Dibutyl succinate

Dibutyl succinate	Last updated: 15/09/2025
(Also known as: 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene sulfonic acid; butanedioic acid, 1,4-dibutyl ester)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

An insect repellent, considered to be obsolete, that is produced by an insect-pathogenic fungus

Examples of veterinary uses

Uused primarily against biting flies

Examples of species treated

Cattle

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Not approved

EU Regulatory approval status

Not approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₁₂H₂₂O₄

Canonical SMILES

CCCCOC(=O)CCC(=O)OCCCC

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

YUXIBTJKHLUKBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C12H22O4/c1-3-5-9-15-11(13)7-8-12(14)16-10-6-4-2/h3-10H2,1-2H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
dibutyl succinate	-

General status

Veterinary substance type

Insecticide

Other bioactivity & uses

Surfactant

Substance groups

Micro-organism derived substance; Dicarboxylic acid

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Insect repellent but there is also some evidence that dibutyl succinate causes mortality in nymphs of the green peach aphid and inhibits the growth of fungal plant pathogens

Molecular targets

[Unknown]

CAS RN

141-03-7

EC number

205-449-8

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

077802

PubChem CID

8830

Therapeutic Class

Ectoparasiticides Other insecticides and repellents

ATCvet Code

QP03BX04

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

230.30

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

dibutyl butanedioate

IUPAC name

dibutyl succinate

CAS name

dibutyl butanedioate

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Clear colourless liquid

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries

Introduction & key dates

Circa 1985, introduced

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Hebei Mujin Biotechnology Co. Ltd China

Example products using this active

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as a liquid formulation

Commercial production

Dibutyl succinate is typically produced through an esterification reaction between succinic acid and n-butanol in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as para-toluenesulfonic acid. The process begins by charging a reaction vessel with succinic acid, n-butanol, and the catalyst. The mixture is heated under reflux, allowing the reaction to proceed while continuously removing the water formed during esterification via a water separator. This drives the reaction forward and helps purify the product. In some industrial processes, succinic acid may first be synthesised from maleic acid via catalytic hydrogenation, adding an upstream step. After the reaction completes, the crude dibutyl succinate is typically purified.

Impact on climate of production and use

Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

230

Moderate

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Miscible

Benzene

Melting point (°C)

-29.0

Boiling point (°C)

274.5

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

135

(open cup)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

2.45 X 10⁰³

Calculated

Log P

3.39

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

0.977

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

1.429

Environmental release

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

8830

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 4.26

Unknown species

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

8830

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Primarily excreted through renal and faecal pathways following hepatic metabolism

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

No data found

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

No information available

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Will emit irritating fumes when heated to decomposition

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not classified: Obsolete (Not classified: Obsolete)

UN Number

UN3082

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

Hydrolized by alkaline substances; Incompatible with strong oxidising agents; Store at room temperature

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

dibutyl succinate

French

succinate de dibutyle

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	15/09/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242