Author: S.D. Yamgar, G.B. Kolekar, S.R. Yankanchi, P.P. Mohire, O. S. Nile and V. B. Metkari

DOI: http://doi.org/10.31788/RJC.2026.1949750

Metribuzin is a widely used triazinone herbicide for effective control of broad-leaf and grassy weeds in several agricultural crops. Conventional industrial synthesis of metribuzin involves the use of hazardous reagents suchasmethyl bromide and bromine, resulting in moderate yields, higher production costs, and environmental concerns. Inthe present study, an improved and environmentally benign synthetic route for metribuzin has been developed usingaqueous sodium bromide as a brominating agent under controlled reaction conditions. The process demonstratesenhanced yield (90–92%) compared to the conventional method (86–88%) while eliminating the direct use of elemental bromine and chlorine. The synthesized metribuzin was characterized by melting point, HPLC, NMR, andIR spectroscopy, and the analytical data were found to be in good agreement with standard specifications. Furthermore, antifungal and antibacterial activities of the final product were evaluated and showed comparableperformance to the commercial reference standard. The developed process offers significant economic andecological advantages, including cost reduction, waste minimization, and zero effluent generation, making it suitablefor sustainable agrochemical manufacturing.

Keywords: Metribuzin, triazinone, green synthesis, sodium bromide, herbicide, sustainable agrochemicals