SUSPENSION CONCENTRATE COMPOSITIONS OF ARYLPYRROLE
INSECTICIPAL AND ACARICIDAL AGENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain arylpyrrole compounds, their
preparation and use are disclosed dn U.S. Patent Nos..
5,010,098 and 5,233,051; and Canadian Patent Application
No. 2,076,937, among others.
VJhile certain suspension concentrates of
arylpyrroles are known, for example, see Canadian Patent
Application No. 2,076,937, it has been found that upon
aging for extended periods of time and/or exposure to
elevated temperatures, that those suspension concentrates
are not entirely storage stable.
Furthermore, the suspension concentrate compo-
sition prepared in Canadian Patent Application No.
2,076,93 7 has a large ratio of surfactants to arylpyrrole
compound. However, the use of high levels of surfactants
is not entirely satisfactory because of environmental and
economic concerns.
It is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide suspension concentrate compositions
of arylpyrrole compounds which are physically and chem-
ically stable and therefore have better storageability
properties and require the use of less surfactants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an insecticidal
and acaricidal suspension concentrate composition which
comprises about 10% tc 50% by weight of a particulate
aryl-pyrrole compound having a volume mean diameter of
about 0.5 to 4 microns, about 0.1% to 2% by weight of a
dispersing agent, about 0.5% to 5% by weight of a steric
stabilizer, about 0.1% to 1% by weight of a suspending
agent, abjout 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of a thickening
agent, abjout 5% to 15% by weight of an anti-freeze agent,
up to abojut 1% by weight of an antifoam agent, up to
about 0.3% by weight cf a preservative and water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Advantageously, the present invention provides
a storage stable insecticidal and acaricidal suspension
concentrate compositio.i which comprises 10% to 50% by
weight of a particulate arylpyrrole compound having a
volume r.ean diameter of 0.5 to 4 microns, 0.1% to 2% by
weight cf a dispersing agent, 0.5% to 5% by weight of a
steric stabilizer, O.lV to 1% by weight of a suspending
agent, 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of a thickening agent, 5%
to 15% by weight of an antifreeze agent, up to 1% by
weight cf an antifoam agent, up to 0.3% by weight of a
preservative and water.
In the susper.sion concentrate compositions of
the present invention, the ratio of the total amount of
the dispersing agent a.nd the steric stabilizer to the
arylpyrrole compound is preferably about 1:5 to 1:15 and
most preferably about 1:8 to 1:10.
Preferred suspension concentrate compositions
of this invention are those comprising about 20% to 4 0%
by weight of a particulate arylpyrrole compound having a
volume mean diameter of about 1 to 3 microns, 0.5% to
1.5% by weight of a dispersing agent, 1.5% to 3.5% by-
weight of a steric stabilizer, 0.1% to 1% by weight of a
suspending agent, 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of a thickening
agent, 5% to 10% by weight of an antifreeze agent, 0.1%
to 1% by weight of an antifoam agent, 0.01% to 0.3% by
weight of a preservative and water, provided that the
ratio of the total amount of the dispersing agent and the
steric sta.bilizer to the arylpyrrole compound is about
1:5 to 1:Z5.
Uniquely, it has been found that the
arylpyrrole suspension concentrate compositions of the
present invention are physically and chemically stable
for extended periods of time over a wide range of temper-
atures. Heretofore, arylpyrrole suspension concentrate
compositions contained larger particle sizes and/or
higher levels of surfactants. The discovery that storage
stable suspension concentrate compositions are obtained
by reducing the particle size of the arylpyrrole compound
and reducing the level of surfactants is especially
surprising because generally when smaller particle sizes
are used, more surfactants are required to obtain a
stable suspension concentrate composition.
Advantageously, the suspension concentrate
compositions of the present invention which comprise
arylpyrrole particles having a volume mean diameter of
about 0.5 to 4 microns are more effective for the control
of insects and acarids than the arylpyrrole suspension
concentrate compositions of the art.
Arylpyrrole compounds suitable for use in the
compositions of this invention have the following
structural formula I
wherein
X is H, F, C1, Er, I or C1-C4haloalkyl;
Y is F, CI, Br, I, -C1-C4haloalkyl or CN;
W is CN or NO2;
A is C1-C4alkyl optionally substituted with
one tc three halogen atoms,
one cyano,
one hydroxy,
one C1-C4alkoxy,
one C1-C4alkylthio,
one phenyl optionally substituted with
C1-C3alkyl, C1-C3alkoxy, or
one to three halogen atoms,
one phenoxy optionally substituted with
one to three halogen atoms, or
one benzyloxy optionally substituted with
one halogen atom,
C1-C4carbalkoxymethyl,
C3-C4alkenyl optionally substituted with one to
three halogen atoms,
cyano,
C3-C4alkynyl optionally substituted with one
halogen atom,
di- (C1-C4alkyl)aminocarbonyl, or
benzoyl optionally substituted with one to three
halogen atoms or one to three
C1-C4alkyl groups;
L is H, F, CI or Br;
M and R are each independently H, C1-C3alkyl, C1-C3-
alkoxy, C1-C3alkylthio, C1-C3alkylsulfinyl, C1-C3-
alkylsulfonyl, cyano, F, Cl, Br, I, nitro, C1-C3-
haloaikyl, R1CF2Z, R2CO or NR3R4, or when M and R
are on adjacent positions and taken with the carbon
atoms to which they are attached they may form a
ring in which MR represents the structure:
-OCH2O-, -OCF2O-, -OCR6R7CR8R9O-,
-OCH2CH2-, -OCH2CH2CH2- or -CH=CH-CH=CH-;
Z is S(O)n or O;
Rl is H, F, CHF2, CHFCl or CF3;
R2 is C2^-C3alkyl, C1-C3alkoxy or NR3R4 ;
R3 is H or C1-C3alkyl;
R4 is H, C-L-C3alkyl or R5CO;
R5 is H or C1-C3alkyl;
Rg, R7, Rg and Rg are each independently hydrogen,
halogen or C1-C3alkyl; and
n is an integer of 0, 1 or 2.
Preferred arylpyrrole compounds suitable for
use in the compositions of the invention are those having
the structural formula II
wherein X, Y, W, A, L, M and R are as described above.
More preferred insecticidal and acaricidal
arylp/rrole compounds which are particularly useful in
the compositions of this invention are those having the
structural formula II wherein
X and Y are each independently CI, Br or CF3;
W is :N;
A is C1-C4alkoxymethyl ;
L is H or F;
M is H, F, CI or Br; and
R is ?, CI, Br, CF3 or OCF3.
Especially preferred for use in the suspension
concentrate compositions of the present invention is 4-
bromo-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-
(trifluoromethyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile.
Dispersing agents suitable for use in this
invention include the salts of the condensation products
of formaldehyde with the sulfonation products of polycyc-
lic aromatic compounds; the salts of polyacrylic acids;
the ccndensation products of fatty acids or aliphatic
amines or anides containing at least about twelve carbon
atoms in the molecule with ethylene oxide and/or propyl-
ene oxide; fatty acid esters of glycerol, sorbitan,
sucrose or pentaerychritol and their condensation
products with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide;
condensation products of fatty alcohols or alkyl phenols
with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and their
sulfates or sulfonates; and alkali or alkaline earth
metal salts of sulfuric or sulfonic acid esters
containing at least ten carbon atoms in the molecule, for
example sodium lauryl sulfate and dodecylbenzene
sulfonate.
Preferred dispersing agents are the salts of
the condensation products of formaldehyde with the sulfo-
nation products of polycyclic aromatic compounds such as
the salts of the condensation products of formaldehyde
with naphthalene sulfonates, petroleum sulfonates and
lignin sulfonates with the sodium sulfonate of naphtha-
lene formaldehyde condensates such as MORWET D425
(Witco, Houston, Texas), LDMAr" PW (Henkel, Cincinnati,
Ohio) and DARVAN® 1 (R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Norwalk,
Connecticut) being most preferred.
Steric stabilizers are used in the compositions
of the present invention to prevent the arylpyrrole
particles from sticking together. Steric stabilizers
suitable for use include polymers of ethylene oxide and
copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide such as
ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers. Pre-
ferred steric stabilizers are buty1-omega-hydroxypoly-
(oxypropylene)block polymers with poly(oxyethylene)
having an average molecular weight in a range of about
2,400 to 3,500 with alpha-butyl-omega-hydroxy-ethylene
oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers such as TOXIMUl"
8320 (Stepan Chemical Co., Winder, Georgia), WITCONOL® NS
500 LQ (Witco) and TERGITOL® XD (Union Carbide, Danbury,
Connecticut) being most preferred.
Suspending agents suitable for use in the
compositions of the present invention include natural and
synthetic clays and silicates, for example natural sili-
cas such as diatomaceous earths; magnesium silicates such
as talcs, magnesium aluminum silicates such as attapul-
gites and vermiculites; and aluminum silicates such as
kaolinites, montmorillonites and micas. Preferred sus-
pending agents are magnesium silicates, magnesium alum-
inum silicates and aluminum silicates with magnesium
aluminum silicates such as VANGEL® ES (R.T.Vancerbilt),
VEEGUM® (R.T. Vanderbilt), VEEGUM® T (R.T. Vancerbilt)
and GELWHITE® (Southern Clay Products, Gonzales, Texas)
being most preferred.
Thickening agents useful in the suspension
concentrate compositions of this invention include
natural thickening agents such as xanthan gum, carra-
geenan, pectin, gum arable, guar rubber and the like;
semisynthetic thickening agents such as the methylation
products, carboxyalkylatior. products and hydroxyalkyl-
ation products of cellulose or starch derivatives; and
synthetic thickening agents such as polyacrylates, pcly-
maleinates and polyvinylpyrrolidone with xanthan gums
®
such as KELZAN (Kelco, Sar. Diego, California) and
RHODOPOL" 23 (Rhone-Poulenc, Cranbury, New Jersey) being
preferred thickening agents.
Antifreeze agents suitable for use in the
present invention include glycols such as propylene
glycol, ethylene glycol and the like, with propylene
glycol being preferred. Suitable antifoam agen-s include
emulsions of silicone oils, emulsions of fatty alcohols
and the like. Preservatives suitable for use in this
invention include 1,2-benzi30thiazolin-3-one, epichloro-
hydrin, phenylglycidyl ether, allylglycidyl ether,
formaldehyde compositions and the like with 1,2-benziso-
thiazolin-3-one being preferred.
The suspension concentrate compositions of the
present invention may conveniently be prepared by
admixing the desired arylpyrrole compound, dispersing
agent, steric stabilizer, suspending agent, antifreeze
agent and water until a homogeneous mixture is obtained,
then milling the homogeneous mixture to obtain a mill
base wherein the arylpyrrole compound particles have a
volume mean diameter of about 0.5 to 4 microns. A
mixture of the thickening agent in water and water are
then added to the mill base and nixing is continued to
obtain the desired suspension co.ncentrate composition of
the present invention.
The suspension concentrate compositions of this
invention preferably have a pH of about pH 5 to pH 9 and
more preferably about pH 6 to pH 8. Acids suitable for
use in buffering the compositions of the present
invention include hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid,
sulfuric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and the like
with acetic acid being preferred.
In order to facilitate a further understanding
of the invention, the following examples are presented to
illustrate more specific details thereof. The invention
is not to be limited thereby except as defined in the
claims.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of suspension concentrate
compositions
Propylene glycol (331 g), a 17% 1,2-benziso-
thiazolin-3-one solution (PROXEl" GXL, ICI Americas)
(6.35 g), a 30% silicone emulsion (AF 30 IND, Harcros
Chemical Co.) (29.9 g) , alpha-butyl-omega-hydroxyl-
®
ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer (TOXIMUL
8320, Stepan Chemical Co.) (132.5 g) , sodium sulfonate of
®
naphthalene formaldehyde condensate (MORWET D425, Witco)
(44 g), magnesium aluminum silicate (VANGEL ES, R.T.
Vanderbilt) (22.2 g) and 4-bromo-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-
(ethoxymethyl) -5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile
(1,542 g, 90% real) are added sequentially with stirring
to water (976 g). The resultant mixture is stirred until
homogeneous and passed through a wet milling device to
obtain a mill base wherein the arylpyrrole particles have
a volume mean diameter of about 1.5 microns. The mill
base is charged into a vessel, agitated and adjusted to a
pH of pH 6.5 to pH 7.2 with acetic acid. A 1% xanthan
gum gel (662 g) prepared from xanthan gum (6.8 g), a 17%
1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one solution (PROXEL® GXL, ICI
Americas) (0.45 g) and water (654.75 g) and water (659 g)
are added to the pH adjusted mill base and mixing is
continued to obtain the desired suspension concentrate
composition identified as composition 1 in Table II.
Using essentially the same procedure, but using
the ingredients listed in Table I, the suspension concen-
trate compositions identified as compositions 2-21 in
Table II may be prepared.
TABLE I
Arvlpyrrole Compound
a. 4-bromo-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-
(trifluoromethyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile
b. l-benzoyl-4-bromo-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-E-(trifluoro-
methyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile
c . 4-chloro-2- (p-chlorophenyl) -1- (ethoxyrr.ethyl) -5-
(trifluoromethyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile
Dispersing Agent
d. sodium sulfonate of naphthalene formaldehyde
condensate (MORWET® D425)
e. sodium salt of lignin sulfonate
Steric Stabilizer
f. alpha-butyl-omega-hydroxy-ethylene oxide-propylene
oxide block copolyner (TOXIMUl" 8320)
g. ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer
(PLURONIC® P104, BASF Corp., Wyandotte, Michigan)
Suspending Agent
0
h, magnesium aluminum silicate (VANGEL E3)
i. synthetic clay (LAPONITE® RD, Laporte, Rolling
Meadows, Illinois)
Thickening Agent
j. xanthan gum (KELZAn")
k. xanthan gum (RHODOPOL® 23)
Antifreeze Agent
1. propylene glycol
m. ethylene glycol
Antifoam Agent
n. 30% silicone emulsion (AF 30 IND)
Preservative
o. 17% 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one solution (PROXEL® GXL)
Acid
p. acetic acid
EXAMPLE 2
Stability of suspension concentrate
compositions
The stabilities of suspension concentrate
composition numbers 1 and 2 from Table II are evaluated
by storing samples of the compositions for three, six and
six months at 45°C, 37°C and 25°C, respectively, then
measuring (1) the percent of arylpyrrole recovered from
the samples by high performance liquid chromatography
analyses, (2) the volume mean diameter of the arylpyrrole
particles present in the samples with a Malvern particle
sizer, and (3) the viscosity of the samples with a
Brookfield viscometer (#2 spindle, room temperature, 60
rpm) . The method used to measure the percent arylpyrrole
recovered from the samples has an experimental error of ±
2%. The results are summarized in Table III.
As can be seen from the data in Table III, the
suspension concentrate compositions of the present inven-
tion are physically and chemically stable for extended
periods of time at various temperatures.
WE CLAIM:
1. A suspension concentrate composition which comprises 10% to 50% by weight of a
particulate arylpyrrole compound having a volume mean diameter of 0.5 to 4 microns
and having the structural formula
wherein
X is H, F, CI, Br, I or C1-C4haloalkyl;
Y is F, CI, Br, I, C1-C4haloalkyi or CN;
W is CN or NO2;
A is C1-C4alkyl optionally substituted with
one to three halogen atoms,
one cyano,
one hydroxy,
one C1-C4alkoxy,
one C1-C4alkylthio,
one phenyl optionally substituted with
C1-C3alkyl, C1-C3alkoxy, or
one to three halogen atoms, or
one phenoxy optionally substituted with
one to three halogen atoms, or
one benzyloxy optionally substituted with one halogen atoms,
C1-C4 carbalkoxymethyl
C3-C4alkenyl optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms,
cyano,
C3-C4alkynyl optionally substituted with one halogen atom,
di-(C1-C4alkyl)aminocarbonyl, or
benzoyl optionally substituted with one to three halogen atoms or one to three C1-C4
alkyl groups;
L is H, F, CI or Br;
M and R are each independently H, C1-C3alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3alkylthio, C1-C3
alkylsulfinyl, C1-C3-alkylsulfonyl, cyano, F, CI, Br, I, nitro, C1-C3-haloalkyI, R1CF2Z, R2CO
or NR3R4, or when M and R are on adjacent positions and taken with the carbon atoms
to which they are attached they may form a ring in which MR represents the structure:
-OCH2O-, -OCF2O-, -OCR6R7CR8R9O-,
-OCH2CH2-, -OCH2CH2CH2- or-CH=CH-CH=CH-
Z is S(O)n or O;
R1 is H, F, CHF2, CHFC1 OR CF3;
R2 is C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3alkoxy or NR3R4;
R3isHorC1-C3alkyI;
R4 is H or C1-C3 alkyl or R5CO;
R5is H or C1-C3 alkyl;
R6, R7, R8 and R9are each independently hydrogen, halogen or C1-C3 alkyl; and
n is an integer of 0, 1 or 2,
0.1 % to 2% by weight of a dispersing agent, 0.5% to 5% by weight of a steric stabilizer
selected from ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, 0.1% to 1% by weight
of a suspending agent, 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of a thickening agent, 5% to 15% by
weight of an anti-freeze agent, up to 1% by weight of an antifoam agent, up to 0.3% by
weight of a preservative and water.
2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, which comprises 20% to 40% by weight of a
particulate arylpyrrole compound having a volume mean diameter of 1 to 3 microns,
0.5% to 1.5% by weight of a dispersing agent, 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of a steric
stabilizer, 0.1 % to 1% by weight of a suspending agent, 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of a
thickening agent, 5% to 10% by weight of an anti-freeze agent, 0.1% to 1% by weight of
an antifoam agent, 0.01% to 0.3% by weight of a preservative and water.
3. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the total amount of the
dispersing agent and the steric stabilizer to the arylpyrrole compound is 1:5 to 1:15.
4. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dispersing agent is
a salt of the condensation products of formaldehyde with the sulfonation products of
polycyclic aromatic compounds.
5. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the suspending agent is
selected from a magnesium aluminium silicate, a magnesium silicate and an aluminum
silicate.
6. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thickening agent is
selected from xanthan gum, carrageenan, pectin, gum arabic and guar rubber.
7. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein and the antifreeze
agent is a glycol.
8. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the dispersing agent Is
the sodium sulfonate of naphthalene formaldehyde condensates, the steric stabilizer is
an alpha-butyl-omega-hydroxy-ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer, the
suspending agent is.magnesium aluminum silicate, the thickening agent is xanthan
gum, and the antifreeze agent is propylene glycol.
9. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, having a pH of pH 5 to pH 9.
10. A composition as claimed in claim 1#, wherein the compound has the structural
formula
11. A composition as claimed in claim 1#, wherein X and Y are each independently CI,
Br or CF3;
W is CN;
A is C1-C4alkoxymethyl;
L is H or F;
M is H, F, CI or Br; and
R is F, CI, Br, CF3 or OCF3.
12. A composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein the compound is 4-bromo-2-(p-
chlorophenyl)-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-trifluoro-methyl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile.
13. A process for preparing a suspension concentrate composition as claimed in claim
1, which comprises admixing the desired arylpyrrole compound, dispersing agent, steric
stabilizer, suspending agent, antifreeze agent and water until a homogeneous mixture is
obtained, then milling the homogeneous mixture to obtain a mill base wherein the
arylpyrrole compound particles have a volume mean diameter of 0.5 to 4 microns,
adding a mixture of the thickening agent in water and water to the mill base and mixing.

A suspension concentrate composition which comprises about 10% to 50% by weight of a particulate arylpyrrole compound having a volume mean diameter of about 0.5 to 4 microns, about 0.1% to 2% by weight of a dispersing agent,
about 0.5% to 5% by weight of a steric stabilizer, about 0.1% to 1% by weight of a suspenslng agent, about 0.01% to 0.5%
by weight of a thickening agent, about 5% to 15% by weight of an anti-freeze agent, up to about 1% by weight of an antifoam agent, up to about 0.3% by weight of a preservative and water.