SYNTHESIS AND HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF 1H-1,4-BENZODIAZEPINE-2,5-DIONES

A series of 1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones, which have been found to inhibit photosystem II electron transport, were evaluated for their h erbicidal activity. Many of the analogues tested exhibited moderate to good herbicidal activity both preemergence and postemergence. The str ucture-activity relationships were probed by substitution in both the benzene and diazepine ring. Among the variations investigated, it was found that maximal herbicidal activity was obtained by substitution at C-7 and C-9 in the aromatic portion and by bulky aliphatic substituti on at N-4 while leaving N-1, C-6, and C-8 unsubstituted.