Methyl cyclohexenone |

Last updated: 25/08/2025
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(Also known as: MCH; Beetle repellent; Beetle antiaggregation pheromone) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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A beetle pheromone used in forests to protect live trees from spruce beetles and Douglas fir beetles |
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Douglas fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae); Spruce beetle (Dendroctonus micans) |
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Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Spruce (Picea spp.) forests |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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No |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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- |
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C₇H₁₀O |
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CC1=CC(=O)CCC1 |
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No data |
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IITQJMYAYSNIMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/C7H10O/c1-6-3-2-4-7(8)5-6/h5H,2-4H2,1H3 |
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Yes |
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Semiochemical |
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Pheromone |
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- |
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- |
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Natural |
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Functions as an insect repellent and prevents the aggregation necessary for large scale reproduction and so reduces populations |
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Originally isolated from the Douglas fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) |
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Forestry |
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Douglas fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae); Spruce beetle (Dendroctonus micans) |
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Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Spruce (Picea spp.) forests |
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- |
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1193-18-6 |
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214-769-7 |
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- |
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219700 |
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- |
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110.15 |
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- |
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3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one |
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3-methyl-cyclohex-2-en-1-one |
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- |
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FEMA=3946-3948; FLAVIS=07.180 |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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Pale yellow liquid |
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Current |
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- |
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- Seudenone MCH Repellent
- Douglas Fir & Spruce Beetle Repellent
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Usually supplied in slow release formulations and dispensers |
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Methyl cyclohexanone is produced commercially through a multi-step synthetic process that typically begins with cyclohexanone or related precursors. One common route involves the alpha-methylation of cyclohexenone, where methyl groups are introduced at the desired position using reagents like methyl magnesium iodide in the presence of cuprous chloride as a catalyst, often in a solvent such as diethyl ether. Alternatively, it can be synthesized via Birch reduction of anisole followed by acid hydrolysis, or through oxidation of cyclohexene using hydrogen peroxide and vanadium-based catalysts. |
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While exact CO₂e values are not published for specific pheromones, some general information is available. The PHERA reported that biotechnological production (e.g. yeast fermentation) of pheromones can reduce GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional chemical synthesis and GHG emissions are typically in the 5 to 10 kg CO₂e per kg of pheromone produced. Other sources suggest that small scale pheromone synthesis typically has emissions in the range 1 – 3 kg CO₂e per kg of pheromone produced. |
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5.62 X 1001 |
Calculated |
- |
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1.75 |
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Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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0.971 |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 2000 |
Rat |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 5620 |
Anas platyhynchos |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 1000 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Expert judgement |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
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- |
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> 100 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source Expert judgement |
Low |
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- |
- |
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- |
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44.9 |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Moderate |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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Intermediate (class II) |
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- |
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> 2000 |
Rat |
Low |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
No data found |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
No data found |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
No data found |
No data found |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
No data found |
No data found |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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?Possibly, status not identified |
No data found |
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No further information available |
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No information available |
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- |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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methyl cyclohexenone |
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Record last updated: |
25/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |