The role of triplet state keto-enol tautomerism in the photodeamination of metamitron.

Substituted 4-amino-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones undergo photodeamination through cleavage of the N-NH(2) bond in the presence of oxygen and water. To elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, we investigated the photolysis of metamitron (4-amino-6-phenyl-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazin-5-one) by nanosecond laser flash photolysis, steady-state irradiation, and ab initio calculations. Upon pulsed laser excitation of deoxygenated aqueous metamitron, two transient species are clearly detected.

Photolysis of fluometuron in the presence of natural water constituents.

Phototransformation of the herbicide fluometuron (1 microM) in natural sunlight was investigated in neutral Milli-Q water and in synthetic waters containing either fulvic acids, nitrate ions or both in order to mimic reactions taking place in aquatic environments. Fluometuron degradation followed a pseudo-first order kinetics. The reaction was faster in synthetic than in Milli-Q water.

Humic-like substances extracted from composts can promote the photodegradation of Irgarol 1051 in solar light.

Humic-like substances (HLS) were extracted from a mixture of sewage sludges and trimmings (70-30%, w/w) after different times of composting (0, 70 days and 130 days). HLS were analyzed by elemental analysis, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and also tested for their ability to photosensitize the degradation of Irgarol. The rate of Irgarol photodegradation in artificial solar light was found to be 2.

Photochemical behaviour of phenylurea herbicides.

The photochemical behaviour of phenylurea herbicides in aqueous solution is highly dependent on the nature and position of substituents on the ring. Most of these herbicides are methylated on the urea moiety, the other substituents are usually halogens or methoxy groups. The main reaction involving the aromatic ring of unhalogenated phenylureas excited at wavelengths shorter than 300 nm is an intramolecular rearrangement, similar to photo-Fries rearrangement, whereas with halogenated derivatives, photohydrolysis is the main transformation pathway.