Relationship Between Chemical-Structure And Selectivity In Herbicidal Activity Of Trans-Beta-(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)-Acrylates Against Rice Plant And Barnyard-Grass

Twenty one esters of trans β-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acrylic acid were prepared and their inhibitory activity against shoot elongation in the rice plant and barnyard-grass was measured. The relationship between herbicidal activity and chemical structure was analysed using the Hansch approach. The selectivity (activity against barnyard-grass/activity against the rice plant) was mainly due to the lipophilic property of the esters between the two plant species.