Specific Herbicidal Activity of N-(α, α-Dimethylbenzyl)-butanamides against Purple Nutsedge

Herbicidal Activity of N-Benzylbutanamides (Part 6)

Abstract

The herbicidal properties of four N-(α, α-dimethylbenzyl)butanamides including herbicidal spectrum, effect on treatment site, and movement in soil were examined. The herbicidal activity of optically active N-(α, α-dimethylbenzyl)butanamides against purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus, was determined by the pot test. N-(1-Methyl-1-phenylethyl)-2-bromo-3, 3-dimethylbutanamide (S-47) showed a broad herbicidal spectrum suppressing purple nutsedge, yellow nutsedge, barnyardgrass, corn, soybean and cotton in the pot test with pre-plant soil incorporation method. The p-methyl derivative of S-47 and N-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-2-ethyl-3, 3-dimethylbutanamide (PEB) exhibited the strong herbicidal activity only against purple nutsedge and did not show any phytotoxicity on crops. All compounds showed considerably large movement in soil. The activity of the d-isomer was higher than that of the l-isomer and the d-isomer of the p-methyl derivative of PEB possessed the highest activity.