SYNTHESIS AND QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY-RELATIONSHIPS OF HERBICIDAL N-(2-FLUORO-5-METHOXYPHENYL)-3,4,5,6-TETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDES

The effect of substitution at position 4 of the phenyl ring of N-(2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)tetrahydrophthalimide on herbicidal activity was investigated by using a factorial design strategy. The substituents were chosen by use of cluster analysis and confirmed as an orthogonal set by use of correlation and factor analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to interpret the herbicide data. For optimal activity, we found that the 4-position should be submitted by a small, hydrophobic, electronegative group. An optimal molecular molar refractivity and lipophilicity are also important for good postemergence activity. The synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) are presented.