Endrin (End)

Endrin is an organochloride that was primarily used as an insecticide, as well as a rodenticide . It is a colourless odorless solid, although commercial samples are often off-white. Endrin is produced via a multistep route from hexachlorocyclopentadiene. Diels-Alder addition of acetylene results in an isomer of hexachloronorbornadiene. This compound undergoes a second Diels-Alder addition, this time with cyclopentadiene. The resulting polycyclic derivative is epoxidized to give endrin. Endrin is a stereoisomer of dieldrin. Currently, the use of endrin is banned in many countries. Like related organochlorine pesticides, it is lipophilic and thusly it tends to accumulate in fatty tissues of organisms, mainly those dwelling in water. It was occasionally used in orchards as a control of rodents, where it is sprayed on the ground under the trees in autumn or spring, often as a solution in mineral oil.