Imazaquin along with imazamethabenz-methyl, imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, and imazamox comprise the class of synthetic compounds termed the imidazolinone herbicides.

[5] Crop varieties have been developed through conventional breeding that are resistant to these herbicides and are marketed by BASF under the Clearfield brand.

[4] The imidazolinone herbicides were discovered at American Cyanamid's Agricultural Research Division during the 1970s, starting from the initial lead molecule phthalimide.

Optimization ensued and the attempt to enable the production of field trial samples led to the formation of a tricyclic compound.

The same reaction was performed on the original phthalimide, resulting in a compound that exhibited broad-spectrum herbicidal activity.

It was found that the rate at which imazaquin aggregates on soil humic acids was most affected by the environmental pH.

A higher sorption coefficient means more hindrance of movement and possibly an increase in persistence as a result of protection from degradation.

Imazaquin is a relatively nontoxic, non-carcinogenic chemical causing none to minimal eye and skin irritation if contacted upon the dermis, ingested orally, or inhaled.

Although exposure to residential areas affects infants and children, there is no concern over its presence due to its low estimated aggregated risk which meets the FQPA safety standards.

[14] A study conducted by Cornell University showed that imazaquin ingested by humans and animals was excreted within 48 hours, 94% through urine and 4% through feces.

However, in the one year, dietary chronic imazaquin exposure to beagle dogs, the dogs exposed to the highest dose of imazaquin per day, 5000 ppm, experienced effects such as decreased body weight gain, skeletal myopathy, slight anemia, bone marrow hyperplasia, increased blood levels of SGOT, DSGPT and CPK, and increased liver weight.