Photodegradation of herbicide triasulfuron

Triasulfuron was degraded in aqueous solution by ultraviolet irradiation to yield 2-chloroethoxybenzene and (4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)urea. The reaction followed first-order kinetics. In sunlight, the reaction was slower and afforded these two photoproducts together with 2-amino-4-methoxy-6-methyltriazine and 2-(2-chloroethoxy)benzenesulfonamide. The latter compounds arise from hydrolytic cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge of triasulfuron because of the acidity of the reaction medium due to the loss of sulfur dioxide. A mechanism which accounts for the formation of the photoproducts is proposed. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.