while dissolving rapidly and completely in the spray tank.
Moisture-barrier secondary packaging is essential because premature humidity exposure damages bag integrity.

Emulsifiable Concentrate Grade

Emulsifiable concentrates require a compatible solvent system, emulsifier package, controlled acidity, low water content, and stable dilution behaviour.
Representative active concentrations range from 100 to 250 g/kg or g/L.
An acidic concentrate and dilution environment protects propoxur against alkaline hydrolysis.
Solvent flash point, packaging compatibility, emulsion stability, and transport classification require formulation-specific control.

FORMULATION AND PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS

Formulations should remain acidic to neutral throughout manufacturing, storage, dilution, and application.
Strongly alkaline surfactants, builders, carriers, or tank-mix components rapidly degrade propoxur.
Water quality and final dilution pH are therefore central to formulation performance.

Wettable powders require controlled milling and a balanced combination of wetting agents, dispersants, anticaking materials, and compatible mineral carriers.
Particle-size control supports wetting, suspension, surface coverage, and spray-system passage.
Dust generation must be minimized during charging, blending, milling, filling, and application.

Emulsifiable concentrates require solvents and emulsifiers that maintain chemical stability and produce a uniform emulsion after water dilution.
Formulation materials must not introduce excessive alkalinity or reactive nucleophiles.
Closed transfer and effective ventilation reduce solvent-vapour and active-ingredient exposure.

Baits require a palatable matrix, uniform low-dose active distribution, physical stability, and secure placement that prevents access by children, pets, food, and feed.
Ready-to-use products require packaging that controls dose delivery and prevents accidental discharge.
Application rates, retreatment intervals, mixing directions, and permitted combinations are governed exclusively by the registered product label.

QUALITY, SPECIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION

Technical identity is commonly established through infrared spectroscopy, chromatographic retention behaviour, mass spectrometry, and melting characteristics.
Quantitative assay is commonly performed by validated high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.
Crystal modification is assessed by infrared spectroscopy or X-ray diffraction.

Routine technical-grade testing includes appearance, identity, assay, crystal form, water, acidity or alkalinity, solvent-insoluble matter, and relevant impurity controls.
Formulation testing adds active-content homogeneity, pH, particle-size distribution, wettability, suspensibility, foaming, emulsion stability, pourability, packaging integrity, and accelerated storage stability.

Procurement documentation normally includes the product specification, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, manufacturing date, batch identification, net quantity, storage conditions, transport classification, and regulatory status.
Registered formulations additionally require approved composition, label, packaging, use-site, and destination-market documentation.

SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

Signal Word: Danger
Acute Oral Hazard: Highly toxic if swallowed
Acute Inhalation Hazard: Toxic if inhaled
Primary Toxicological Action: Cholinesterase inhibition
Target Organ: Nervous system
Carcinogenicity: Suspected of causing cancer
Aquatic Hazard: Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects
Representative Rat Oral LD50: Approximately 95 mg/kg

Exposure can produce pinpoint pupils, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, sweating, salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, muscle twitching, weakness, breathing difficulty, convulsions, and unconsciousness.
Severe poisoning can cause respiratory failure and death.
Repeated exposure can produce cumulative cholinesterase inhibition.

Manufacturing and formulation operations require closed handling, local exhaust ventilation, chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, and suitable respiratory protection.
Eating, drinking, smoking, and storage of food or personal items are prohibited in handling areas.
Contaminated work clothing must be removed promptly and cleaned separately.

Propoxur is very toxic to aquatic organisms and presents risks to beneficial insects and other wildlife.
Discharge to drains, surface water, soil, and sewage systems must be prevented.
Spills require controlled collection into sealed waste containers without generating airborne dust.

Fire can produce toxic fumes, including nitrogen oxides and methyl isocyanate.
Water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, or carbon dioxide can be used according to the surrounding fire and formulation.
Firefighters require full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Propoxur is not approved for plant-protection use in the European Union or Great Britain and is prohibited as a plant-protection active ingredient in Türkiye.
Limited non-food registrations remain in selected jurisdictions, including the United States, under product-specific controls.
Market access is defined by destination-country pesticide and biocide legislation, product registration, formulation, user class, application site, and approved label.

FIRST AID

Inhalation

Move the exposed person to fresh air and keep the person at rest.
Provide respiratory support when breathing is impaired.
Obtain immediate medical attention.

Skin Contact

Remove contaminated clothing and footwear immediately.
Wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Obtain immediate medical attention when exposure is significant or symptoms occur.

Eye Contact

Rinse cautiously with clean water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses when present and easy to remove.
Continue rinsing and obtain medical attention.

Ingestion

Rinse the mouth without inducing vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious or convulsing person.
Contact emergency medical services or a poison center immediately.

Medical Information

Atropine is the principal antidotal treatment for clinically significant muscarinic symptoms under medical supervision.
Airway protection, oxygenation, ventilation, cardiac monitoring, and measurement of cholinesterase activity support clinical management.
Oxime treatment is a specialist toxicology decision in carbamate poisoning.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Keep propoxur in its original, tightly closed, correctly labelled container.
Store it in a cool, dry, secure, and well-ventilated pesticide area.
Protect it from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, strong oxidants, and alkaline materials.
Keep it completely separate from food, feed, medicines, household goods, and drinking-water supplies.
Restrict access to trained and authorized personnel.

Avoid dust formation and prevent inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
Use enclosed charging and transfer systems for technical powder.
Do not reuse empty pesticide containers.
Manage residues, contaminated absorbents, wash water, and packaging through an authorized hazardous-waste route.

PACKAGING AND PROCUREMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Technical solid propoxur is packaged in sealed, compatible, lined drums or other approved moisture-resistant containers.
Wettable powders are supplied in lined bags, lined drums, or sealed water-soluble bags with protective outer packaging.
Liquid formulations require compatible drums or jerricans with secure closures and sufficient headspace.
Finished baits, sprays, and other ready-to-use forms require tamper-resistant packaging appropriate to their registered use.

UN Number for Technical Solid: UN 2757
Transport Name: Carbamate pesticide, solid, toxic
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1
Packing Group: II
Marine Pollutant: Yes

Procurement should define the intended country, legal use, technical or formulated form, active concentration, crystal modification, assay, impurity limits, water content, formulation-performance criteria, packaging, batch documentation, and required registration status.
Solvent-based formulations receive transport classification from their complete composition, physical form, flash point, and toxicity profile.

For Propoxur product information, specifications, packaging options, and procurement support, contact Ataman Kimya at +90 216 577 10 10 or info@atamankimya.com.