What is "fluazinam"

Fluazinam is a broad-spectrum fungicide used in agriculture. It is classed as a diarylamine and more specifically an arylaminopyridine. Its chemical name is 3-chloro-N-(3-chloro-2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinamine. The mode of action involves the compound being an extremely potent uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and also having high reactivity with thiols. It is unique amongst uncouplers in displaying broad-spectrum activity against fungi and also very low toxicity to mammals due to it being rapidly metabolised to a compound without uncoupling activity. It was first described in 1992 and was developed by researchers at the Japanese company Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha.