Herbicides inhibiting branched‐chain amino acid biosynthesis

Abstract

Abstract Herbicides inhibiting branched‐chain amino acid biosynthesis represent a signal advance in crop protection chemistry, with implications for both practical weed control and basic agricultural science. In practical terms, at least 20 different active ingredients are currently marketed or are in development, and more may be expected. They offer selectivity in virtually every major crop, unprecedented low use rates, and inherently selective toxicity to plants. In scientific terms, the research behind these compounds shows modern agricultural chemistry at its best. Synthesis has been integrated with other disciplines to understand and rapidly optimize properties. In the process, basic knowledge has been gained in chemistry, biochemistry, and strategies for finding new agrochemicals. This issue provides the first unified, interdisciplinary overview of the three major classes of inhibitors–sulfonylureas, imidazolinones, and triazolopyrimidines. The following introductory note explores some implications of this research.