Reactivity of hydroxyl radicals with neonicotinoid insecticides: mechanism and changes in toxicity.

The reactivity of hydroxyl radicals (HO ) towards three neonicotonoid insecticides, namely imidacloprid, thiacloprid and acetamiprid was investigated. These radicals were generated by photolysis of H(2)O(2) solutions. Flash photolysis experiments were used to determine the rate constants of 5.