In 1985, chemists at the Dr. R. Maag subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche filed patents for uracil derivatives which had herbicidal activity.[4] In 1990 the agrochemical interests of Maag were sold to Ciba-Geigy[5] and work continued to optimise this area of biological activity. By 1993 a patent claiming specific ester derivatives including butafenacil was published.[6] This was developed for the market under the code number CGA276854 and launched in 2001.[1][7]
By that time, further mergers in the industry meant that the product was supplied by Syngenta[8] with brand names including B Power.[9]
Synthesis
As described in the Ciba-Geigy patent, the key step in the preparation of butafenacil involved the reaction between a phenyl isocyanate and an amine. Ethyl 2-chloro-5-isocyanato-benzoate and ethyl 3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate were reacted in the presence of a base to form a substituted urea intermediate which was cyclised to the pyrimidinedione, as shown. Further standard chemical transformations generated the final product.[6]
Mechanism of action
Butafenacil works by inhibiting protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO), preventing chlorophyll formation, and resulting in the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX which is a potent photosensitizer. This activates oxygen, causing lipid peroxidation with rapid loss of membrane integrity and function. The effects visible on whole plants are chlorosis and necrosis.[7][10]
Butafenacil is registered for use in Australia,[9][13] Argentina, Brazil, Japan, and Thailand but not now in the European Union or USA, although it was conditionally given approval there in 2003.[1][14]
The LD50 of butafenacil is over 5000 mg/kg (rats, oral), which means that it is of low toxicity by oral ingestion.[1] The toxicity of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors has been reviewed.[15]
References
^ abcdPesticide Properties Database. "Butafenacil". University of Hertfordshire.
^US patent 4746352, Wenger J. & Winternitz P., "3-(5-Carboxy-4-Substituted-Phenyl)-(thio) Uracil esters and salts", issued 1988-05-24, assigned to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
^"Agricultural and veterinary chemicals"(PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 2. Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority: 8. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2021-03-17.