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Main article: Insecticides
Dieldrin
Dieldrin
Systematic name 1,2,3,4,10,10-Hexachloro-6,7-epoxy-
1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-endo,exo-
1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene
Other names Dieldrin
Chemical formula C12H8Cl6O
Molecular mass 380.91 g/mol
Density 1.75 g/cm3
Melting point 176-177 °C
Boiling point 385 °C
CAS number [60-57-1]
SMILES ClC1(Cl)C2(Cl)C(C5C3C
(C4C5)O3)C4C(Cl)1C(Cl)=C2Cl
Disclaimer and references

Dieldrin is a chlorinated hydrocarbon originally produced by Bayer AG as an insecticide. The molecule has a ring structure based on naphthalene.

Dieldrin is closely related to aldrin which itself breaks down to form dieldrin. Aldrin is not toxic to insects, it is oxidised in the insect to form dieldrin which is the active compound. Both dieldrin and aldrin are named after the Diels-Alder reaction which is used to form aldrin from a mixture of norbornadiene and hexachlorocyclopentadiene.

Originally developed in the 1940s as an alternative to DDT, dieldrin proved to be a highly effective insecticide and was very widely used during the 1950s to early 1970s. Endrin is a stereoisomer of dieldrin.

However, it is an extremely persistent organic pollutant, it does not easily break down. Furthermore it tends to accumulate as it is passed along the food chain. Long-term exposure has proven toxic to a very wide range of animals including humans, far greater than to the original insect targets. For this reason it is now banned in most of the world.

See also[]

  • Aldrin
  • Endrin

External links[]


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