Quantitative structure-activity relationships of herbicidal N′-substituted phenyl-N-methoxy-N-methylureas

Relationships between three types of herbicidal activity of N′-substituted phenyl-N-methoxy-N-methylureas and substitution at the benzene ring were analyzed by the Hansch-Fujita method. First, the Hill inhibitory activity was correlated with electronic (σ) as well as hydrophobic (π) substituent constants. The existence of an optimum value of hydrophobicity for substituents was suggested to reach the target site of action. Second, bliaching activity observed for the 3-substituted but not for 4-substituted compounds was correlated with π, σ, and steric substituent constant, E_s. Third, the postemergent herbicidal activity was shown to correlate linearly with the Hill inhibitory activity, pI₅₀, and hydrophobic parameter, π.     

The inhibitory mode of action of the pyridazinone herbicide norflurazon on a cell-free carotenogenic enzyme system

The inhibition site of the phenylpyridazinone herbicide, norflurazon [SAN 9789, 4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridazin-3(2H)one] was determined in a cell-free carotenogenic enzyme system from a mutant strain of Phycomyces blakesleeanus (Mucoraceae). The presence of norflurazon resulted in a reduced flow of radioactivity from [2-¹⁴C]mevalonic acid to phytoene (7,8,11,12,7′,8′,11′,12′-octahydro-ψ,ψ-carotene) and β-carotene (β,β-carotene), whereas an increased incorporation occurred in the C₃₀ terpenoids, squalene, and ergosterol. Furthermore, radioactivity accumulated in geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Since no radioactivity was found in prephytoene pyrophosphate and the radioactivity in phytoene decreased upon addition of norflurazon, this herbicide exerts its primary inhibitory action on the reaction catalyzed by phytoene synthetase. The nonbleaching phenylpyridazinone BAS 13761 [4-chloro-5-methoxy-2-phenyl-pyridazin-3(2H)-one] did not show this effect. Other inhibitory sites of norflurazon, either on prenyl pyrophosphate synthetase or on the desaturation of phytoene, were excluded.     

Synthesis and herbicidal activities of novel 3-(substituted benzyloxy or phenoxy)-6-methyl-4-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridazine derivatives

BACKGROUND: 4‐(3‐Trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridazine represents a new series of compounds with bleaching and herbicidal activities. RESULTS: A total of 43 novel 3‐(substituted benzyloxy or phenoxy)‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridazine derivatives were synthesised, and their bleaching and herbicidal activities were evaluated through Spirodela polyrrhiza and greenhouse tests. Some compounds exhibited excellent herbicidal activities, even at a dose of 7.5 g ha^?1. CONCLUSION: The results showed that a substituted phenoxy group at the 3‐position of the pyridazine ring and the electron‐withdrawing group at the para ‐position on the benzene ring were essential for high herbicidal activity. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Characterization of herbicidal injury by acifluorfen-methyl in excised cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons

Initial signs of herbicidal injury by several diphenyl ether herbicides were monitored by following the efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ from treated cucumber (Cucumis sativis L.) cotyledons after exposure to light (600 μE m^?2 sec^?1; measured as PAR, i.e., photosynthetically active radiation between 400 and 700 nm). This very sensitive, rapid, and quantitative bioassay proved quite useful in (a) a structure-activity correlations study of the diphenyl ether compounds investigated and (b) an examination of herbicidal characteristics. The following diphenyl ether herbicides were analyzed: acifluorfen, sodium 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluormethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate; acifluorfen-methyl (MC-10108), methyl 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate; bifenox, methyl 5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate; nitrofen, 2,4-dichlorophenyl p-nitrophenyl ether; nitrofluorfen, 2-chloro-1-(4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene; oxyfluorfen, 2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene; MC-7783, potassium 5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate; and MC-10982, ethyl 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate. Of the compounds investigated, acifluorfen-methyl (AFM) had the greatest degree of herbicidal activity. Cucumber cotyledons placed in high light (600 μE m^?2 sec^?1; PAR) with 10 nM AFM showed a significant increase in the efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ within 2 to 4 hr. Light was required for herbicidal activity by AFM, and when treated cotyledons were returned to darkness, no further damage to the tissue occurred. By decreasing the quantity of light, the effect of the compound was delayed, although the magnitudes of the responses at the different intensities (600, 300, 150, and 75 μE m^?2 sec^?1; PAR) were nearly equal. By increasing the length of time of dark pretreatment with 1 μM AFM, ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux could be detected as early as 10 to 15 min after exposure to light (600 μE m^?2 sec^?1; PAR). Following light activation of AFM there was a simultaneous efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺, ³⁶Cl^?, ⁴⁵Ca²⁺, 3-O-methyl-[¹⁴C]glucose, and [¹⁴C]methylamine⁺. These data suggest the initial response to the herbicidal activity of AFM is expressed as a general increase in membrane permeability.     

Mode of action of the fungicide flusilazole in ustilago maydis

Flusilazole is a potent inhibitor of Ustilago maydis sporidial growth (I₅₀= 20 μg liter⁻¹). Incorporation of [¹⁴C]acetate into ergosterol of growing sporidia is inhibited 50% by 0.5 μg liter⁻¹of the fungicide. Inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis is concomitant with the accumulation of the precursors eburicol, obtusifoliol and 14α-methylfecosterol. A novel cell-free assay has been developed to measure the 14α-demethylation of [³H]dihydrolanosterol. Flusilazole inhibits the cell-free demethylation with an I₅₀of 15 μg liter⁻¹. These data provide strong evidence that the mode of action of flusilazole is by inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis through direct inhibition of the 14α-demethylation of ergosterol precursors.     

Quantitative structure-activity study of herbicidal O-aryl O-ethyl N-isopropylphosphoramidothioates

The quantitative relationship between the structure of 46 O-aryl O-ethyl N-isopropylphosphoramidothioates and their herbicidal activity on the barnyard grass, Echinochloa cruss-galli, was analyzed using physicochemical parameters of the aryl substituents and regression analysis. We found that the hydrophobicity of the whole molecule and the position-specific steric and hydrophobic effects of substituents are important to the activity.     

Carotenogenic inhibition by norflurazon in wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Holley) seedlings were exposed to [N-¹⁴CH₃]norflurazon in nutrient solution studies. The ¹⁴CH₃ group was incorporated into a compound eluting on GLC at a relative retention temperature R_f equivalent to n-C₂₁ H₃₆ and mass spectrometry validated a 295 MW. The concentration of [N-¹⁴CH₃]norflurazon and/or Rl[¹⁴C]norflurazon which resulted in carotenogenesis inhibition was 0.07 μM in the water contained in the leaves. The concentration of norflurazon required for phytoene accumulation as a mode-of-action was ca. 140 × the concentration of norflurazon required for geranylgeraniol accumulation. Geranylgeraniol accumulated at 1 ppbw (3.2 nM) norflurazon and phytofluene accumulated throughout the norflurazon concentration series (1 to 1000 ppbw). Carotene content was increased by 1 to 16 ppbw norflurazon but was decreased by 64 ppbw norflurazon. Thus, two modes-of-activity for norflurazon are documented that depend upon concentration of the toxicant in the tissue. Norflurazon demethylation in prephytoenepyrophosphate synthesis resulted in a C₂₁ conjugate and increased concentrations of GGPP and phytoene in the tissue. At approximately 31 ppbw norflurazon, an inhibition of phytoene dehydrogenation occurred and phytoene accumulated. At 62 ppbw norflurazon, phytofluene hydrogenation inhibition occurred and phytofluene accumulated while β-carotene synthesis was inhibited. These inhibitions may possibly be reversible when substrate concentrations are in excess.     

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 3-substituted toxoflavin analogs

We investigated the synthesis and herbicidal activity of 23 toxoflavin analogs, 1a–w, in which aromatic rings (R) were introduced into the C-3 position. In paddy field conditions, 1k (R=2-CF₃–C₆H₄) and 1w (R=2-thienyl) showed excellent herbicidal activity. Under upland field conditions, we found that toxoflavin analogs 1a (R=C₆H₅), 1n (R=2-CH₃O–C₆H₄), and 1p (R=4-CH₃O–C₆H₄) exhibited wide herbicidal spectrum against Echinochloa crus-galli (L) var. crus-galli (ECHCG), Chenopodium album, and Amaranthus viridis (AMAVI). The analog with the 2-fluoro group on benzene ring 1b also showed high herbicidal activity against both ECHCG and AMAVI.     

Chemical structure-activity relationships of the inhibition of sterol biosynthesis by N-substituted morpholines in higher plants

Tridemorph and fenpropimorph as well as several related N-alkyl morpholines have been tested in vitro on the cycloeucalenol-obtusifoliol isomerase, a microsomal enzyme involved in higher plant sterol biosynthesis. The results showed that N-substituted morpholines inhibit powerfully the enzyme (I₅₀ = 0.4 μM for fenpropimorph). The following important molecular parameters of the inhibition could be determined: (i) the inhibitory capacity was probably related to the presence of a positive charge on the nitrogen atom, (ii) the length of the alkyl group was critical, with a maximum activity for n = 13 carbons in the case of a linear hydrocarbon chain, (iii) the presence of bulky substituents at the proximity of the nitrogen atom led to a strong decrease of the inhibitory power, (iv) in the fenpropimorph series where a chiral center is present at C-2 of the alkyl chain, a remarkable enantiomeric selectivity of the inhibition was observed, (v) the N-oxide derivative of fenpropimorph was shown to be as active as the parent compound. The N-alkyl morpholines have been also assayed on suspension cultures of bramble cells and led to a strong accumulation of 9β, 19-cyclopropyl- and Δ⁸-sterols. This result confirmed that the cycloeucalenol-obtusifoliol isomerase was a major target of the N-substituted morpholines and suggested that the Δ⁸ → Δ⁷-sterol isomerase was also a target for these chemicals. The molecular parameters implied in the in vivo accumulation of 9β, 19-cyclopropyl sterols were very similar to those resulting from the in vitro study. The chemical structure-inhibitory activity relationship of N-alkyl morpholines was discussed with respect to their fungicidal activity which has been described in a previous study [E. H. Pommer, Pestic. Sci. 15, 285 (1984)]. The comparison revealed that the better the inhibitory capacity on the cycloeucalenol-obtusifoliol isomerase was, the higher was the fungicidal activity in vivo.     

Inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis in isolated bean and maize chloroplasts by herbicidal phenoxy-phenoxypropionic acid derivatives and structurally related compounds

The effects of nine phenoxy-phenoxypropionic acid derivatives and structurally related compounds on the incorporation of [¹⁴C]-acetate into free fatty acids in isolated bean and maize chloroplasts were studied. The compounds tested were esters and the corresponding free acids, OH-diclofop, a nonherbicidal metabolite of diclofop in plants, and d and l enantiomers of diclofop. Fatty acid biosynthesis in bean chloroplasts was not affected by all compounds. OH-Diclofop had a weak inhibitory effect on fatty acid synthesis in maize chloroplasts, while free acids were stronger inhibitors than the corresponding esters in the same system. Uptake studies with diclofop-methyl and diclofop indicated that the esters showed higher uptake rates in chloroplasts suspension. d-Diclofop (I₅₀, 9 × 10^?8M) was a more potent inhibitor than l-diclofop (I₅₀, 4 × 10^?6M). This agrees with the low herbicidal activity of the l enantiomer in vivo. The results suggest that the mode of action in this type of herbicide may be closely linked with the inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis. The tolerance of beans could be based on an insensitivity of the target site.     

Diallate inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis in sorghum coleoptiles

Diallate [S-(2,3-dichloroallyl)diisopropylthiocarbamate] incorporated into sand significantly inhibited sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv Funks G 522DR) growth of 14-day-old seed lings. Inhibition was competitively reversed by exogenous giberellic acid (GA₃) (0.1 and 10 ppmw). Diallate inhibited gibberellin (GA) precursor biosynthesis in a cell-free enzyme preparation from unruptured, etiolated sorghum coleoptiles. Diallate (10 μM) inhibited kaurene oxidation 40% with a 2.7 × increase in kauren-ol and a 50% decrease in kaurenoic acid. The GA biosynthesis inhibition correlates with symptom phenology and field use application concentrations. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate accumulated 5 × at 0.1 μM diallate concentrations but concomitant kaurene concentration decreases did not occur. At 10 μM diallate, kaurene synthetase was inhibited 33%.     

Metribuzin metabolism in tomato: Isolation and identification of N-glucoside conjugates

Metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] metabolism was studied in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. “Sheyenne”). Pulse-treatment studies with seedlings and excised leaves showed that [5-¹⁴C]metribuzin was rapidly absorbed, translocated (acropetal), and metabolized to more polar products. Foliar tissues of 19-day-old seedlings metabolized 96% of the root-absorbed [¹⁴C]metribuzin in 120 hr. Excised mature leaves metabolized 85–90% of the petiole-absorbed [¹⁴C]metrubuzin in 48 hr. Polar metabolites were isolated by solvent partitioning, and purified by adsorption, thin-layer, and high-performance liquid chromatography. A minor intermediate metabolite (I) was identified as the polar β-d-(N-glucoside) conjugate of metribuzin. The biosynthesis of (I) was demonstrated with a partially purified UDP-glucose: metribuzin N-glucosyltransferase from tomato leaves. A possible correlation between foliar UDP-glucose: metribuzin N-glucosyltransferase activity levels and differences in the tolerance of selected tomato seedling cultivars to metribuzin was suggested. The major polar metabolite (II) was identified as the malonyl β-d-(N-glucoside) conjugate of metribuzin.     

Mechanism of inhibition of sterol biosynthesis enzymes by N-substituted morpholines

Tridemorph, fenpropimorph and derivatives have been tested in vitro on Δ⁸→Δ⁷-sterol isomerase (SI) from maize seedlings. The results show that these N-substituted morpholines strongly inhibit this enzyme (I₅₀: 0.4 μM for fenpropimorph, 0.6 μM for tridemorph). In fenpropimorph, where a chiral centre is present at C-2 of the alkyl chain, good enantioselectivity was observed for enzyme inhibition. Inhibition of SI and of the cycloeucalenol-obtusifoliol isomerase (COI), another enzyme of plant sterol biosynthesis, is probably due to protonation of the N-substituted morpholines, giving a positively charged nitrogen atom, at the pH (7.4) of the enzyme assays. In order to test this hypothesis, the pH dependence of the inhibition constants has been measured. Fenpropimorph, (pK_a 7.5) which can be protonated to give a morpholinium cation and N-methylfenpropimorph, the corresponding quaternary ammonium derivative, have been tested as inhibitors in a pH range from 6 to 8.5. The I₅₀ value of fenpropimorph toward the SI increased 20 times as the pH increased from 6 to 8.5. In contrast the I₅₀ value of fenpropimorph for COI did not change significantly in this pH range. While the I₅₀ value of N-methyl fenpropimorph towards COI decreased more than 50 times as the pH increased from 6 to 8.5, its I₅₀ value for SI only varied slightly in this pH range. Taken together, these results suggest the existence of an interaction of the morpholinium cations with one or several enzyme amino acid residues of a much higher pK_a in the case of COI than SI. Moreover for maize COI, the pK_a of the amino acid residue(s) interacting with these morpholines derivatives is probably close to that of these molecules.     

Structure-activity relationship of herbicides inhibiting ACh-induced contractions in a molluscan smooth muscle

Certain herbicides are known to influence the muscle function of molluscs. The penis-retractor muscle complex (PRM complex) of the edible snail, Helix pomatia, is a suitable test object for studying these side effects in smooth muscle, because sequential contractions can be induced in vitro by adding and removing acetylcholine (ACh). In the presence of herbicidal amides, carbamates, and ureas (concentration, 10^?4 mol/liter) the muscle tension was found to be reduced to a variable extent. In contrast, the relaxing effect of herbicidal phenoxycarbonic acids was weak. The inhibitory properties of the herbicides tested were correlated with the electron-withdrawing properties of certain substituents. These substituents are bound to an amino function. Their structure is either aromatic (amides, biscarbamates, carbamates, ureas), aliphatic (thiocarbamates), or cycloaliphatic (cycloat). The structure-activity relationship is comparable with that found for herbicidal activity in plants.     

N-(7-氟-3-氧-3,4-二氢-苯并噁嗪-6-基-)乙酰胺类化合物的合成及除草活性

为了寻找高效、安全的具有除草活性的新化合物,利用2-取代乙酰氯和2H苯并噁嗪-3-酮反应合成了9个N-(7-氟-3-氧-3,4-二氢苯并噁嗪-6-基-)乙酰胺类化合物,其结构经元素分析、IR、1H NMR确证。初步除草活性测试表明:在有效剂量75 g/hm2下,化合物 5d 芽后茎叶处理对刺苋Amaranthus spinosus等4种杂草显示出90%以上的抑制率。     

Analysis of soils for diclofop-methyl and diclofop

A method is described for the analysis of soils for residues of the herbicide diclofop-methyl, methyl (RS)-2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy]propionate, and its breakdown product diclofop, (RS)-2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy]propionic acid. Diclofop-methyl undergoes hydrolysis in the soil to diclofop, which also has herbicidal activity. A procedure, using a 1% phosphoric acid solution for extraction purposes, has been developed and gives good recoveries of both diclofop-methyl and diclofop at the 0.5 and 0.05 mg kg^?1 levels. After methylation, gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection is used to determine total residue concentrations.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationships of antifungal N-phenylsuccinimides and N-phenyl-1,2-dimethylcyclopropanedicarboximides

The antifungal activity of 61 N-phenylsuccinimides and 16 N-phenyl-1,2-dimethylcyclopropanedicarboximides having various benzene ring substituents was determined against Botrytis cinerea by the agar medium dilution method. The structure-activity relationships were analyzed using such physicochemical substituent parameters as hydrophobic π, electronic σ⁰, steric E₈, and HB (hydrogen bonding) values with the multiple regression technique. The π values were derived from log P (octanol-water partition coefficient) values for the N-monosubstituted-phenylsuccinimide system. The hydrophobic effect is significant only for m-substitutents. The stronger the electron withdrawal and the smaller the steric dimensions of the ring substituents, the greater is the activity. When substituents are hydrogen bond acceptors, the effect is to lower the activity. These features are almost identical between two series of compounds.     

Inhibition of carotenogenesis by substituted diphenyl ethers of the m-phenoxybenzamide type

Diphenyl ethers exhibit different modes of action according to their chemical constitution. Diphenyl ethers of the m-phenoxybenzamide type, which were found to be effective on carotenogenesis resulting in an accumulation of colorless carotenoid precursors, mostly phytoene, indicative of inhibition of desaturation, are discussed. As seen with other carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, a concurrent loss of chlorophyll was observed as a secondary effect caused by the absence of protective carotenoids. In contrast to peroxidative p-nitrodiphenyl ethers like oxyfluorfen (2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-3′-ethoxy-4′-nitrophenyl ether), the m-phenoxybenzamides assayed showed the same phytotoxic mode of action in the dark as observed when using heterotrophic Scenedesmus cultures. As expected, chlorophylls were not affected. The decrease of carotenoids was not due to their degradation but to inhibited carotenogenesis. Examination of carotenoid fractions show that the m-phenoxybenzamides, e.g., 3-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-N-ethylbenzamide, used here act similarly to 2-phenylpyridazinones like norflurazon [4-chloro-5-methylamino-2-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridazin-3(2H)one]. All these inhibitors strongly decrease the α- and β-carotene content, while xanthophyll content is not lowered as much.     

Localizing the action of two thiadiazolyl herbicidal derivatives

Enzymatically isolated leaf cells from navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. “Tuscola”) were used to study the effect of buthidazole (3-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-imidazolidinone) and tebuthiuron (N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N′-dimethylurea) on photosynthesis, protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and lipid synthesis. The incorporation of NaH¹⁴CO₃, [¹⁴C]leucine, [¹⁴C]uracil, and [¹⁴C]acetic acid as substrates for the respective metabolic process was measured. Time-course and concentration studies included incubation periods of 30, 60, and 120 min and concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μM of both herbicides. Photosynthesis was very sensitive to both buthidazole and tebuthiuron and was inhibited in 30 min by 0.1 μM concentrations. RNA and lipid syntheses were inhibited 50 and 87%, respectively, by buthidazole and 42 and 64%, respectively, by tebuthiuron after 120 min at 100 μM concentration. Protein synthesis was not affected by any herbicide at any concentration or any exposure time period. The inhibitory effects of buthidazole and tebuthiuron on RNA and lipid syntheses may be involved in the ultimate herbicidal action of these herbicidal chemicals.     

Inhibition of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, by a bisthiolcarbamate juvenoid and related compounds

Biosynthesis of juvenile hormone in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is inhibited by the bisthiolcarbamate juvenoid N-ethyl-1,2-bis(isobutylthiolcarbamoyl)ethane both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro an extremely steep dose-response curve was obtained with an ID₅₀ value of 6 × 10^?6M. However, in vivo topical treatment with the compound resulted in mild JH antagonistic symptoms, suggesting rapid metabolism of the compound. In agreement with results from metabolic studies performed on plants and in mammals, sulfoxidation of the thiocarbamate S-(4-chlorobenzyl)N,N-diethylthiocarbamate resulted in an enhanced inhibitory effect on JH biosynthesis in vitro. This suggests that the corresponding thiocarbamate sulfoxides may act as intermediates in carbomylating critical thiol sites important in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, this study shows that these prototype compounds are interesting tools for further investigation of chemical inhibition of JH biosynthesis in insects.