Degradation of the fungicide denmert (S-n-butyl S'-p-tert-butylbenzyl N-3-pyridyldithiocarbonimidate, S-1358) by plants, soils and light

14C-Denmert(S-n-butyl S'-p-tert-butylbenzyl N-3-pyridyldithiocarbonimidate, S-1358) labeled at the methylene of the benzyl group was gradually decomposed to yield a number of products, when exposed to sunlight on thin-layer plates or in water solution, applied to plant foliage or nutrient solution, and added to soils under upland conditions. The identified products were almost common to plants, soils and light. The primary reactions occurred: (1), oxidation of the sulfur atoms; (2), cleavage of the dithiocarbonimidate linkage, and (3), oxidation of the methylene of the benzyl group. Also, hydroxylation at the tert-butyl group attached to the benzyl moiety slightly took place in soils. Although radioactivity was absorbed by the plant through leaves or roots, translocation into other parts of the plant occurred to a very small extent. Denmert and its degradation products were hardly leached through the acidic soils tested. (auth.)