FORMULATION COMPONENT
This invention relates to the use of aromatic esters as adjuvants in compositions,
particularly for agrochemical use, as well to compositions comprising such an aromatic
ester, in combination with at least one agrochemical. The invention further extends to
methods of making and using such compositions. In particular the present invention
relates to such compositions when formulated as, or comprised by, an emulsion
concentrate (EC), an emulsion in water (EW), a suspension of particles in water (SC), a
microcapsule formulation (CS), a suspension of particles with an emulsion (SE), a
dispersion concentrate (DC) or an oil suspension (OD).
The efficacy of the active ingredients (Als) in an agrochemical composition can
often be improved by the addition of further ingredients. The observed efficacy of the
combination of ingredients can sometimes be significantly higher than that which would
be expected from the individual ingredients used (synergism). An adjuvant is a
substance which can increase the biological activity of and A but is itself not
significantly biologically active. The adjuvant is often a surfactant, and can be included
in the formulation or added separately, e.g. by being built into emulsion concentrate
formulations, or as tank mix additives.
In addition to the effect on biological activity, the physical properties of an
adjuvant are of key importance and must be selected with a view to compatibility with
the formulation concerned. For instance, it is generally simpler to incorporate a solid
adjuvant into a solid formulation such as a water-soluble or water-dispersible granule. In
general adjuvants rely on surfactant properties for biological activity enhancement and
one typical class of adjuvants involves an alkyl or aryl group to provide a lipophilic
moiety and a (poly)ethoxy chain to provide a hydrophilic moiety. Much has been
published on the selection of adjuvants for various purposes, such as Hess, F.D. and
Foy, C.L., Weed technology 2000, 14, 807-81 3.
The present invention is based on the discovery that aromatic esters with
relatively long hydrocarbon chains are surprisingly effective adjuvants, significantly
enhancing the biological activity of active ingredients. Aromatic esters of varied
hydrocarbon chain lengths have until now only been known as solvents (such as
Benzoflex 81™ and Finsolv TN™), emollients, plasticisers, and thickening agents, for
use in various industries. There is also a meagre amount of information presently
available on preferentially shorter chain aromatic esters having putative adjuvant
properties in the context of agrochemical compositions. However, according to the
surprising effects underpinning the present invention, this formulation dogma will be
swept aside, at least to some extent, by the revelation that it is in fact longer chain
aromatic esters (in particular phthalate derivatives) which possess the greater adjuvant
properties.
The present invention accordingly provides the use of an aromatic ester of
formula (I)
wherein R1 is COOR2
n is 1 or 2 and
each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C -
C20 alkyl, C4-C22 alkenyl, C -C22 alkyldienyl, and C6-C22 alkyltrienyl,
for enhancing the biological activity of an agrochemical active ingredient.
In a second aspect the invention provides for the use of an aromatic ester of
formula (I) as described herein as an adjuvant in an agrochemical composition.
In a third aspect the invention provides for the use of an agrochemical
composition as described herein to control pests.
In a further aspect there is provided a method of controlling a pest, comprising
applying a composition of the invention to said pest or to the locus of said pest.
In yet a further aspect there is provided a method of making an agrochemical
composition as described herein, comprising combining an active ingredient, a
surfactant and an aromatic ester of formula (I).
In a yet further aspect the invention provides for the use of an aromatic ester of
formula (I) as described herein as an adjuvant /synergist for an agrochemical.
Alkyl groups and moieties are straight or branched chains, and unless explicitly
stated to the contrary, are unsubstituted. Examples of suitable alkyl groups for use in
the invention are hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl,
pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl and eicosyl groups.
Alkenyl groups and moieties are straight or branched chains having a single
carbon-carbon double bond, and unless explicitly stated to the contrary, are
unsubstituted. Examples of suitable alkenyl groups for use in the invention are hex-1-
enyl, hex-2-enyl, hex-3-enyl, hept-1-enyl, oct-1-enyl, non-1 -enyl, dec-1-enyl, undec-1-
enyl, and groups derived from monoenoic fatty acids including cis-4-decenyl, cis-9-
decenyl, cis-5-laurolyl, cis-4-dodecenyl, cis-9-tetradecenyl, cis-5-tetradecenyl, cis-4-
tetradecenyl, cis-9-hexadecenyl, cis-6-hexadecenyl, cis-6-octadecenyl, cis-9-
octadecenyl, trans-9-octadecenyl, cis-1 1-octadecenyl, cis-9-eicosenyl, cis-1 1-eicosenyl,
cis-1 1-docosenyl, cis-13-docosenyl and cis-15-tetracosenyl.
Alkyldienyl groups and moieties are straight or branched chains having two
carbon-carbon double bond, and unless explicitly stated to the contrary, are
unsubstituted. Examples of suitable alkyldienyl groups for use in the invention are buta-
,3-dienyl, penta-1 ,3-dienyl, penta-2,4-dienyl, penta-1,4-dienyl, hex-1,3-dienyl, hept-1,3-
dienyl, linoleyl, and linoelaidyl.
Alkyltrienyl groups and moieties are straight or branched chains having three
carbon-carbon double bond, and unless explicitly stated to the contrary, are
unsubstituted. Examples of suitable alkyldienyl groups for use in the invention hex-1 ,3,
5-trienyl, hepta-1,3,5-trienyl, and linolenyl.
In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the preferred values for n ,
as well as the preferred groups for R1 & R2, in any combination thereof (unless
specifically stated otherwise) are as set out below.
As described herein, compounds of formula (I) may be benzoic acid esters or
esters of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid. Phthalic acid esters are
preferred. Preferably, each R2 is independently a C -C oalkyl group. More preferably
each R2 is independently a C -C 0 alkyl group, more preferably a C -C alkyl group and
may be for example n-hexyl, isoheptyl, 2-ethylhexyl, isononyl, isodecyl, isoundecyl,
isododecyl, or isotridecyl. Most preferably each R2 is a C6-C1 alkyl group.
In certain embodiments each R2 is independently a C , C8 or C 0 alkyl group. In
further embodiments each R2 is independently n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, or isodecyl.
As described herein n may be an integer of 1 or 2 preferably 2. In particularly
preferred embodiments when n is 2 , each R2 is the same.
Examples of compounds of formula (I), which may be used in the invention and
which are available commercially include for example, those described in Table 1 below.
Table 1 Compounds of formula (I) for use in the invention
Alternatively, compounds of formula 1 may be synthesised according to the
general principals outlined below.
Where n has a value of , compounds of formula (I) are benzoic acid esters and
may be synthesised using well-known methodology as described for example in reaction
schemes 1 and 2 below.
Reaction scheme 1
(A) (AC ) (I)
An alcohol of formula (A) is reacted with an acid chloride of formula (AC) in order
to form a benzoic acid ester of formula (I), wherein R2 is an appropriate alkyl group as
defined hereinbefore.
Re ction scheme 2
(AA) (I) (AC)
An alcohol of formula (A) is reacted with an acid anhydride of formula (AA) to
form a benzoic acid ester of formula (I) plus an acid of formula (AC), in which 2 is a
suitable alkyl group as defined hereinbefore. In an analogous way, phthalate esters for
use in the invention may be produced by esterification of phthalic anhydride with an
alcohol of formula (A).
Alcohols of formula (A), acid chlorides of formula (AC) and acid anhydrides of
formula (AA) are readily available or may be synthesised using standard methodology
well known in the art.
As stated previously, the present invention is based on the unexpected finding
that compounds of formula (I) are particularly good adjuvants in agrochemical
formulations. In particular, compounds of formula (I) display the surprising property of
enhancing the biological activity of an agrochemical active ingredient in an agrochemical
composition. As used herein, "enhancing the biological activity" means increasing the
potency of an agrochemical active ingredient, and/or decreasing the application rate
required to achieve control of the target organism. Accordingly, such adjuvants may be
combined with an active ingredient, which is an agrochemical, in order to form an
agrochemical composition. The present invention extends to a method of making such
an agrochemical composition, wherein said method comprises combining a compound
of formula (I) with an agrochemically active ingredient, and optionally a surfactant. The
noun "agrochemical" and term "agrochemically active ingredient" are used herein
interchangeably, and they include herbicides, insecticides, nematodes, molluscicides,
funcgicides, plant growth regulators, and safeners. Suitable herbicides include
bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, fomesafen, tralkoxydim, napropamide, amitraz, propanil,
pyrimethanil, dicloran, tecnazene, toclofos methyl, flamprop , 2,4-D, MCPA, mecoprop,
clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop methyl, haloxyfop, quizalofop-P, indol-3-
ylacetic acid, 1-naphthylacetic acid, isoxaben, tebutam, chlorthal dimethyl, benomyl,
benfuresate, dicamba, dichlobenil, benazolin, triazoxide, fluazuron, teflubenzuron,
phenmedipham, acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, alloxydim,
butroxydim, clethodim, cyclodim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, pendimethalin, dinoterb,
bifenox, oxyfluorfen, acifluorfen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, bromoxynil, ioxynil,
imazamethabenz-methyl, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazapic, imazamox,
flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, picloram, amodosulfuron, chlorsulfuron, nicosulfuron,
rimsulfuron, triasulfuron, triallate, pebulate, prosulfocarb, molinate, atrazine, simazine,
cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, sulcotrione, isoproturon,
linuron, fenuron, chlorotoluron and metoxuron.
Suitable fungicides include isopyrazam, mandipropamid, azoxystrobin,
trifloxystrobin, kresoxim methyl, famoxadone, metominostrobin and picoxystrobin,
cyprodanii, carbendazim, thiabendazole, dimethomorph, vinclozolin, iprodione,
dithiocarbamate, imazalil, prochloraz, fluquinconazole, epoxiconazole, flutriafol,
azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, hexaconazole,
paclobutrazole, propiconazoie, tebuconazole, triadimefon, trtiticonazole, fenpropimorph,
tridemorph, fenpropidin, mancozeb, metiram, chlorothalonil, thiram, ziram, captafol,
captan, folpet, fluazinam, flutolanil, carboxin, metalaxyl, bupirimate, ethirimol,
dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, orysastrobin, metominostrobin and prothioconazole.
Suitable insecticides include thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, acetamiprid,
clothianidin, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, fipronil, abamectin, emamectin, bendiocarb,
carbaryl, fenoxycarb, isoprocarb, pirimicarb, propoxur, xylylcarb, asulam, chlorpropham,
endosulfan, heptachlor, tebufenozide, bensultap, diethofencarb, pirimiphos methyl,
aldicarb, methomyl, cyprmethrin, bioallethrin, deltamethrin, lambda cyhalothrin,
cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, imiprothrin, permethrin and halfenprox.
Suitable plant growth regulators include paclobutrazole and 1-
methylcyclopropene.
Suitable safeners include benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, dichlormid,
fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, mefenpyr-diethyl, G- 9 ,
naphthalic anhydride, and oxabetrinil.
Of course, the various editions of The Pesticide Manual [especially the 4th and
5 h editions] also disclose details of agrochemicals, any one of which may suitably be
used with the present invention.
The skilled man will appreciate that compositions of the invention may comprise
one or more of the agrochemicals as described above.
Compositions of the invention will typically comprise the agrochemical in an
amount that is recommended in the art. Generally the agrochemical will be present at a
concentration of about 0.001% to 90% w/w. The skilled man will appreciate that
compositions of the invention may be in the form of a ready-to-use formulation or in
concentrate form suitable for further dilution by the end user, and the concentration of
agrochemical and compound of formula (I) will be adjusted accordingly. In concentrated
form, compositions of the invention typically comprise agrochemical at 5 to 75% w/w,
more preferably 10 to 50% w/w agrochemical. Ready-to-use compositions of the
invention will typically comprise from 0.0001% to 1% w/w, more preferably from 0.001%
to 0.5% w/w, and more preferably still from 0.001% to 0. % w/w agrochemical.
Typically a compound of formula ( ) will comprise from about 0.0005% to about
90% w/w of the total composition. When in concentrated form, compositions of the
invention typically comprise a compound of formula (I) from 1% to 80% w/w, preferably
from 5% to 60% w/w and more preferably from 10% w/w to 40% w/w. Ready to use
compositions of the invention typically comprise a compound of formula (I) from about
0.05% to about 1% w/w of the total composition, more preferably still from about 0.1% to
about 0.5% w/w of the total composition. In specific embodiments the aromatic ester will
be included at concentrations of 0. %, 0.2%, 0.25%, 0.3%, 0.4% or 0.5% w/w of the
total composition. Compounds of formula (I) may be manufactured and/or formulated
separately, and in order to be used as an adjuvant these may be added to a separate
agrochemical formulation at a subsequent stage, typically immediately prior to use.
The skilled man will appreciate that compositions of the invention may be in the
form of a ready-to-use formulation or in concentrate form suitable for further dilution by
the end user, and the concentration of agrochemical and compound of formula (I) will be
adjusted accordingly. Compounds of formula (I) may be manufactured and/or
formulated separately, and in order to be used as an adjuvant these may be added to a
separate agrochemical formulation at a subsequent stage, typically immediately prior to
use.
Compositions of the invention may be formulated in any suitable manner known
to the man skilled in the art. As mentioned above, in one form a composition of the
invention is a formulation concentrate which may be diluted or dispersed (typically in
water) by an end-user (typically a farmer) in a spray tank prior to application.
Additional formulation components may be incorporated alongside compounds of
formula (I) or compositions of the invention in such formulations. Such additional
components include, for example, adjuvants, surfactants, emulsifiers, and solvents, and
are well known to the man skilled in the art: standard formulation publications disclose
such formulation components suitable for use with the present invention (for example,
Chemistry and Technology of Agrochemical Formulations, Ed. Alan Knowles, published
by Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands in 998; and Adjuvants and Additives:
2006 Edition by Alan Knowles, Agrow Report DS256, published by Informa UK Ltd,
December 2006). Further standard formulation components suitable for use with the
present invention are disclosed in WO2009/1 30281A1 (see from page 46, line 5 to page
5 1, line 40).
Thus, compositions of the present invention may also comprise one or more
surfactants or dispersing agents to assist the emulsification of the agrochemical on
dispersion or dilution in an aqueous medium (dispersant system). The emulsification
system is present primarily to assist in maintaining the emulsified agrochemical in water.
Many individual emulsifiers, surfactants and mixtures thereof suitable for forming an
emulsion system for an agrochemical are known to those skilled in the art and a very
wide range of choices is available. Typical surfactants that may be used to form an
emulsifier system include those containing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or ethylene
oxide and propylene oxide; aryl or alkylaryl sulphonates and combinations of these with
either ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or both; carboxylates and combinations of
these with either ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or both. Polymers and copolymers
are also commonly used.
Compositions of the present invention may also include solvents, which may
have a range of water solubilitites. Oils with very low water solubilities may be added to
the solvent of the present invention for assorted reasons such as the provision of scent,
safening, cost reduction, improvement of the emulsification properties and alteration of
the solubilising power. Solvents with higher water solubility may also be added for
various reasons, for instance to alter the ease with which the formulation emulsifies in
water, to improve the solubility of the pesticide or of the other optional additives in the
formulation, to change the viscosity of the formulation or to add a commercial benefit.
Other optional ingredients which may be added to the formulation include for
example, colourants, scents, and other materials which benefit a typical agrochemical
formulation.
Compositions of the invention may formulated for example, as emulsion or
dispersion concentrates, emulsions in water or oil, as microencapsulated formulations,
aerosol sprays or fogging formulations; and these may be further formulated into
granular materials or powders, for example for dry application or as water-dispersible
formulations. Preferably compositions of the invention will be formulated as, or
comprised by an emulsion concentrate (EC), an emulsion in water (EW), a microcapsule
formulation (CS), a suspension of particles with an emulsion of (suspoemulsion; SE), a
dispersion concentrate (DC) or an oil suspension (OD).
Compositions of the invention may be used to control pests. The term "pest" as
used herein includes insects, fungi, molluscs, nematodes, and unwanted plants. Thus,
5 in order to control a pest a composition of the invention may be applied directly to the
pest, or to the locus of a pest.
Compositions of the invention also have utility in the seed treatment arena, and
thus may be applied as appropriate to seeds.
The skilled man will appreciate that the preferences described above with
10 respect to various aspects and embodiments of the invention may be combined in
whatever way is deemed appropriate.
Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated
in more detail by way of example. It will be appreciated that modification of detail may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
S
EXAMPLES
Example 1 Use of bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate as an adjuvant for mesotrione
0 The aromatic ester bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was tested as an adjuvant in
compositions of mesotrione, in a glasshouse against four weed species. An
agrochemical composition was prepared containing 0.5 % v/v of the adjuvant in a track
sprayer and was applied at a volume of 200 litres per hectare. Mesotrione was applied
at either 60 or 120 grams per hectare. The adjuvant oils were emulsified using a small
5 amount of the surfactant Pluronic® PE 10500, which was present in the composition at a
concentration of 0.02 % v/v. The weed species and their growth stage at spraying were
Polygonum convolvulus (POLCO; growth stage 13), Brachiaria platyphy!la (BRAPL;
growth stage 13)
Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA, growth stage 13) and Amaranthus tuberculatus (A ATU;
30 growth stage 13).
Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was
assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were
assessed at time periods of 7 , and 2 1 days following application. The results shown
below in Table 0 are mean averages over the two rates of mesotrione, three replicates,
35 four weed species and the three assessment timings, and are compared to the efficacy
of mesotrione in the absence of adjuvant and mesotrione plus the commercial tank mix
adjuvant Turbocharge® (applied at 0.5% v/v).
Table 1 Mean percentage kill results for mesotrione in the presence and absence of bis-2-ethyltiexyl
phthalate, or Turbocharge®. A standard Tukey HSD test was carried out to assess whether each result
was statistically different from the other results and this is expressed as a letter: tests with the same letter
are not statistically different (p<0.05).
Treatment Mean across species
Mesotrione + bis-2-ethylhexylphthalate 61.4 A
Mesotrione + Turbocharge® 61.O A
Mesotrione 49.6 B
The results show that the inclusion of either bis-2-ethylhexylphthalate or
Turbocharge® increases the efficacy of the herbicide mesotrione, and that both
compounds are thus effective adjuvants.
Example 2 Use of bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate as an adjuvant for fomesafen
The aromatic ester bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was tested as an adjuvant in
compositions of fomesafen, in a glasshouse against four weed species. An
agrochemical composition was prepared containing 0.5 % v/v of the adjuvant in a track
sprayer and was applied at a volume of 200 litres per hectare. Fomesafen was applied
at a rate of either 60 or 120 grams per hectare. The adjuvant oils were emulsified using
a small amount of the surfactant Pluronic® PE 10500, which was present in the
composition at a concentration of 0.02 % v/v. The weed species and their growth stage
at spraying were Chenopodium album (CHEAL;growth stage 14), Abutilon theophrasti
(ABUTH; growth stage 12), Setaria viridis (SETVI; growth stage 13), and Xanthium
strumarium (XANST; growth stage 12).
Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was
assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were
assessed at time periods of 2 , 7 and 14 days following application. The results shown
below in Table 1 are mean averages over the two rates of fomesafen, three replicates,
four weed species and the three assessment timings, and are compared to the efficacy
of fomesafen without adjuvant and fomesafen with the commercially available adjuvant
Turbocharge® (applied at 0.5% v/v).
Table 11 Mean percentage kill results for fomesafen in the presence and absence of bis-2-ethylhexyl
phthalate, or Turbocharge®. A standard Tukey HSD test was carried out to assess whether each result
was statistically different from the other results and this is expressed as a letter: tests with the same letter
are not statistically different (p<0.05).
Treatment Mean across species
Fomesafen + Turbocharge® 28.3 A
Fomesafen + bis-2-ethylhexylphthalate 22.3 B
Fomesafen 14.3 C
The results show that that the inclusion of either bis-2-ethylhexylphthalate
Turbocharge® increases the efficacy of the herbicide mesotrione, and that both
compounds are thus effective adjuvants.
CLAIMS
Use of an aromatic ester of formula (I)
wherein R is COO 2
n is 1 or 2 and
each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of
C -C alky), C -C alkenyl, C4-C22 alkyldienyl and C6-C22 alkyltrienyl,
for enhancing the biological activity of an agrochemical active ingredient.
Use according to claim 1 wherein each R2 is independently C -C 0 alkyl.
Use according to claim 1 wherein each R2 is independently C -C 3 alkyl.
Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each R2 is
independently selected from the group consisting of a C alkyl group, a C8 alkyl
group and a C alkyl group.
Use according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each R2 is the same.
Use according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein n is 2.
Use according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the active ingredient is
selected from the group consisting of: bicyclopyrone, es tri'one, fomesafen,
tralkoxydim, napropamide, amitraz, propanil, pyrimethanil, dicloran, tecnazene,
toclofos methyl, flamprop M, 2,4-D, MCPA, mecoprop, clodinafop-propargyl,
cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop methyl, haloxyfop, quizalofop-P, indol-3-ylacetic acid, 1-
naphthylacetic acid, isoxaben, tebutam, chlorthal dimethyl, benomyl, benfuresate,
dicamba, dichlobenil, benazolin, triazoxide, fluazuron, teflubenzuron,
phenmedipham, acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor, pretilachlor, thenylchlor,
alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cyclodim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim,
pendimethalin, dinoterb, bifenox, oxyfluorfen, acifluorfen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl,
bromoxynil, ioxynil, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr,
imazapic, imazamox, flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, picloram, amodosulfuron,
chlorsulfuron, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, triasulfuron, triallate, pebulate,
prosulfocarb, molinate, atrazine, simazine, cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn,
terbuthylazine, terbutryn, sulcotrione, isoproturon, linuron, fenuron, chlorotoluron,
metoxuron, isopyrazam, mandipropamid, azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, kresoxim
methyl, famoxadone, metominostrobin and picoxystrobin, cyprodanil,
carbendazim, thiabendazole, dimethomorph, vinclozolin, iprodione,
dithiocarbamate, imazalil, prochloraz, fluquinconazole, epoxiconazole, flutriafol,
azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole,
hexaconazole, paclobutrazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, triadimefon,
trtiticonazole, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, mancozeb, metiram,
chlorothalonil, thiram, ziram, captafol, captan, folpet, fluazinam, flutolanil,
carboxin, metalaxyl, bupirimate, ethirimol, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin,
orysastrobin, metominostrobin, prothioconazole, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid,
acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, fipronil, abamectin, emamectin,
bendiocarb, carbaryl, fenoxycarb, isoprocarb, pirimicarb, propoxur, xylylcarb,
asulam, chlorpropham, endosulfan, heptachlor, tebufenozide, bensultap,
diethofencarb, pirimiphos methyl, aldicarb, methomyl, cyprmethrin, bioallethrin,
deltamethrin, lambda cyhalothrin, cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, imiprothrin,
permethrin, halfenprox, paclobutrazole, 1-methylcyclopropene, benoxacor,
cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, dichlormid, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim,
flurazole, fluxofenim, mefenpyr-diethyl, MG-191, naphthalic anhydride and
oxabetrinil.
8. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the agrochemical
active ingredient is present in a composition comprising at least one additional
component selected from the group consisting of adjuvants, surfactants,
emulsifiers and solvents.
9. Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the agrochemical
active ingredient is present in a composition comprising at least a surfactant.
Use according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the active ingredient is present at a
concentration in the range from about 0.001% to about 90% w/w of the total
composition.
Use according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the aromatic ester comprises
from about 0.0005% to about 90% w/w of the total composition.
2 . Use according to any one of claims 8 to wherein the composition is
formulated as, or comprised by a microcapsule.
3. Use according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the composition is an
emulsion concentrate (EC), an emulsion in water (EW), a suspension of particles
in water (SC), a microcapsule formulation (CS), dispersion concentrate (DC),
suspension of particles in an emulsion (SE) or a suspension of particles in oil
(OD).
1 . Use of an agrochemical composition as defined in any one of claims 8 to 13 to
control pests.
15. Use of an aromatic ester as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 as an adjuvant or
synergist for an agrochemical.
16. A method of controlling a pest, comprising applying a composition as defined in
any one of claims 8 to 13 to said pest or the locus of said pest.
17. A method of making a n agrochemical composition comprising providing:
i. an agrochemically active ingredient;
ii. a surfactant; and
iii. an aromatic ester of formula (I) as defined in any one of claims 1
to 7;
and combining the agrochemically active ingredient, surfactant and aromatic
ester of i, ii and iii.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the agrochemical composition is as
defined in claims 8 to 13.