(Benzothiazol-2-ylthio)methyl thiocyanate (TCMTB) is a

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

classified as a

benzothiazole Benzothiazole, or more specifically 1,3-benzothiazole, is an aromatic heterocyclic compound with the chemical formula . It is colorless, slightly viscous liquid. Although the parent compound, benzothiazole is not widely used, many of its derivativ ...

Properties

TCMTB is an oily, flammable, red to brown liquid with a pungent odor that is very slightly soluble in water. It decomposes on heating producing

hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen cyanide (formerly known as prussic acid) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula, formula HCN and structural formula . It is a highly toxic and flammable liquid that boiling, boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is ...

sulfur oxides Sulfur oxide Sulfur oxides (SOx) are a group of chemical compounds formed by the combination of sulfur and oxygen. The most common SOx are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide (SO3). SOx are produced naturally through volcanic activity and are ...

, and

nitrogen oxide Nitrogen oxide may refer to a binary compound of oxygen and nitrogen, or a mixture of such compounds: Charge-neutral *Nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen(II) oxide, or nitrogen monoxide * Nitrogen dioxide (), nitrogen(IV) oxide * Nitrogen trioxide (), o ...

s. The degradation products are

2-mercaptobenzothiazole 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole is an organosulfur compound with the formula . A white solid, it is a reagent in organic synthesis and in the sulfur vulcanization of rubber. Structure The molecule is planar with a C=S double bond, so the name ''mercapto ...

(2-MBT) and 2-benzothiazolesulfonic acid.

Uses

TCMTB is used as wideband microbicide, paint fungicide, and paint gallicide. The active substance approved in 1980 in the United States.EPA
Reregistration Eligibility Decision for 2- (thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazoles (TCMTB)
(PDF; 2.7 MB), August 2006. It is used, for example, in leather preservation, for the protection of paper products, in wood preservatives, and against germs in industrial water. In the US, TCMTB is used as a fungicide for seed dressing in cereals,

safflower Safflower (''Carthamus tinctorius'') is a highly branched, herbaceous, thistle-like annual plant in the family Asteraceae. It is one of the world's oldest crops; today, it is commercially cultivated for vegetable oil extracted from the seeds. ...

, cotton and sugar beet. It is also used when dealing with fungal problems when extracting hydrocarbons via fracking.

Approval

TCMTB is not an authorized plant protection product in the European Union. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, no plant protection products containing this active substance are authorized.PSM-del, EU- 2- (dithiocyanomethylthio) -benzothiazole , CH = DB , A = DB , D = DB , 8 March 2016 TCMTB contributes to health problems in tannery workers as it is a potential

carcinogen A carcinogen () is any agent that promotes the development of cancer. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, physical agents such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and biologic agents such as viruse ...

, and is a

hepatotoxin A hepatotoxin (''Greek language, Gr., hepato = liver'') is a toxic chemical substance that damages the liver. It can be a adverse effect, side-effect, but hepatotoxins are also found naturally, such as microcystins and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, or ...

. It is also a skin sensitizer, and may cause

contact dermatitis Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes ...

in those exposed to the poisonous compound. Hence, it is mainly used in developing countries.

References

{{Reflist Benzothiazoles Thioethers Thiocyanates Biocides Fungicides Thioureas