Monuron [N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N',N'-dimethylurea] 
After oral administration of monuron in oil to albino rats, collected 
urine was analyzed for metabolites. N-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)urea, 
N-(3-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)urea, N-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methyl- 
urea, and N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methylurea were found free and bound as 
glucuronides or sulfates. N-(4-chlorophenyl)urea was observed only in the 
free state. Traces of N-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-N' ,N'-dimethylurea and 
2-acetamino~5-chlorophenol were observed (417). In cotton, the monomethyl 
and the demethylated analogs as well as 4-chloroaniline were observed 
(1289). 
When on monuron was used, 1-(p-chlorophenyl) urea and 1-(p- 
chlorophenyl)-3-methylurea were the major metabolites found in the leaves 
of cotton and soybeans, respectively. p-Chloroaniline was also found in 
cotton leaves but not in soybean leaves (1332). When leaf discs of cotton 
(Gossypium hirsutum L.), broadleaf plantain (Plantago major L.) and soybeans 
(Glycine max Merrill) were incubated with monuron, mono- and di-demethylated 
monuron and p-chloroaniline were observed. With corn (Zea mays L.), only the 
mono-demethylated monuron was observed (1713). An amidohydrolase has been 
obtained from soybeans and cotton leaf tissue that is capable of hydrolyzing 
monuron (561, 1715). 
Monuron was degraded when solutions of this material were exposed to 
ultraviolet light. The major product found was the N-methyl-N-formyl 
analog. Other compounds were also observed: mono- and di- demethylated 
monuron, N-(4-chloro~2-hydroxyphenyl)-N',N'-dimethylurea, N-formyl-4- 
chloroaniline, 1,3-bis (p-chlorophenyl)urea and N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'- 
formylurea (1639). 
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