What is the Difference Between Brodifacoum and Bromadiolone

The key difference between brodifacoum and bromadiolone is that brodifacoum is more potent than bromadiolone.

Both brodifacoum and bromadiolone are toxic substances that can act as pesticides. Brodifacoum is a lethal poison known as 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant, whereas bromadiolone is a potent anticoagulant rodenticide.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Brodifacoum 
3. What is Bromadiolone
4. Brodifacoum vs Bromadiolone in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Brodifacoum vs Bromadiolone

What is Brodifacoum?

Brodifacoum is a lethal poison known as 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant. This substance recently became one of the most widely used pesticides on Earth. Typically, this poison is useful as a rodenticide. However, it is also useful in controlling larger pests, including possum. The route of administration is oral, dermal, or inhalation.

Brodifacoum specifically has a long half-life in the body. Moreover, its half-life can be up to 9 months. This requires prolonged treatments with antidotal vitamin K for both human and pet poisoning occasions. Moreover, this substance has a high risk of secondary poisoning to both mammals and birds. More importantly, there is evidence that some people have used this poison in their suicide attempt.

The chemical formula of brodifacoum is C₃₁H₂₃BrO₃. The molar mass of this compound is 523.42 g/mol. It has a melting point ranging from 228 to 230 Celsius degrees, depending on any impurities. Moreover, this substance is insoluble in water. Bioavailability is 100%, and its metabolism is slow, incomplete, and usually hepatic. Excretion mainly occurs through feces very slowly.

What is Bromadiolone?

Bromadiolone is a potent anticoagulant rodenticide. It can also be categorized as a second-generation 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative and vitamin K antagonist. Often, this substance is known as super-warfarin. This is because of its added potency and tendency to accumulate in the liver of the poisoned organism.

The chemical formula of bromadiolone is C₃₀H₂₃BrO₄. Its molar mass is about 527.414 g/mol. This compound occurs as a mixture of four stereoisomers. There are two stereoisomeric centers at the phenyl and hydrocyl substituted carbon atoms in the carbon chain that occurs at the substituent at position 3 of the coumarin.

When considering the toxicity of this substance, it is absorbed through the digestive tract, lungs, and skin contact. However, this pesticide is given orally. It is a vitamin K antagonist; therefore, the lack of vitamin K in our circulatory system can cause a reduction in blood clotting, which in turn can cause death from internal hemorrhaging.

What is the Difference Between Brodifacoum and Bromadiolone?

Both brodifacoum and bromadiolone are toxic substances that can act as pesticides. Brodifacoum is a lethal poison known as 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant while bromadiolone is a potent anticoagulant rodenticide. The key difference between brodifacoum and bromadiolone is that brodifacoum is more potent than bromadiolone. Moreover, brodifacoum appears as an off-white to fawn-colored powder, while bromadiolone appears as an off-white to fawn-colored powder. The chemical formula of brodifacoum is C₃₁H₂₃BrO₃, while the chemical formula of bromadiolone is C₃₁H₂₃BrO₃.

The below infographic presents the differences between brodifacoum and bromadiolone in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Brodifacoum vs Bromadiolone

Brodifacoum is a lethal poison known as 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant. Bromadiolone is a potent anticoagulant rodenticide. The key difference between brodifacoum and bromadiolone is that brodifacoum is more potent than bromadiolone. Moreover, brodifacoum appears as an off-white to fawn-colored powder, while bromadiolone appears as an off-white to fawn-colored powder.

Reference:

1. “Bromadiolone.” National Pesticide Information Center.
2. “Bromadiolone.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Brodifacoum” By Yikrazuul – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Bromadiolon Grundstruktur V2” By JenWei – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia