baygon agents

Baygon agents

How the various groups of agents function in the Baygon products

Carbamates

The carbamates are salts and esters of carbamic (amidocarbonic) acid.

Pyrethroids

Pyrethroids are synthetic ester compounds, that is compounds of acids and alcohols derived from the natural pyrethrum extract. They belong to the most modern class of agent and have been subjected to the most thorough toxicological tests. Their advantage is high effectiveness against a wide spectrum of pests. Scientists agree that currently there is no other agent with a comparable effect on pests, particularly the carriers of diseases, at such low concentrations. The pyrethroids have highly specific effects on insects' nerve cells, so that only a very small quantity is needed to produce the required effect. Their action on warm-blooded creatures is 1,000 to 10,000 times weaker than on insects. This selectivity is attributable to the fact that the design and functioning of the nervous system and metabolism of warm-blooded animals - that is mammals including humans - and insects are completely different. The active ingredient Cyfluthrin has been in successful use for combating pests for about 15 years.
Biological properties Cyfluthrin is a highly effective insecticide in the pyrethroid group. It acts mainly as a contact poison, but also has a good oral effect. It has both a good knock-down effect, and a long-lasting (residual) effect even at low quantities. Cyfluthrin has a broad spectrum of efficacy, and is highly suitable for combating numerous domestic (household), storage and hygiene pests and nuisance insects. It acts both on the sensitive strains and those resistant to p-ester and carbamates.

The agent's chemical and physical properties

The technical agent is a mixture of four diastereo-isomeric enantiomer pairs.

Chemical name	2,2-dimethyl-3-dichlorovinyl-cis /transcyclopropane carbonic acid - alpha-cyano - 3'-phenoxy - 4'-fluorobenzyl ester; cyano (4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl) methyl3 - (2,2-dichloroethenyl) - 2,2 - dimethylcyclo - propane carboxylate (C.A. 68359-37-5)
Common name	Cyfluthrin (proposed)
Structural formula
Empirical formular	C22H18Cl2F N O3
Molar mass	434.3 g/mol
Appearance	Yellow-brown mass of oily to pasty consistency, above 60 °C a clear yellow-brown oil
Density	1.27 - 1.28 g/cm³ (under-cooled melt)
Vapour pressure	Enantiomer pair I-IV <>
Melting point	Enantiomer pair I 64 °C II 81 °C III 65 °C IV 106 °C
Solubility (g/1000 ml solvent at 20 °C)	Enantiomer pair I II Water 2x10-6 2x10-6 Dichloromethane >1000 >1000 n-hexane 10-20 10-20 2-propanol 10-100 1-10 Toluene >1000 100-1000 Enantiomer pair III IV Water 2x10-6 2x10-6 Dichloromethane >1000 >1000 n-hexane 10-20 1-5 2-propanol 10-100 1-10 Toluene 100-1000 100-1000

The latest pyrethroid agent developed for Baygon is called Transfluthrin

Transfluthrin is one of the best-tested insecticidal agents, and has been incorporated in Baygon products against flying insects since 1996. In regard to its structure, toxicology and principle of action on insects' nerves, Transfluthrin is regarded as one of the fast-acting pyrethroids with low persistency.
Biological properties
Transfluthrin is highly selective. Low quantities are exceptionally powerful against hygiene, health and material pests in the indoor environment. The excellent knock-down action of Transfluthrin at an extremely low concentration permits its use especially in products to combat flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches. In products against crawling insects Transfluthrin shows a flushing and knock-down effect. It is a relatively volatile substance and acts principally as a contact and inhalation agent. It does not have a residual effect.

The agent's chemical and physical properties

Chemical name	(1R-trans)-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)-methylester 3 - (2,2-dichloroethenyl) -2,2 - dimethyl - cyclopropane carboxylic acid
Common name	Transfluthrin (proposed)
Structural formula
Empirical formula	C15H12Cl2F4O2
Appearance	Colourless crystals
Molar mass	371.2 g/mol
Melting point	32 °C
Density	1.5072 g/cm³ at 23 °C
Boiling point	135 °C / 0.1 mm approx. 250 °C / 760 mm
Vapour pressure	4.0 · 10-6 hPA at 20 °C
Breakdown (without stabiliser)	>Short term; 250 °C >5 h at 200 °C; 120 h at 120 °C
Specific rotation	[alpha]D29 = +15.3 °C (c = 0.5 CHCL3)
Lipophilia as log Pow	5.46 at 20 °C
Hydrolysis half-lives at 25 °C	pH5 > 1 year; pH 7 > 1 year; pH9 14 days
GC retention index	1892
HPLC retention index	1192
Solubility (g/1000 ml solvent at 20 °C)	Water 5.7 · 10-5 Hexane >200 Isopropanol >200 Toluene >200 Dichloromethane >200