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Empenthrin is an insecticidal pyrethroid compound.

Empenthrin is used as a domestic insecticide, especially against moths and other insects which attack fabrics.

ChEBI:Empenthrin is a monoterpenoid.

Empenthrin is a low molecular weight ester of (1R)-chrysanthemic acid (2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid). It has a relatively high vapour pressure and, unlike most pyrethroids, it is effective against flying insects. The molecule has three chiral centres and geometric isomerism in the alcohol group but, with the exception of the 1R acid, the full isomer mixture is used. As the insecticide has been developed for domestic use, it is unlikely that there will be a requirement for metabolism studies in plants or for extensive environmental fate studies. Its metabolism in rats has been reported, with particular attention paid to the fate of the novel alcohol moiety. As with other pyrethroids, ester cleavage and oxidation and conjugation of the alcohol metabolite predominated. The fate of the chrysanthemic acids can be assessed by reference to phenothrin.

Empenthrin is a stable molecule but it would be expected to be labile at pH values above 10.