Mevinphos is a toxic
organophosphate
In organic chemistry, organophosphates (also known as phosphate esters, or OPEs) are a class of organophosphorus compounds with the general structure , a central phosphate molecule with alkyl or aromatic substituents. They can be considered ...
insecticide
Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. The major use of insecticides is in agriculture, but they are also used in home and garden settings, i ...
that acts as an
acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) also often called cholinesterase inhibitors, inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate, thereby increasing both the level an ...
to control insects in a wide range of crops. It was most commonly used for the control of chewing and sucking insects, as well as
spider mites
Spider mites are members of the family Tetranychidae, which includes about 1,200 species. They are part of the subclass Acari (mites). Spider mites generally live on the undersides of leaves of plants, where they may spin protective silk webs, a ...
. Common synonym names are duraphos, fosdrin, menite, mevinfos, mevinox, phosdrin, and phosdrine. It is not allowed in the
EU anymore.
Manufacture
Mevinphos is produced by the reaction of
trimethyl phosphite
Trimethyl phosphite is an organophosphorus compound with the formula P(OCH3)3, often abbreviated P(OMe)3. It is a colorless liquid with a highly pungent odor. It is the simplest phosphite ester and finds used as a ligand in organometallic chemis ...
with chloroacetoacetate.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Acetylcholine metabolism and transport modulators
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Insecticides
Organophosphate insecticides
Carboxylate esters
Phosphate esters
Alkene derivatives
Acetoacetate esters