Icafolin is a post-emergent chemical herbicide developed by Bayer. Its formula is C17H16F2N2O5. The herbicide was introduced in 2022, registered in 2025, and is anticipated to be introduced in 2028 for use in Brazil. It is a tubulin inhibitor that may be applied to soybeans, corn, and cotton among other crops. The chemical is synthesized as a mixture of (2R,4R) and (2S,4S) stereoisomers through a multi-step process. Icafolin-methyl, a derivative methyl ester of icafolin, is also a tubulin inhibitor and is hydrolyzed to icafolin in plants.
References