2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride

2-chloro-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium chloride

C₅H₁₃Cl₂N

Colourless, extremely hygroscopic crystals, with a weak intrinsic odour; (tech., pale yellow crystals, with a fish-like odour). Usually produced as an aqueous solution.

c. 235 ℃

<0.001 mPa (25 ℃)

1.141 (20 ℃)

In water >1 kg/kg (20 ℃). In methanol >25, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, n-heptane, and acetone <1, chloroform 0.3 (all in g/kg, 20 ℃).

Extremely hygroscopic; aqueous solutions are stable. Decomposition starts at 230 ℃.

1.58 ×10^-9 Pa m³ mol^-1 (calc.)

= -1.59 (pH 7)

Gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor.

Plant growth regulator which inhibits cell elongation, hence shortening and strengthening the stem and producing a sturdier plant. Also influences the developmental cycle, leading to increased flowering and harvest. May also increase chlorophyll formation and root development.

To increase resistance to lodging (by shortening and strengthening the stem) and to increase yields in wheat, rye, oats, and triticale; for wheat in Europe, applied at 0.8-1.6 kg/ha. Also used to promote lateral branching and flowering in azaleas, fuchsias, begonias, poinsettias, geraniums, pelargoniums, and other ornamental plants; to promote flower formation and improve fruit setting in pears, almonds, vines, olives, and tomatoes; to prevent premature fruit drop in pears, apricots, and plums; etc. Also used on cotton, vegetables, tobacco, sugar cane, mangoes, and other crops.

Should not be combined with dinoseb, cyanazine, or other contact herbicides.

FAO/WHO 86, 88 (see part 2 of the Bibliography).

Acute oral LD₅₀ for male rats 966, female rats 807 mg/kg.

Acute percutaneous LD₅₀ for rats >4000, rabbits >2000 mg/kg. Not irritating to skin and eyes; not a skin sensitiser.

LC₅₀ (4 h) for rats >5.2 mg/l air.

(2 y) for rats 50, male mice 336, female mice 23 mg/kg b.w.

(JMPR) 0.05 [1999, 1997].

WHO (a.i.) III; EPA (formulation) III

Acute oral LD₅₀ for Japanese quail 555, pheasants 261, chickens 920 mg/kg.

LC₅₀ (96 h) for mirror carp and rainbow trout >100 mg/l.

LC₅₀ (48 h) 31.7 mg/l.

EC₅₀ (72 h) for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata >100 mg/l; EC₅₀ (cell volume) for Chlorella fusca 5656 mg/l.

LC₅₀ (14 d) for Eisenia foetida 2111 mg/kg soil.

Converted to choline chloride in most plants studied.

In goats, 97% is eliminated within 24 h, principally unchanged.

In soil, rapidly degraded by microbial activity. It has no influence on soil microflora or fauna. DT₅₀ in 4 soils averaged 32 d at 10 ℃; 1 d - 28 d at 22 ℃. Low to medium mobility. Koc 203. 

Product analysis by potentiometric titration with silver nitrate (chlormequat chloride and choline chloride can thus be determined separately) (CIPAC Handbook, 1988, D, 39), by colorimetry (N. R. Pasarela & E. J. Orloski, Anal. Methods Pestic. Plant Growth Regul., 1974, 7, 523) or by ion chromatography (CIPAC Handbook, 1998, H, 77). Residues determined by ion chromatography (J. R. Startin, et al., Analyst, 124, 1011-1015 (1999)) or by lc-ms/ms (M. Vahl, et al., Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 361, 817-820 (1998), R. Castro, et al., JAOAC Int., 84, no 6, (2001)).