2,3,5-TRIMETHACARB

The Uses of 2,3,5-TRIMETHACARB

2,3,5-Trimethacarb is a major constituent in landrin insecticide.

The Uses of 2,3,5-TRIMETHACARB

Trimethacarb is an insecticide with primarily stomach action. It is mainly used to control corn root worm larvae in maize but it also controls a wide range of insect and mollusc pests. Trimethacarb acts as a bird and mammal repellent.

Definition

ChEBI: 2,3,5-trimethylphenyl methylcarbamate is a carbamate ester that consists of 2,3,5-trimethylphenol carrying an O-(N-methylcarbamoyl) group. One of two constituents of trimethacarb. It has a role as an agrochemical and an insecticide. It is functionally related to a 2,3,5-trimethylphenol.

Metabolic pathway

The metabolic pathways of trimethacarb in plants, mammals and insects involve mainly oxidation of N-methyl or ring-methyl substituents and conjugation. Some hydroxylation of the phenyl ring and ester hydrolysis occurs. The metabolism of trimethacarb was reviewed by Fukuto (1972), Kuhr and Dorough (1976) and by Schlagbauer and Schlagbauer (1972).

Degradation

Trimethacarb is hydrolysed by strong acids and alkalis but aqueous solutions are stable to light (PM). Trimethacarb was applied to bean leaves and exposed to natural sunlight for 4 days. Both isomers were decomposed more rapidly when exposed to sunlight compared with normal light in the laboratory. The compounds were almost completely decomposed. Major photoproducts resulted from hydroxylation of methyl substituents of the phenyl ring (2 and 3) and of the N-methyl group (5 and 6) (see Schemes 1 and 2). There were few products of hydrolysis (Slade and Casida, 1970; Kuhr and Dorough, 1976).