INSECTICIDAL CYCLOPROPANECARBOXYLATES FROM SUBSTITUTED(1,1'-BIPHENYL)-3-YLMETHYL COMPOUNDS

Abstract: Substituted [1,1'-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates, as well as processes, uses, and intermediates thereto. The substituted [1,1'-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcy-clopropanecarboxylates control a broad spectrum of insects as well as acarids.

Description: INSECTICIDAL CYCLOPROPANECARBOXYLATES FROM SUBSTITUTED [1,1 '-BIPHENYL1-3-YLMETHYL COMPOUNDS This invention pertains to the field of bioaf- fecting compositions; more specifically, it pertains to novel carboxylic acid esters which are pyrethroid insecticides, processes and intermediates thereto, in- secticidal and acaricidal compositions containing the novel esters, and to the use of the compositions for controlling insects and acarids. Pyrethrins have long been of interest as insecti¬ cides. Ever since it was discovered that pyrethrins are organic esters, various synthetic modifications have been made in the carboxylic acid and in the alcohol moieties on either side of the ester linkage. Many of the synthetic pyrethroids are more effective than the natural pyrethrins, and recent modifications have over¬ come a chronic pyrethrin problem - instability to air and light. The carboxylic acid moiety in the aforesaid esters is often a 2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid with various substituents in the 3-position. A class of pyrethroids of current commercial interest contains the 2,2-dihaloethenyl group in the 3-position; for example, pyrethroids containing the 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl) and 3-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecar- boxylic acid units are disclosed in Elliott, et al., ϋ. S. 4,024,163, issued May 17, 1977. Many variations in the alcohol moiety of the aforesaid esters have been disclosed also. The alcohols appearing in the most active pyrethroids of current O PI commercial interest are well-known in the prior art and are described by the structural formula wherein R is a hydrogen atom, an alkynyl group, a 2 methyl group, or a cyano group; and R is a phenoxy group, a benzyl group, or a phenylthio group. Repre¬ sentative alcohols are 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol and α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol. According to M. Elliott, Bull. ld.. Hlth. Org. , 44, 315 (1970), it is "essential for powerful pyrethrin- like activity" that the alcohol moiety, represented by HOfC-D-E-F] , contain certain structural units. It is necessary that the unit C be a tetrahedral carbon atom chemically bonded, not only to the alcoholic oxygen atom 0, but to unit D, the remainder of a cyclopentenolone ring, a benzene or furan ring, or C=C, so that "the carbon atoms in C, D, and E are coplanar". "The unit E is -CH2-, -0-, or -CO-, or a sterically equivalent link, such that an unsaturated centre F (an olefinic or acetylenic bond, a conjugated system of double bonds, or an aromatic ring) can adopt a position skew to the direction defined by C, D, and E." The alcohol moieties in the most active of the pyrethroid esters of current commercial interest all contain a linking unit E, for example, -0- in the representative alcohols named above. U.S. Patent No. 4,130,657, issued December 19, 1978, discloses that the linking unit E is not required, and [1,1*-bipheny1]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloetheny1)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates, wherein the halogen is chlorine or bromine, exhibit insecticidal and acari- cidal activity. The present invention provides [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl- ethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane- carboxylates having substituent groups selected from halo, haloalkyl, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, and nitro on the benzene rings of the biphenyl unit that exhibit pronounced insecticidal and acaricidal activity, activity which is especially long-lived. Like the 3-phenoxybenzyl esters, the new pyrethroids are capable of both geometrical and optical isomerism, the biological activity varying somewhat according to the specific isomer. The pure cis geometrical isomer of a substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate is usually a more active insecticide and acaricide than the pure trans isomer, and the activity of a substituted [1,1 *— biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-di- ethylcyclopropanecarboxylate is a function of the cis/trans ratio.' Although the preparation and testing of racemic esters is described specifically below, the pure optical isomers also display biological activity in varying degrees. The term "substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl¬ methyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane- carboxylate" employed herein is intended to include generically all optical and geometrical isomers of the named compounds and mixtures thereof. The term "lower" modifying alkyl or alkoxy means a linear or branched chain of 1-6, preferably 1-4, carbon atoms. The term "halo" employed alone or modifying alkyl means fluorine, chlorine or bromine. Substituted [1, 1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-di- haloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates of this invention are represented by the formula - A - wherein X is chloro or bromo, and b is 0, a is 1-4, and when a is 1, A is 2-, 4-, or 6-halo, 5-fluoro, 2-lower alkyl, 2-trifluoromethyl, and when a is 2, A is fluoro, 2 and 4-chloro, or 2 and 4- bromo, and when a is 3 or 4, A is fluoro; or a is 0, b is 1-5, and when b is 1 , B is halo, 2' or 3'-lower alkyl, 2' or 3'-tri- fluoromethyl, or 2' or 3'-lower alkoxy, and when b is 2, B is fluoro, 2' and 4'-chloro, 2' and 4'- bromo, and when b is 3, 4 or 5, B is fluoro. In general, it is preferred that X be chloro, since the dichloroethenyl compounds are less expensive to pre¬ pare. Of the lower alkyl and lower alkoxy εubstituents, methyl and ethyl and methoxy and ethoxy are preferred. Those compounds wherein a is 0 are desirable, especially those containing a single substituent, B, at the 2'- position. The most preferred compounds of this type are (2'-fluoro-[1,1 • -biphenyl]-3-yl)methy1 3-(2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (2'- methyl-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate. V7hen more than one substituent, B, is present, they are preferably halo, especially fluoro. Among those compounds wherein b is 0, (2-methyl- [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate is very active, and among the halo-substituted compounds it is preferred that A be fluoro or Chloro, especially fluoro. When the compound has 2-halo substitution, it is preferred that it also be substituted at the 4-position. Among these latter com¬ pounds, the cis-isomers are especially active, and so preferred. Most preferred of the cis-isomers are (2,4- dichloro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (2,4- difluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloro- etheny1)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate. Also within the contemplation of this invention are insecticidal and acaricidal compositions comprising an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihalo- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate in admix¬ ture with an agriculturally acceptable carrier and a method of controlling insects or acarids which com¬ prises applying to the locus where control is desired an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihalo- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate. The substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2- dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates of this invention are prepared either by the reaction be- tween a 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane- carbonyl chloride and an appropriately substituted [1,1*- biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl alcohol or by reacting a sodium or potassium 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane- carboxylate with a substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl bromide, as disclosed in European Patent Office Publicati Number 1712 published May 2, 1979. These syntheses, illustrated in Examples 1 and 2 below, are processes of this invention. 3-(2,2-Dichloroethenyl)- and 3-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)- 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid and corresponding carbonyl chlorides are obtained by methods disclosed in U.S. 4,024,163 and in Coll. Czech. Che . Comm. , 24, 2230 (1959). These disclosures are also incorporated herein by reference. The pure cis or trans cyclopropanecarbcxylates are prepared either by reacting pure cis or pure trans cyclo- propanecarboxylic acid derivatives with appropriate sub¬ stituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl compounds or by sep¬ arating cis,trans mixtures using chromatographic tech¬ niques. The identities of the cis and trans isomers are established by reference to their nmr spectra, especially the patterns at 5.44-5.71 ppm and 6.10-6.40 ppm for the trans and cis isomers, respectively. The substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl com¬ pounds, which are intermediate in the preparation of the insecticidal esters, are novel compositions of matter and are also within the scope of this invention. These in¬ termediates are described by the formula wherein Y is hydroxyl or bromo, and b is 0, a is 1-4, and when a is 1 , A is 2-, 4- or 6-halo, 5-fluoro, 2-lower alkyl, 2-trifluoromethyl, and when a is 2, A is fluoro, 2 and 4-chloro, or 2 and 4- bromo, and when a is 3 or 4, A is fluoro; or a is 0, b is 1-5, and when b is 1 , B is halo, 2' or 3 '-lower alkyl, 2' or 3'-trifluoromethyl, or 2 ' or 3*-lower alkoxy, and when b is 2, B is fluoro, 2' and 4'-chloro, 2' and 4'- bromo, and when b is 3, 4 or 5, B is fluoro. Methyl, ethyl, and methoxy, ethoxy are preferred lower alkyl and lower alkoxy substituents respectively. Those compounds wherein a is 0 are desirable, es¬ pecially those containing a single substituent, B, at the 2'-position, most especially fluoro or methyl. When more than one substituent, B, is present, they are preferably halo, especially fluoro. Among those compounds wherein b is 0, it is preferred that A be fluoro or chloro, es¬ pecially fluoro. When the compound has 2- substitution, it is preferred that it also be substituted at the 4-po- sition when A is halo. 2-Methyl [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl¬ methyl compounds are attractive. The substituted [1 , 1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl alcohol and bromide intermediates are obtained by one or more of several different methods, depending on the specific com¬ pounds desired. These methods A-G, are described below. In addition, a substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl al¬ cohol, prepared by one of these methods, can be converted into the corresponding substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl¬ methyl bromide by treating a solution of the alcohol in ether with phosphorous tribromide or phosphorous penta- bromide. Similarly, a substituted [1 ,1-biphenyl]-3-yl¬ methyl bromide can be converted into the corresponding alcohol by first treating the bromide with sodium acetate in acetic acid, and then treating the thus produced bi¬ phenyl acetate with sodium hydroxide in methanol. These techniques are available in the prior art. Table 1 lists specific examples of substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-diha ' ioethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates within the scope of this invention. Table 2 tabulates the physical prop¬ erties of the exemplary inεecticidal esters of Table 1, methods to prepare the substituted [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl¬ methyl alcohols or bromides employed in making the esters, and physical properties of the intermediate al¬ cohols or bromides. Unless otherwise indicated, all temperatures are in degrees Celsius and pressures are in millimeters of mercury. Proton chemical shifts, taken from nmr spectra in CDC1 3 , are reported in ppm with respect to tetramethylsilane. Method A 3-Bromomethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl] compounds with (A) substituents are prepared by modification of a diazo- tization reaction. Thus, the appropriately substituted meta-toluidine is converted to an acetamide, and this is treated with nitrosyl sulfuric acid to give the cor¬ responding nitrosoacetamide, which is subsequently de¬ composed in benzene to the substituted 3-methylbiphenyl. Treatment with N-bromosuccinimide gives the 3-bromomethyl compound. O For example, to a stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro- 3-methylaniline (24.3 g, 0.17 mole) in pyridine (14.1 ml, 0.19 mole) was slowly added acetyl chloride (13.3 ml, 0.19 mole). Upon complete addition, the ' reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, then heated for one hour. The reaction mixture was extracted four times with diethyl ether. The combined extracts were washed three times with water, twice with aqueous 2% hydrochloric acid, water, then aqueous 5% sodium bi¬ carbonate, water, and aqueous saturated sodium chloride solution, in that order. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure, leaving as a solid residue 2,4-difluoro-3-methylacetanilide (27.4 g). To a stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro-3-methyl- acetanilide (13.7 g, 0.074 mole) in 300 ml of benzene was added sodium acetate (12.1 g, 0.148 mole). The mixture was cooled to 5 β , and nitrosyl hydrogen sulfate (9.4 g, 0.074 mole) was added in one portion. The re¬ action mixture was stirred for 2 hours at 0". The reaction mixture was then allowed to warm to room tem¬ perature and then heated under reflux for 1.5 hours.. The reaction mixture was cooled and washed twice with water, twice with aqueous 10% sodium carbonate, twice with water, twice with aqueous 5% sodium bicarbonate, twice with water, and then with aqueous saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic layer was separated, dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to a solid residue. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel to give 2,4-difluoro-3-methyl [1 ,1 '-biphenyl] (2.2 g) as an oil. A stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro-3-methyl [ 1 ,1 '- biphenyl] (2.2 g, 0.011 mole) and N-bromosuccinimide (1.9 g, 0.011 mole) in 100 ml of carbon tetrachloride was irradiated with a 250 watt infrared lamp for 4 hours. O FI The reaction mixture was allowed to reflux from the heat of the lamp. The reaction mixture was then filtered, and the filter cake was washed with three portions of carbon tetrachloride. The washes and filtrate were combined and evaporated under reduced pressure to give 3-bromo- methyl-2,4-difluoro[1,1 '-biphenyl] (3.5 g) as an oil whose nmr spectrum was consistent with that expected for the named compound. In addition to those substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]- 3-ylmethyl compounds listed in Table 2 as capable of preparation by this method, 3-bromomethyl-5-fluoro, 3-bromomethyl-6-bromo, and 3-bromomethyl-2,4-dibromo- [1,1 '-biphenyl] are also prepared by method A. Example 1 (2,4-Difluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2- dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate To a mixture of cis-3-(2,2-dichloroetheny1)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (2.2 g, 0.11 mole) in 75 ml of heptane was added sodium hydroxide (0.42 g, 0.011 mole) in 5 ml of water. The mixture was shaken until the acid dissolved. The water was then removed by distil¬ lation, the volume of the reaction mixture being reduced to 50 ml. To the reaction mixture was added 3-bromo- methyl-2,4-difluoro[1,1 '-biphenyl] (3.0 g, 0.011 mole) and 0.1 gram of 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2]octane in 35 ml of acetonitrile. The mixture was heated under reflux for 3 hours. The solvent was then removed by evaporation under reduced pressure, and the residue was partitioned between water and diethyl ether. The ether phase was washed with two portions of aqueous 2% hydrochloric acid, two portions of water, two portions of aqueous 10% sodium carbonate, two portions of water and one portion of aqueous saturated sodium chloride solution in that order. The washed ethereal solution was dried over magnesium sulfate, and the ether was evaporated under reduced pres¬ sure. The oily residue was purified by column chroma- O tography on silical gel, elution with hexane. This af¬ forded (2,4-difluoro-[ 1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3- (2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (1.8 g). Example XIV in Table 1. Method B_ 3-Bromomethyl [1 ,1 '-biphenyl] compounds, especially those with B substituents, are in general prepared by an extension of the Knoevenagel condensation of ethyl ace- toacetate with substituted benzaldehydes. The resultant α,β-unsaturated methyl ketone is reduced with sodium borohydride to the alcohol, which is simultaneously dehy¬ drated and dehydrogenated with either sulfur or palladium on charcoal, followed by treatment with N-bromosuccini¬ mide. For example, with stirring, 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (30.0 g, 0.24 mole), ethyl acetoacetate (63.0 g, 0.48 mole), 1 ml of diethylamine, and 15 ml of ethanol were combined. The exotherm was controlled by cooling the mixture for approximately 2 minutes in an ice bath. The reaction mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 5 days. Each day an additional 1 ml of an ethanolic solution containing 20% diethylamine was added. After 5 days, the solvent was removed from the reaction mixture by evaporation under reduced pressure to give ethyl α, - diacetyl-β-2-fluorophenylgluta ate. " J-- i;.i. t.; c . __. •n_- y, - X-; , - -.'. ( u -. ~(_ -i ι_•. aι_.C _ _L_.^--l p -> _ Λ"» "i πi.u.v, _i. O. j - lιicuj ..i-, i. ) .i -t .u. iLα_. a iι.. e .-. . n.u-_, „ heated under vacuum at 160-180°/10-15 mm for 1 hr, elimi¬ nating carbon dioxide and ethanol and producing 5-(2- fluorophenyl)-3-m thyl-4-carbethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one. The crude product was distilled under reduced pressure to give 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-carbethoxy-2-cyclo- hexen-1-one (57.3 g); bp, 155-162°/1.2 mm. To 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-meth 1-4-carbethoxy-2-cyclo- hexen-1-one (57.3 g, 0.21 mole) was added a solution of sodium hydroxide (11.5 g, 0.29 mole) in 35 ml of ethanol and 80 ml of water. The stirred reaction mixture was OMPI Λ, IPO « heated under reflux for 8 hours. The ethanol was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure, and the residue was extracted with diethyl ether. The ether extract was dried over sodium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 5-(2-fluoro- phenyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (42.3 g). To a stirred mixture of sodium borohydride (2.0 g, 0.05 mole) in 400 ml of ethanol was added in one portion 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (42.3 g, 0.21 mole) in 50 ml of ethanol. The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 16 hours. An additional 2.0 g of sodium borohydride was then added to the reaction mixture and heating under reflux continued for an additional 2 hours. Again, 2.0 g of sodium borohydride was added to the reaction mixture and heating under reflux continued for a 2 hour period. The reaction mixture was stirred with ice, then acidified with aqueous 10% hydrochloric- acid. The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether, and the ether extract was washed with an aqueous solution saturated with sodium bicarbonate. The organic layer was dried with sodium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 5-(2-fluoro- phenyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol (41.2 g) as an oil. A mixture of 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-cyclo- hexen-1-ol (16.6 g, 0.08 mole) and sulfur (7.8 g, 0.24- mole) was heated at 180-230° for 7.5 hours. The reaction mixture then stood at room temperature for approximately 60 hours before it was distilled under reduced pressure to give 2'-fluoro-3-methyl[1,1 '-biphenyl] . A mixture of 2'-fluoro-3-methyl [1 ,1 '-biphenyl] (1.1 g, 0.006 mole) and N-bromosuccinimide (1.1 g, 0.006 mole) in 11 ml of carbon tetrachloride was irradiated with white light to afford 3-bromomethyl-2 '-fluoro[1 ,1 '-bi¬ phenyl] (1.3 g). The nmr spectrum was consistent with that expected for the named compound. In addition to those substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3- ylmethyl compounds listed in Table 2 as capable of prepa¬ ration by this method, 3-bromomethyl-2-halo, 3-bromo- methy1-2-trifluoromethyl, 3-bromomethyl-2'-bromo, 3- bromomethyl-3 '-bromo, 3-bromomethyl-4'-bromo, 3-bromo- methyl-2'-trifluoromethyl, 3-bromomethy1-3'-lower alkoxy and 3-bromomethy1-2' ,4'-dibro o[1 ,1 '-biphenyl] are also prepared by method B. Method C Optionally, B ring substituted 3-bromomethyl[1 ,1 '- biphenyl] compounds are prepared by the reaction of an appropriately substituted phenyl magnesium bromide with a 3-methylcyclo,hexanone, followed by dehydration and dehydro- genation with sulfur or palladium on charcoal, to give a substituted 3-methyl[1 , 1 '-biphenyl] , which is then treated with N-bromosuccinimide. For example, magnesium turnings (6.4 g, 0.26 mole) were flame-dried, the containing glassware was cooled, and 3-bromochlorobenzene (50 g, 0.26 mole), in 50 ml of diethyl ether was added. As the reaction began, an ad¬ ditional 200 ml of diethyl ether was added, and the re¬ action mixture was heated under reflux for 0.5 hour. To the refluxing reaction mixture was added dropwise, during a 0.5 hour period, 3-methylcyclohexanone (29.2 g, 0.26 mole) in 100 ml of diethyl ether. Upon complete ad¬ dition, the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for an additional 0.5 hour, then poured into 500 ml of ice- water containing 50 ml of hydrochloric acid. The mix¬ ture was extracted with three 200 ml portions of diethyl ether. The combined extract was washed twice with 100 ml portions of an aqueous solution saturated with sodium chloride. After separation, the organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to an oil. The oil was purified by distillation using a Kugelrohr dis¬ tilling system at 85°/0.05 mm for 2.5 hours to give 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-methylcyclohexan-1-ol (25 g). A mixture of 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-methylcyclo- hexan-1-ol (25.0 g, 0.11 mole) and sulfur (7.1 g, 0.22 mole) was heated at 250° for 4.5 hours. The reaction mixture then stood at room temperature for approximately 60 hours, and then it was distilled under reduced pres¬ sure to give 19.5 grams of distillate; bp, 150-165°/10 mm. The distillate was chromatographed on silica gel, elution with hexane. The eluent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 3 '-chloro-3-methyl [1 ,1 '-bi¬ phenyl] (17.0 g) as an oil. The nmr and the ir spec¬ tra of the oil were consistent with the proposed struc¬ ture. 3'-Chloro-3-methyl[1,1 '-biphenyl] (7.0 g, 0.035 mole) and N-bromosuccinimide (6.4 g, 0.035 mole) in 100 ml of carbon tetrachloride were irradiated for 4 hours with white light to afford 3-bromomethyl-3'-chloro [1 , 1 '- biphenyl] (9.2 g). The nmr spectrum was consistent with that expected for the named compound. Method D 3-(2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluorophenyl)benzyl alcohol was prepared as follows: Under an argon atmosphere, methyl 3-iodobenzoate (2.3 g, 0.009 mole) and 2,3,4,5,6-penta- fluorophenyl copper (2.0 g, 0.009 mole) were added to 50 ml of toluene. The stirred reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 2 hours, then cooled to room temperature The mixture was filtered and the filtrate evaporated under reduced pressure to a residual solid. The solid was recrystallized from methanol to give methyl 3-(2,3,4, 5,6-pentafluorophenyl)benzoate (2.6 g); mp, 104-106°. To a stirred suspension of 0.5 g of lithium aluminum hydride in 50 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran, cooled to -78°, was added dropwise methyl. 3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro¬ phenyl)benzoate (2.6 g, 0.009 mole) in 50 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran. Upon complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred while warming to room temperature. A solution of 10% water in tetrahydrofuran was then added dropwise to the reaction mixture to destroy excess lithium aluminum hydride. An additional 50 ml of water was then added, and the liquid phases separated. The aqueous layer was washed with two 50 ml portions of diethyl ether. The ether washes were combined with the organic layer from the reaction mixture and dried. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate evaporated under reduced pressure to give 3-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)-benzyl alcohol (3.0 g) as an oil, which solidified on standing. The ir spectrum was consistent with the proposed structure. Method E 3-Brόmomethyl-3 '-methyl [1 ,1 '-biphenyl] was prepared by treating 3,3 '-dimethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl] (20.0 g, 0.11 mole) with N-bromosuccinimide (18.9 g, 0.11 mole) in the presence of 0.1 g of benzoyl peroxide in 130 ml of carbon tetrachloride. Irradiation of the reaction mix¬ ture with white light afforded 3-bromomethyl-3 '-methyl- [1 ,1 '-biphenyl] (4.5 g). The nmr and the ir spectra were consistent with the proposed structure. Method F 3-(2-Methylphenyl)benzyl alcohol was prepared as follows: Under a nitrogen atmosphere a stirred mixture of magnesium turnings (3.0 g, 0.12 mole) and 10 ml of 1,2-dibromoethane in 100 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was heated to 30°. To the stirred mixture was added drop- wise 4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-(3-bromophenyl)oxazole (26.9 g, 0.11 mole) in 50 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran. Upon complete addition, the reaction mixture was heated at reflux for 1.5 hours. The so-prepared Grignard re¬ agent was cooled, placed in a dropping funnel, and added dropwise at 0° to a stirred solution of 2-bromo- toluene (18.1 g, 0.11 mole) and 0.5 g of bis(1,3-di- phenylphosphino)propanenickel(II) chromate in 150 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran. The temperature of the reaction mixture was maintained at 0° throughout the addition. Upon complete addition, the temperature was allowed to rise to 15°, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 16 hours, then heated under reflux for approximately 24 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled and poured into 500 ml of water. The resultant emulsion was broken by pouring small amounts of the mixture into 1000 ml por¬ tions of water. Each portion was extracted with two 200 ml portions of toluene. The combined toluene extracts were evaporated under reduced pressure to afford 25 g of oily residue. The combined water layers were divided into three parts, and to each part was added 10 ml of 6N hydrochloric acid. Each part was extracted with toluene. The combined extracts were evaporated under reduced pres¬ sure to give an additional 8.8 g of oily residue. The residues were combined and impurities removed by distil¬ lation using a Kugelrohr distilling system. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, producing 4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-[(2'-methyl [1,1 '- biphenyl]-3-yl)oxazole (7.2 g). A stirred solution of 10.5 g 4,5-dihydro-4,4-di- methyl-2-(2'-methyl[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)oxazole and 17.8 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid in 250 ml of ethanol was heated at reflux for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and poured into 150 ml of water. The mixture was treated with 250 ml of aqueous 5% sodium bicarbonate and extracted four times with 250 ml portions of diethyl ether. The combined ether ex¬ tracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to a residue. The residue was taken up in 150 ml of methylene chloride and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the solid residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel to produce ethyl (2'- ethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-carboxylate (4.7 g). To a stirred suspension of 0.6 g of lithium aluminum hydride in 50 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran was added drop- wise, during a 20 minute period, 4.7 g of ethyl (2'- methyl-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl] )-3-carboxylate in 10 ml of tetra- hydrofuran. Upon complete addition, the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 1.5 hour, then cooled to room temperature. Excess lithium aluminum hydride was de¬ stroyed by the addition of a few drops of ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture was poured into water and the mix¬ ture extracted with ether. The extract was dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was evap- porated under reduced pressure to any oily residue of 3- (2-methylρhenyl)benzyl alcohol (3.1 g). The ir spectrum of the product was consistent with that expected. Example 2 (2'-Methyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)methy1 3-(2,2-di- chloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate To a stirred solution of 3-(2-meth lphenyl)benzyl alco¬ hol (3.1 g, 0.016 mole) and 2 ml of pyridine in 65 ml of dry toluene was added dropwise (3.6, 0.010 mole) cis, trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane- carbonyl chloride. The reaction mixture was then stir¬ red at room temperature for 16 hours, and then poured into 100 ml of water and shaken. The toluene layer was separated and washed successively with 50 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid, 50 ml of dilute sodium hydroxide solution, and two 300 ml portions of water. The washed toluene layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, and the toluene was removed by evaporation under reduced pres¬ sure. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, elution with 1:1 chloroform: hexane to afford (2'-methyl-[ 1 - 1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis, trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)2,2-dimethylcyclopropane¬ carboxylate (4.9 g), Example XIX in Table 1. Method G 2-Methyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-methanol was prepared as follows: To 100 ml of stirred 50% aqueous ethanol was added 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol (41.8 g, 0.25 mole) and 85.0 grams of iron powder. The mixture was brought to reflux, and 5.2 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was slowly added. Upon complete addition, the reaction mixture was stirred under reflux for 2 hours. The re¬ action mixture was then made just basic with ethanolic 15% potassium hydroxide. The hot mixture was filtered through diatomaceous earth to remove the iron. The filter cake was washed with ethanol. The filtrate was acidified with hydrogen chloride, then allowed to stand at room temperature for 16 hours. The ethanol was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. Hexane was added to the residue, and the water-hexane azeotrope was removed by distillation. The addition of hexane and the subsequent removal of the water-hexane azeotrope by distillation was repeated three times. The 3-hydroxy- methyl-2-methylaniline hydrochloride residue thus ob¬ tained was used as follows. A stirred solution of 3-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl- aniline hydrochloride (43.4 g, 0.25 mole) and 17.2 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid in ice-water was cooled to 0°, and a solution of sodium nitrite (17.3 g, 0.25 mole) in water was added dropwise. Upon complete ad¬ dition, the reaction mixture was stirred for an addi¬ tional 0.5 hour, then an additional 8 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid was added dropwise. With the temperature maintained at 0°, a solution of potassium iodide (49.8 g, 0.30 mole) in water was added dropwise to the re¬ action mixture, followed by the addition of 0.1 gram of copper powder. The reaction mixture was slowly warmed to 70° where it stirred for 1 hour. The re¬ action mixture was then allowed to stand for 18 hours - O while cooling to room temperature. The reaction mixture was then taken up in water and extracted with chloro¬ form. The chloroform extract was washed with an aqueous saturated solution of sodium bisulfite, then with water. The chloroform layer was dried and filtered. The fil¬ trate was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 3- iodo-2-methylbenzyl alcohol (15.2 g) as a dark solid. In a photoreactor was placed 3-iodo-2-methylbenzyl alcohol (5.0 g, 0.02 mole) and 800 ml of benzene. To this was added sodium thiosulfate (5.0 g, 0.04 mole) in 15 ml of water. The mixture was purged with argon for 30 minutes, then irradiated with a 200 watt medium pres¬ sure ultraviolet lamp for 36.5 hours. The reaction mix¬ ture was then transferred to a separatory funnel. The photoreactor was washed with approximately 20 ml each of water, chloroform, and acetone. These washes were added to the separatory funnel. The organic layer was washed with aqueous 0.5M sodium thiosulfate, then with an aqueous solution saturated with sodium chloride. The organic layer was then dried and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to an oily residue. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, elution with 1:1 hexane:chloroform, to give 2-methyl [1 , 1 '-biphenyl]-3-methanol (2.4 g). The nmr and ir spectra were consistent with that expected for the named compound. Table 1 Ex. Name of Ester I Λ (4-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate II (6-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropanecarboxylate III (6-Fluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate IV (4-Chloro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate V (6-Chloro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)meth l cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate VI (6-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl- cyclopropanecarboxylate VII (6-Chloro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)meth l trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropanecarboxylate VIII (4-Bromo-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- di ethylcyclopropanecarboxylate IX (4-Bromo-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate X (4-Bromo-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate XI (2,4-Dichloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- di ethylcyclopropanecarboxylate Table 1 (Cont inued ) Ex . Name of Ester XII (2,4-Dichloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl- cyclopropaneca boxylate XIII (2,4-Dichloro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2, -dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate XIV (2,4-Difluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate XV (3 '-Methyl-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XVI (2',3 ',4',5',6'-Pentafluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]- 3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)- 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XVII (2' ,3',4' ,5',6'-Pentafluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]- 3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XVIII (2',3',4',5',6'-Pentafluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]- 3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)- 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XIX (2 « -Methyl-[1 , 1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XX (3'-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXI (3'-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2- ichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropaneca boxylate XXII (3'-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate Table 1 (Continued) Ex. Name of Ester XXIII (2'-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- imethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXIV (3 '-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXV (3'-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropanecarboxylate XXVI (3'-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXVII (4*-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- imethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXVIII (4'-Fluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2 f 2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropanecarboxylate XXIX (4 '-Fluoro-[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2--dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate XXX (2'-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXXI (2 '-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate XXXII (2'-Chloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethy1- cyclopropaneca boxylate XXXIII (3 '-Trifluoromethyl-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)- methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroetheny1)- 2,2-dimethylcyclopropaneca boxylate Table 1 (Continued) Ex. Name of Ester XXXIV (2'-Methoxy-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropaneca box late XXXV (2'-Methoxy-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl- cyclopropanecarboxylate XXXVI (2',4 '-dichloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis,trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate XXXVII (2-Methyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylJmethyl cis- 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclo¬ propanecarboxylate Table 2 Intermediate Alcohol or Bromide Ester Identifying Properties Elemental Analysis nmr Spectrum, 3- • Calc. Found Meth ylmethyl protons only Ex. Of Prep all (s f 3H) %cis %trans C H C H I A 4.60 32 68 64.13 4.87 64.23 4.87 II A 4.60 100 64.13 4.87 64.37 5.02 III A 100 64.13 4.87 64.14 4.99 IV A 4.82 37 63 61.56 4.67 61.33 4.65 V A 4.43 44 56 61.56 4.67 61.68 4.76 VI A 100 61.56 4.67 61.64 4.64 VII A 100 VIII A 4.63 53 47 55.54 4.21 55.67 4.06 IX A 100 55.54 4.21 55.45 4.23 X A 100 XI A 4.83 44 56 56.79 4.08 56.74 4.17 XII A 100 XIII A 100 XIV A 4.56 100 61.38 4.41 61.01 4.37 XV E 4.48 60 40 67.85 5.71 67.21 5.96 XVI D 40 60 54.21 3,25 54.81 3.47 XVII D 100 54.21 3.25 54.80 3.64 XVIII D 100 54.21 3.25 55.11 3.52 XIX F 33 67 67.86 5.71 67.64 5.72 XX C 4.47 50 50 61.56 4.67 60.70 4.56 XXI C 100 61.56 4.67 61.43 4.91 XXII C 100 XXIII B 4.50 50 50 64.13 4.80 64.42 4.69 XXIV C 4.48 46 54 64.13 4.87 63.99 4.63 XXV C 100 XXVI C 100 O Table 2 (Continued) Intermediate Alcohol or Bromide Ester Identifying Properties Elemental Analysis nmr Spectrum, 3- Calc. Found Meth yIme h l protons only Ex. Of Prep all (ε,3H) %cis %trans C H C H XXVII C 27 73 xxvrn C XXIX c 100 64.13 4.80 64.42 4.69 XXX B 4.50 52 48 61.56 4.67 60.36 4.49 XXXI B 100 61.56 4.67 61.61 4.75 XXXII B 100 XXXIII B 4.57 48 52 59.61 4.32 59.21 4.19 XXXIV B 4.49 54 46 65.19 5.47 65.32 5.39 XXXV B 100 XXXVI B 63 37 56.79 4.08 57.36 4.73 XXXVEI G 4.70 100 Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. -1 *2 I 3 4 I 1.17(s,3H) 1.23(s,3H) 1.57-2.38(m,4H) 1.27(ε,3H) 1.30(s,3H) II 1.22(ε,3H) 1.25(ε,3H) 1.77-2.17(m,2H) III 1.17(ε,3H) 1.27(ε,3H) 1.65-1.58(d,lH) 2.12-2.35(dd,lH) IV 1.15(s,3H) 1.20(s,3H) 1.63-2.39(m,4H) 1.25(s,3H) 1.27(ε,3H) V 1.13(ε,3H) 1.20(ε,3H) 1.40-2.35(m,4H) 1.23(ε,3H) 1.27(s,3H) VI 1.21(ε,3H) 1.27(s,3H) 1.77-2.20(m,2H) VII 1.17(ε,3H) 1.27(ε,3H) 1.58-1.68 2.13-2.37 (d,1H) (dd,lH) VIII 1.17(ε,3H) 1.23(ε,3H) 1.63-2,40(m,4H) 1.25(s,3H) 1.28(ε,3H) IX X 1.18(s,3H) 1.30(ε,3H) 1.66-1.73(d,2H) 2.18-2.42(dd,2H) XI 1.15(ε,3H) 1.20(ε,3H) 1.58-2.37(m,4H) 1.25(ε,3H) 1.28(ε,3H) XII 1.20(s,3H) 1.26(ε,3H) 1.77-2.18(m,2H) XIII 1.16(s,3H) 1.30(ε,3H) 1.59-1.67 2.17-2.39 (d,lH) (dd,lH) XIV 1.18(ε,3H) 1.25(s,3H) 1.72-2.14(m,2H) XV 1.13(ε,3H) 1.20(s,3H) 1.57-2.36(m,4H) 1.26(ε,3H) 1.2S(s,3H) XVI 1.17(s,3H) 1.24(s,6H) 1.57-2.33(m,4H) 1.27(s,3H) Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. *1 *2 14 XVII 1.23(s,6H) 1.78-2.18(m,2H) xvrn 1.17(s,3H) 1.30(ε,3H) 1.57-1.67 2.10-2.33 (d,lH) (dd,lH) XIX 1.17(ε,3H) 1.20(ε,3H) 1.57-2.35(m,4H) 1.23(ε,3H) 1.25(ε,3H) XX 1.17(s,3H) 1.23(s,3H) 1.62-2.40(m,4H) 1.26(s,3H) 1.30(s,3H) XXI 1.23(ε,3H) 1.26(s,3H) 1.80-2.20(m,2H) XXII 1.17(ε,3H) 1.32(s,3H) 1.63-1.73 2.17-2.40 (d,lH) (dd,lH) XXIII 1.17(ε,3H) 1.23(bs,6H) 1.58-2.23(m,4H) 1.25(ε,3H) XXIV 1.13(ε,3H) 1.20(ε,3H) 1.57-2.34(m,4H) 1.23(s,3H) 1.27(ε,3H) XXV XXVI 1.17(ε,3H) 1.30{ε,3H) 1.63-1.71(d,lH) 2.18-2.42(dd,1H) XXVII 1.13(ε,3H) 1.20(ε,3H) 1.57-2.33(m,4H) 1.23(ε,3H) 1.26(ε,3H) XXVIII XXIX 1.17(ε,3H) 1.32(s,3H) 1.63-1.71 2.17-2.40 (d,lH) (dd,lH) XXX 1.16(s,3H) 1.22(s,3H) 1.60-2.39(m,4H) 1.25(ε,3H) 1.28(ε,3H) XXXI 1.22(ε,3H) 1.23(s,3H) 1.76-2.20(m,2H) XXXII 1.17(ε,3H) 1.30(ε,3H) 1.62-1.72 2.17-2.40 (d,lH) (dd,1H) O PI t h VvIFO Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. «1 12 H-. H. —3 —4 XXXIII 1.17(s,3H) 1.23(ε,3H) 1.62-2.40(m,4H) 1.27(s,3H) 1.30(ε,3H) XXXIV 1.13(s,3H) 1.22(ε,3H) 1.58-2.33(m,4H) XXXV 1.18(s,3H) 1.27(s,3H) 1.68-2.16(m,2H) XXXVE 1.15(s,3H) 1.25(s,3H) 1.60-2.39(m,4H) 1.27(s,3H) 1.30(s,3H) XXXVII 1.24(s,3H) 1.27(s,3H) 1.68-2.21(m,2H) Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. *5 *7 I 5.23(h≡ :,4H) 5.52-5.65(d,lH) 6.95-7.65(m,16H) 6.17-6.33(dd,1H) II 5.08(s, ■2H) 6.15-6.30(dd,1H) 6.92-7.57(m,8H) III 5.10(ε, ■2H) 5.48-5.60(d,1H) 6.91-7.53(m,8H) IV 5.26(ε, .2H) 5.50-5.67(d,lH) 7.17-7.62(m,16H) 5.28(s, ,2H) 6.20-6.37(dd,1H) V 5.10(5, ,2H) 5.52-5.67(d,1H) 7.13-7.51(m,16H) 5.13(s, ,2H) 6.15-6.30(dd,1H) VI 5.10(3,r2H) 6.17-6.33(dd,1H) 7.13-7.52(m,8H) VII 5.13(ε, ,2H) 5.55-5.67(d,1H) 7.03-7.42(m,8H) VIII 5.25(ε, ,2H) 5.55-5.68(d,lH) 7.21-7. " 70(m,16H) 5.28(s, ,2H) 6.20-6.35(dd,1H) IX 5.30(ε,r2H) 5.57-5.70(d,1H) 7.25-7.72(m,8H) XI 5.47(s, ,2H) 5.57-5.67(d,lH) 7.13-7.43(m,14H) 5.50(s i r2H) 6.20-6.37(dd,1H) XII 5.50(s, ,2H) 6.21-6.37(dd,lH) 7.13-7.43(m,7H) XIII 5.52(s. ,2H) 5.55-5.70(d,lH) 7.13-7.50(m,7H) XIV 5.18-5. .25(t,2H) 6.17-6.28(dd,1H) 6.74-7.55(m,7H) XV 5.09(sr2H) 5.45-5.60(d,lH) 2.36(s,6H) Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. *5 «6 «7 5.13(s,2H) 6.17-6.37(dd,1H) 6.95-7.50(m,16H) XVI 5.13(ε,4H) 5.47-5.60(d,lH) 6.78-7.46(m,8H) 6.10-6.25(dd,lH) XVII 5.17(ε,2H) 6.15-6.30(dd,1H) 7.03-7.51(m,4H) XVIII 5.17(ε,2K) 5.50-5.63(d,lH) 6.83-7.48(m,4H) XIX 5.10(ε,2H) 5.48-5.61 (d,1H) 2.25(s,6H) 5.15(ε,2H) 6.15-6.30(dd,lH) 7.07-7.51 (m,16H) XX 5.17(ε,2H) 5.57-5.68(d,lH) 7.23-7.63(m,16H) 5.21(ε,2H) 6.22-6.38(dd,lH) XXI 5.18(s,2H) 6.20-6.37(dd,lH) 7.23-7.60(m,8H) XXII 5.22(s,2H) 5.57-5.70(d,lH) 7.25-7.60(m,8H) XXIII 5.13(fcs,4H) 5.48-5.63(d,lH) 6.81-7.48(m,16H) 6.13-6.30(dd,1H) XXIV 5.10(s,2H) 5.47-5.61 (d,lH) 6.77-7.45(m,8H) 5.13(s,2H) 6.15-6.30(dd,lH) XXV XXVI 5.22(ε,2H) 5.57-5.71 (d,1H) 6.83-7.57(m,8H) XXV I 5.07(s,2H) 5.44-5.58(d,lH) 6.85-7.55(m,16H) 5.12(s,2H) 6.10-6.27(dd,lH) XXVIII XXIX 5.21(s,2H) 5.54-5.70(d,1H) 6.93-7.63(m,8H) XXX L.17(ε,2H) 5.53-5.68(d,1H) 7.17-7.58(m,16H) 5.20{ε,2H) 6.20-6.37(dd,lH) XXXI 5.17(ε,2H) 6.20-6.36(dd,lH) 7.15-7.43(m,8H) XXXII 5.22(ε,2H) 5.57-5.70(d f 1H) 7.27-7.43(m,8H) XXXIII 5.19(ε,2H) 5.55-5.70(d,1H) 7.23-7.83(m,16H) 5.23(s,2H) 6.23-6.37(dd,lH) Table 2 (Continued) Ester Identifying Properties (Continued) nmr Spectrum Ex. H5 H6 H7 XXXIV 5.08(s,2H) 5.45-5.60(d,1H) 3.73(s,6H) 5.12(ε,2H) 6.13-6.30(d,1H) 6.77-7.46(m,16H) XXXV 5.13(ε,2H) 6.23-6.40(dd,lH) 3.73(ε,3H) 6.80-7.50(m,7H) XXXVI 5.15(ε,2H) 5.53-5.67(d,1H) 7.17-7.53(m,7H) 5.18(ε,2H) 6.18-6.34(dd,lH) XXXVII 5.19(ε,2H) 6.18-6.33(dd,lH) 2.21(ε,1H) 7.19-8.40(m,8H) In the normal use of the insecticidal and acaricidal eεters of the present invention, the esters usually will not be employed free from admixture or dilution, but ordinarily will be used in a suitable formulated compo¬ sition compatible with the method of application and com¬ prising an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of subεtituted [1 , 1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2- dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate. The eεters of this invention, like most pesticidal agentε, may be blended with the agriculturally acceptable sur- face-active agents and carriers normally employed for facilitating the dispersion of active ingredients, recog¬ nizing the accepted fact that the formulation and mode of application of an insecticide or acaricide may affect the activity of the material. The present eεters may be applied, for example, as sprays, dusts, or granules to the area where pest control is desired, the type of application varying of course with the pest and the environment. Thus, the esterε of this invention may be formulated as granules of large particle size, as powdery dusts, as wettable powders, as emulεifiable concentrateε, as solutionε, and the like. Granuleε may compriεe porouε or nonporous particles, εuch aε attapulgite clay or sand, for example, which εerve as carriers for the esters. The granule particles are relatively large, a diameter of about 400-2500 microns typically. The particles are either impregnated with the ester from solution or coated with the ester, adhesive sometimes being employed. Granules generally contain 1-15%, preferably 3-10%, active ingredient as the in¬ secticidally effective amount. Dusts are admixtures of the esters with finely divided solids such as talc, attapulgite clay, kiesel- guhr, pyrophyllite, chalk, diatomaceous earths, calcium phosphates, calcium and magnesium carbonates, sulfur, flours, and other organic and inorganic solids which act aε carrierε for the inεecticide. Theεe finely divided solids have an average particle size of less than about 50 microns. A typical dust formulation useful for controlling insects and acarids containε 10 parts of (2,4-difluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-di- chloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate, 30 partε of bentonite clay, and 60 parts of talc. The esters of the present invention may be made into liquid concentrates by dissolution or emulsification in suitable liquids and into solid concentrates by admix¬ ture with talc, clays, and other known solid carriers used in the pesticide art. The concentrates are compo¬ sitions containing, as an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount, about 5-50% substituted [1,1 '-bi¬ phenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate, such as (2'-methyl-[1 ,1 '-bi¬ phenyl]-3-yl) ethyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate, and 95-50% inert material, which includes surface-active dispersing, emulsifying, and wetting agents. The concentrates are diluted with water or other liquids for practical application as sprays, or with additional solid carrier for use as dusts. Manufacturing concentrates are useful for shipping low melting products of this invention. Such concentrates are prepared by melting the low melting solid products together with one percent or more of a solvent to produce a concentrate which does solidify on cooling to the freezing point of the pure product or below. Typical carriers for solid concentrates (also called wettable powders) include fuller's earth, clays, silicas, and other highly absorbent, readily wetted inorganic diluents. A solid concentrate formulation useful for controlling insects and acaridε contains 1.5 parts each of sodium lignosulfonate and sodium laurylsulfate as wetting agents, 25 partε of (2'-fluoro-[1 , 1 '-biphenyl]- 3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclo¬ propanecarboxylate, and 72 partε of bentonite clay. OMPI Useful liquid concentrates include the emulsifiable concentrates, which are homogeneous liquid or paste compositionε readily diεperεed in water or other liquid carrierε. They may conεist entirely of the ester with a liquid or solid emulsifying agent, or they may also con¬ tain a liquid carrier such as xylene, heavy aromatic naphthaε, iεophorone and other relatively non-volatile organic solvents. For application, these concentrates are dispersed in water or other liquid carriers and normally applied as sprays to areas to be treated. Typical surface-active wetting, dispersing, and emulsifying agents used in pesticidal formulations in¬ clude, for example, the alkyl and alkylaryl sulfonates and εulfates and their εodium εalts; alkylamide εulfo- nateε, including fatty methyl taurides; alkylaryl poly- ether alcohols, sulfated higher alcoholε, polyvinyl alcohols; polyethylene oxides; sulfonated animal and vegetable oilε; sulfonated petroleum oils; fatty acid esters of polyhydric alcohols and the ethylene oxide addition products of such esters; and the addition products of long-chain mercaptans and ethylene oxide. Many other types of useful surface-active agents are available in commerce. The surface-active agent, when used, normally compriseε about 1-15% by weight of the insecticidal and aoaricidal composition. Other useful formulations include simple solutions of the active ingredient in a solvent in which it is completely soluble at the desired concentration, such as acetone or other organic solventε. An insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of substituted [1 , 1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihalo- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate in an insecticidal and acaricidal compoεition diluted for application iε normally in the range of about 0.001% to about 2% by weight. Many variationε of εpraying and duεting compositions known in the art may be used by subεtituting the eεterε of this invention into compo- εitionε known or apparent to the art. The insecticidal and acaricidal compositions of this invention may be formulated with other active ingre¬ dients, including other insecticides, nematicides, acar- icideε, fungicides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, etc. In using the compositions to control insects and acarids, it is only necesεary that an inεecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of εubstituted [1,1 '-bi¬ phenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate be applied to the locus where control is desired. For most applications, an inεecti¬ cidally or acaricidally effective amount of [1,1 '-bi¬ phenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dim thyl¬ cyclopropanecarboxylate will be about 75 to 4000 g per hectare, preferably 150 g to 3000 g per hectare. The inεecticidal and acaricidal activity of sub- εtituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl 3-(2,2-dihalo- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylates of Table 1 were evaluated aε follows: The ester (0.25 g) was disεolved in 20 ml of ace¬ tone, and this solution was dispersed in 180 ml of water containing one drop of isooctyl phenyl polyethoxyethanol. Aliquots of this solution, containing 1250 ppm ester, were diluted with appropriate amounts of water to provide test solutionε containing lesser amounts of the active ingredient. Teεt organisms and techniques were as follows: Activities against the Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestiε Mulε.) and the southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania [Cram.]) were evaluated by dipping the leaves of pinto bean plants into the test solution and, when the foliage had dried, infesting the leaves with the appro¬ priate immature insectε; activity againεt the pea aphid (Acyrthoεiphon piεu [Harris]) was evaluated on broad OMPI bean plants whose leaves were dipped before infestation with adult aphids; activity against twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was evaluated on pinto bean plants whose leaves were dipped after infestation with adult mites; activities against the milkweed bug (Oncopeltus faεciatuε [Dallaε] ) and the plum curculio (Conotracheluε nenuphar [Herbεt] ) were evaluated by spraying the test solutions into glaεε diεheε or jarε containing the adult insects. All organisms in the teεtε were maintained in a holding room at 26.7°C and 50% relative humidity for an exposure period of 48 hours. At the end of this time, the dead and living inεects or mites were counted, and the percent kill was calcu¬ lated. Results of these testε are εummarized in Table 3. A number of the insecticidal and acaricidal com¬ pounds of this invention were also evaluated for effi¬ cacy in topical application to various insect εpecieε using techniques well known by those skilled in the art. For instance, the compound of Example XXXVII was so evaluated against southern armyworm larvae and other species; LD_. π =25 nanograms/insect was determined from the southern armyworm data. TABLE 3 ACTIVITY OF SUBSTITUTED [1 ,1 '-BIPHENYL]-3-YLMETHYL 3-(2,2-DIHALOETHENYL)-2,2-DIMETHYLCYCLOPROPANECARBOXYLATES Percent Kill COMPOUND Cone. Mexican Southern OF EX. ppm. Bean Beetle Armyworm I 1250 100 100 II 1250 100 100 III 1250 100 100 IV 1250 100 100 V 1250 100 100 VI 1250 100 100 VII 1250 100 100 VIII 1250 100 100 IX 1250 100 100 X 1250 100 100 XI 1250 100 100 XII 1250 100 100 XIII 1250 100 100 XIV 1250 100 100 XV 1250 100 100 XVI 1250 11 100 XVII 1250 100 100 XVIII 1250 100 100 XIX 512 100 100 XX 1250 94 100 XXIII 512 100 100 XXIV 1250 100 100 XXVII 1250 100 100 XXX 1250 100 100 XXXIII 1250 71 100 XXXIV 1250 100 100 XXXVI 512 100 100 TABLE 3 (Continued) Percent Kill COMPOUND Pea Twospotted Milkweed Plum OF EX. Aphid Spider Mite Bug Curculio I 100 ' 95.7 100 100 II 100 96.6 100 III 100 0 100 IV 100 21 95.4 29 V 100 61 100 VI 100 96 100 VII 100 8 100 VIII 100 0 100 100 IX 100 76 50 0 X 100 0 100 15 XI 100 100 100 XII 100 100 100 XIII 100 100 100 XIV 100 100 100 100 XV 100 0 95 65 XVI 100 0 99 XVII 90 0 15 XVIII 100 0 57 XIX 100 0 XX 100 0 91 30 XXIII 100 a 94 a XXIV 100 96.1 100 XXVII 100 78 100 XXX 100 74 100 100 XXXIII 100 0 100 XXXIV 100 100 100 XXXVI 89 0 l 500 ppm

Claims: Claimε: 1. A 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopro¬ panecarboxylate of the formula characterized in that X is chloro or bromo, and b is 0, a is 1-4, and when a is 1 , A is 2-, 4- or 6-halo, 5-fluoro, 2-lower alkyl, 2 trifluoromethyl, and when a iε 2, A is fluoro, 2 and 4-chloro, or 2 and 4- bromo, and when a is 3 or 4, A is fluoro; or a is 0, b is 1-5, and when b is 1 , B is halo, 2' or 3'-lower alkyl, 2' or 3'-tri- fluoromethyl, or 2' or 3 '-lower alkoxy, and when b is 2, B is fluoro, 2' and 4'-chloro, 2' and 4'- bro o, and when b is 3, 4 or 5, B is fluoro. 2. A 3-(2,2-dihaloethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopro¬ panecarboxylate selected from the group consiεting of (2-Methyl-π ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-{2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate; (2,4- Dichloro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cLs-3-(2,2-dichloro¬ ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate; (2,4- Difluoro-[1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl cis-3-(2,2-dichloro- ethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate; (2'-Fluoro- [1,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate; (2'-Methyl-[1 ,1 '- biphenyl]-3-yl)methyl 3-(2,2- ichloroethenyl)-2,2-di- methylcyclopropanecarboxylate. 3. An insecticidal or acaricidal composition char¬ acterized by an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of at least one compound of any of claims 1 to 5 in admixture with an agriculturally acceptable carrier. 4. A method of controlling insects or acarids char¬ acterized by applying to the locus where control is desir an insecticidally or acaricidally effective amount of at least one compound of claim 1. 5. A substituted [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl compound of the formula characterized in that Y is hydroxyl or bromo, and b is 0, a is 1-4, and when a is 1, A is 2-, 4- or 6-halo, 5-fluoro, 2-lower alkyl, 2-trifluoromethyl, and -^O when a is 2, A is fluoro, 2 and 4-chloro, or 2 and 4-bromo, and when a is 3 or 4, A is fluoro; or a is 0, b is 1-5, and when b is 1 , B is halo, 2' or 3 '-lower alkyl, 2' or 3'-tri- fluoromethyl, or 2 ' or 3'-lower alkoxy, and when b is 2, B is fluoro, 2' and 4'-chloro, 2' and 4'-bromo, and when b is 3, 4 or 5, B is fluoro. 1623B152 em73 O PI VFO

Inventors: PLUMMER E
Applicants: FMC CORP
Application year: 1979
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: A01N53, C07C17, C07C22, C07C25, C07C27, C07C33, C07C41, C07C43, C07C67, C07C69