DEET

DEET or N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, C12H17ON, nearly odorless, colorless to clear yellow oily liquid that boils at 111℃. DEET was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 for use as an insect repellent and is now a common ingredient in many commercial insect repellents. Extensive testing has shown that products containing DEET provide the best protection against mosquito bites and black-legged, or deer, ticks. It is also known as diethyltoluamide.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Organic Chemistry