Metabolism of metolachlor by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans

The metabolism of metolachlor[2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-met hyl ethyl)acetamide]by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 36112 was determined. Thesix metabolites identified comprised 81% of the total[14C]-metolachlor metabolized by C. elegans. Thesemetabolites were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquidchromatography and identified by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, UV, and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectraltechniques. Metabolites I and II were identified as stereoismers of2-chloro-N-[2-ethyl-6-hydroxymethylphenyl)]-N-(2-hydroxy-1-me thylet hyl)acetamide. Metabolites III and IV have been tentatively identified as stereoismers of2-chloro-N-[2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-6-methylphenyl]-N-(2-methoxy-1-++ +methy lethyl)acetamide. Metabolites V and VI were identified as stereoismers of2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-hydroxy-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-me thylet hyl)acetamideand 2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)acetam ide, respectively. The fungus Cunninghamellaelegans was able to biotransform metolachlor. Multiple site oxidation ofmetolachlor by C. elegans occurred predominantly byO-demethylation of the N-alkyl side chain and benzylichydroxylation of the arylalkyl side chain.