SUBSTITUTED ALKYNIC THIOCYANATES, BIOCIDAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THEM AND USES OF SUCH COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: wherein: R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a group -CH₂SCN or a group -SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, a hy­ drocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group, with the proviso that when the group R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a phenyl group or a group -CH₂SCN, at least one of the groups R² or R³ is a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. A biocide composition which contains at least one com­ pound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a -CH₂SCN group or a group -SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, a hy­ drocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Description: The present invention relates to a class of compounds, some of which are new compounds, which are useful as industrial biocides. More particularly this invention relates to a class of propargyl thiocyanate compounds, many of which have both antibacterial and antifungal properties, and which are useful as industrial biocides. Industrial biocides are useful to prevent industrial spoilage, in particular that caused by bacteria and fungi. Thus, such materials are useful in the preservation of paints, lattices, adhesives, leather, wood, metal working fluids and cooling water. Propargyl compounds having biological, for example phytological, activity are known and are disclosed for example in UK Patent No.1236969 and US Patent 3075938, US Patent 3226426 and Canadian Patent 627647. Iodopropargyl compounds are known which exhibit good antifungal properties but which are mediocre antibacterials, for example the carbamate derivative having the formula I_C=CCH₂OCONHC₄H₉ (see UK Patent 1455043) and known as Troysan Polyphase Antimildew (hereinafter referred to as "Troysan PPA"), is a commercial fungicide but lacks effective antibacterial activity. Thiocyanate propargyl derivatives are reported in Ber (1873) 6, 729 and Chem.Pharm.Bull.Jap. (1962) 10, 1094. A compound having the formula CH₃_C≡CCH₂SCN is reported in Rec.Trav.Chim. (1974) 93 29. The compound C₆H₅_C≡CCH₂SCN appears to have been formed as an intermediate in Chem.Pharm.Bull.Jap. (1962) 10, 1094 but is not characterised. No antimicrobial activity has been reported in the above-mentioned literature. Other references to thiocyanates containing propargyl groups can be found in UK Patent 1210781 (to Ciba-Geigy) and UK Patent 1164486 (to BASF). It has now been found that certain propargyl thiocyanates are surprisingly active against both bacteria and fungi. Antimicrobial properties have not been reported for this class of propargyl derivatives. Some compounds of this type are novel. According to the present invention, there is provided a biocide composition which contains at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. If the group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group it can be an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl group. If R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, typically the group contains no more than 20 carbon atoms, for example not more than 10 carbon atoms. We have found that compounds in which R¹ is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group have particularly good anti-fungal activity and some compounds of this type also show useful anti-bacterial activity, such compounds including those in which R¹ is hydrogen, phenyl or lower alkyl, that is an alkyl group containing not more than 5 carbon atoms. If the group R¹ is a substituted hydrocarbyl group it can be a substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl group. The substituents can be, inter alia, hydrocarbyl groups, ester (that is acyloxy) groups, halogen atoms, nitrile groups or ether groups, which may themselves be substituted. If the group R¹ is substituted with halogen atoms, it can contain more than one halogen atom, for example as in a trifluoromethyl group. In the group _SiR²R³R⁴, it is preferred that at least one of the groups R², R³ and R⁴ is a hydrocarbyl group, for example as in a trimethylsilyl group. Preferred compositions in accordance with the present invention are those in which R¹ is a group _CH₂SCN or is, or contains, a halogen atom. The preferred compositions have a combination of particularly good anti-bacterial activity and anti-fungal activity. Especially preferred compositions are those in which R¹ is a halogen atom, most especially bromine or iodine. The compositions of the present invention provide good wet state preservation making the compositions advantageous for use as a cutting fluid preservative and also in cooling water applications. Wood and leather preservations is another advantageous field of application of the compositions. The compositions of the present invention can also be incorporated into paint, as paint film fungicide that can be used, in contrast with Troysan PPA, without addition of a bactericide. The propargyl derivatives which are present in biocide composition of the present invention are soluble in many polar solvents, although the solubility is dependent on the nature of the groups R¹, R², R³ and R⁴. However, many of the compounds are soluble in water, alcohols, ethers, ketones and other polar solvents or mixtures thereof. The compositions of the present invention may consist only of the propargyl derivative. However, typically the composition comprises the propargyl derivative as a solution, suspension or emulsion in a suitable liquid medium such as water. The composition may comprise a suspension or emulsion of the propargyl derivative, or a solution thereof, in a liquid medium in which the propargyl derivative is insoluble. The composition may be incorporated into the medium to be protected using any suitable mixing technique. The composition is incorporated into the medium to be protected in an amount to provide from 0.0001 to 5% by weight of the propargyl derivative relative to the total composition. If the composition is being used to preserve a solid substrate such as leather or wood, the composition may be applied directly to the substrae or may be incorporated into a coating composition such as a paint, varnish or lacquer which is then applied to the substrate. Alternatively, the solid material may be impregnated with the composition of the present invention. The compositions of the present invention can be used for the treatment of various media to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms. Thus, as a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, a medium which comprises treating the medium with a propargyl derivative as hereinbefore defined. The propargyl derivatives can be used in conditions in which micro-organisms grow and cause problems such as, for example, in aqueous environments including cooling water systems, paper mill liquors, metal working fluids, geological drilling lubricants, polymer emulsions, and emulsion paints. The propargyl derivatives can also be used to impregnate solid materials such as wood or leather or can be coated onto the surfaces thereof directly or incorporated into a paint, varnish or lacquer. As a yet further aspect of the present invention there are provided new propargyl derivatives of the formula: wherein: R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a group _CH₂SCN or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group, with the proviso that when the group R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a phenyl group or a group _CH₂SCN, at least one of the groups R² or R³ is a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. New compounds in accordance with the present invention include those in which the groups R² and R³ are both hydrogen and the group R⁵ is a halogen atom, especially bromine or iodine; an alkyl group containing at least two carbon atoms, for example an n-butyl or n-heptyl group; a halocarbon group such as a chloromethyl, bromomethyl or trifluoromethyl group; a substituted alkyl group such as a hydroxymethyl group, an acetoxymethyl group or a cyanoethoxy­ methyl group; or a silyl group such as a trimethylsilyl group. Other compounds in accordance with the present invention include those in which R⁵ is a hydrogen atom and at least one of R² and R³ is an alkyl group, such as a methyl group. The compounds in accordance with the present invention have anti-fungal activity together with some activity against bacteria and preferred compounds show both anti-fungal activity and anti-bacterial activity. The preferred compounds of the present invention are those in which R⁵ is, or contains, at least one halogen atom, or is a group _SiR²R³R⁴. Especially preferred compounds are those in which R⁵ is a halogen atom, for example iodopropargyl thiocyanate and bromopropargyl thiocyanate. The propargyl derivatives may be prepared by known procedures, for example as described in Ber. (1873) 6, 729; Chem.Pharm.Bull.Jap. (1962) 10, 1094 and Rec.Trav.Chim. (1974) 93, 29. A convenient method of preparing the thiocyanate derivative is by the reaction of the corresponding propargyl halide with an alkali metal thiocyanate or ammonium thiocyanate. The reaction may be effected in any suitable solvent such as, for example, a lower alkanol, an aqueous lower alkanol, a ketone such as acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, glyme, diglyme and cellosolve. The reaction is preferably effected at a relatively low temperature, for example, not more than 80°C, which may be ambient temperature or below for example 15°C. If the reaction is effected at a temperature above ambient temperature, it is conveniently effected in acetone under reflux, that is at a temperature between 55 and 60°C. Some propargyl halides, for example propargyl bromide and propargyl chloride are commercially available materials. However, if desired, the desired propargyl halide can be obtained by the reaction of the corresponding alcohol with a halogenating agent, such as, for example phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus pentachloride, and thionyl chloride. The reaction is preferably effected in the presence of a base, particularly an organic base such as pyridine. The halogenating reaction is preferably effected in a liquid medium which is a solvent for the alcohol and preferably also for the halide product. The reaction is preferably effected at a temperature not exceeding 80°C and especially not exceeding 50°C. Conveniently the reactants are mixed at a temperature which is initially below ambient temperature, for example from 0°C to 10°C. The halide may be purified before reaction with the thiocyanate compound but propargyl thiocyanates can be obtained by reaction of the thiocyanate compound with the halide reaction mixture, without isolating and purifying the halide. The desired propargyl thiocyanate can be isolated and purified using any suitable technique. Thus, the propargyl thiocyanate may be recrystallised from a suitable solvent or solvent mixture, for example from a mixture of methylene chloride and a low boiling petroleum ether fraction. Alternatively, the propargyl thiocyanate may be purified by a chromatographic technique, for example by flash chromatography. Further aspects of the present invention are described in the following illustrative examples. In the following examples, the products obtained were subjected to microbiostatic evaluation and some products were also subjected to microbiocidal evaluation. The microbiological testing was effected, under sterile conditions throughout, as follows: Preparation of Inoculum Bacteria The bacterial inoculum consisted of 24 hour cultures of the organisms grown in Oxoid Nutrient Broth, subcultured daily and incubated at 37°C. Fungi Spore suspensions of each of the test fungi were prepared as follows. To 250 cm³ conical flasks containing well sporulating cultures of the organisms, growing on Oxoid Malt Extract agar, a number of sterile 3 mm glass beads and approximately 50 cm³ of a sterile solution of 0.01% v/v of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan mono-oleate (available from Imperial Chemical Industries PLC as Tween 80) (Tween is a Registered Trade Mark) in water were added. Each flask was swirled so that the beads removed the spores and the resulting suspension was poured into a sterile 100 g medical flat bottle containing approximately 50 cm³ of the sterile 0.01% v/v solution of Tween 80. The suspension could be stored for up to four weeks at 4°C. In the microbiological testing, the products were tested for anti-microbial activity against bacteria and/or fungi. The bacteria used were one or more of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fungi used were one or more of Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidum pullulans, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Chaetomium globosum. These test organisms will be referred to hereafter as EC, SA, PA, AN, AP, CS, AV and CG respectively. Microbiostatic evaluation Method A 0.3 g of the product to be tested was dissolved in 3.0 cm³ of N,N-dimethylformamide to give a 10% w/v solution. For each of the products being tested, five bottles containing 50 cm³ of Oxoid Malt agar and five bottles containing 50 cm³ of Oxide Nutrient agar were heated by steam to melt the contents. The bottles were cooled to 50°C and a sufficient quantity of the solution of the product was added to give a concentration of the product in the agar of 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 25 ppm, 125 ppm or 625 ppm. The lower concentrations of product were obtained by diluting the initial 10% w/v solution to 1% w/v or 1000 ppm and adding the diluted solution to the melted agar. From each bottle treated as described, two petri dish plates were poured and allowed to set overnight. The test organisms were surface inoculated onto the test plates by means of a multi-point inoculator. The test plates obtained from malt agar were incoulated with fungi and the plates were incubated at 25°C for five days. The test plates obtained from nutrient agar were inoculated with bacteria and the plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. At the end of the incubation period, the plates were assessed visually for growth of the micro-organisms. The concentration of the product which inhibited the growth of a particular micro-organism was recorded. Method B 100 mg of the product to be tested was dissolved in 2 cm³ of N,N-dimethylformamide and the solution obtained diluted with a further quantity of N,N-dimethylformamide to give a product concentration of 2500 ppm. To bottles containing 50 cm³ of Czapek Dox agar containing 0.5% v/v peptone at 50°C was added a quantity of the product solution to give a concentration of 500 ppm or 25 ppm of the product. From each bottle, two petri dish plates were poured and allowed to set overnight. The test organisms were surface inoculated onto the test plates by means of a multi-point inoculator. Each test plate was inoculated with both bacteria and fungi. The plates were incubated for four days at 25°C. At the end of the incubation period, the plates were assessed visually for growth of the micro-organisms. The concentration of the product which inhibited the growth of a particular micro-organism was recorded. Microbiocidal Evaluation The product to be tested was added to 100 cm³ of sterile distilled water contained in 250 cm³ conical flasks to give concentrations of 1 ppm, 5 ppm, 25 ppm, 125 ppm and 250 ppm. The flasks were equilibrated to 37°C in a shaking water bath. A sample of an overnight culture of EC was added to give an initial test inoculum of about 10⁷ CFU/cm³. After periods of one hour and four hours, a one cm³ sample of the test liquid is removed from the flask and added to 9 cm³ of a sterile inactivating liquid consisting of 2% of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan mono-oleate (Tween 80), 3% of azolectin and 95% of Oxoid Nutrient broth. The solution thus obtained was diluted by factors of 10, 100 and 1000 with saline solution. All four concentration levels were enumerated for viable survivors by pour plate technique. The test plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours and the plates counted to determine which showed a kill of at least 99.99%. The concentration of product which gave a four decimal reduction (that is 99.99% kill) compared to a control flask, which did not contain the product under test, was noted. Example 1 Potassium iodide (3.8 g), iodine (5.9 g) and methanol (40 cm³) were stirred together at 15°C for 15 minutes. A solution of propargyl bromide (available from Fluka) (2.8 g) in methanol (10 cm³) was added to this mixture and the resulting mixture was stirred for a further 10 minutes at 15°C. A solution of potassium hydroxide (1.6 g) in methanol (10 cm³) was added over a period of 15 minutes whilst maintaining the temperature at 10-13°C and the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 20 minutes at 15°C. Potassium thiocyanate (2.5 g) was added in portions whilst maintaining the temperature at 15°C and the reaction mixture was then stirred for a further two hours, allowing it to warm up to ambient temperature (21°C). The reaction mixture was screened and evaporated to dryness using a rotary evaporator at a bath temperature of below 40°C with a vacuum obtained using a water pump. The residue, which was an oil which partly solidified when ice water (100 cm³) was added, was extracted into methylene chloride (100 cm³). The methylene chloride solution was washed with water (100 cm³), dried over anhydrous magnesium sulphate, screened through a short bed of silica gel and evaporated to dryness using a rotary evaporator at a bath temperature of below 40°C with a vacuum obtained using a water pump. The residual oil thus obtained readily solidified when triturated with light petroleum (b.pt. 60-80°C) and was recrystallised by dissolving in methylene chloride, adding petroleum ether (b.pt. 40-60°C) dropwise until precipitation commenced and allowing to crystallise to give 2.2 g of very pale yellow soft crystals m.pt. 58-61°C. The infra-red spectrum (KBr disc) showed absorption peaks at 3000 cm _1 and 2950 cm _1 (both characteristic of _CH₂_), 2180 cm _1 and 2140 cm _1 (characteristic of C=C and _SCN respectively). However, the spectrum did not contain peaks at 3290 cm _1 (characteristic of H_C=), 2050 cm _1 (characteristic of _NCS) or at 1980 cm _1 (characteristic of C=C=C). By analysis the composition was found to be C 21.5% wt; H 0.5% wt; N 6.2% wt; I 57.3% wt and S 14.5% wt. C₄H₂INS requires C 21.5% wt; H 0.9% wt; N 6.3% wt; I 61.5% wt and S 14.3% wt. Example 2 The compound of Example 1 was evaluated against a range of bacteria and fungi by the microbiological techniques hereinbefore described. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, control for the test organisms was obtained at the following levels: EC 5 ppm SA 5 ppm PA 5 ppm AN 1 ppm AP 1 ppm CS 1 ppm AV 1 ppm CG 1 ppm In the microbiocidal evaluation, this compound caused 4 decimal reductions (99.99% kill) in the culture of EC in the times, and at the levels, set out hereafter: 1 hour 125-625 ppm 4 hours 25-125 ppm In all of the following examples, parts are by weight with the exception of solvents where parts are by volume. Example 3 4 Parts of propargyl bromide were dissolved in 60 parts of a 75: 25 v/v methanol/water mixture and the mixture was cooled, with stirring, to -5°C. A solution of 4 parts of potassium hydroxide in 20 parts of the 75: 25 water/methanol mixture were added dropwise to the stirred solution. The resulting mixture was cooled to -10°C and 5.4 parts of bromine dissolved in 15 parts of the 75: 25 methanol/water mixture were added dropwise over a period of 20 minutes whilst continuing to stir the mixture at -5°C to -10°C. Stirring was continued for a further 20 minutes at -5°C to -10°C and the mixture was then neutralised to a pH of 6 by the dropwise addition of aqueous 2N hydrochloric acid at a temperature of -5°C to 5°C. 2.2 Parts of potassium thiocyanate dissolved in 12 parts of the 75: 25 methanol/water mixture were added to the neutralised solution and the resulting mixture was stirred for one hour at 5°C to 10°C. A further 1.8 parts of potassium thiocyanate were added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight and allowed to warm up to ambient temperature. The reaction mixture was screened and evaporated to dryness, as in Example 1, and the oily residue was purified by flash chromatography on Kieselgel 60 (a silica gel available from Merck GmbH of Darmstadt, Germany). Elution was effected using petroleum ether (b.pt. 60-80°C) with increasing proportions of chloroform. 1-Bromopropargyl-3-thiocyanate was obtained as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum obtained using a thin film of the oil showed peaks characteristic of acetylene (2210 cm _1 ) and thiocyanate (2150 cm _1 ) groups. By analysis the composition was found to be C 26.7% wt; H 0.6% wt; N 7.5% wt; Br 45.8% wt and S 18.5% wt. C₄H₂BrNS requires C 27.3% wt; H 1.1% wt; N 8.0% wt; Br 45.5% wt and S 18.2% wt. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 1 ppm SA 1 ppm PA 1 ppm AN 1 ppm AP 1 ppm CS 1 ppm AV 1 ppm CG 1 ppm In the microbiocidal evaluation, 5 ppm of this compound caused 4 decimal reductions in the culture of EC within one hour. Example 4 10 Parts of dec-2-yn-1-ol (available from Lancaster Synthesis), 1 part of dry pyridine and 25 parts of dry diethyl ether were stirred at a temperature in the range 0 to 5°C whilst 6.6 parts of phosphorus tribromide were added dropwise. The mixture was heated, with stirring, up to reflux temperature and maintained under reflux conditions for three hours. The mixture was cooled to a temperature in the range 0 to 5°C and diluted with a further 75 parts of diethyl ether. The diluted mixture was then repeatedly extracted with small portions of ice cold 5% w/v brine saturated with sodium bicarbonate. The treated ether fraction was dried using anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and the ether distilled off under a water pump vacuum and at a temperature of below 40°C. The residual product was purified by distillation under a water pump vacuum in a Kugelrohr to give 8 parts of 1-bromodec-2-yne as a colourless oil having an absorption peak at 2230 cm _1 , which is characteristic of the acetylenic group. 4.34 Parts of the 1-bromodec-2-yne were added to a stirred solution containing 2.2 parts of potassium thiocyanate in 50 parts of a 90: 10 v/v ethanol/water mixture. The resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for four days. The reaction mixture was screened and evaporated to dryness as in Example 1. The residual oil was purified by flash chromatography as in Example 1. A yield of 3 parts of 1-thiocyanatodec-2-yne as a colourless oil was obtained. By analysis the composition was found to be C 67.6% wt; H 8.4% wt; N 7.0% wt; and S 17.0% wt. C 11 H 17 NS requires C 67.6% wt; H 8.7% wt; N 7.2% wt; and S 16.5% wt. The infra-red spectrum, using a thin film of the oil, showed peaks characteristic of acetylene (2230 cm _1 ) and thiocyanate (2150 cm _1 ) groups. However, peaks corresponding to isothiocyanate and allene groups were not observed. In microbiostatic evaluation using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 5 ppm CG 5 ppm Example 5 The procedure described in Example 4 was repeated using hept-2-yn-1-ol (available from Lancaster Synthesis) to obtain 1-thiocyanatohept-2-yne as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum, using a thin film of the oil, contained a strong thiocyanate (2150 cm _1 ) peak. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 125 ppm SA 125 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm At the highest level tested (625 ppm), control of PA was not achieved. Example 6 The procedure described in Example 4 was repeated using 3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-ol (available from Lancaster Synthesis) to obtain 1-thiocyanato-3-phenylprop-2-yne as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum contained a strong thiocyanate (2150 cm _1 ) peak. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 125 ppm PA 625 ppm SA 125 ppm AN 1 ppm AP 1 ppm CS 1 ppm AV 1 ppm CG 1 ppm Example 7 The procedure described in Example 4 was repeated using but-2-yn-1-ol (available from Lancaster Synthesis) to obtain 1-thiocyanatobut-2-yne as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum contained a strong thiocyanate (2150 cm _1 ) peak. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 625 ppm PA 625 ppm SA 625 ppm AN 1 ppm AP 1 ppm CS 1 ppm AV 1 ppm CG 1 ppm Example 8 Using the procedure described in Ber. (1873), 6 , 729, 1-thiocyanatoprop-2-yne was prepared from propargyl bromide and potassium thiocyanate in alcohol. The product was confirmed to have the thiocyanate structure from the infra-red absorption spectrum (peak at 2150 cm _1 , no peak at 2050 cm _1 ). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 125 ppm SA 125 ppm AN 1 ppm AP 1 ppm CS 1 ppm AV 1 ppm CG 1 ppm At the highest level tested (625 ppm), control of PA was not achieved. Example 9 Using the procedure described in JCS (1946), 1009, 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne was prepared from but-2-yn-1,4-diol (available from Lancaster Synthesis). 2 Parts of 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne were stirred for two hours under reflux conditions with 6.25 parts of ammonium thiocyanate and 50 parts of acetone. The mixture was cooled. The cooled mixture was then screened and evaporated to dryness as in Example 1. The residual oil was purified by flash chromatography (as in Example 3) to give 1,4-dithiocyanatobut-2-yne as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum using a thin film of the oil contained the peak characteristic of the thiocyanato group (2150 cm _1 ). Proton magnetic resonance using CDCl₃ as solvent and tetramethylsilane as internal reference showed a singlet peak at a delta value of 3.8 ppm, this being characteristic of hydrogen in _C=CCH₂SCN. By analysis the composition was found to be C 42.6% wt; H 2.3% wt; N 16.5% wt; and S 37.5% wt. C₆H₄N₂S₂ requires C 42.9% wt; H 2.4% wt; N 16.7% wt; and S 38.1% wt. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the product provided control of the organisms as follows: EC 1 ppm PA 1 ppm SA 1 ppm AN 5 ppm AP 5 ppm CS 5 ppm AV 5 ppm CG 5 ppm Example 10 Using the procedure described in JACS (1955), 77 , 166, 4-chlorobut-2-yn-1-ol was prepared from but-2-yn-1,4-diol (available from Lancaster Synthesis). 2.1 parts of 4-chlorobut-2-yn-1-ol were stirred for two hours under reflux conditions with 6.25 parts of ammonium thiocyanate and 50 parts of acetone and the mixture was then cooled. The cool mixture was screened and evaporated to dryness as in Example 1. The residual oil was purified by flash chromatography (as in Example 3) to give 4-thiocyanatobut-2-yn-1-ol as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum using a thin film of the oil contained the peak characteristic of the thiocyanato group (2160 cm _1 ) and also a broad peak at 3400 cm _1 (hydroxyl group). The pmr spectrum (obtained as described in Example 9) contained triplet peaks at delta values of 3.85 ppm and 4.3 ppm (both due to _CH₂_) and a peak at 4.1 ppm (due to the labile proton in OH). By analysis the composition was found to be C 47.8% wt; H 3.7% wt; N 10.7% wt; and S 26.3% wt. C₅H₅NOS requires C 47.2% wt; H 3.9% wt; N 11.0% wt; and S 25.2% wt. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method A, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: PA 625 ppm AN 625 ppm AP 125 ppm CS 125 ppm AV 125 ppm CG 125 ppm At the highest level tested (625 ppm), control of EC and SA was not achieved. Example 11 Acetylation of the product of Example 10 was effected using boron trifluoride and acetic anhydride at ambient temperature. The infra-red spectrum of 4-acetoxy-1-thiocyanatobut-2-yne contained the peaks characteristic of the thiocyanato group (2160 cm _1 ) and the carbonyl group (1740 cm _1 ). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 500 ppm PA 500 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Lower levels than 25 ppm were not tested. Example 12 4.25 parts of 1,4-dibromobut-2-yne (obtained from Fairfield Chemicals) and 42 parts of acetone were stirred at ambient temperature to obtain a homogeneous solution. 1.52 parts of ammonium thiocyanate were added and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for three days. The mixture was screened and evaporated to dryness as in Example 1. The residual oil was subjected to flash chromatography (as in Example 3) and separated into 1 part of unchanged starting material, 0.7 parts of 1,4-dithiocyanatobut-2-yne (found to be identical with the product of Example 9) and 1.5 parts of 1-bromo-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne. The infra-red spectrum of 1-bromo-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne contained the characteristic peak of the thiocyanato group (2155 cm _1 ). The pmr spectrum (obtained as described in Example 9) contained peaks at delta values of 3.85 ppm and 4.02 ppm. These peaks were barely resolved triplets and were attributed to the hydrogens present in the groups _CH₂SCN and _CH₂Br respectively. In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 25 ppm PA 25 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Levels lower than 25 ppm were not tested. Example 13 Using the procedure described in Org.Syn. 64 , 182, 3-trimethylsilylprop-2-yn-1-ol was prepared from propargyl alcohol. Using the procedure of Example 4, the bromo derivative was obtained using phosphorus tribromide, pyridine and diethyl ether. 6.3 Parts of 1-bromo-3-trimethylsilylprop-2-yne were stirred for 18 hours at ambient temperature with 3.65 parts of ammonium thiocyanate in 25 parts of acetone. The reaction mixture was then screened, evaporated to dryness and purified by flash chromatography as described in Example 3. The infra-red spectrum contained absorption peaks characteristic of methyl, acetylene and thiocyanato groups (2960 cm _1 , 2180 cm _1 and 2160 cm _1 respectively). The pmr spectrum (obtained as described in Example 9) contained peaks at delta values of 0.2 ppm (due to methyl hydrogen in the trimethylsilyl group) and 3.7 ppm (hydrogen in _CH₂SCN). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: PA 25 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Levels lower than 25 ppm were not tested. Example 14 1.25 Parts of 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne (obtained as described in Example 9) were stirred for four hours under reflux conditions with 0.76 parts of ammonium thiocyanate and 25 parts of acetone. The mixture was cooled, screened, evaporated to dryness and purified by flash chromatography as described in Example 9 to give 0.2 parts of 1,4-dithiocyanatobut-2-yne (found to be identical with the product of Example 9) and 0.39 parts of 1-thiocyanato-4-chlorobut-2-yne as a colourless oil. The infra-red spectrum of 1-thiocyanato-4-chloro­ but-2-yne contained the characteristic peak of the thiocyanato group (2160 cm _1 ). The pmr spectrum (obtained as described in Example 9) contained triplets at delta values of 3.8 ppm (hydrogen of the _CH₂SCN group) and 4.2 ppm (hydrogen of the _CH₂Cl group). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 25 ppm PA 25 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Levels lower than 25 ppm were not tested. Example 15 Using the procedure of Example 4, 2.78 parts of 4-(2-cyano­ ethoxy)but-2-yn-1-ol were reacted with 1.7 parts of phosphorus tribromide, 0.25 parts of pyridine and 7 parts of dry diethyl ether. The bromo derivative was isolated from the reaction mixture as in Example 4 but was not subjected to a distillation step to purify the product. 2.3 parts of the crude 4-(2-cyanoethoxy)-1-bromobut-2-yne was stirred overnight (about 17 hours) at ambient temperature with 1 part of ammonium thiocyanate and 50 parts of acetone. The reaction mixture was then screened, evaporated to dryness and purified by flash chromatography as described in Example 3. The product, 1-(2-cyanoethoxy)-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, was obtained as a colourless oil, the infra-red spectrum of which contained the characteristic peaks of the cyano and thiocyanato groups (2250 cm _1 and 2160 cm _1 respectively). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the product provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 500 ppm PA 500 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Levels lower than 25 ppm were not tested. Example 16 The procedure of Example 7 was repeated using but-1-yn-3-ol (available from Lancaster Synthesis) to obtain 3-thiocyanato­ but-1-yne. The infra-red spectrum contained a peak characteristic of the hydrogen atom attached to the acetylene group and a peak characteristic of the thiocyanato group (3290cm _1 and 2150cm _1 respectively). In microbiostatic evaluation, using Method B, the compound provided control of the test organisms as follows: EC 500 ppm PA 500 ppm AN 25 ppm AP 25 ppm CS 25 ppm AV 25 ppm CG 25 ppm Levels lower than 25 ppm were not tested.

Claims: 1. A biocide composition which is a solution, suspension or emulsion in water of at least one compound of the formula : wherein : R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴ ; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is other than a carbonate group and is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein R¹ is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, an alkyl group containing not more than 10 carbon atoms, or a group _SiR²R³R⁴. 3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein R¹ is a group _CH₂SCN or is, or contains, a halogen atom. 4. A method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, a medium, which comprises treating the medium with at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the medium which is treated is a cooling water system, a paper mill liquor, a metal working fluid, a geological drilling lubricant, a polymer emulsion, a paint, a lacquer, a varnish, leather or wood. 6. A medium which is selected from a cooling water system, a paper mill liquor, a metal working fluid, a geological drilling lubricant, a polymer emulsion, a paint, a varnish, a lacquer, which contains at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 7. Leather or wood which has been impregnated or coated with a medium which is, or which contains, at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 8. A compound of the formula: wherein: R⁵ is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a group _CH₂SCN or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, with the proviso that when the group R⁵ is a methyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, a phenyl group, a group _CH₂SCN, or a group _Si(CH₃)₃, at least one of the groups R² or R³ is a methyl group ; when the group R⁵ is a hydrogen atom both R² and R³ are other than a hydrogen atom; when the group R⁵ is _C(CH₃)₂Cl or _C(CH₃)(C₂H₅)C1, R² and R³ are not both methyl groups; and when the group R⁵ is _Si(CH₃)₃ and one of R² and R³ is methyl, the other of R² and R³ is other than hydrogen; and the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R⁵ is other than a carbonate group and is at least one group selected from hydrocarbyl groups, acyloxy groups, halogen atoms, nitrile groups, hydroxy groups, ether groups or substituted ether groups, where the substituent of the substituted ether groups is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 9. A compound as claimed in claim 8 which is iodopropargylthiocyanate, bromopropargylthiocyanate, 1-thiocyanatodec-2-yne, 1-thiocyanatohept-2-yne, 4-acetoxy-1-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, 1-bromo-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, 1-thiocyanato-4-chlorobut-2-yne, 1-(2-cyanoethoxy)-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne. 10. A compound of the formula: wherein: R⁵ is a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group other than a methyl or phenyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group other than a hydroxymethyl group or a hydrocarbon substituted chloromethyl group: and R², and R³ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R⁵ is other than a carbonate group and is at least one group selected from hydrocarbyl groups, acyloxy groups, halogen atoms, nitrile groups, hydroxyl groups, ether groups or substituted ether groups, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. Claims for ES 1. A biocide composition which is a solution, suspension or emulsion in water of at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is other than a carbamate group and is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an acyloxy group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein R¹ is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, an alkyl group containing not more than 10 carbon atoms, or a group _SiR²R³R⁴. 3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein R¹ is a group _CH₂SCN or is, or contains, a halogen atom. 4. A method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, a medium, which comprises treating the medium with at least one compound of the formula: wherein R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the medium which is treated is a cooling water system, a paper mill liquor, a metal working fluid, a geological drilling lubricant, a polymer emulsion, a paint, a lacquer, a varnish, leather or wood. 6. A method as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the compound used is one in which R¹ is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, an alkyl group containing not more than 10 carbon atoms, or a group _SiR²R³R⁴. 7. A method as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the compound used is one in which the group R¹ is a group _CH₂SCN or is, or contains, at least one halogen atom. 8. A method as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the compound used is iodopropargylthiocyanate, bromopropargylthiocyanate, 1-thiocyanatodec-2-yne, 1-thiocyanatohept-2-yne, 1-thiocyanato-3-phenylprop-2-yne, 1-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, 1-thiocyanatoprop-2-yne, 1,4-dithiocyanatobut-2-yne, 4-thiocyanatobut-2-yn-1-ol, 4-acetoxy-1-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, 1-bromo-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, 1-thiocyanato-3-trimethylsilylprop-2-yne, 1-thiocyanato-4-chlorobut-2-yne, 1-(2-cyanoethoxy)-4-thiocyanatobut-2-yne, or 3-thiocyanatobut-1-yne. 9. A medium which is selected from a cooling water system, a paper mill liquor, a metal working fluid, a geological drilling lubricant, a polymer emulsion, a paint, a varnish, or a lacquer, which contains at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴ ; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group. 10. Leather or wood which has been impregnated or coated with a medium which is, or which contains, at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R¹ is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a _CH₂SCN group or a group _SiR²R³R⁴; and R², R³ and R⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group wherein the substituent of the substituted hydrocarbyl group R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group, an ether group or a substituted ether group, where the substituent of the substituted ether group is a hydrocarbyl group, an ester group, one or more halogen atoms, a nitrile group, a hydroxyl group or an ether group.

Inventors: AUSTIN, PETER WILLIAM
Applicants: IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01N37
IPC codes: C10N30, C10M135, A01N55, C07C331, C07F7, C10N40, C09D5, A01N47