ALCOHOLYSIS AND CHEMICAL HYDROLYSIS OF CHLORIMURON ETHYL

Alcoholysis (methanol or ethanol) and hydrolysis (pH less than or equal to 8) of the herbicide chlorimuron ethyl at 30 degrees C or 50 degrees C involved only the break-down of the urea function, The pyrimidinamine is always obtained in high yield along with the corresponding carbamate (alcoholysis) or phenylsulfonamide (hydrolysis), This compound was easily cyclized to saccharin (pH greater than or equal to 6). In alkaline solution, the carbethoxy substituent of the aromatic ring was preferentially hydrolysed. The first-order kinetic constants were characterized, No formation of desmethyl chlorimuron was observed.