N,N-Diethyltoluamide Properties

Description

N,N-Diethyltoluamide is a slightly yellow oil. It is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing, and provides protection against tick bites, mosquito bites, chiggers, and other insects that can transmit disease.It was historically believed to work by blocking insect olfactory receptors for 1-octen-3-ol, a volatile substance that is contained in human sweat and breath. N,N-Diethyltoluamide has been found to inhibit the activity of a central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals.