ETHOXYFEN is mainly used for post-emergence control of broadleaf and medium-sized weeds such as cleavers, velvetleaf, sedge, and cocklebur, among more than ten others, in soybeans, wheat, barley, peanuts, and peas. The optimal period for weed control is the 2-5 leaf stage. The application rate is 10-30 g(ai)/hm² [0.6-2 g(ai) per mu].
Ethoxyfen-ethyl is commercially produced by a process that involves preparing the acid component, 2-chloro-5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]benzoic acid, which is then coupled with the alcohol (2S)-1-ethoxy-1-oxopropan-2-ol under esterification conditions using coupling agents or acid catalysts. This yields the final product, ethoxyfen-ethyl.
