CYANOACRYLATE INHIBITORS OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON-TRANSPORT - STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INHIBITOR POTENCY AND HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY

Readily synthesized derivatives of 2-cyanoacrylic acid are potent inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport. The structural features associated with optimum activity in this class of inhibitor are described with particular emphasis on the steric factors involved. Generally, inhibition of the Hill reaction correlates well with post-emergence herbicidal activity, though a series of highly active inhibitors devoid of herbicidal activity was discovered.