Ecotoxicological effects of new C-substituted derivatives of N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate) and their preliminary evaluation towards herbicidal application in agriculture

In this paper, comparison of ecotoxicological and herbicidal effect of newly synthesized N‑[(phosphono)(aryl)methyl]glycines 1a-g (C-substituted glyphosate derivatives) with pure glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) (2) was demonstrated. All of tested glyphosate derivatives (1a-g) in contrast to glyphosate, were found to be completely safe for oat (Avena sativa) and classified as not harmful for marine bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri. Compounds 1a-g were also found rather harmless to radish (Raphanus sativus) as compared to N-phosphonomethylglycine, but they were moderately toxic against freshwater crustaceans Heterocypris incongruens. One of synthesized compounds, namely N-[(phosphono)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]glycine (1f) was found to possess stronger herbicidal properties against gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora) and common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) when compared to pure glyphosate and demonstrated total death of these weeds being ranked 1 in the European Weed Research Council (EWRC) scale. Considering lower phytotoxicity of compound 1f against cultivated plants and tested microorganisms when compared to pure glyphosate, this aminophosphonate may be good candidate for further, more comprehensive study toward its agrochemical application, especially that this active agent demonstrated much stronger herbicidal properties than N-phosphonomethylglycine.