PROTONATION AND DEGRADATION REACTIONS OF S-TRIAZINE HERBICIDES

Desethyl atrazine and desethyl terbutylazine, the degradation products of two commonly encountered pesticides, were investigated by UV spect rophotometric and electrochemical techniques. In a sufficiently acidic environment, both compounds undergo further redox degradation which i nvolves the cleavage of the chlorine atom. The reaction is pH dependen t and proceeds via the protonated forms of both compounds. Spectrophot ometric data indicate that the pH required for this reaction is about one unit lower than that required for the degradation of the parent pe sticides, (C) 1998 Academic Press.