Fast-acting insecticide by German scientists during WW II rediscovered

A new study in the journal of the American Chemical society explored the chemistry as well as the complicated and alarming history of a fast-acting insecticide, DFDT. The researchers rediscovered the insecticide created by German scientists during World War II. The insecticide was used by the German military for insect control in the Soviet Union and North Africa. According to Bart Kahr, a professor of chemistry at New York University claimed that the department studied the growth of crystals and uncovered the impact of World War II on the choice of DDT, known for its detrimental effect on the environment and wildlife, as a primary insecticide in the 20th century.

“We set out to study the growth of crystals in a little-known insecticide and uncovered its surprising history, including the impact of World War II on the choice of DDT—and not DFDT—as a primary insecticide in the 20th century,” 

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The research

Two professors, Kahr and Michael Ward studied the growth of crystals which further led them to discover a new crystal form of the notorious insecticide DDT. The new form developed by Kahr and Ward was found to be more effective against insects. It was smaller in amounts and potentially minimizing its environmental impact. They had prepared two solid forms of the compound, a mono fluoro, and a difluoro analog. The two professors tested them on fruit flies and mosquitoes, including mosquito species that carry malaria, yellow fever, Dengue, and Zika. The solid forms of fluorinated DDT killed insects more quickly than did DDT and the difluoro analog, known as DFDT, killed mosquitoes two to four times faster. The professors had also made a detailed analysis of the relative activities of the solid-state forms of fluorinated DDT. They also noted that less thermodynamically stable forms in which the crystals liberate molecules easily were more effective at quickly killing insects. 

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“Speed thwarts the development of resistance,” said Ward, a senior author on the study. “Insecticide crystals kill mosquitoes when they are absorbed through the pads of their feet. Effective compounds kill insects quickly, possibly before they are able to reproduce.” 

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