- published: 08 Jun 2014
- views: 111835
N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called DEET (/diːt/) or diethyltoluamide, is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is a slightly yellow oil intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing, and provides protection against mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, leeches, and many other biting insects.
DEET was developed in 1944 by the United States Department of Agriculture for use by the United States Army, following its experience of jungle warfare during World War II. It was originally tested as a pesticide on farm fields, and entered military use in 1946 and civilian use in 1957. It was used in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
A slightly yellow liquid at room temperature, it can be prepared by converting m-toluic acid (3-methylbenzoic acid) to the corresponding acyl chloride, and allowing it to react with diethylamine:
DEET 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. The prevailing theory was that DEET effectively "blinds" the insect's senses so that the biting/feeding instinct is not triggered by humans or other animals which produce these chemicals. DEET does not appear to affect the insect's ability to smell carbon dioxide, as had been suspected earlier.
What is DEET, And Is It Dangerous?
The Truth About DEET Mosquito Repellent
Coleman 40 Percent DEET Insect Repellent Review
DEET Works
This BITES! How Does Deet Work?
How to apply DEET
Dangers of Deet
Stop Using DEET Bug Spray!
DEET repels a hard tick, Amblyomma testudinarium
Deet Insect Repellent Dangers