Pesticides reactions

Studies of Reaction Mechanisms of Pesticides with Humic Substances. EPR has been used in studies of pesticide reaction mechanisms with HS. Spectroscopic data from HS, as SFR concentration and line width (AH) can be used to obtain information about the reaction mechanisms of pesticides-HS (Senesi, 1990a). 

A number of kinetically based models have been used to study soil-pesticide reactions. In many cases, sorption of pesticides has been treated as a rapid-equilibrium, single-valued, reversible process. Some of these models are briefly outlined below. 

Problems encountered in acquiring stable gas-phase conditions in the laboratory also contribute to the relative lack of atmospheric pesticide reaction rate and product data. Semi-volatile organics, which conoprise the majority of pesticides, can sorb onto the surfaces of the laboratory reaction vessel. The wall interference reaction rates and products may or may not be similar to those occurring under actual atmospheric vapor-phase conditions (P,/0). Experimental designs that can provide environmentally relevant reaction rates, clwacterization of gas-phase and oxidative transformation products, and maintain material balance at environmental tenq>eratures has yet to be established. 

Experimental procedures have been described in which the desired reactions have been carried out either by whole microbial cells or by enzymes (1—3). These involve carbohydrates (qv) (4,5) steroids (qv), sterols, and bile acids (6—11) nonsteroid cycHc compounds (12) ahcycHc and alkane hydroxylations (13—16) alkaloids (7,17,18) various pharmaceuticals (qv) (19—21), including antibiotics (19—24) and miscellaneous natural products (25—27). Reviews of the microbial oxidation of aUphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (qv) (28), monoterpenes (29,30), pesticides (qv) (31,32), lignin (qv) (33,34), flavors and fragrances (35), and other organic molecules (8,12,36,37) have been pubflshed (see Enzyp applications, industrial Enzyt s in organic synthesis Elavors AND spices). 

Naphthalenesulfonic acid can be converted to l-naphthalenethiol/T25 -J6 - by reduction of the related sulfonyl chloride this product has some utihty as a dye intermediate, and is converted by reaction with alkyl isocyanates to 3 -naphthyl-A/-alkylthiocarbamates, which have pesticidal and herbicidal... 

Oxidative Reactions. The majority of pesticides, or pesticide products, are susceptible to some form of attack by oxidative enzymes. For more persistent pesticides, oxidation is frequently the primary mode of metaboHsm, although there are important exceptions, eg, DDT. For less persistent pesticides, oxidation may play a relatively minor role, or be the first reaction ia a metaboHc pathway. Oxidation generally results ia degradation of the parent molecule. However, attack by certain oxidative enzymes (phenol oxidases) can result ia the condensation or polymerization of the parent molecules this phenomenon is referred to as oxidative coupling (16). Examples of some important oxidative reactions are ether cleavage, alkyl-hydroxylation, aryl-hydroxylation, AJ-dealkylation, and sulfoxidation. 

Alkyl-Hyd.roxyla.tion. This is commonly observed as the initial transformation of alkyl-substituted aromatic pesticides such as alachlor [15972-60-8] and metolachlor [51218-45-2] (eq. 2) (2) (16). These reactions are typically catalyzed by relatively nonspecific oxidases found in fungi and actinomycetes. 

H-Dealkylation. This is commonly observed as a primary transformation of pesticides with A/-alkyl substituents, such as atrazine [1912-24-9] (3) (eq. 5), trifluraHn [1582-09-8] (4) (eq. 6) (16), and 3 -ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate [759-94-4] (EPTC) (5) (eq. 7) (18). These reactions are catalyzed by a variety of bacterial strains, including Noeardia, Pseudomonas, Phodococcus, and Streptomyces. 

Reduction of Nitro Substituents. These reactions are very common in anaerobic environments and result in amine-substituted pesticides anaerobic bacteria capable of reducing nitrate to ammonia appear to be primarily responsible. All nitro-substituted pesticides appear to be susceptible to this transformation, eg, methyl parathion (7) (eq. 9), triduralin, and pendimethalin. 

Reductive DechIorina.tion. Such reduction of chlorinated aUphatic hydrocarbons, eg, lindane, has been known since the 1960s. More recentiy, the dechlorination of aromatic pesticides, eg, 2,4,5-T, or pesticide products, eg, chlorophenols, has also been documented (eq. 10) (20). These reactions are of particular interest because chlorinated compounds are generally persistent under aerobic conditions. 

Carboyylic acid ester hydrolysis is frequendy observed as the initial reaction for pesticides with ester bonds, such as 2,4-D esters, pyrethroids, and DCPA (dacthal) (8) (eq. 11) (16). 

Carbamate hydrolysis is frequendy observed as the initial reaction for pesticides having carbamate bonds, such as aldicarb, carbofuran, carbaryl, and benomyl (eq. 12) (19). Numerous genera of carbamate-hydroly2ing bacteria have been identified, including Pseudomonas, Jhihrobacter, Bacillus, Nocardia, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Streptomyces, Alcaligenes, A spirillum, Micrococcus, and Bhodococcus. 

Urea hydrolysis is frequently observed as the initial reaction for pesticides having urea bonds, such as linuron, diuron, and chlorsulfuron (10) (eq. 14)... 

Chemical, or abiotic, transformations are an important fate of many pesticides. Such transformations are ubiquitous, occurring in either aqueous solution or sorbed to surfaces. Rates can vary dramatically depending on the reaction mechanism, chemical stmcture, and relative concentrations of such catalysts as protons, hydroxyl ions, transition metals, and clay particles. Chemical transformations can be genetically classified as hydrolytic, photolytic, or redox reactions (transfer of electrons). 

Carboxyhc acid ester, carbamate, organophosphate, and urea hydrolysis are important acid/base-catalyzed reactions. Typically, pesticides that are susceptible to chemical hydrolysis are also susceptible to biological hydrolysis the products of chemical vs biological hydrolysis are generally identical (see eqs. 8, 11, 13, and 14). Consequentiy, the two types of reactions can only be distinguished based on sterile controls or kinetic studies. As a general rule, carboxyhc acid esters, carbamates, and organophosphates are more susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis (24), whereas sulfonylureas are more susceptible to acid hydrolysis (25). 

Hydrodechlorination is a common reaction of chlorinated pesticides such as atrazine (eq. 15), alachlor, and metolachlor (2) (eq. 16). These reactions are catalyzed primarily by transition metals or by soil surfaces (clays or humic substances). 

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