Tributyltin oxide (TBTO) is an

organotin Organotin compounds or stannanes are chemical compounds based on tin with hydrocarbon substituents. Organotin chemistry is part of the wider field of organometallic chemistry. The first organotin compound was diethyltin diiodide (), discovered ...

compound chiefly used as a

biocide A biocide is defined in the European legislation as a chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a slig ...

( fungicide and molluscicide), especially a wood preservative. Its chemical formula is C₄H₉)₃Snsub>2O. It is a colorless viscous liquid. It is poorly soluble in water (20 ppm) but highly soluble in organic solvents. It is a potent skin irritant. Historically, tributyltin oxide's biggest application was as a marine anti- biofouling agent. Concerns over toxicity of these compounds have led to a worldwide ban by the International Maritime Organization. It is now considered a severe marine

pollutant A pollutant or novel entity is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. These can be both naturally forming (i.e. minerals or extracted compounds like o ...

and a Substance of Very High Concern by the EU.Organotin Chemistry, Second Edition. Alwyn G. Davies, 2004, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Today, it is mainly used in wood preservationDavies, Alwyn George. (2004) Organotin Chemistry, 2nd Edition Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.

References

External links

National Pollutant Inventory Fact Sheet for organotins
* {{PPDB, 2585 PBT substances Fungicides Molluscicides Organotin compounds Oxides Tin(IV) compounds Butyl compounds