Chlorobenzilate

Chlorobenzilate[1]
IUPAC name Ethyl 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyacetate
Other names Chlorbenzylate; Chlorobenzylate
Identifiers
CAS number	510-15-6
PubChem	10522
ChemSpider	10085
KEGG	C14574 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES Clc1ccc(cc1)C(O)(c2ccc(Cl)cc2)C(=O)OCC
InChI InChI=1/C16H14Cl2O3/c1-2-21-15(19)16(20,11-3-7-13(17)8-4-11)12-5-9-14(18)10-6-12/h3-10,20H,2H2,1H3 Key: RAPBNVDSDCTNRC-UHFFFAOYAH
Properties
Molecular formula	C16H14Cl2O3
Molar mass	325.19 g mol−1
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow solid
Density	1.28 g/cm3
Melting point	37 °C, 310 K, 99 °F
Hazards
R-phrases	R22 R50/53
S-phrases	(S2) S60 S61
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Chlorobenzilate is a pesticide that is not currently used in the USA or Europe. It was originally developed by Ciba-Geigy and introduced in 1952.^[2] It was used as an acaricide against mites on citrus trees, including deciduous fruit trees.^[3] It has been detected as a residue on tomatoes found in Japanese markets in 2005.^[4] It is a non-systemic pesticide that works through contact and as a neurotoxin: it disrupts the functioning of the nervous system.

In the pure state, chlorobenzilate is a colorless to pale yellow solid, but the commercial product is a brownish liquid.^[3] It is only slightly soluble in water, but miscible with acetone, toluene and methanol.

Toxicity

There is no data on the carcinogenic effects of chlorobenzilate in humans. However, when mice were administered the substance orally, carcinogenic effects were observed.^[3] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has therefore classified chlorobenzilate as a probable human carcinogen (Group B2).^[5] The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that there is insufficient information available to evaluate the carcinogenicity of chlorobenzilate in humans.^[2]

Chlorobenzilate is a persistent organic pollutant and is very toxic to aquatic invertebrates.

Regulation

After carcinogenicity was established in mice, the use of chlorobenzilate was banned in the United States in 1979, except for citrus cultivation. After 1999, it was banned completely. In the European Union, its use is also currently banned.

International trade in chlorobenzilate is regulated by the Rotterdam Convention.

References

1. ^ International Chemical Safety Card for chlorobenzilate, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
2. ^ ^{a b} Chlorobenzilate, International Agency for Research on Cancer
3. ^ ^{a b c} Chlorobenzilate, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4. ^ [1] Optimization of a multi-residue screening method for the determination of 85 pesticides in selected food matrices by stir bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption GC-MS
5. ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables. FY 1997 Update. Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Cincinnati, OH. EPA/540/R-97-036. 1997.