Hisao Watanabe

Structure-activity Relationship of Cyclic Imide Herbicides I. N-Substituted Phenyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimides and Related Compounds

In the course of the development of new herbicide (MK–616: N-(p-chlorophenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide), the structure-activity relationship of cyclic imide herbicides was investigated. Sixty N-substituted phenyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimides and related compounds were prepared and their herbicidal activity were examined. The results indicate that, for high inhibitory activity, lipophilic tetramethylene moiety, double bond or nitrogen atom (s) in bridgehead position and N-(p-substituted)phenyl moiety are essential in these cyclic imides. New 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,2-tetramethyleneurazole and 3 (-p-chlorophenyl)-1,5-tetramethylenehydantoin were found to be herbicidally active.