Esprocarb

Esprocarb
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
S-benzyl ethyl[(2Ξ)-3-methylbutan-2-yl]carbamothioate
Other names
  • S-benzyl ethyl[(2RS)-3-methylbutan-2-yl]carbamothioate
  • S-benzyl (RS)-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)ethyl(thiocarbamate)
  • S-(phenylmethyl) N-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-ethylcarbamothioate
  • SC-2957 or ICIA-2957
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.111.286
EC Number
  • 617-761-5
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C15H23NOS/c1-5-16(13(4)12(2)3)15(17)18-11-14-9-7-6-8-10-14/h6-10,12-13H,5,11H2,1-4H3[1]
    Key: BXEHUCNTIZGSOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N[1]
  • CCN(C(C)C(C)C)C(=O)SCc1ccccc1
Properties
C15H23NOS
Molar mass 265.42 g·mol−1
Appearance Yellowish liquid[2]
Odor Odourless[2]
Density 1.035 g/mL[2]
Melting point 25 °C (77 °F; 298 K) [3]
Boiling point 135 °C (275 °F; 408 K) [2]
0.0049 g/L[2]
Vapor pressure 10.1 mPa[3]
Hazards[2]
GHS labelling:
GHS06: Toxic GHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H315, H319, H331, H411
P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P321, P405, P501
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
  • >2000g/kg (rat, oral)
  • >2000g/kg (rat, dermal)[2]
>4 mg/L (mammal, inhalation, 4 hours)[2]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Esprocarb is a thiocarbamate herbicide[1] used preёmergently and post emergently to control annual weeds and grasses, such as on paddy rice. It was introduced in 1988 in Japan[3]

Esprocarb mixes have been tested in Japan starting in 1985 for its effectiveness against cockspur grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), often mixed with the herbicide bensulfuron-methyl. Testing for esprocarb was meant to allow for a longer, residual control of weeds, eliminating the need for follow-up one-shot herbicide applications.[4]

Esprocarb's mode of action makes its HRAC classification Group K3 (global), Group K (Aus), Group 15 (numeric); it inhibits very long chain fatty acid synthesis.[3]

It is usually sold as granules and has been marketed as "Fuji-Grass".[3]

Environmental behavior

Esprocarb is toxic to fish; its 96-hour LC50 for fish is 1.52 g/L.[2] It is not toxic to birds or mammals, with an LD50 over 2000 mg/kg.[3] It has a GHS 'Toxic' mark,[2] though its low toxicity should exempt it.

It is non-mobile in soil and has a soil half-life of 50 days, making it moderately persistent.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "esprocarb data sheet". www.bcpcpesticidecompendium.org.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Esprocarb | Safety data sheet according to 1907/2006/EC, Article 31". www.lgcstandards.com. LGC Standards. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Kathleen A.; Tzilivakis, John; Warner, Douglas J.; Green, Andrew (18 May 2016). "An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management". Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 22 (4): 1050–1064. Bibcode:2016HERA...22.1050L. doi:10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242. hdl:2299/17565.
  4. ^ Kadota, G; Matsumoto, S; Nakamura, S; Gordon, R F S; Hayakawa, J (1990). "Esprocarb Herbicide Mixtures: Use in Japanese Paddy Rice". Pest Management in Rice: 389–401. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-0775-1_32. ISBN 978-94-010-6835-2.
  • Esprocarb in the Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB)