Photolysis of flucythrinate

Photolysis of flucythrinate ((RS)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (S)-2-(4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyrate) in solution (methanol) by UV light (> 290 nm) and as a thin film on glass by exposure to sunlight yields products resulting from ester cleavage. The major product in solution is formed via photo-induced decarboxylation. When thin films are exposed to sunlight, flucythrinate has a half life of 8 days on glass and 3 days on a leaf surface.