Piperonil butoxide (6- (10-Hydroxydecanoyl) -2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylphenol) is a chemical compound co-formulant with a protective and synergistic function of commercial insecticidal products based on pyrethrin.

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• Piperonyl is derived from piperic acid, an organic compound found in the plant species Piper nigrum (black pepper). The 'onyl' part indicates a ketone group attached to the molecule.
• Butoxide ndicates the presence of a butyl group (a chain of four carbons) and an oxide group in the molecule.

The synthesis of piperonyl butoxide involves different steps:

• Preparation of piperonal. Piperonal, also known as heliotropin, can be synthesised from safrole or isosafrole, organic compounds that occur naturally in various plants.
• Reaction with chloroacetone. Piperonal is reacted with chloroacetone to form a compound known as piperonylacetone.
• Reaction with sodium methoxide. Piperonylacetone is reacted with sodium methoxide to open the methylenedioxy bridge.
• Reaction with 2,3-dibromobutane The resulting compound is reacted with 2,3-dibromobutane to form piperonyl butoxide.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

It is used in some countries in organic farming, while in others it is not allowed.

Piperonil butoxide function is to lengthen the effectiveness time of insecticides.

Piperonil butoxide studies

• Molecular Formula: C₁₉H₃₀O₅
• Molecular Weight: 338.444 g/mol
• UNII: LWK91TU9AH
• CAS: 51-03-6  12750-92-4  63993-73-7
• EC Number: 200-076-7
• PubChem Substance ID 24857511
• MDL number MFCD00005842
• Beilstein Registry Number 288063

Sinonimi:

• Butacide
• Butocide
• Ethanol butoxide
• 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethyl 6-propylpiperonyl ether
• Pyrenone 606
• 6-(Propylpiperonyl)butylcarbityl ether
• Piperonylbutoxide
• (Butylcarbityl)(6-propylpiperonyl)ether
• 1,3-Benzodioxole, 5-[[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]methyl]-6-propyl-
• 3,4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl n-butyl diethyleneglycol ether
• 6-Propylpiperonyl butyl diethylene glycol ether
• 6-(Propylpiperonyl)-butyl carbityl ether
• 1,3-Benzodioxole, 5-((2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)methyl)-6-propyl-
• 5-Propyl-4-(2,5,8-trioxa-dodecyl)-1,3-benzodioxole
• Butylcarbityl (6-propylpiperonyl) ether
• 3,4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl n-butyldiethyleneglycol ether
• 5-[2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxymethyl]-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
• 5-Propyl-4-(2,5,8-trioxa-dodecyl)-1,3-benzodioxol [German]
• 5-((2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)methyl)-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
• 5-{[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]methyl}-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
• (3,4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl) (butyl) diethylene glycol ether
• 3,4-Methylendioxy-6-propylbenzyl-n-butyl-diaethylenglykolaether [German]
• alpha-(2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• .alpha.(2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• .alpha.-(2-(2-n-Butoxyethoxy)-ethoxy)-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• .alpha.-[2-(2-N-Butoxyethoxy)-ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• .alpha.[2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• alpha-(2-(2-n-Butoxyethoxy)-ethoxy)-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
• Butyl-carbityl (6-propylpiperonyl) ether
• 3,4-Methylendioxy-6-propylbenzyl-n-butyl-diaethylenglykolaether
• 5-((2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)methyl)-6-propylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole
• Butyl carbitol 6-propylpiperonyl ether