Aminoquinazoline compounds for combating invertebrate pests

The invention relates to aminoquinazoline compounds or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof which are useful for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, in particular arthropod pests and nematodes. The invention also relates to methods for controlling invertebrate pests by using these compounds and to plant propagation material and to agricultural and veterinary compositions comprising said compounds.wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d and p are defined as in the description.

The present invention relates to aminoquinazoline compounds or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof which are useful for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, in particular arthropod pests and nematodes. The invention also relates to methods for controlling invertebrate pests by using these compounds and to plant propagation material and to agricultural and veterinary compositions comprising said compounds.

Invertebrate pests and in particular arthropods and nematodes destroy growing and harvested crops and attack wooden dwelling and commercial structures, causing large economic loss to the food supply and to property. While a large number of pesticidal agents are known, due to the ability of target pests to develop resistance to said agents, there is an ongoing need for new agents for combating invertebrate pests, in particular insects, arachnids and nematodes.

WO 2005/087742 describes quinoline derivatives usable as agents in the control of pests for crop protection, human and animal health, acting as ethanolamine kinase inhibitors.

DE-A-19756388 describes substituted 2-aryl-4-amino-quinazolines and their use as cardiovascular agents for treatment of circulatory diseases, blood pressure, angina, pectoris, heart insufficiency, thrombosis or artherosclorosis and to modulate the production of cGMP.

WO 2004/030672 describes the use of 4-amino-quinazolines as anti cancer agents and PKB inhibitors.

WO 2004/092196 describes among other quinazolines derivatives compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds that have a good pesticidal activity, in particular insecticidal activity, and show a broad activity spectrum against a large number of different invertebrate pests, especially against difficult to control arthropod pests and/or nematodes.

It has been found that these objectives can be achieved by aminoquinazoline compounds of the formula I below, by their steroisomers and by their salts and N-oxides, in particular their agriculturally or veterinarily acceptable salts.

Therefore, in a first aspect, the invention relates to aminoquinazoline compounds of the formula I and the salts and N-oxides thereof

whereinA1, A2, A3and A4are N, NX or CR4wherein X is a lone pair or O, with the proviso that at most three of A1, A2, A3and A4are N or NX;R1, R2are selected independently from one another from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, NO2, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6−;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, NR8R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially saturated,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and/or sulfur, wherein the nitrogen and/or the sulfur atom(s) may be oxidized,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said heterocyclic ring may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;R3is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially saturated,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said heterocyclic ring may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;each R4is selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, C(═O)N(R8)R9, C(═S)N(R8)R9, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;or two radicals R4bound on adjacent carbon atoms together form a group selected from —CH2CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —N═CH—CH═CH—, —CH═N—CH═CH—, —N═CH—N═CH—, —OCH2CH2CH2—, —OCH═CHCH2—, —CH2OCH2CH2—, —OCH2CH2O—, —OCH2OCH2—, —CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CHCH2—, —CH2CH2O—, —CH═CHO—, —CH2OCH2—, —CH2C(═O)O—, —C(═O)OCH2—, —O(CH2)O—, —SCH2CH2CH2—, —SCH═CHCH2—, —CH2SCH2CH2—, —SCH2CH2S—, —SCH2SCH2—, —CH2CH2S—, —CH═CHS—, —CH2SCH2—, —CH2C(═S)S—, —C(═S)SCH2—, —S(CH2)S—, —CH2CH2NR8—, —CH2CH═N—, —CH═CH—NR8—, —OCH═N— and —SCH═N—,wherein in each of the above group,one to five hydrogen atoms independently of each other may be replaced by one to five substituents selected from halogen, methyl, halomethyl, hydroxyl, methoxy and halomethoxy, orone or two CH2groups of the above groups may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;or R5amay form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5ba 5- or 6-membered ring which is at least substituted with one halogen;R5bis selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy, wherein each mentioned radicalis at least substituted with one halogen,may be further partially or fully halogenated, andmay be substituted with one to five radicals R6;or R5bmay form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5cor R5aa 5- or 6-membered ring which is at least substituted with one halogen;R5cis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)OR7, C(═S)OR7, C(═NR8)R6, C(═O)N(R8)R9, C(═S)N(R8)R9, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;or R5cmay form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5bor R5da 5- or 6-membered ring which is at least substituted with one halogen in case of R5bbeings involved;R5dis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mN(R8)R9, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;or R5dmay form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5cor with R1or R2a 5- or 6-membered ring;R6is independently selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atom of the aforementioned aliphatic andcycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted with one or more Rc;Si(R11)2R12, ORo, O(CO)Rc, O(CS)Rc, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rn)2, S(CO)Rc, S(CS)Rc, S(C═NRn)Rc, N(Rn)2, N(Rn)C(═O)Rc, N(Rn)C(═S)Rc, NS(O)mRo, N═C(Rc)2, C(═O)Rc, C(═S)Rc, C(═NRn)Rc, C(═O)N(Rn)2, C(═S)N(Rn)2, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two 0=0 groups;or two vicinally bound radicals R6together form a group selected from ═C(Rc)2, ═S(O)mRo, ═S(O)mN(Rn)2, ═NRnand ═NN(Rn)2;R7is independently selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atom of the aforementioned aliphatic andcycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted with one or more Rc;Si(R11)2R12, ORo, O(CO)Rc, O(CS)Rc, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rn)2, S(CO)Rc, S(CS)Rc, S(C═NRn)Rc, N(Rn)2, N(Rn)C(═O)Rc, N(Rn)C(═S)Rc, NS(O)mRo, N═C(Rc)2, C(═O)Rc, C(═S)Rc, C(═NRn)Rc, C(═O)N(Rn)2, C(═S)N(Rn)2, phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;
with the proviso that R7is not C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy if it is bound to an oxygen atom;R8, R9are selected independently from one another and independently of each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, NO2, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atom of the aforementioned aliphatic andcycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted with one or more Rc;Si(R11)2R12, ORo, O(CO)Rc, O(CS)Rc, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rn)2, S(CO)Rc, S(CS)Rc, S(C═NRn)Rc, N(Rn)2, N(Rn)C(═O)Rc, N(Rn)C(═S)Rc, NS(O)mRo, N═C(Rc)2, C(═O)Rc, C(═S)Rc, C(═NRn)Rc, C(═O)N(Rn)2, C(═S)N(Rn)2phenylwhich may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;R10is independently selected independently from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atom of the aforementioned aliphatic andcycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted with one or more Rc;Si(R11)2R12, ORo, O(CO)Rc, O(CS)Rc, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rc)2, S(CO)Rc, S(CS)Rc, S(C═NRn)Rc, N(Rn)2, N(Rn)C(═O)Rc, N(Rn)C(═S)Rc, NS(O)mRo, N═C(Rc)2, C(═O)Rc, C(═S)Rc, C(═NRn)Rc, C(═O)N(Rn)2, C(═S)N(Rn)2, phenylwhich may be substituted with one to five radicals independently selected independently from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or unsaturated,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals independently selected independently from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy;or two radicals R10bound on adjacent atoms together form a group selected from —CH2CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —N═CH—CH═CH—, —CH═N—CH═CH—, —N═CH—N═CH—, —OCH2CH2CH2—, —OCH═CHCH2—, —CH2OCH2CH2—, —OCH2CH2O—, —OCH2OCH2—, —CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CHCH2—, —CH2CH2O—, —CH═CHO—, —CH2OCH2—, —CH2C(═O)O—, —C(═O)OCH2—, —O(CH2)O—, —SCH2CH2CH2—, —SCH═CHCH2—, —CH2SCH2CH2—, —SCH2CH2S—, —SCH2SCH2—, —CH2CH2S—, —CH═CHS—, —CH2SCH2—, —CH2C(═S)S—, —C(═S)SCH2—, —S(CH2)S—, —CH2CH2NR8—, —CH2CH═N—, —CH═CH—NR8—, —OCH═N— and —SCH═N—,wherein in each of the above groups,one to five hydrogen atoms independently of each other may be replaced by one to five substituents selected from halogen, methyl, halomethyl, hydroxyl, methoxy and halomethoxy, orone or two or more CH2groups of the above groups may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;R11, R12are selected independently of each other and independently of each occurrence from the group consisting of C1-C4-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, phenyl and benzyl;Rcis independently selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-haloalkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-haloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C1-C6-haloalkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-haloalkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, C2-C6-haloalkynyl, phenyl, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from CO, N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals, which are selected independently of each other from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkoxy;Rois independently selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-haloalkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C1-C6-haloalkylsulfinyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-haloalkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, C2-C6-haloalkynyl, phenyl, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from CO, N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals, which are selected independently of each other from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkoxy;
with the proviso that Rois not C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy if it is bound to an oxygen atom;Rnis independently selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, NO2, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-haloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, C1-C6-haloalkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-haloalkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, C2-C6-haloalkynyl, phenyl, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from CO, N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one to five radicals, which are selected independently of each other from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkoxy;m is independently 0, 1 or 2;p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;or enantiomers or diastereoisomers thereof or their agriculturally or veterinarily acceptable salts.

The present invention also provides a composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I as defined herein and/or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof and at least one inert solid/liquid and/or solid carrier

The present invention also provides an agricultural composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I as defined herein and at least one agriculturally acceptable liquid and/or solid carrier.

The present invention also provides a veterinary composition comprising at least one compound of the formula I as defined herein and/or a veterinarily acceptable salt thereof and at least one liquid and/or solid carrier.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling or combating invertebrate pests attack or infestation which method comprises treating the pests, their food supply, their habitat or their breeding, ground or a cultivated plant, plant propagation materials (such as seed), soil, area, material or environment in which the pests are growing or may grow, with a pesticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I or salt thereof as defined herein.

The present invention also relates to plant propagation material, in particular to seed, comprising at least one compound of formula I or an composition comprising at least one compound of formula I or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof as defined herein.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating or protecting an animal from infestation or infection by parasites which comprises bringing the animal in contact with a parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of the formula I or a veterinarily acceptable salt thereof as defined herein. Bringing the animal in contact with the compound I, its salt or the veterinary composition of the invention means applying or administering it to the animal.

If used, the term “steroisomers” encompasses both optical isomers, such as enantiomers or diastereomers, the latter existing due to more than one center of chirality in the molecule, as well as geometrical isomers (cis/trans isomers).

Depending on the substitution pattern, the compounds of the formula I may have one or more centers of chirality, in which case they are present as mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers. The invention provides both the pure enantiomers or diastereomers and their mixtures and the use according to the invention of the pure enantiomers or diastereomers of the compound I or its mixtures. Suitable compounds of the formula I also include all possible geometrical stereoisomers (cis/trans isomers) and mixtures thereof. Cis/trans isomers may be present with respect to an imine group.

The compounds of the present invention may be amorphous or may exist in one or more different crystalline states (polymorphs) which may have a different macroscopic properties such as stability or show different biological properties such as activities. The present invention includes both amorphous and crystalline compounds of the formula I, mixtures of different crystalline states of the respective compound I, as well as amorphous or crystalline salts thereof.

Salts of the compounds of the formula I are preferably agriculturally and veterinarily acceptable salts. They can be formed in a customary method, e.g. by reacting the compound with an acid of the anion in question if the compound of formula I has a basic functionality or by reacting an acidic compound of formula I with a suitable base.

Suitable agriculturally acceptable salts are especially the salts of those cations or the acid addition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively, do not have any adverse effect on the action of the compounds according to the present invention. Suitable cations are in particular the ions of the alkali metals, preferably lithium, sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably calcium, magnesium and barium, and of the transition metals, preferably manganese, copper, zinc and iron, and also ammonium (NH4+) and substituted ammonium in which one to four of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, phenyl or benzyl. Examples of substituted ammonium ions comprise methylammonium, isopropylammonium, dimethylammonium, diisopropylammonium, trimethylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, 2-hydroxyethylammonium, 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethylammonium, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium and benzyl-triethylammonium, furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri(C1-C4-alkyl)sulfonium, and sulfoxonium ions, preferably tri(C1-C4-alkyl)sulfoxonium.

Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, hydrogen sulfate, sulfate, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, phosphate, nitrate, hydrogen carbonate, carbonate, hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate, and the anions of C1-C4-alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate. They can be formed by reacting a compound of formula I with an acid of the corresponding anion, preferably of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or nitric acid.

By the term “veterinarily acceptable salts” is meant salts of those cations or anions which are known and accepted in the art for the formation of salts for veterinary use. Suitable acid addition salts, e.g. formed by compounds of formula I containing a basic nitrogen atom, e.g. an amino group, include salts with inorganic acids, for example hydrochlorids, sulphates, phosphates, and nitrates and salts of organic acids for example acetic acid, maleic acid, dimaleic acid, fumaric acid, difumaric acid, methane sulfenic acid, methane sulfonic acid, and succinic acid.

The term “invertebrate pest” as used herein encompasses animal populations, such as insects, arachnids and nematodes, which may attack plants, thereby causing substantial damage to the plants attacked, as well as ectoparasites which may infest animals, in particular warm blooded animals such as e.g. mammals or birds, or other higher animals such as reptiles, amphibians or fish, thereby causing substantial damage to the animals infested.

The term “plant propagation material” as used herein includes all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers (e.g. potatoes), which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots, sprouts and other parts of plants. Seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil, may also be included. These plant propagation materials may be treated prophylactically with a plant protection compound either at or before planting or transplanting.

The term “plants” comprises any types of plants including “non-cultivated plants” and in particular “cultivated plants”.

The term “non-cultivated plants” refers to any wild type species or related species or related genera of a cultivated plant.

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein includes plants which have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering. Genetically modified plants are plants, which genetic material has been so modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that under natural circumstances cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutations or natural recombination. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post-transitional modification of protein(s) (oligo- or polypeptides) poly for example by glycosylation or polymer additions such as prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated moieties or PEG moieties (e.g. as disclosed in Biotechnol Prog. 2001 July-August; 17(4):720-8, Protein Eng Des Sel. 2004 January; 17(1):57-66, Nat. Protoc. 2007; 2(5):1225-35, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2006 October; 10(5):487-91. Epub 2006 August 28, Biomaterials. 2001 March; 22(5):405-17, Bioconjug Chem. 2005 January-Feb.; 16(1):113-21).

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such as hydroxy-phenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, such as sulfonyl ureas (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO 98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO 03/14356, WO 04/16073) or imidazolinones (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO 98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO 03/14356, WO 04/16073); enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, such as glyphosate (see e.g. WO 92/00377); glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors, such as glufosinate (see e.g. EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) or oxynil herbicides (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,024) as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis), for example Clearfield® summer rape (Canola) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render cultivated plants, such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets and rape, tolerant to herbicides, such as glyphosate and glufosinate, some of which are commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady® (glyphosate) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate).

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genusbacillus, particularly frombacillus thuringiensis, such as ä-endotoxins, e.g. CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e.g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, for examplePhotorhabdusspp. orXenorhabdusspp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilben synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a new combination of protein domains, (see, for example WO 02/015701). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/018810 and WO 03/052073. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins protection from harmful pests from certain taxonomic groups of arthropods insects, particularly to beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera), and butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) and to plant parasitic nematodes (Nematoda).

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins, see, for example EP-A 0 392 225), plant disease resistance genes (for example potato cultivars, which express resistance genes acting againstPhytophthorainfestans derived from the mexican wild potatoSolanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lyso-zym (e.g. potato cultivars capable of synthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteria such asErwinia amylvora).

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the productivity (e.g. bio mass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth limiting environ-mental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants.

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve human or animal nutrition, for example oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e.g. Nexera® rape).

The term “cultivated plants” as used herein further includes plants that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve raw material production, for example potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin (e.g. Amflora® potato).

The organic moieties mentioned in the above definitions of the variables are—like the term halogen—collective terms for individual listings of the individual group members. The prefix Cn-Cmindicates in each case the possible number of carbon atoms in the group.

The term halogen denotes in each case fluorine, bromine, chlorine or iodine, in particular fluorine, chlorine or bromine.

The term “C1-C10-haloalkyl” as used herein, which is also expressed as “C1-C10-alkyl which is partially or fully halogenated”, refers to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 2 (“C1-C2-haloalkyl”), 1 to 4 (“C1-C4-haloalkyl”), 1 to 6 (“C1-C6-haloalkyl”), 1 to 8 (“C1-C8-haloalkyl”) or 1 to 10 (“C1-C10-haloalkyl”) carbon atoms (as mentioned above), where some or all of the hydrogen atoms in these groups are replaced by halogen atoms as mentioned above: in particular C1-C2-haloalkyl, such as chloromethyl, bromomethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 1-chloroethyl, 1-bromoethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl or 1,1,1-trifluoroprop-2-yl.

“Halomethyl” is methyl in which 1, 2 or 3 of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms. Examples are bromomethyl, chloromethyl, fluoromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl and the like.

The term “C2-C10-haloalkenyl” as used herein, which is also expressed as “C1-C10-alkenyl which is partially or fully halogenated”, and the haloalkenyl moieties in haloalkenyloxy, haloalkenylcarbonyl and the like refers to unsaturated straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radicals having 2 to 4 (“C2-C4-haloalkenyl”), 2 to 6 (“C2-C6-haloalkenyl”), 2 to 8 (“C2-C6-haloalkenyl”) or 2 to 10 (“C2-C10-haloalkenyl”) carbon atoms and a double bond in any position (as mentioned above), where some or all of the hydrogen atoms in these groups are replaced by halogen atoms as mentioned above, in particular fluorine, chlorine and bromine, for example chlorovinyl, chloroallyl and the like.

The term “C2-C10-haloalkynyl” as used herein, which is also expressed as “C1-C10-alkynyl which is partially or fully halogenated”, and the haloalkynyl moieties in haloalkynyloxy, haloalkynylcarbonyl and the like refers to unsaturated straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radicals having 2 to 4 (“C2-C4-haloalkynyl”), 3 to 4 (“C3-C4-haloalkynyl”), 2 to 6 (“C2-C6-haloalkynyl”), 3 to 6 (“C3-C6-haloalkynyl”), 2 to 8 (“C2-C8-haloalkynyl”), 3 to 8 (“C3-C8-haloalkynyl”), 2 to 10 (“C2-C10-haloalkynyl”) or 3 to 10 (“C3-C10-haloalkynyl”)carbon atoms and one or two triple bonds in any position (as mentioned above), where some or all of the hydrogen atoms in these groups are replaced by halogen atoms as mentioned above, in particular fluorine, chlorine and bromine;

The term “C3-C8-cycloalkyl” as used herein refers to mono- or bi- or polycyclic saturated hydrocarbon radicals having 3 to 8, in particular 3 to 6 carbon atoms (“C3-C6-cycloalkyl”). Examples of monocyclic radicals having 3 to 6 carbon atoms comprise cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. Examples of monocyclic radicals having 3 to 8 carbon atoms comprise cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl. Examples of bicyclic radicals having 7 or 8 carbon atoms comprise bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, bicyclo[3.1.1]heptyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl and bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl.

The term “C3-C8-halocycloalkyl” as used herein, which is also expressed as “C3-C8-cycloalkyl which is partially or fully halogenated”, and the halocycloalkyl moieties in halocycloalkoxy, halocycloalkylcarbonyl and the like refers to mono- or bi- or polycyclic saturated hydrocarbon groups having 3 to 8 (“C3-C3-halocycloalkyl”) or preferably 3 to 6 (“C3-C6-halocycloalkyl”) carbon ring members (as mentioned above) in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms as mentioned above, in particular fluorine, chlorine and bromine.

The term “C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl” refers to a C3-C8-cycloalkyl group as defined above which is bound to the remainder of the molecule via a C1-C4-alkyl group, as defined above. Examples are cyclopropylmethyl, cyclopropylethyl, cyclopropylpropyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclobutylethyl, cyclobutylpropyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cycloppentylethyl, cyclopentylpropyl, cyclohexylmethyl, cyclohexylethyl, cyclohexylpropyl, and the like.

The term “3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups (if one or two or at most three heteroatoms of the heterocyclic ring are oxidzed) selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, as ring members” as used herein refers to monocyclic radicals, the monocyclic radicals being saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic. The heterocyclic radical may be attached to the remainder of the molecule via a carbon ring member or via a nitrogen ring member.

The remarks made below concerning preferred embodiments of the variables of the compounds of formula I, especially with respect to their substituents A1, A2, A3, A4, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, Rc, Rn, Ro, m, and p the features of the use and method according to the invention and of the composition of the invention are valid both on their own and, in particular, in every possible combination with each other.

The radical A when used in the text is as following defined:

wherein # denotes the binding site to the remainder of formula I and wherein the variables p, R3, R4, A1, A2, A3and A4are as defined in formula I.

As a matter of course, the p radicals R4replace a hydrogen atom on a carbon ring atom. For instance, if A1, A2, A3or A4is defined to be CH and if this position is to be substituted by a radical R4, then A1, A2, A3or A4is of course a substituted C—R4. If there is more than one radical R4, these substituents R4can be the same or different.

In a preferred embodiment, A′, A2, A3and A4are CR4. In the case that more than one substituent R4is present in the radical A, the different R4are selected independently from each other. In case p is 2, the two substituents R4are preferably bound on the position of A1and A2. In case p is 1, the substituent R4is preferably bound on the position of A1or A2.

In analogy to the above cited meaning of A, A3and A4are respectively equivalent to A2and A1and thus have the same definition of preferencies.

In one embodiment,R3is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10; anda 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted by one to five radicals R10and wherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups.

Within these embodiments, R3is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, SR7, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkoxy wherein the four last mentioned group are preferably at least substituted by one halogen and wherein the five last mentioned radicals may be substituted by one to five radicals R6.

More preferably, R3is selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy wherein the two last mentioned radicals are at least substituted by one halogen.

More particularly, R3is preferably fluorine or chlorine or bromine.

In an embodiment,R4is selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, alkynyl, wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, C(═O)N(R8)R9, C(═S)N(R8)R9, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10; anda 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2is unsubstituted or substituted by one to five radicals R10andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups;
or two radicals R4bound on adjacent carbon atoms together form a group selected from —CH2CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —N═CH—CH═CH—, —CH═N—CH═CH—, —N═CH—N═CH—, —OCH2CH2CH2—, —OCH═CHCH2—, —CH2OCH2CH2—, —OCH2CH2O—, —OCH2OCH2—, —CH2CH2CH2—, —CH—CHCH2—, —CH2CH2O, —CH═CHO—, —CH2OCH2—, —CH2C(═O)O—, —C(═O)OCH2—, —O(CH2)O, —SCH2CH2CH2—, —SCH═CHCH2—, —CH2SCH2CH2—, —SCH2CH2S—, —SCH2SCH2—, —CH2CH2S—, —CH═CHS—, —CH2SCH2—, —CH2C(═S)S—, —C(═S)SCH2—, —S(CH2)S—, —CH2CH2NR8—, —CH2CH═N—, —CH═CH—NR8—, —OCH═N— and —SCH═N—, wherein in each of the above groups one to five hydrogen atoms may be replaced by one to five substituents selected from halogen, methyl, halomethyl, hydroxyl, methoxy and halomethoxy or one or two CH2groups of the above groups may be replaced by one or two C═O groups.

In another embodiment,R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, C(═O)N(R8)R9, C(═S)N(R8)R9, phenyl,which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10; anda 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted by one to five radicals R10andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be replaced by one or two C═O groups.

In a further embodiment,R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, SCN, SF5, C3-C5-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, C(═O)N(R8)R9and C(═S)N(R8)R9.

Within these embodiments, R4is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy wherein the four last mentioned radicals if substituted are preferably substituted by one halogen and wherein the five last mentioned groups may be substituted by one to five radicals R6.

More preferably, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-haloalkyl.

Examples of suitable radicals A are the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a98 which are radicals of the formula A as above depicted wherein A2, A3, A4are CH, A1is CR4, and R4and R3are as defined in one row of the following Table B (radicals A1a1 to A1a98):

Analog to the above listed Table B, further examples of suitable radicals A are the radicals of the formula A numbered A1a99 to A1a197 wherein A1, A3, A4are CH, A2is CR4, and R4and R3for each radical A have the meaning of one line in Table B.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, each example of radical A numbered A1a1 to A1a197 is a preferred radical A in formula I.

In an embodiment,R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, —SCN, SF5, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6,Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6, C(═NR8)R6, phenyl,which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10;and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ringwherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted by one to five radicals R10, andwherein one or two CH2groups in said saturated or partially saturated rings may be by one or two C═O groups;or R5amay form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5ba 5- or 6-membered ring which is at least substituted by one halogen.

More preferably,R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, azido, nitro, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl,wherein the carbon atoms of the aforementioned aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R6;Si(R11)2R12, OR7, S(O)mR7, N(R8)R9, N═C(R6)2, C(═O)R6, C(═S)R6and C(═NR8)R6.

More preferably, R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, SCF3, SOCF3, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy wherein the last four mentioned radicals may be substituted by one halogen.

More preferably, R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy (e.g. OCF3, OCHF2, OCF2CHF2) and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy wherein the five last mentioned group may be substituted by halogen.

Even more preferably, R5ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-haloalkyl.

In a embodiment,R5bis selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, alkoxy and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy, wherein each mentioned radicalis at least substituted with one halogen,may be further partially or fully halogenated andmay be substituted with one to five radicals R6;or may form together with the adjacent carbon atom R5cor R5aa 5- or 6-membered ring which is at least substituted with one halogen.

Within the above embodiment, R5bis preferably selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-cycloalkoxy and wherein each mentioned radical is at least substituted with one halogen.

Within the above embodiments, R5bis preferably selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy.

Preferably, R5cis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl and C2-C6-alkynyl, wherein the last four mentioned groups may be partially or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted with one to five radicals R6.

More preferably, R5cis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-haloalkyl.

Preferably, R5dis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl and C2-C6-alkynyl, wherein the last four mentioned groups may be partially or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted with one to five radicals R6.

More preferably, R5dis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-haloalkyl.

In case R6is a substituent on an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, it is more preferably selected from the group consisting ofhalogen, cyano, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, ORo, SRo, phenyl,which may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, anda 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring,wherein said heterocyclic ringis saturated or partially unsaturated or aromatic,comprises 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2,is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more radicals R10;wherein Roand R10have one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, it is even more preferably selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C3-C6-halocycloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, C1-C4-haloalkylthio, phenyl which may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein the heteroaromatic ring may be substituted with one or more radicals R10; and

wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, it is in particular selected from the group consisting of halogen and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein the heteroaromatic ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more radicals R10; and

wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

or two vicinally bound radicals R6together form a group selected from ═C(Rc)2, S(O)mRc, ═S(O)mN(Rn)2, ═NRn, and ═NN(Rn)2;

or two radicals R6, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, form a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2;
wherein Rc, Rn, Ro, R10, R11and R12have one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on a cycloalkyl group, it is more preferably selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl, ORo, SRo, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rn)2, N(Rn)2, C(═O)N(Rn)2, C(═S)N(Rn)2, C(═O)Ro, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, as ring members, where the heterocyclic ring may be substituted with one or more radicals R10;

wherein Rc, Rn, Roand R10have one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on a cycloalkyl group, it is even more preferably selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C3-haloalkoxy. In particular, R6as a substituent on a cycloalkyl group is selected from halogen, C1-C4-alkyl and C1-C3-haloalkyl.

In case R6is a substituent on C(═O), C(═S) or C(═NR8), it is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-haloalkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, C2-C6-haloalkynyl, —ORo, —SRo, —N(Rn)2, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, wherein the heterocyclic ring may be substituted with one or more radicals R10;

wherein Rc, Rn, Roand R10have one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on C(═O), C(═S) or C(═NR8), it is more preferably selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkoxy, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, wherein the heterocyclic ring may be substituted by one or more radicals R10;

wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In case R6is a substituent on C(═O), C(═S) or C(═NR8), it is even more preferably selected from the group consisting of C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C3-C6-halocycloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkoxy, phenyl which may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein the heteroaromatic ring may be substituted with one or more radicals R10;

wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

Preferably, each R7is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10; and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, wherein the heterocyclic ring is unsubstituted or substituted with. 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 1 or 2, more preferably 1, radicals R10, wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

More preferably, each R7is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10; and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, wherein the heteroaromatic ring may be substituted by one or more radicals R10; where R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

R8and R9are independently of each other and independently of each occurrence preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, where the heterocyclic ring may be substituted by one or more radicals R10; and wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

R8and R9are independently of each other and independently of each occurrence more preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals R10, and a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, as ring members, wherein the heteroaromatic ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals R10; and wherein R10has one of the meanings given above or in particular one of the preferred meanings given below.

In particular, R8and R9are independently of each other and independently of each occurrence selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl. Preferably, each R10is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C1-C10-alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by one or more radicals Rc, C3-C8-cycloalkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by one or more radicals Rc, ORo, O(CO)Rc, O(CS)Rc, S(O)mRo, S(O)mN(Rn)2, N(Rn)2, C(═O)Rc, C(═O)N(Rn)2, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy; and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, as ring members, which may be substituted by one or more radicals independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy;

or two radicals R10bound on adjacent atoms together form a group selected from —CH2CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —N═CH—CH═CH—, —CH═N—CH═CH—, —N═CH—N═CH—, —OCH2CH2CH2—, —OCH═CHCH2—, —CH2OCH2CH2—, —OCH2CH2O—, —OCH2OCH2—, —CH2CH2CH2—, —CH═CHCH2—, —CH2CH2O—, —CH═CHO—, —CH2OCH2—, —CH2C(═O)O—, —C(═O)OCH2—, and —O(CH2)O—, thus forming, together with the atoms to which they are bound, a 5- or 6-membered ring, where the hydrogen atoms of the above groups may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from halogen, methyl, halomethyl, hydroxyl, methoxy and halomethoxy or one or more CH2groups of the above groups may be replaced by a C═O group,
where Rc, Rnand Rohave one of the general or in particular one of the preferred meanings given above.

More preferably, each R10is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C1-C10-alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by one or more radicals Rc, —ORn, —N(Rn)2, C(═O)Rc, —C(═O)ORo, —C(═O)N(Rn)2, phenyl which may be substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy; and a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom groups selected from N, O, S, NO, SO and SO2, as ring members, which may be substituted by one or more radicals independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy and C1-C6-haloalkoxy;

where Rc, Rn, Rohave one of the general or in particular one of the preferred meanings given above.

Even more preferably, each R10is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkoxy. In particular, each R10is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C4-alkyl and C1-C4-haloalkyl and is specifically halogen, more specifically chlorine.

Preferably, R11and R12are, independently of each other and independently of each occurrence, selected from C1-C4-alkyl and are in particular methyl.

A very preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the compounds of the formula (I-a)

wherein

A has one of the general meaning as defined here above;

A is in particular one of the preferred radical A numbered A1a1 to A1a197 as defined in table B above.

R5b, R5a, R1and R2have one of the general meaning or one of the preferred meaning as here above defined.

In particular, R5b, R1, and R2have the meaning Ib numbered Ib1 to Ib1168 as defined in each line of the following Table C. It is to note that R1and R2are permutable in the meaning of Ib1009 to Ib1168.

Following annotation when used in the text are defined as follows:Me is methyl or —CH3;Et is ethyl or —CH2CH3;Pr is propyl or —(CH2)2CH3,iPr is isopropyl or —CH(CH3)2;Bu is butyl or (CH2)3CH3;Pn is pentyl or (CH2)4CH3;Me-cPr is methylcyclopropyl;Me-CN is cyanomethyl.

Examples of compounds of this particular preferred embodiment of such compounds are the compounds I-a given in the following tables 1 to 13.

Table 1 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais H and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5bband A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 2 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais F and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 3 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais Cl and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 4 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais Br and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 5 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais I and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 6 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais CN and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 7 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais NO2and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 8 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais CH3and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 9 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais CF3and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 10 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais CHF2and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 11 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais OCF3and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 12 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais OCHF2and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Table 13 Compounds of the formula I-a and their salts, wherein R5cand R5dare hydrogen, R5ais SCF3and the remaining variables R1, R2, R5band A correspond to each combination of the radicals numbered A1a1 to A1a197 with each row of Table C numbered Ib1 to Ib1168.

Each example of the compounds of formula I-a as defined in the tables 1 to 13 constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Especially preferred embodiment of the invention are the compounds I-a wherein R5a, is hydrogen, A2, A3, A4are CH, and the remaining variables R1, R2, R3, R4, R5b, A1are defined in each row of the following Table D (variables R1, R2, R3, R4, R5b, A1are defined in radical A and Ib being respectively defined in table B and C):

Compounds of formula I can be prepared according to the following methods and variations described in schemes 1-5. The variables R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, A1, A2, A3, A4, and p are defined as above for formula I.

Compounds of formula I can, for example, be prepared by reaction of amines (or salts thereof) and quinazolines of the formula 4 as described by, for example, Ananthan et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2002, 12, 2225 and outlined in Scheme 1. Depending on the conditions, bases such as triethylamine or potassium carbonate may be necessary. The reaction can be run in a wide variety of solvents including Tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxane, and isopropanol or the like. The corresponding quinazolines of the formula 4 containing a leaving group (LG) wherein LG is a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, thioethers, sulfonates or another suitable leaving group can be prepared from quinazolinones of the formula 3 for example by reaction with a halogenating agent such as phosphorus oxychloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride, thionyl chloride, phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus triiodide as described, for example, by Hayakawa, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2006, 14, 6847. Depending on the conditions solvents such as dioxane, ether, toluene, DMF or the like can be employed. Quinazolinones of the formula 3 can be prepared from anthranilamides of formula 1 and aldehydes of formula 2 in the presence of reagents such as iron chloride (or hydrates thereof), iodine, sodium bisulfite or 2,3-dichloro-4,5-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone as described, for example, by Wang et al, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2006, 79, 1426.

Quinazolinones of the formula 3 can also be prepared as outlined in Scheme 2 from arylhalides of the formula 7 and amidines of the formula 8 under copper catalysis as described, for example, by Liu, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 348. Alternatively, quinazolinones of the formula 3 can be prepared from anilines 5 and nitriles 6 under acidic conditions (e.g. hydrochloric acid) as described, for example, by Bogolubsky et al, J. Comb. Chem. 2008, 10, 858 for from amides of the formula 9 under basic conditions (e.g. sodium hydroxide) as described, for example, by Roy et al, J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 382.

Aminoquinazolines of the formula (I) can be prepared as outlined in Scheme 3 by a coupling reaction between intermediates of the formula 13 and intermediates of the formula 14 in the presence of metal catalyst derived from, for example, palladium, platinum, iron, copper or nickel where LG or Y are, for example, a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, triflate, thioether, boronic acid, boronate ester, trifluoroborate, or ganoborane or organostannane or other suitable leaving group, A phosphine-, amine-, sulfoxide-derived ligand and base such as potassium carbonate or triethylemine may also be required for the reaction as described, for example, by Itoh et al, Adv. Syn. Cat. 2004, 346, 1859. Intermediate of the formula 13 can be prepared from dichloroquinazoline of the formula 12 where LG is an analogous leaving group as described above. In turn the corresponding quinazolines of the formula 12 can be prepared from quinazoline-2,4-diones of the formula 11 using a similar method to that used to prepare intermediates of the formula 4. Quinazoline-2,4-diones of the formula 11 can be prepared from anthranilic acids of the formula 10 using reagents such as urea, isocyanate, thioisocyanate as described, for example, by Smits et al, J. Med. Chem. 2008, 7855.

Anthranilamides of the formula 1 can be prepared following an analogous route as that described in Scheme 4 [T. Sandmeyer, Helv. Chinn. Acta 1919, 2, 234 or S. J. Garden et al, Tetrahedron Lett. 1997, 38(9), 1501] starting from isatoic anhydrides of the formula 18 in one step using a reagent such as ammonia or in two steps using an amine-based nucleophile such an benzylamine, hydroxylamine or azide followed by reduction with, for example, hydrogen or ammonium formate as described, for example by Klaubert et al, J. Med. Chem. 1981, 24, 742 and Singh et at J. Heterocyclic Chem. 1990, 27, 2101. Isatoic anhydrides of the formula 18 can be synthesized from indole-2,3-diones of the formula 17 by oxidation with e.g. meta-chloroperbenzoic acid [G. M. Coppola, J. Heterocyclic Chem. 1987, 24, 1249], hydrogen peroxide or chromic acid in a solvent such as dichloromethane, acetic acid or water. In turn indole-2,3-diones of the formula 17 can be prepared in a Friedel-Crafts-type reaction from isonitrosoacetanilides of the formula 16 using a protic or Lewis acid such as sulfuric acid or aluminium trichloride. Finally isonitrosoacetanilides of the formula 16 can be prepared from substituted anilines of the formula 15 using chloral and hydroxylamine as reagents.

Anthranilamides of the formula 1, bearing strongly electron withdrawing substituents on the phenyl ring, are accessible through corresponding indole-2,3-diones of the formula 17 which in turn can be prepared following a route as that described by P. Hewawasam et al, Tetrahedron Lett. 1994, 35, 7303 and which is outlined in Scheme 5. Indole-2,3-diones of the formula 17 can be prepared by treatment of oxoacetic acid esters of the formula 20 with acids such as hydrochloric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and triflic acid in solvents such as THF, water or CH2Cl2as described, for example, by Hamashima et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 10154. In turn oxoacetic acid esters of the formula 20, Rxbeing for example ethyl, methyl, can be prepared by exposure of carbamates of the formula 19 to strong carbon bases such as n-, sec-, or t-BuLi followed by reaction of the resultant carbanion with oxoacetic acid diesters. Finally carbamates of the formula 19 can be prepared from anilines of the formula 15 by reaction with di-t-butyldicarbonate.

If individual compounds cannot be prepared via the above-described routes, they can be prepared by derivatization of other compounds I or by customary modifications of the synthesis routes described.

The reaction mixtures are worked up in the customary manner, for example by mixing with water, separating the phases, and, if appropriate, purifying the crude products by chromatography, for example on alumina or silica gel. Some of the intermediates and end products may be obtained in the form of colorless or pale brown viscous oils, which are freed or purified from volatile components under reduced pressure and at moderately elevated temperature. If the intermediates and end products are obtained as solids, they may be purified by recrystallization or digestion.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling invertebrate pests which method comprises treating the pests, their food supply, their habitat or their breeding ground or a cultivated plant, plant propagation materials (such as seed), soil, area, material or environment in which the pests are growing or may grow, or the materials, cultivated plants, plant propagation materials (such as seed), soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from pest attack or infestation with a pesticidally effective amount of a compound of formula I or a salt or N-oxide thereof or a composition as defined above.

Preferably, the method of the invention serves for protecting plant propagation material (such as seed) and the plant which grows therefrom from invertebrate pest attack or infestation and comprises treating the plant propagation material (such as seed) with a pesticidally effective amount of a compound of formula I or an agriculturally acceptable salt or N-oxide thereof as defined above or with a pesticidally effective amount of an agricultural composition as defined above and below. The method of the invention is not limited to the protection of the “substrate” (plant, plant propagation materials, soil material etc.) which has been treated according to the invention, but also has a preventive effect, thus, for example, according protection to a plant which grows from a treated plant propagation materials (such as seed), the plant itself not having been treated.

In the sense of the present invention, “invertebrate pests” are preferably selected from arthropods and nematodes, more preferably from harmful insects, arachnids and nematodes, and even more preferably from insects, acarids and nematodes. In the sense of the present invention, “invertebrate pests” are most preferably insects.

The invention further provides an agricultural composition for combating such invertebrate pests, which comprises such an amount of at least one compound of the general formula I or at least one agriculturally useful salt or N-oxide thereof and at least one inert liquid and/or solid agronomically acceptable carrier that has a pesticidal action and, if desired, at least one surfactant.

Such a composition may contain a single active compound of the formula I or a salt or N-oxide thereof or a mixture of several active compounds I or their salts according to the present invention. The composition according to the present invention may comprise an individual isomer or mixtures of isomers as well as individual tautomers or mixtures of tautomers.

The compounds of the formula I and the pestidicidal compositions comprising them are effective agents for controlling arthropod pests and nematodes. Invertebrate pests controlled by the compounds of formula I include for example

The compositions and compounds of formula I are useful for the control of nematodes, especially plant parasitic nematodes such as root knot nematodes,Meloidogyne hapla, Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica, and otherMeloidogynespecies;

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the compounds of formula I are used for controlling insects or arachnids, in particular insects of the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Thysanoptera and Homoptera and arachnids of the order Acarina. The compounds of the formula I according to the present invention are particularly useful for controlling insects of the order Thysanoptera and Homoptera.

The compounds of formula I or the pesticidal compositions comprising them may be used to protect growing plants and crops from attack or infestation by invertebrate pests, especially insects, acaridae or arachnids by contacting the plant/crop with a pesticidally effective amount of compounds of formula I. The term “crop” refers both to growing and harvested crops.

The compounds of formula I can be converted into the customary formulations, for example solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes and granules. The use form depends on the particular intended purpose; in each case, it should ensure a fine and even distribution of the compound according to the invention.

Suitable emulsifiers are non-ionic and anionic emulsifiers (for example polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, alkylsulfonates and arylsulfonates).

Examples of dispersants are lignin-sulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

Substances which are suitable for the preparation of directly sprayable solutions, emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions are mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene or diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, for example toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or their derivatives, methanol, etha-nol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, isophorone, highly polar solvents, for example dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone or water.

Also anti-freezing agents such as glycerin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and bactericides such as can be added to the formulation.

Suitable antiforming agents are for example antiforming agents based on silicon or magnesium stearate.

A suitable preservative is e.g. dichlorophen.

Seed treatment formulations may additionally comprise binders and optionally color-ants.

Binders can be added to improve the adhesion of the active materials on the seeds after treatment. Suitable binders are block copolymers EO/PO surfactants but also polyvinylalcoholsl, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polybute-nes, polyisobutylenes, polystyrene, polyethyleneamines, polyethyleneamides, poly-ethyleneimines (Lupasol®, Polymin®), polyethers, polyurethans, polyvinylacetate, ty-lose and copolymers derived from these polymers.

Optionally, also colorants can be included in the formulation. Suitable colorants or dyes for seed treatment formulations are Rhodamin B, C.I. Pigment Red 112, C.I. Solvent Red 1, pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2, pigment blue 15:1, pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1, pigment yellow 13, pigment red 112, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1, pigment red 57:1, pigment red 53:1, pigment orange 43, pigment orange 34, pigment orange 5, pigment green 36, pigment green 7, pigment white 6, pigment brown 25, basic violet 10, basic violet 49, acid red 51, acid red 52, acid red 14, acid blue 9, acid yellow 23, basic red 10, basic red 108.

An example of a gelling agent is carrageen (Satiagel®).

Powders, materials for spreading and dustable products can be prepared by mixing or concomitantly grinding the active substances with a solid carrier.

Granules, for example coated granules, impregnated granules and homogeneous granules, can be prepared by binding the active compounds to solid carriers.

In general, the formulations comprise from 0.01 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 90% by weight, of the active compound(s). In this case, the active compound(s) are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100 by weight, preferably 95% to 100% % by weight (according to NMR spectrum).

For seed treatment purposes, respective formulations can be diluted 2- to 10-fold leading to concentrations in the ready to use preparations of 0.01 to 60% by weight active compound by weight, preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight.

The compounds of formula I can be used as such, in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, for example in the form of directly sprayable solutions, powders, suspensions or dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dustable products, materials for spreading, or granules, by means of spraying, atomizing, dusting, spreading or pouring. The use forms depend entirely on the intended purposes; they are intended to ensure in each case the finest possible distribution of the active compound(s) according to the invention.

Aqueous use forms can be prepared from emulsion concentrates, pastes or wetable powders (sprayable powders, oil dispersions) by adding water. To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the substances, as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, can be homogenized in water by means of a wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. However, it is also possible to prepare concentrates composed of active substance, wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if appropriate, solvent or oil, and such concentrates are suitable for dilution with water.

The active compound concentrations in the ready-to-use preparations can be varied within relatively wide ranges. In general, they are from 0.0001 to %10, preferably from 0.01 to 1% per weight.

The active compound(s) may also be used successfully in the ultra-low-volume process (ULV), it being possible to apply formulations comprising over 95% by weight of active compound, or even to apply the active compound without additives.

The following are examples of formulations:

1. Products for dilution with water for foliar applications. For seed treatment purposes, such products may be applied to the seed diluted or undiluted.

10 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of water or a water-soluble solvent, As an alternative, wetting agents or other auxiliaries are added. The active compound(s) dissolves upon dilution with water, whereby a formula-tion with 10% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

20 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are dissolved in 70 parts by weight of cyclohexanone with addition of 10 parts by weight of a dispersant, for example polyvi-nylpyrrolidone. Dilution with water gives a dispersion, whereby a formulation with 20% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

15 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are dissolved in 7 parts by weight of xy-lene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). Dilution with water gives an emulsion, whereby a formulation with 15% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

25 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are dissolved in 35 parts by weight of xylene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). This mixture is introduced into 30 parts by weight of wa-ter by means of an emulsifier machine (e.g. Ultraturrax) and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion, whereby a formulation with 25% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are comminuted with addition of 10 parts by weight of dispersants, wetting agents and 70 parts by weight of water or of an organic solvent to give a fine active compound(s) suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active compound(s), whereby a formulation with 20% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

50 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are ground finely with addition of 50 parts by weight of dispersants and wetting agents and made as water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (for example extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound(s), whereby a formulation with 50% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

75 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 25 parts by weight of dispersants, wetting agents and silica gel. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound(s), whereby a formulation with 75% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are comminuted with addition of 10 parts by weight of dispersants, 1 part by weight of a gelling agent wetting agents and 70 parts by weight of water or of an organic solvent to give a fine active compound(s) suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active compound(s), whereby a formulation with 20% (w/w) of active compound(s) is obtained.

2. Products to be applied undiluted for foliar applications. For seed treatment purposes, such products may be applied to the seed diluted or undiluted.

5 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are ground finely and mixed intimately with 95 parts by weight of finely divided kaolin. This gives a dustable product having 5% (w/w) of active compound(s)

0.5 parts by weight of the active compound(s) is ground finely and associated with 95.5 parts by weight of carriers, whereby a formulation with 0.5% (w/w) of active corn-pound(s) is obtained. Current methods are extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed. This gives granules to be applied undiluted for foliar use.

10 parts by weight of the active compound(s) are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of an organic solvent, for example xylene. This gives a product having 10% (w/w) of active compound(s), which is applied undiluted for foliar use.

The compounds of formula I are also suitable for the treatment of plant propagation materials (such as seed). Conventional seed treatment formulations include for example flowable concentrates FS, solutions LS, powders for dry treatment DS, water dispersible'powders for slurry treatment WS, water-soluble powders SS and emulsion ES and EC and gel formulation GF. These formulations can be applied to the seed diluted or undiluted. Application to the seeds is carried out before sowing, either directly on the seeds or after having pre-germinated the latter

In a preferred embodiment a FS formulation is used for seed treatment. Typically, a FS formulation may comprise 1 to 800 g/l of active ingredient, 1 to 200 g/l surfactant, 0 to 200 g/l antifreezing agent, 0 to 400 g/l of binder, 0 to 200 g/l of a pigment and up to 1 liter of a solvent, preferably water.

Other preferred FS formulations of compounds of formula I for seed treatment comprise from 0.5 to 80 wt of the active ingredient, from 0.05 to 5 wt of a wetting agent, from 0.5 to 15 wt of a dispersing agent, from 0.1 to 5 wt of a thickener, from 5 to 20 wt of an anti-freeze agent, from 0.1 to 2 wt of an anti-foam agent, from 1 to 20 wt of a pigment and/or a dye, from 0 to 15 wt of a sticker/adhesion agent, from 0 to 75 wt of a filler/vehicle, and from 0.01 to 1 wt of a preservative.

Various types of oils, wetting agents, adjuvants, herbicides, fungicides, other pesticides, or bactericides may be added to the active ingredients, if appropriate just immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents usually are admixed with the agents according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1.

The compounds of formula I are effective through both contact (via soil, glass, wall, bed net, carpet, plant parts or animal parts), and ingestion (bait, or plant part).

For use against ants, termites, wasps, flies, mosquitoes, crickets, or cockroaches, com-pounds of formula I are preferably used in a bait composition.

The bait can be a liquid, a solid or a semisolid preparation (e.g. a gel). Solid baits can be formed into various shapes and forms suitable to the respective application e.g. granules, blocks, sticks, disks. Liquid baits can be filled into various devices to ensure proper application, e.g. open containers, spraying devices, droplet sources, or evaporation sources. Gels can be based on aqueous or oily matrices and can be formulated to particular necessities in terms of stickiness, moisture retention or aging characteristics.

The bait employed in the composition is a product, which is sufficiently attractive to incite insects such as ants, termites, wasps, flies, mosquitoes, crickets etc. or cockroaches to eat it. The attractiveness can be manipulated by using feeding stimulants or sex pheromones. Food stimulants are chosen, for example, but not exclusively, from animal and/or plant proteins (meat-, fish- or blood meal, insect parts, egg yolk), from fats and oils of animal and/or plant origin, or mono-, oligo- or polyorganosaccharides, especially from sucrose, lactose, fructose, dextrose, glucose, starch, pectin or even molasses or honey. Fresh or decaying parts of fruits, crops, plants, animals, insects or specific parts thereof can also serve as a feeding stimulant. Sex pheromones are known to be more insect specific. Specific pheromones are described in the literature and are known to those skilled in the art.

Formulations of compounds of formula I as aerosols (e.g. in spray cans), oil sprays or pump sprays are highly suitable for the non-professional user for controlling pests such as flies, fleas, ticks, mosquitos or cockroaches. Aerosol recipes are preferably corn-posed of the active compound, solvents such as lower alcohols (e.g. methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol), ketones (e.g. acetone, methyl ethyl ketone), paraffin hydrocar-bons (e.g. kerosenes) having boiling ranges of approximately 50 to 250° C., dimethyl-formamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulphoxide, aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, water, furthermore auxiliaries such as emulsifiers such as sorbitol monooleate, oleyl ethoxylate having 3 to 7 mol of ethylene oxide, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, perfume oils such as ethereal oils, esters of medium fatty acids with lower alcohols, aromatic carbonyl compounds, if appropriate stabilizers such as sodium benzoate, am-photeric surfactants, lower epoxides, triethyl orthoformate and, if required, propellants such as propane, butane, nitrogen, compressed air, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, or mixtures of these gases.

The oil spray formulations differ from the aerosol recipes in that no propellants are used.

The compounds of formula I and their respective compositions can also be used in mosquito and fumigating coils, smoke cartridges, vaporizer plates or long-term vaporizers and also in moth papers, moth pads or other heat-independent vaporizer systems.

Methods to control infectious diseases transmitted by insects (e.g. malaria, dengue and yellow fever, lymphatic filariasis, and leishmaniasis) with compounds of formula I and its respective compositions also comprise treating surfaces of huts and houses, air spraying and impregnation of curtains, tents, clothing items, bed nets, tsetse-fly trap or the like. Insecticidal compositions for application to fibers, fabric, knitgoods, non-wovens, netting material or foils and tarpaulins preferably comprise a mixture including the insecticide, optionally a repellent and at least one binder. Suitable repellents for example are N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), N,N-diethylphenylacetamide (DEPA), 1-(3-cyclohexan-1-yl-carbonyl)-2-methylpiperine, (2-hydroxymethylcyclohexyl)acetic acid lactone, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexandiol, indalone, Methylneodecanamide (MNDA), a pyrethroid not used for insect control such as {(+/−)-3-allyl-2-methyl-4-oxocyclopent-2-(+)-enyl-(+)-trans-chrysantemate (Esbiothrin), a repellent derived from or identical with plant extracts like limonene, eugenol, (+)-Eucamalol (1), (−)-1-epi-eucamalol or crude plant extracts from plants like Eucalyptus maculata, Vitex rotundifolia, Cymbopogan martinii, Cymbopogan citratus (lemon grass), Cymopogan nartdus (citronella). Suitable binders are selected for example from polymers and copolymers of vinyl esters of aliphatic acids (such as such as vinyl acetate and vinyl versatate), acrylic and methacrylic esters of alcohols, such as butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, and methyl acrylate, mono- and diethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as styrene, and aliphatic diens, such as butadiene.

The impregnation of curtains and bednets is done in general by dipping the textile ma-terial into emulsions or dispersions of the active compounds of formula I or spraying them onto the nets.

Methods which can be employed for treating the seed are, in principle, all suitable seed treatment and especially seed dressing techniques known in the art, such as seed coating (e.g. seed pelleting), seed dusting and seed imbibition (e.g. seed soaking). Here, “seed treatment” refers to all methods that bring seeds and the compounds of formula I into contact with each other, and “seed dressing” to methods of seed treatment which provide the seeds with an amount of the compounds of formula I, i.e. which generate a seed comprising the compound of formula I. In principle, the treatment can be applied to the seed at any time from the harvest of the seed to the sowing of the seed. The seed can be treated immediately before, or during, the planting of the seed, for example using the “planter's box” method. However, the treatment may also be carried out several weeks or months, for example up to 12 months, before planting the seed, for example in the form of a seed dressing treatment, without a substantially reduced efficacy being observed.

Expediently, the treatment is applied to unsown seed. As used herein, the term “unsown seed” is meant to include seed at any period from the harvest of the seed to the sowing of the seed in the ground for the purpose of germination and growth of the plant.

Specifically, a procedure is followed in the treatment in which the seed is mixed, in a suitable device, for example a mixing device for solid or solid/liquid mixing partners, with the desired amount of seed treatment formulations, either as such or after previ-ous dilution with water, until the composition is distributed uniformly on the seed. If ap-propriate, this is followed by a drying step.

The compounds of formula I, or the enantiomers, diastereomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof are in particular also suitable for being used for combating parasites in and on animals.

An object of the present invention is therefore also to provide new methods to control parasites in and on animals. Another object of the invention is to provide safer pesticides for animals. Another object of the invention is further to provide pesticides for animals that may be used in lower doses than existing pesticides. And another object of the invention is to provide pesticides for animals, which provide a long residual control of the parasites.

The invention also relates to compositions containing a parasiticidally effective amount of compounds of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof and an acceptable carrier, for combating parasites in and on animals.

The present invention also provides a method for treating, controlling, preventing and protecting animals against infestation and infection by parasites, which comprises orally, topically or parenterally administering or applying to the animals a parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof or a composition comprising it.

The present invention also provides a non-therapeutic method for treating, controlling, preventing and protecting animals against infestation and infection by parasites, which comprises applying to a locus a parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof or a composition comprising it. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of a composition for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting animals against infestation or infection by parasites which comprises including a parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof in a composition comprising it.

The invention relates further to the use of compounds of formula I for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting animals against infestation or infection by parasites.

The invention relates also to the use of a compound of formula I, or a composition comprising it, for the manufacture of a medicament for the therapeutic treatment of animals against infections or infestions by parasites.

Activity of compounds against agricultural pests does not suggest their suitability for control of endo- and ectoparasites in and on animals which requires, for example, low, non-emetic dosages in the case of oral application, metabolic compatibility with the animal, low toxicity, and a safe handling.

Surprisingly it has now been found that compounds of formula I are suitable for combating endo- and ectoparasites in and on animals. The compounds of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof and compositions comprising them are suitable for systemic and/or non-systemic control of ecto- and/or endoparasites. They are active against all or some stages of development.

Compounds of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof and compositions comprising them are preferably used for controlling and preventing infestations and infections animals including warm-blooded animals (including humans) and fish. They are for example suitable for controlling and preventing infestations and infections in mammals such as cattle, sheep, swine, camels, deer, horses, pigs, poultry, rabbits, goats, dogs and cats, water buffalo, donkeys, fallow deer and reindeer, and also in fur-bearing animals such as mink, chinchilla and raccoon, birds such as hens, geese, turkeys and ducks and fish such as fresh- and salt-water fish such as trout, carp and eels.

Compounds of formula I or the enantiomers or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof and compositions comprising them are preferably used for controlling and preventing infestations and infections in domestic animals, such as dogs or cats.

The compounds of formula I are especially useful for combating ectoparasites.

The compounds of formula I are especially useful for combating endoparasites.

The compounds of formula I are especially useful for combating parasites of the following orders and species, respectively:

Applications

The present invention relates to the therapeutic and the non-therapeutic use of compounds of formula I for controlling and/or combating parasites in and/or on animals.

The compounds of formula I may be used to protect the animals from attack or infestation by parasites by contacting them with a parasitically effective amount of compounds of formula I. As such, “contacting” includes both direct contact (applying the compounds/compositions directly on the parasite, including the application directly on the animal or excluding the application directly on the animal, e.g. at it's locus for the latter) and indirect contact (applying the compounds/compositions to the locus of the parasite). The contact of the parasite through application to its locus is an example of a non-therapeutic use of compounds of formula I.

“Locus” as defined above means the habitat, food supply, breeding ground, area, material or environment in which a parasite is growing or may grow outside of the animal. The compounds of the invention can also be applied preventively to places at which occurrence of the pests or parasites is expected.

The compounds of formula I can be effective through both contact (via soil, glass, wall, bed net, carpet, blankets or animal parts) and ingestion (e.g. baits).

The administration can be carried out prophylactically, therapeutically or non-therapeutically.

Administration of the active compounds is carried out directly or in the form of suitable preparations, orally, topically/dermally or parenterally.

In general, “parasiticidally effective amount” means the amount of active ingredient needed to achieve an observable effect on growth, including the effects of necrosis, death, retardation, prevention, and removal, destruction, or otherwise diminishing the occurrence and activity of the target organism. The parasiticidally effective amount can vary for the various compounds/compositions used in the invention. A parasiticidally effective amount of the compositions will also vary according to the prevailing conditions such as desired parasiticidal effect and duration, target species, mode of application, and the like.

Generally it is favorable to apply the compounds of formula I in total amounts of 0.5 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg per day, preferably 1 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg per day.

Formulations

For oral administration to warm-blooded animals, the formula I compounds may be formulated as animal feeds, animal feed premixes, animal feed concentrates, pills, solutions, pastes, suspensions, drenches, gels, tablets, boluses and capsules. In addition, the formula I compounds may be administered to the animals in their drinking, water. For oral administration, the dosage form chosen should provide the animal with 0.01 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of animal body weight per day of the formula I compound, preferably with 0.5 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of animal body weight per day.

Alternatively, the formula I compounds may be administered to animals parenterally, for example, by intraruminal, intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The formula I compounds may be dispersed or dissolved in a physiologically acceptable carrier for subcutaneous injection. Alternatively, the formula I compounds may be formulated into an implant for subcutaneous administration. In addition the formula I compound may be transdermally administered to animals. For parenteral administration, the dosage form chosen should provide the animal with 0.01 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of animal body weight per day of the formula I compound.

The formula I compounds may also be applied topically to the animals in the form of dips, dusts, powders, collars, medallions, sprays, shampoos, spot-on and pour-on formulations and in ointments or oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions. For topical application, dips and sprays usually contain 0.5 ppm to 5,000 ppm and preferably 1 ppm to 3,000 ppm of the formula I compound. In addition, the formula I compounds may be formulated as ear tags for animals, particularly quadrupeds such as cattle and sheep.

Suitable preparations are:Solutions such as oral solutions, concentrates for oral administration after dilution, solutions for use on the skin or in body cavities, pouring-on formulations, gels;Emulsions and suspensions for oral or dermal administration; semi-solid preparations;Formulations in which the active compound is processed in an ointment base or in an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion base;Solid preparations such as powders, premixes or concentrates, granules, pellets, tablets, boluses, capsules; aerosols and inhalants, and active compound-containing shaped articles.

Compositions suitable for injection are prepared by dissolving the active ingredient in a suitable solvent and optionally adding further ingredients such as acids, bases, buffer salts, preservatives, and solubilizers. The solutions are filtered and filled sterile.

The active compounds can optionally be dissolved in physiologically tolerable vegetable or synthetic oils which are suitable for injection.

Suitable solubilizers are solvents which promote the dissolution of the active compound in the main solvent or prevent its precipitation. Examples are polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylated castor oil, and polyoxyethylated sorbitan ester.

Oral solutions are administered directly. Concentrates are administered orally after prior dilution to the use concentration. Oral solutions and concentrates are prepared according to the state of the art and as described above for injection solutions, sterile procedures not being necessary.

Solutions for use on the skin are trickled on, spread on, rubbed in, sprinkled on or sprayed on.

Solutions for use on the skin are prepared according to the state of the art and according to what is described above for injection solutions, sterile procedures not being necessary.

It may be advantageous to add thickeners during preparation. Suitable thickeners are inorganic thickeners such as bentonites, colloidal silicic acid, aluminium monostearate, organic thickeners such as cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohols and their copolymers, acrylates and methacrylates.

Gels are applied to or spread on the skin or introduced into body cavities. Gels are prepared by treating solutions which have been prepared as described in the case of the injection solutions with sufficient thickener that a clear material having an ointment-like consistency results. The thickeners employed are the thickeners given above.

Pour-on formulations are poured or sprayed onto limited areas of the skin, the active compound penetrating the skin and acting systemically.

Pour-on formulations are prepared by dissolving, suspending or emulsifying the active compound in suitable skin-compatible solvents or solvent mixtures. If appropriate, other auxiliaries such as colorants, bioabsorption-promoting substances, antioxidants, light stabilizers, adhesives are added.

Suitable colorants are all colorants permitted for use on animals and which can be dissolved or suspended.

Emulsions can be administered orally, dermally or as injections.

Emulsions are either of the water-in-oil type or of the oil-in-water type.

They are prepared by dissolving the active compound either in the hydrophobic or in the hydrophilic phase and homogenizing this with the solvent of the other phase with the aid of suitable emulsifiers and, if appropriate, other auxiliaries such as colorants, absorption-promoting substances, preservatives, antioxidants, light stabilizers, viscosity-enhancing substances.

Suitable hydrophobic phases (oils) are

liquid paraffins, silicone oils, natural vegetable oils such as sesame oil, almond oil, castor oil, synthetic triglycerides such as caprylic/capric biglyceride, triglyceride mixture with vegetable fatty acids of the chain length C8-C12or other specially selected natural fatty acids, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids possibly also containing hydroxyl groups, mono- and diglycerides of the C8-C10fatty acids,

fatty acid esters such as ethyl stearate, di-n-butyryl adipate, hexyl laurate, dipropylene glycol perlargonate, esters of a branched fatty acid of medium chain length with saturated fatty alcohols of chain length C16-C18, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, caprylic/capric acid esters of saturated fatty alcohols of chain length C12-C18, isopropyl stearate, oleyl oleate, decyl oleate, ethyl oleate, ethyl lactate, waxy fatty acid esters such as synthetic duck coccygeal gland fat, dibutyl phthalate, diisopropyl adipate, and ester mixtures related to the latter, fatty alcohols such as isotridecyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, cetylstearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and fatty acids such as oleic acid and mixtures thereof.

Suitable further auxiliaries are: substances which enhance the viscosity and stabilize the emulsion, such as carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose and other cellulose and starch derivatives, polyacrylates, alginates, gelatin, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, polyethylene glycols, waxes, colloidal silicic acid or mixtures of the substances mentioned.

Suspensions can be administered orally or topically/dermally. They are prepared by suspending the active compound in a suspending agent, if appropriate with addition of other auxiliaries such as wetting agents, colorants, bioabsorption-promoting substances, preservatives, antioxidants, light stabilizers.

Liquid suspending agents are all homogeneous solvents and solvent mixtures.

Suitable wetting agents (dispersants) are the emulsifiers given above.

Other auxiliaries which may be mentioned are those given above.

Semi-solid preparations can be administered orally or topically/dermally. They differ from the suspensions and emulsions described above only by their higher viscosity.

For the production of solid preparations, the active compound is mixed with suitable excipients, if appropriate with addition of auxiliaries, and brought into the desired form.

Suitable excipients are all physiologically tolerable solid inert substances. Those used are inorganic and organic substances. Inorganic substances are, for example, sodium chloride, carbonates such as calcium carbonate, hydrogencarbonates, aluminium oxides, titanium oxide, silicic acids, argillaceous earths, precipitated or colloidal silica, or phosphates. Organic substances are, for example, sugar, cellulose, foodstuffs and feeds such as milk powder, animal meal, grain meals and shreds, starches.

Suitable auxiliaries are preservatives, antioxidants, and/or colorants which have been mentioned above.

Other suitable auxiliaries are lubricants and glidants such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, talc, bentonites, disintegration-promoting substances such as starch or crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, binders such as starch, gelatin or linear polyvinylpyrrolidone, and dry binders such as microcrystalline cellulose.

The compositions which can be used in the invention can comprise generally from about 0.001 to 95% of the compound of formula I.

Ready-to-use preparations contain the compounds acting against parasites, preferably ectoparasites, in concentrations of 10 ppm to 80 percent by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 65 percent by weight, more preferably from 1 to 50 percent by weight, most preferably from 5 to 40 percent by weight.

Preparations which are diluted before use contain the compounds acting against ectoparasites in concentrations of 0.5 to 90 percent by weight, preferably of 1 to 50 percent by weight.

Furthermore, the preparations comprise the compounds of formula I against endoparasites in concentrations of 10 ppm to 2 percent by weight, preferably of 0.05 to 0.9 percent by weight, very particularly preferably of 0.005 to 0.25 percent by weight.

The compositions comprising the compounds of formula I can be applied orally, parenterally or topically, respectively dermally. For example, optionally the topical application is conducted in the form of compound-containing shaped articles such as collars, medallions, ear tags, bands for fixing at body parts, and adhesive strips and foils.

Generally it is favorable to apply solid formulations which release compounds of formula I in total amounts of 10 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg, preferably 20 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg, most preferably 25 mg/kg to 160 mg/kg body weight of the treated animal in the course of three weeks.

For the preparation of the shaped articles, thermoplastic and flexible plastics as well as elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers are used. Suitable plastics and elastomers are polyvinyl resins, polyurethane, polyacrylate, epoxy resins, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, polyamides and polyester which are sufficiently compatible with the compounds of formula I. A detailed list of plastics and elastomers as well as preparation procedures for the shaped articles is given e.g. in WO 03/086075.

The active compounds can be applied solely or in a mixture with synergists or with other active compounds which act against pathogenic endo- and ectoparasites. For example, the active compounds of formula I can be applied in mixtures with synthetic coccidiosis compounds, polyetherantibiotics as Amprolium, Robenidin, Toltrazuril, Monensin, Salinomycin, Maduramicin, Lasalocid, Narasin or Semduramicin or with other pesticides which are described in the list M below.

Compositions to be used according to this invention for agricultural or veterinary purposes may also contain other active ingredients, for example other pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, urea, potash, and super-phosphate, phytotoxicants and plant growth regulators, safeners and nematicides. These additional ingredients may be used sequentially or in combination with the above-described compositions, if appropriate also added only immediately prior to use (tank mix). For example, the plant(s) may be sprayed with a composition of this invention either before or after being treated with other active ingredients.

These agents can be admixed with the agents used according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1. Mixing the compounds of formula I or the compositions comprising them in the use form as pesticides with other pesticides frequently results in a broader pesticidal spectrum of action.

The commercially available compounds of the group M may be found in The Pesticide Manual, 14th Edition, British Crop Protection Council (2006).

Paraoxon and their preparation have been described in Farm Chemicals Handbook, Volume 88, Meister Publishing Company, 2001. Flupyrazofos has been described in Pesticide Science 54, 1988, p. 237-243 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,779. AKD 1022 and its preparation have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,348. The anthranilamides M23.1 to M23.6 have been described in WO 2008/72743 and WO 200872783, those M23.7 to M23.12 in WO2007/043677. The phthalamide M 21.1 is known from WO 2007/101540. The alkynylether compound M27.1 is described e.g. in JP 2006131529. Organic sulfur compounds have been described in WO 2007060839. The isoxazoline compounds M 22.1 to M 22.5 have been described in e.g. WO2005/085216, WO 2007/079162 and WO 2007/026965. The aminofuranone compounds M 26.1 to M 26.10 have been described eg. in WO 2007/115644. The pyripyropene derivative M 27.2 has been described in WO 2008/66153 and WO 2008/108491. The pyridazin compound M 27.3 has been described in JP 2008/115155. Malononitrile compounds as those (M24.1) and (M24.2) have been described in WO 02/089579, WO 02/090320, WO 02/090321, WO 04/006677, WO 05/068423, WO 05/068432 and WO 05/063694.

The invertebrate pest, i.e. arthropodes and nematodes, the plant, soil or water in which the plant is growing can be contacted with the compound(s) of formula I or the composition(s) containing them by any application method known in the art. As such, “contacting” includes both direct contact (applying the compounds/compositions directly on the invertebrate pest or plant—typically to the foliage, stem or roots of the plant) and indirect contact (applying the compounds/compositions to the locus of the invertebrate pest or plant).

Moreover, invertebrate pests may be controlled by contacting the target pest, its food supply, habitat, breeding ground or its locus with a pesticidally effective amount of compounds of formula I. As such the application may be carried out before or after the infection of the locus, growing crops, or harvested crops by the pest.

“Locus” in general means a habitat, breeding ground, cultivated plants, plant propagation material (such as seed), soil, area, material or environment in which a pest or parasite is growing or may grow.

In general “pesticidally effective amount” means the amount of active ingredient needed to achieve an observable effect on growth, including the effects of necrosis, death, retardation, prevention, and removal, destruction, or otherwise diminishing the occurrence and activity of the target organism. The pesticidally effective amount can vary for the various compounds/compositions used in the invention. A pesticidally effective amount of the compositions will also vary according to the prevailing conditions such as desired pesticidal effect and duration, weather, target species, locus, mode of application, and the like.

The compounds of formula I and the compositions comprising said compounds can be used for protecting wooden materials such as trees, board fences, sleepers, etc. and buildings such as houses, outhouses, factories, but also construction materials, furniture, leathers, fibers, vinyl articles, electric wires and cables etc. from ants and/or termites, and for controlling ants and termites from doing harm to crops or human being (e.g. when the pests invade into houses and public facilities). The compounds of formula I are applied not only to the surrounding soil surface or into the under-floor soil in order to protect wooden materials but it can also be applied to lumbered articles such as surfaces of the under-floor concrete, alcove posts, beams, plywood, furniture, etc., wooden articles such as particle boards, half boards, etc. and vinyl articles such as coated electric wires, vinyl sheets, heat insulating material such as styrene foams, etc. In case of application against ants doing harm to crops or human beings, the ant controller of the present invention is applied to the crops or the surrounding soil, or is directly applied to the nest of ants or the like.

The compounds of formula I can also be applied preventively to places at which occurrence of the pests is expected.

The compounds of formula I may also be used to protect growing plants from attack or infestation by pests by contacting the plant with a pesticidally effective amount of compounds of formula I. As such, “contacting the plant” includes both direct contact (applying the compounds/compositions directly on the pest and/or plant—typically to the foliage, stem or roots of the plant) and indirect contact (applying the compounds/compositions to the locus of the pest and/or plant).

In the case of soil treatment or of application to the pests dwelling place or nest, the quantity of active ingredient ranges from 0.0001 to 500 g per 100 m2, preferably from 0.001 to 20 g per 100 m2.

Customary application rates in the protection of materials are, for example, from 0.01 g to 1000 g of active compound per m2treated material, desirably from 0.1 g to 50 g per m2.

Insecticidal compositions for use in the impregnation of materials typically contain from 0.001 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 45% by weight, and more preferably from 1 to 25% by weight of at least one repellent and/or insecticide.

For use in bait compositions, the typical content of active ingredient is from 0.001% by weight to 15% by weight, desirably from 0.001% by weight to 5% by weight of active compound.

For use in spray compositions, the content of active ingredient is from 0.001 to 80% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 50% by weight and most preferably from 0.01 to 15% by weight.

For use in treating crop plants, the rate of application of the active ingredients of this invention may be in the range of 0.1 g to 4000 g per hectare, desirably from 5 g to 600 g per hectare, more desirably from 10 g to 300 g per hectare.

In the treatment of seed, the application rates of the active ingredients are generally from 0.1 g to 10 kg per 100 kg of seed, preferably from 1 g to 1 kg per 100 kg of seed, in particular from 1 g to 250 g per 100 kg of seed, in particular from 50 g to 150 g per 100 kg of seed.

The present invention is now illustrated in further detail by the following examples which are not intended to limit the invention to them.

I. PREPARATION EXAMPLES

Products were characterized by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry). HPLC was carried out using an analytic RP-18 column (Chromolith Speed ROD from Merck KgaA, Germany) which was operated at 40° C. Acetonitrile with 0.1% by volume of a trifluoroacetic acid/water mixture and 0.1% by volume of trifluoroacetic acid served as mobile phase; flow rate: 1.8 mL/min and injection volume: 2 μl.

To a stirred suspension of 2-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (33.6 g, 0.16 mol) in water (750 mL) was added dropwise 4-chlorobenzaldehyde. Iron trichloride hexahydrate (133 g) was then added in portions. The reaction mixture was then heated at reflux for 24 h. After allowing the suspension to cool to room temperature, the precipitate was isolated by vacuum filtration washing with water (3×500 mL) and dried under vacuum (10 mbar, 50° C.). Yield=50 g, 94%; HPLC-mass spectrometry (LC-MS): 3.7 min, 325 (M+).

To a stirred suspension of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-trifluoromethyl-3H-quinazolin-4-one (50 g, 0.15 mol) in dioxane (400 mL) was added dropwise phosphorus oxychloride (43 mL, 0.46 mol). The suspension was then heated at reflux for 2 h then allowed to cool to room temperature and evaporated under reduced pressure. The remaining solid was dissolved in dioxane (1 L) and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (50 mL, 10% weight/weight (w/w)) was added dropwise maintaining the internal temperature≦10° C.). Water (1 L) was then added to the resultant suspension followed by the dropwise addition of a further quantity of aqueous sodium hydroxide (90 mL, 10% w/w). The precipitate was isolated by vacuum filtration washing with water (3×500 mL) and dried under vacuum (10 mbar, 50° C.). Yield=49 g, 93%; LC-MS: 4.7 min, 343 (M+);1H NMR (dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-d6) δ 7.68 (d, 2 H, J=8.9 Hz), 8.12 (dd, 1 H, J=8.9, 1.8 Hz), 8.48-8.54 (m, 4 H).

To a stirred solution of 4-chloro-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-7-trifluoromethylquinazoline (52.0 g, 0.15 mol) in THF (400 mL) at 0° C. was added dropwise a solution of ethylamine (0.45 mol, 230 mL, 2 M in THF. The ice-bath was then removed and the reaction mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure then partitioned between ethyl acetate (400 mL) and water (400 mL) removing any undissolved solid by vacuum filtration. The filtrate was concentrated to approximately 200 mL and the resultant precipitate was removed by vacuum filtration. The filtrate was again concentrated to approximately 100 mL volume and the resultant precipitate was removed by vacuum filtration. Finally the filtrate was cooled to 0° C. upon which [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-7-trifluoromethyl-quinazolin-4-yl]ethylamine precipitated from solution. The precipitate (30 g) was isolated by vacuum filtration and dried under vacuum (10 mbar, 50° C.). A second amount of the precipitate of equal purity (19.6 g) was obtained following concentration of the filtrate to approximately 50 mL volume, cooling to 0° C., filtration and drying under vacuum. Combined yield=49.6 g, 93%; LC-MS: 2.9 min, 352 (M+);1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 1.38 (t, 1 H, J=7 Hz), 3.77-3.85 (m, 2 H), 7.46 (d, 2 H, J=8.7 Hz), 7.64 (dd, 1 H, J=8.3, 1.8 Hz), 7.72-7.78 (br s, 1 H), 8.09 (s, 1 H), 8.17 (d, 1 H, J=8.3 Hz), 8.59 (d, 2 H, J=8.7 Hz).

A suspension of 2,3-difluoro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (1.00 g, 4.42 mmol), palladium (II) acetate (0.199 g, 0.88 mmol) and N-iodosuccinimide (1.19 g, 5.31 mmol) in dimethylformamide (10 mL) were heated at 100° C. for 2 d. The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with water (3×25 mL). The organic layer was dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a brown solid (1.53) g which was used without further purification. LC-MS: 2.6 min, 353 (M+).

A suspension of crude 2,3-difluoro-6-iodo-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (1.00 g), 4-chlorobenzamide hydrochloride (0.814 g, 4.26 mmol), copper (I) iodide (0.108 g), caesium carbonate (1.85 g, 5.68 mmol) in dimethylformamide (8 mL) were stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 1 week. The reaction mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with hydrochloric acid (1 M, 25 mL) and water (25 mL). The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure (0.98 g). The reaction was repeated with crude 2,3-difluoro-6-iodo-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (0.50 g) to afford an additional portion (0.57 g) of the quinazolin-4-one. LC-MS: 3.6 min, 361 (M+).

To a suspension of the above quinazolin-4-one (1.50 g) in dioxane (45 mL) was added phosphorus oxychloride (3.9 mL, 41 mmol) and the resultant solution was heated at reflux for 16 h. The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure to afford a gummy solid which was used without further purification.

Compounds of formula I prepared according to the above mentioned method together with their physico-chemical data are compiled below in Tables E, F and G. The corresponding physico-chemical data (LC/MS) wherein tRis retention time in minutes and M is the mass of respective molecular ion are listed in the Tables.

In Table E, compounds are of the general formula:

and # denotes the binding site to the remainder

In Table F, compounds are of the general formula:

wherein RFin the above formula is R1or R2
and RFis a propyl (Pr) or an ethyl (Et) and A as indicated in Table F:

In Table 3, further examples compounds of the general formula (I)

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, A1and A2in each case have the meaning given in the corresponding line and wherein A3and A4are each CH.

II. Evaluation Of Pesticidal Activity

The activity of the compounds of formula I of the present invention can be demonstrated and evaluated by the following biological test.

The active compounds were formulated in cyclohexanone as a 10,0000 ppm solution supplied in 1.3 ml ABgene® tubes. These tubes were inserted into an automated electrostatic sprayer equipped with an atomizing nozzle and they served as stock solutions for which lower dilutions were made in 50% acetone: 50% water (v/v). A nonionic surfactant (Kinetic®) was included in the solution at a volume of 0.01% (v/v). Lima bean plants (variety Sieva) were grown 2 plants to a pot and selected for treatment at the 1sttrue leaf stage. Test solutions were sprayed onto the foliage by an automated electrostatic plant sprayer equipped with an atomizing spray nozzle. The plants were dried in the sprayer fume hood and then removed from the sprayer. Each pot was placed into perforated plastic bags with a zip closure. Ten to 11 armyworm larvae were placed into the bag and the bags zipped closed. Test plants were maintained in a growth room at at 25° C. and 20-40% relative humidity for 4 days, avoiding direct exposure to fluorescent light (24 hour photoperiod) to prevent trapping of heat inside the bags. Mortality and reduced feeding were assessed 4 days after treatment, compared to untreated control plants.

The active compounds were formulated in cyclohexanone as a 10,0000 ppm solution supplied in 1.3 ml ABgene® tubes. These tubes were inserted into an automated electrostatic sprayer equipped with an atomizing nozzle and they served as stock solutions for which lower dilutions were made in 50% acetone: 50% water (v/v). A nonionic surfactant (Kinetic®) was included in the solution at a volume of 0.01% (v/v). Cotton plants at the cotyledon stage (one plant per pot) were sprayed by an automated electrostatic plant sprayer equipped with an atomizing spray nozzle. The plants were dried in the sprayer fume hood and then removed from the sprayer. Each pot was placed into a plastic cup and 10 to 12 whitefly adults (approximately 3-5 days old) were introduced. The insects were collected using an aspirator and 0.6 cm, nontoxic Tygon® tubing (R-3603) connected to a barrier pipette tip. The tip, containing the collected insects, was then gently inserted into the soil containing the treated plant, allowing insects to crawl out of the tip to reach the foliage for feeding. Cups were covered with a reusable screened lid (150-micron mesh polyester screen PeCap from Tetko, Inc.). Test plants were maintained in a growth room at 25° C. and 20-40% relative humidity for 3 days, avoiding direct exposure to fluorescent light (24 hour photoperiod) to prevent trapping of heat inside the cup. Mortality was assessed 3 days after treatment, compared to untreated control plants.

In this test, compounds I-11, I-78, I-120, I-121, I-182, I-195, I-196, I-244, I-413 and I-442 at a test concentration of 500 ppm showed a mortality of at least 50% in comparison with untreated controls.

The active compounds were formulated in cyclohexanone as a 10,0000 ppm solution supplied in 1.3 ml ABgene® tubes. These tubes were inserted into an automated electrostatic sprayer equipped with an atomizing nozzle and they served as stock solutions for which lower dilutions were made in 50% acetone:50% water (v/v). A nonionic surfactant (Kinetic®) was included in the solution at a volume of 0.01% (v/v). Eggplants were grown 2 plants to a pot and were selected for treatment at the 1sttrue leaf stage. Test solutions were sprayed onto the foliage by an automated electrostatic plant sprayer equipped with an atomizing spray nozzle. The plants were dried in the sprayer fume hood and then removed from the sprayer. The treated foliage was then cut and removed from the pot and placed in a 5-inch Petri dish lined with moistened filter paper. Five beetle larvae were introduced into each Petri dish and the dish was covered by a Petri dish lid. Petri dishes were maintained in a growth room at 25° C. and 20-40% relative humidity for 4 days, avoiding direct exposure to fluorescent light (24 hour photoperiod) to prevent trapping of heat inside the dishes. Mortality and reduced feeding were assessed 4 days after treatment, compared to untreated control plants.

In this test, compound I-201 at a test concentration of 300 ppm showed a mortality of at least 50% in comparison with untreated controls.

The active compound was dissolved at the desired concentration in a mixture of 1:1 (vol:vol) distilled water:acetone. The test solution was prepared at the day of use.

The activity againstPlutella xylostellacan be tested by the following experiments:

Leaves of Chinese cabbage were dipped in test solution and air-dried. Treated leaves were placed in petri dished lined with moist filter paper. Mortality was recorded 24, 72, and 120 hours after treatment.

Dichromothrips corbettiadults used for bioassay were obtained from a colony maintained continuously under laboratory conditions. For testing purposes, the test compound was diluted to a concentration of 300 ppm (wt compound: vol diluent) in a 1:1 mixture of acetone:water (vol:vol), plus 0.01% vol/vol Kinetic® surfactant. Thrips potency of each compound was evaluated by using a floral-immersion technique. Plastic petri dishes were used as test arenas. All petals of individual, intact orchid flowers were dipped into treatment solution and allowed to dry. Treated flowers were placed into individual petri dishes along with 10-15 adult thrips. The petri dishes were then covered with lids. All test arenas were held under continuous light and a temperature of about 28° C. for duration of the assay. After 4 days, the numbers of live thrips were counted on each flower, and along inner walls of each petri dish. The level of thrips mortality was extrapolated from pre-treatment thrips numbers.

For evaluating control of vetch aphid (Megoura viciae) through contact or systemic means the test unit consists of 24-well-microtiter plates containing broad bean leaf disks. The compounds were formulated using a solution containing 75% v/v water and 25% v/v DMSO. Different concentrations of formulated compounds were sprayed onto the leaf disks at 2.5 μl, using a custom built micro atomizer, at two replications. After application, the leaf disks were air-dried and 5-8 adult aphids placed on the leaf disks inside the microtiter plate wells. The aphids were then allowed to suck on the treated leaf disks and incubated at about 23±1° C. and about 50±5% relative humidity for 5 days. Aphid mortality and fecundity was then visually assessed.

The active compounds were formulated in cyclohexanone as a 10,000 ppm solution supplied in tubes. The tubes were inserted into an automated electrostatic sprayer equipped with an atomizing nozzle and they served as stock solutions for which lower dilutions were made in 50% acetone:50% water (v/v). A nonionic surfactant (Kinetic®) was included in the solution at a volume of 0.01% (v/v).

Bell pepper plants at the first true-leaf stage were infested prior to treatment by placing heavily infested leaves from the main colony on top of the treatment plants. Aphids were allowed to transfer overnight to accomplish an infestation of 30-50 aphids per plant and the host leaves were removed. The infested plants were then sprayed by an automated electrostatic plant sprayer equipped with an atomizing spray nozzle. The plants were dried in the sprayer fume hood, removed, and then maintained in a growth room under fluorescent lighting in a 24-hr photoperiod at about 25° C. and about 20-40% relative humidity. Aphid mortality on the treated plants, relative to mortality on untreated control plants, was determined after 5 days.

For evaluating control of boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) the test unit consists of 24-well-microtiter plates containing an insect diet and 20-30A. grandiseggs. The compounds were formulated using a solution containing 75% v/v water and 25% v/v DMSO. Different concentrations of formulated compounds were sprayed onto the insect diet at 20 μl, using a custom built micro atomizer, at two replications. After application, microtiter plates were incubated at about 23±1° C. and about 50±5% relative humidity for 5 days. Egg and larval mortality was then visually assessed.

For evaluating control of Mediterranean fruitfly (Ceratitis capitata) the test unit consisted of microtiter plates containing an insect diet and 50-80C. capitataeggs. The compounds were formulated using a solution containing 75% v/v water and 25% v/v DMSO. Different concentrations of formulated compounds were sprayed onto the insect diet at 5 μl, using a custom built micro atomizer, at two replications. After application, microtiter plates were incubated at about 28±1° C. and about 80±5% relative humidity for 5 days. Egg and larval mortality was then visually assessed.

For evaluating control of tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) the test unit consists of 96-well-microtiter plates containing an insect diet and 15-25H. virescenseggs. The compounds were formulated using a solution containing 75% v/v water and 25% v/v DMSO. Different concentrations of formulated compounds were sprayed onto the insect diet at 10 μl, using a custom built micro atomizer, at two replications. After application, microtiter plates were incubated at about 28±1° C. and about 80±5% relative humidity for 5 days. Egg and larval mortality was then visually assessed.