Piperonyl butoxide

• Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is an organic compound used as pesticide synergist, especially for pyrethroids and rotenone.
• It does not by itself have pesticidal properties. However, when added to insecticide mixtures, typically pyrethrin, pyrethroid, and carbamate insecticides, their potency is increased considerably. It is a semisynthetic derivative of safrole.
• Piperonyl butoxide is a colorless to pale yellow liquid. It is practically insoluble in water and is stable to hydrolysis and ultraviolet irradiation. Researchers consider piperonyl butoxide to be noncorrosive.