INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: Insecticidal compositions comprising a mixture of N-­ (3,4,5,6-tetra-hydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate, 2-­ allyl-3-methyl cyclo-pent-2-en-1-on-4-yl chrysanthemate and either 3-phenoxy benzyl of α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 3-(2,2-­ dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropane carboxylate together with inert diluents.

Description: INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITIONS This application relates to insecticidal compositions of the type containing more than one pyrethroid type insecticidally active ingredient. It is known to provide mixtures of two pyrethroid type insecticides. Thus British Patent Specification No 1,447,193 describes an insecticidal composition containing an inert carrier and as active ingredient either a mixture consisting of N-(3,4,5,6tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate and 3phenoxybenzyl 3-(2, 2-dichlorovinyl)-2, 2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate, or a mixture consisting of 2-ally-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl chrysanthemate and 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate. These mixtures are intended for use in the control of domestic and insanitary pests such as flies, mosquitos, cockroaches and the like. Unfortunately, it has been found in practise that while the above mixtures may give a satisfactory level of control of one of the pests of the above type, they do not always provide adequate control of the other species of the rates used. We have now discovered that satisfactory control of'a broad spectrum of insect pests may be achieved when an insecticidal composition containing three pyrethroid insecticides is used, for example the three mentioned above. Thus the present invention provides an improved insecticidal composition comprising an inert diluent and as active ingredient a three component mixture consisting of N-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate, 2 allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl chrysanthemate, and a compound of formula EMI2.1 wherein X represents chloro or bromo and Y represents hydrogen or cyano; each component of the mixture being present either as a single isomer or a mixture of isomers; the composition optionally comprising an insecticide synergist. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved insecticidal composition comprising an inert diluent and as active ingredient a mixture consisting of N-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate (hereinafter referred to as compound A), 2-allyl-3methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl chrysanthemate (hereinafter referred to as compound B) and either 3-phenoxybenzyl 3 (2, 2-dichlorovinyl )-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate (hereinafter compound C) orcK-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 3 (2, 2-dichlorovinyl ) -2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate (hereinafter referred to as compound D). Each of compounds A, B, C and D may be present in the form of a single isomer thereof or in the form of a mixture of isomers, for example a racemic mixture. Thus it will be appreciated that all the compounds are esters of 3alkenyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acids which may exist in four isomeric forms, viz (+)-cis, (+)-trans, (-)-cis and (-)-trans forms due to the presence of the asymmetrically substituted carbon atoms at positions 1 and 3 of the cyclopropane ring. Furthermore, in the case of compounds B and D, the esters are formed from alcohols containing a further asymmetrically substituted carbon atom and this leads to two optically distinct isomeric forms of each of the four cyclopropane acid isomers. In the case of compound A, it is preferred that this be present in the form of a mixture of all four isomers designated as (+)-cis/trans and generally known by the common name tetramethrin. Compound B is preferably present either as the isomer pair with the (+)-cis configuration, (systematic name - (4,RS)-2-allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl (lR,3S)-chrysanthemate), generally known by the common name bioallethrin, or more preferably as the single isomer (4,S)-2-allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-enl-on-4-yl (lR,3S)-chrysanthemate known by the common name S-bioallethrin. Compounds C and D are preferably used in the form of mixtures of all possible isomers in which about 40-60% by weight of the isomers are cis isomers and the remainder trans isomers, generally known by the common names permethrin and cypermethrin respectively. The compositions of this invention contain in addition to the insecticidally active ingredient, an inert diluent, which will normally be a liquid diluent such as odourless kerosine or an aromatic solvent such as mixture of lower alkyl benzenes (eg toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes or mesitylenes). In addition, the compositions may optionally contain known synergists for pyrethroid insecticides such as sesamex, dodecylimidazole, or piperonyl butoxide. The compounds A, B and C or D may be present in differing relative proportions depending on the particular isomers of each compound present and the end use for which the composition is intended. Preferably from 2-5 parts by weight of compound A is used in association with from 0.5 to 2 parts of compound B and from 0.5 to 2 parts of either compound C or D. A mixture containing from 2.5 to 3.5 parts of A, from 0.75 to 1.25 parts of B and from 0.75 to 1.25 parts of C is particularly preferred, especially when compound A is tetramethrin, compound B is-S- bioallethrin and compound C is permethrin. The compositions may be used to combat insect pests in different ways. Thus the composition may be sprayed directly into the air (space sprays) through a thermal fogging machine in which case the diluent will be, for example, diesel oil, or it may be sprayed using an ultra low volume spraying apparatus in which case the diluent may contain a paraffin type hydrocarbon such as white oil, kerosene or the like. Such treatments are particularly useful for combating pests out of doors, for example, by aerial spraying of whole areas of conurbations requiring disinfestation of flies and mosquitos. The composition may also be dispensed into aerosol containers in conjunction with aerosol propellents eg, chlorofluoromethanes, butane, and the like, for use inside dwellings, storehouses, hospitals and similar buildings. In a further aspect, the invention provides a composition for use as an aerosol concentrate comprising from 10 to 15% by weight of tetramethrin, from 2 to 4% by weight of S-bioallethrin and from 2 to 4% by weight of permethrin, the remainder of the compositions being an inert liquid diluent consisting of alkylated benzenes. The invention also provides a filled aerosol spray container comprising from 1 to 3t by weight of the filling of the above concentrate in association with an aerosol propellent and optionally a further diluent. This further diluent may contain methylene chloride and kerosine. Preferably the filling contains from 1 to 2% by weight of the concentrate, from 10 to 20% by weight of methylene chloride, from 60 to 808 of the propellent (which is preferably a mixture of chlorofluoromethanes with butane) and from 10 to 158 kerosine. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful for the control of flying insect pests such as adult houseflies (Musca domestica) and mosquitos (Aedes spp) as well as cockroaches (Blattella germanica) and similar species. The invention is illustrated by the following Examples: EXAMPLE 1 This Example illustrates the composition of some aerosol concentrates. The insecticidal ingredients were measured out and mixed together and diluted with the diluent. I Ingredients % (by weight) Permethrin 4.0 S-bioallethrin 3.0 Tetramethrin 14.0 'Aromasol' H (diluent) to 100.0 'Aromasol' is a Registered Trade Mark. 'Aromasol' H is a mixture of alkylated benzenes consisting principally of mixed xylenes with some mesitylenes and ethyl benzene. II Ingredients % (by weight) Permethrin 4.5 Bioallethrin 4.5 Tetramethrin 15.0 'Aromasol' H to 100.0 III Ingredients % (by weight) (cont) Cypermethrin 3.5 Bioallethrin 4.5 Tetramethrin 11.0 'Aromasol' H to 100.0 IV Cypermethrin 4.0 Allethrin 6.0 Tetramethrin 12.0 'Aromasol' H to 100.0 V Cypermethrin . 4.0 S-bioallethrin 3.0 Tetramethrin 12.0 'Aromasol' H to 100.0 VI Permethrin 4.0 S-bioallethrin 3.2 Tetramethrin 12.0 'Aromasol' to 100.0 EXAMPLE 2 The concentrates of Example 1 were used to prepare filled aerosol spray cans by using l.25g of concentrate per 100g of filling. The composition of the filling was was as follows: Ingredient % (by weight) Concentrate 1.25 Methylene chloride 18.50 Butane 30.00 'Arcton' 11/12 40.00 Odourless to 100.00 kerosine 'Arcton' is a Registered Trade Mark. 'Arcton' 11/12 is a 1:1 mixture of dichlorodifluoromethane and trichlorofluoromethane. EXAMPLE 3 This Example illustrates the superior knock-down effects of the invention compositions in comparison with compositions of the type described in British Patent Specification 1,447,193. All of the compositions were used as the form of aerosol sprays, prepared according to Example 2. The concentrations of the active ingredients in the compositions was as follows: % (wt) Invention Composition (1) tetramethrin 0.15 S-bioallethrin 0.04 permethrin 0.05 Invention Composition (2) tetramethrin 0.125 bioallethrin 0.07 permethrin 0.05 Reference Composition (3) tetramethrin 0.25 permethrin 0.075 Reference Composition (4) S-bioallethrin 0.04 permethrin 0.075 Reference Composition (5) bioallethrin 0.06 permethrin 0.075 The tests were conducted by spraying into the air above cages holding the test insects for a-period of 2 seconds and then assessing the knock-down at time intervals over a period of 15 minutes. The time taken to knock-down 50% and 90% of the insects was determined and these times are recorded in decimal minutes in the Table below. For most tests there were 6 replicates of 200 insects each. EMI8.1 <tb> Composition <SEP> Aedes <SEP> aegypt <SEP> Musca <SEP> domestica <tb> <SEP> No <SEP> I <SEP> (mosquitos) <SEP> (houseflies) <tb> <SEP> KT50 <SEP> RTgo <SEP> KT50 <SEP> KTgo <SEP> <tb> <SEP> 1 <SEP> 2.35 <SEP> 3.80 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 4.4 <tb> <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3.05 <SEP> 4.4 <SEP> 2.8 <SEP> 5.5 <tb> <SEP> 3 <SEP> 5.2 <SEP> 8.35 <SEP> 3.0 <SEP> 5.7 <tb> <SEP> 4 <SEP> 2.75 <SEP> 4.45 <SEP> 5.35 <SEP> 13.5 <tb> <SEP> 5 <SEP> 3.3 <SEP> 4.5 <SEP> 6.4 <SEP> 15 <tb> Invention Composition 1 gave KT50 = 0.64 and KT90 = 1.03 in a similar test on cockroaches (Blattella germanica). From the Table, it will be observed that the invention compositions gave shortest knock-down times with less of the active ingredients than the reference compositions.

Claims: 1. An insecticidal composition comprising an inert diluent, and, as active ingredient, a mixture consisting of N (3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimido)-methyl chrysanthemate, 2 allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-on-4-yl chrysanthemate, and a compound of formula EMI9.1 wherein X is chloro or bromo and Y is hydrogen or cyans each component of the mixture being present either as a single isomer or a mixture of isomers; the composition optionally comprising an insecticide synergist. 2. An insecticidal composition comprising an inert diluent and, as active ingredient, a mixture consisting of N (3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate, 2 allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-on-4-yl chrysanthemate, and either 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2 dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate or A-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 3-( 2, 2-dichlorovinyl) -2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate. 3. An insecticidal composition according to claim 2 wherein the N-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate is present as a mixture of all four possible isomeric forms. 4. An insecticidal composition according to claim 2 wherein the 2-allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl chrysanthemate is present as either the isomer pair (4,RS)-2-allyl-3 methycyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl (lR,3S)-chrysanthemate or the single isomer (4S)-2-allyl-3-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-on 4-yl (lR, 35)-chrysanthemate. 5. An insecticidal composition according to claim 2 wherein the 3-phenoxybenzyl orc < -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 3- (2,2- dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate is present as a mixture of all possible isomers in which about 40-60% by weight of the isomers are cis isomers. 6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the inert diluent is selected from odourless kerosine, and lower alkyl benzenes. 7. A composition according to claim 1 comprising an insecticide synergist selected from sesamex, dodecyl imidazole and piperonyl butoxide. 8. A composition according to claim 2 comprising from 2 to 5 parts by weight of N- (3,4, 5, 6-tetrahydrophthalimido)methyl chrysanthemate, from 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of 2-allyl-3 methylcyclopent-2-en-l-on-4-yl chrysanthemate, and from 0.5 to 2 parts of either 3-phenoxybenzyl orO(-cyano-3- phenoxybenzyl 3-(2, 2-dichlorovinyl) -2,2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate. 9. A composition according to claim 2 for use as an aerosol concentrate comprising from 10% to 15% by weight of (+) cis/trans No(3,4,5, 6-tetrahydrophthal imido-) methyl chrysanthemate, from 2 to 48 by weight of (4,S)-2-allyl-3 methylcyclopent-2-en-1-on-4-yl (lR,3S)-chrysanthemate, and from 2 to 4% by weight of 3-phenoxybenzyl (+)-cis/trans-3 (2,3-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropAne carboxylate, the remainder of the composition being ar: inert liquid diluent consisting of alkylated benzenes. 10. A filled aerosol spray container comprising from 1 to 3% of the composition of claim 2 in association with an aerosol propellent and optionally a further diluent. 11. A filled aerosol spray container according to claim 10 wherein the filling contains from 1 to 2% by weight of the composition of claim 9, from 10 to 20% by weight of methylene chloride, from 60 to 80% by weight of the propellent and from 10 to 15% by weight of kerosine. 12. A method of combating insect pests at a locus which comprises spraying the locus with the composition of claim 1.

Inventors: ALDER, MALCOLM RONALD, COLLINGWOOD, JOHN PATRICK
Applicants: IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01N53
IPC codes: A01N53