BENZODIAZEPINEDIONES - A NEW CLASS OF PHOTOSYSTEM-II-INHIBITING HERBICIDES

Benzodiazepinediones, exemplified by AC 341775, are a new class of her bicides with excellent herbicidal properties. Results from various in vitro and in vivo tests indicate that benzodiazepinediones inhibit pho tosynthesis by blocking the photosystem II (PSII) electron transport. These compounds do not control triazine-resistant plants; therefore, b enzodiazepinediones and triazine herbicides most likely share a common binding site on the D1 protein in PSII. Benzodiazepinediones could be used as molecular probes to understand the structure of PSII. (C) 199 6 Academic Press.