Phenyl phosphorodiamidate is an
organophosphorus compound
Organophosphorus compounds are organic compounds containing phosphorus. They are used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. Some organophosphorus compounds are highly effective in ...
with the formula C
6H
5OP(O)(NH
2)
2. A white solid, it is used as an inhibitor of
urease
Ureases (), functionally, belong to the superfamily of amidohydrolases and phosphotriesterases. Ureases are found in numerous bacteria, fungi, algae, plants, and some invertebrates, as well as in soils, as a soil enzyme. They are nickel-containin ...
,
an enzyme that accelerates the hydrolysis of
urea
Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with chemical formula . This amide has two amino groups (–) joined by a carbonyl functional group (–C(=O)–). It is thus the simplest amide of carbamic acid.
Urea serves an important r ...
. In this way, phenyl phosphorodiamidate enhances the effectiveness of urea-based
fertilizer
A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...
s. It is a component of the technology of
controlled release fertilizer 224px, Methylene diurea (MDU) is component of the most popular controlled-release fertilizers.
A controlled-release fertiliser (CRF) is a granulated fertiliser that releases nutrients gradually into the soil (i.e., with a controlled release period ...
s.
In terms of its molecular structure, phenyl phosphorodiamidate is a tetrahedral molecule structurally related to urea, hence its inhibitory function. It is a derivative of
phosphoryl chloride
Phosphoryl chloride (commonly called phosphorus oxychloride) is a colourless liquid with the formula . It hydrolyses in moist air releasing phosphoric acid and fumes of hydrogen chloride. It is manufactured industrially on a large scale from phosp ...
.
See also
*
N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide
''N''-(''n''-Butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) is the organophosphorus compound with the formula SP(NH2)2(NHC4H9). A white solid, NBPT is an "enhanced efficiency fertilizer", intended to limit the release of nitrogen-containing gases followi ...
, a related urease inhibitor
References
{{Reflist
Phosphoramides
Soil improvers
Fertilizers