An investigation was carried out to see whether oil obtained from 
dimethoate-treated olives contained any decomposition products of dimethoate. 
Although the oxon analog was present in the olives, none was found in the 
oil. (14, 1261, 1262). 
Oxidation of dimethoate to its thiolate analog occurred in seed coats 
and germ of wheat grains. Dicarboxylase activity was demonstrated in the 
germs; and hydrolytic activity was found in the germ and endosperm, (1247). 
Investigations showed that wheat and sorghum rapidly degrade dimethoate, 
in vivo and in vitro, While some oxidation of dimethoate did occur, initially 
the bulk of the material was degraded hydrolytically. On the basis of these 
studies, the following pathway was suggested (1248). 
ee. 
P S 
ae ce Dime thoxon 3m (Me0) ,-P-SH 
5 O 0 
( ‘ 
sal fag eo <+——— pimethoateq > 0,0-dimethyl | 
phosphorothiolo- 
S thionate 
Mono-O-methyl S-N- ' 
methylcarbamoylmethyl _ (ted) .-P-S-CH-COOH ¥ r S 
phosphorothiolothionate sy 5 4c ((Me0) .-B-on 
* | 
A y (MeQ) ,~P—S~Me 
2 
eae a 
Me0- -8-CH, -C-OH 0,0,S5-(CH3) 3-phosphoro- Sisal a )o 
H thiolothionate y P 
Mono-O-methy1-S-carboxy- (HO) a 
methyl phosphorothiolo- 3 
ERLORAES Phosphorthionic acid 
= phosphatase 0 = Oxidase 
C = carboxylase A = Amidase 
162 
arin ei eee 
od 

ttt mmm ann iss 


