Chlorfenapyr

History and Applications

Chlorfenapyr was developed by American Cyanamid from the natural product dioxapyrrolomycin, which was isolated from Streptomyces fumanus.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency initially denied registration in 2000 for use on cotton primarily because of concerns that the insecticide was toxic to birds and because effective alternatives were available.{{cite web | access-date =2006-07-28}} However, it was registered by the EPA in January, 2001 for use on non-food crops in greenhouses.{{cite web | url =https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-129093_01-Jan-01.pdf

Chlorfenapyr is also used as a wool insect-proofing agent, and was introduced as an alternative to synthetic pyrethroids due to a lower toxicity to mammalian and aquatic life.

In April 2016, in Pakistan, 31 people died when their food was spiked with chlorfenapyr.

Mode of Action

Chlorfenapyr works by disrupting the production of adenosine triphosphate, specifically, "Oxidative removal of the N-ethoxymethyl group of chlorfenapyr by mixed function oxidases forms the compound CL 303268. CL 303268 uncouples oxidative phosphorylation at the mitochondria, resulting in disruption of production of ATP, cellular death, and ultimately organism mortality." It is in IRAC group 13.

Notes

References

1. (25 January 2019). "Modern Crop Protection Compounds". Wiley-VCH.
2. (October 1994). "Insecticidal Action and Mitochondrial Uncoupling Activity of AC-303,630 and Related Halogenated Pyrroles". Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology.
3. (2012). "Functional finishes for wool – Eco considerations". Advanced Materials Research.
4. Fred Barbash. (May 6, 2016). "31 people suddenly dropped dead in a Pakistani village. Now police claim to know the horrible reason why.". Washington Post.