Diethylzinc

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Corrosive. Short chain zinc alkyls ignite spontaneously on contact with air and therefore are classified pyrophoric. Reactions of zinc alkyls with liquids (ie. water and alcohols) are in some cases explosion like. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin

Conclusions:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. Violent reaction with water. Corrosive. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute oral toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Executive summary:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature.Violent reaction with water. Corrosive. Short chain zinc alkyls ignite spontaneously on contact with air and therefore are classified pyrophoric. Reactions of zinc alkyls with liquids are in some cases explosion like. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute oral toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin

Conclusions:

Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute oral toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Executive summary:

Short chain zinc alkyls ignite spontaneously on contact with air and therefore are classified pyrophoric. Reactions of zinc alkyls with liquids are in some cases explosion like. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: dermal

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin

Conclusions:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. Violent reaction with water. Corrosive. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute dermal toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Executive summary:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature.Violent reaction with water. Corrosive. Short chain zinc alkyls ignite spontaneously on contact with air and therefore are classified pyrophoric. Reactions of zinc alkyls with liquids are in some cases explosion like. Exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute dermal toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

According to the Annex VII Standard Information Requirements for REACH, 8.5.1 of the assessment of the acute toxicity endpoint, an acute toxicity test by the oral route is required. A specific rule for adaptation for the acute toxicitystudy/ies states that the study(ies) do not need to be conducted if - the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin. Chemical Background Most of the chemistry of organozinc compounds can be explained in terms of the polarization of the zinc-carbon bond, the high energy of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and relatively low-lying vacant 4s- and 4p-orbitals. These electronic properties render this class of compounds highly nucleophilic and easily oxidizable, which, for example, reflects in their high flammability in the air. Short chain zinc alkyls ignite spontaneously on contact with air and therefore are classified pyrophoric under UN transport classification. The flammability of Zn alkyls decreases on increasing bulkiness of the alkyl groups. Reactions of zinc alkyls with liquids are in some cases explosion like. Most prominent example is the violent reaction with water, which liberates for short chain alkyls highly flammable gases within seconds (alkyl groups with five carbon atoms and less). Low-lying vacant 4s- and 4p-orbitals are responsible for mild Lewis acidity of organozinc compounds. Driven by nucleophilic power of their alkyl groups organozinc compounds add to aldehydes, activated ketones and some other unsaturated electrophiles. High polarity of the Zn-C bond makes Zn alkyls rather good deprotonating agents. CONCLUSION: Thus, exposure of mammalian species to zinc alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no acute oral toxicity studies are required for this substance.

Justification for classification or non-classification

A specific rule for adaptation for the acute toxicitystudy/ies states that the study(ies) do not need to be conducted if - the substance is classified as corrosive to the skin.