Chlorfenapyr is an insecticde, and specifically a pro-insecticide (meaning it is metabolized into an active insecticide after entering the host).

Chlorfenapyr was developed by American Cyanamid from the natural product dioxapyrrolomycin, which was isolated from Streptomyces fumanus.

[2] The United States Environmental Protection Agency initially denied registration in 2000 for use on cotton primarily because of concerns that the insecticide was toxic to birds and because effective alternatives were available.

Chlorfenapyr is also used as a wool insect-proofing agent, and was introduced as an alternative to synthetic pyrethroids due to a lower toxicity to mammalian and aquatic life.

CL 303268 uncouples oxidative phosphorylation at the mitochondria, resulting in disruption of production of ATP, cellular death, and ultimately organism mortality.