Empenthrin

Structural formula of empenthrin

Empenthrin (also called vaporthrin; IUPAC name (E)-(RS)-1-ethynyl-2-methylpent-2-enyl (1RS,3RS;1RS,3SR)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate) is a synthetic pyrethroid used in insecticides. It is active against broad spectrum of flying insects including moths and other pests damaging textile. It has low acute mammalian toxicity (its oral LD₅₀ is above 5000 mg/kg in male rats, above 3500 mg/kg in female rats and greater than 3500 mg/kg in mice). It is however very toxic for fishes and other aquatic organisms (96-hour LC₅₀ in Oncorhynchus mykiss is 1,7 μg·l^-1, 48-hour EC₅₀ in Daphnia magna is 20 μg·l^-1).