Fosamine is an organophosphate herbicide and plant growth inhibitor. It is highly soluble in water, is not volatile and is not usually persistent in soil systems. It has a low mammalian oral toxicity but may be a neurotoxin. Available ecotoxicity data is limited but tends to be low.
Fosamine tends to be used and produced as ammonium salt. The production of fosamine ammonium involves the synthesis of ethyl hydrogen (aminocarbonyl) phosphonate, a compound belonging to the organophosphate family. The process typically starts with the reaction of phosphorous acid derivatives with ethyl chloroformate and urea or related amine sources, forming the phosphonate backbone with a carbamoyl group. This intermediate is then neutralised with ammonium hydroxide to yield the ammonium salt form, which is the active herbicidal ingredient.
ChEBI: Fosamine is a phosphonic ester.
Slight systemic activity, contact action. Acts by preventing dormant tissues from becoming active and growing again.
Herbicide; Plant Growth Regulator
