Abstract:
A new compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents methyl group or chlorine atom, Y represents a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or allyl group, R represents propargyl group or an alkenyl group having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, which may be substituted by chlorine atom and n represents 0, 1 or 2 is used for combating acarids.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known in the art that the two-spotted spider mite or Tetranychus urticae inflicts great and heavy damages on agriculturally important fruits such as apple, pear, peach, etc., vegetables such as egg-plant, cucumber, etc., various kinds of beans, hop, mulberry, carnation, etc., and the citrus red mite or Panonychus citri also causes serious damage to citrus fruits, pear, apple, peach, mulberry, etc. In order to remove or prevent the mite infection of the crops or fruits, a variety of acaricides have heretofore been used. However, the mites tend to have a resistance to most of the known acaricides and therefore the known acaricides have not been efficient in clearing up infections of these mites. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new derivatives of propargyl or alkenyl phenyl ether having acaricidal activity and a method of preparing thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new method of combating acarids and a new acaricidal composition. 
     The new derivatives are represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein X represents methyl group or chlorine atom, Y represents a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or allyl group, R represents propargyl group or an alkenyl group having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, which may be substituted by chlorine atom and n represents 0, 1 or 2. 
     The new derivatives are prepared by condensing in the presence of an alkaline compound a compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein X, Y and n have the same meaning as defined above, with equivalent of a compound of the formula 
     
         Z - R                                                      (III) 
    
     wherein Z represents a halogen atom and R has the same meaning as defined above, or condensing an alkali metal salt of a compound of the formula (II) with a compound of the formula (III). 
     A method for combating acarids of the present invention comprises applying to acarids and their eggs an effective amount of a compound of the formula (I). 
     An acaricidal composition of the present invention comprise 0.5--70% by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and 95.5-30% by weight of suitable adjuvants. 
     An ajuvant mentioned herein means an additive which does not have acaricidal activity. The additive may include a carrier or a supplementary material which is usually employed in agricultural chemicals. 
     The carrier may be a solid, liquid or gas. That is to say, the solid carrier may be, for example, a clay, talc, bentonite, white carbon, kaolin, diatomaceous earth or silica. The liquid carrier may be, for example, water, benzene, kerosene, alcohols, acetone, xylene, methylnaphthalene, cyclohexane, animal and plant oils, aliphatic acids or esters of aliphatic acids, and the gaseous carrier may be air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, fleon or the like. 
     The supplementary material includes, for example, a spreader, a surfactant, a sticking agent, a wetting or surface active agent, viz, polyoxyethylenealkylallylether, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxy-ethylenesorbitanmonooleate, alkyldimethylbenzylammoniumchloride, alkylbenzenesulfonate, ligninsulfonate, an ester of higher alcohol and sulfuric acid, etc. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Compounds of the formula (I) are specifically shown in Table 1. 
     
                                           Table 1__________________________________________________________________________Com-pound                   n.sub.D.sup.25 orNo. X  Y    R         n m.p. (° C)                         Appearance__________________________________________________________________________ 1  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5506                         Colorless                         oil 2  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5488                         &#34; 3  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR4## 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5593                         Pale                         yellow oil 4  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR5## 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5561                         Colorless                         oil 5  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCHCl                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5645                         &#34; 6  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCHCl                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5608                         Pale                         yellow oil 7  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5500                         Colorless                         oil 8  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5468                         &#34; 9  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR6## 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5420                         &#34;10  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR7## 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5395                         &#34;11  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR8## 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5435                         &#34;12  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5407                         &#34;13  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         2 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5280                         &#34;14  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR9## 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5488                         Pale yellow oil15  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5458                         &#34;16  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       (CH.sub.2).sub.8 CH                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5070                         Colorless       CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3                         oil17  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (i)        ##STR10##                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5535                         &#34;18  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (i)       &#34;         1 m.p.  White                   80-83° C.                         crystals19  CH.sub.3  C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)        ##STR11##                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5378                         Colorless Oil20  CH.sub.3  C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)       &#34;         1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5406                         &#34;21  CH.sub.3  CH.sub.2 CH       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5645                         Pale  CH.sub.2               yellow oil22  Cl CH.sub.3       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 0 m.p.  White                   36-37° C                         crystals23  Cl CH.sub.3       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5718                         Pale                         yellow oil24  Cl C.sub.2 H.sub.5       CH.sub.2 CHCHCl                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5872                         Colorless                         oil25  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5679                         &#34;26  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5590                         &#34;27  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR12##                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5760                         Pale                         yellow oil28  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR13##                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5710                         Yellow oil29  Cl C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)        ##STR14##                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5498                         Colorless oil30  Cl C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)        ##STR15##                 1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5439                         Colorless oil31  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR16##                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5386                         Pale yellow oil32  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5393                         Colorless                         oil33  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5476                         &#34;34  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       &#34;         1 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5425                         &#34;35  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       (CH.sub.2).sub.8 CH                 0 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5063                         &#34;       CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.336  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                 2 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5346                         &#34;37  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                 2 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5359                         &#34;38  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)        ##STR17##                 2 n.sub.D.sup.25 1.5410                         &#34;__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     The preferable compounds as an acaricids are the compounds of the formula (I) where X represents methyl group or chlorine atom, Y represents ethyl group, n-propyl group or allyl group, R represents propargyl group, allyl group, buten-2-yl group, 3-methylbuten-2-yl group, 1-methylallyl group or 3-chloroallyl group and n represents 0 or 1. The most preferable compounds as an acaricide are the compounds of the formula (I) where X represents methyl group or chlorine atom, Y represents n-propyl group, R represents propargyl group, allyl group, 3-chloroallyl group or buten-2-yl group and n represents 0 or 1. 
     The most preferable compounds are, for example, compounds No. 1, No.2, No.3, No.4, No.5, No.6, No.8, No.14, No.24, No.25, No.26, No.27 and No.28. 
     The condensation of a compound of the formula (II) with equivalent of a compound of the formula (III) in the presence of an alkaline compound or an alkali metal salt of a compound of the formula (II) with equivalent of a compound of the formula (III) is usually condusted in an inert solvent such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), di-methyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), methanol, ethanol, benzene, aceton and water preferably DMAC, DMSO and DMF but may be conducted in an absence of the solvent. 
     The reaction temperature is in the range of 0° C - 160° C preferably 10° - 120° C. The alkaline compounds are, for example, alkali methal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and alkali metal carbonates such as potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate. 
     The alkali metal salts of a compound of the formula (II) are for example, sodium salt and potassium salt. 
     When a compound of the formula (I) is a sulfide, the compound may be oxidized by a oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, potassium persulfate, perbenzoic acid and nitric acid to obtain a corresponding sulfoxide or a corresponding sulfone. 
     In order to exterminate an acarid, an effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) for acaricide is applied to acarids. 
     The acaricidal compositions of the present invention are, for example, an emulsifiable concentrate, a wettable powder, a dusting powder or a granule. The emulsifiable concentrate or the wettable powder comprises 5-70% by weight, preferably 10-50% by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and 95-30% by weight, preferably 90-50% by weight of adjuvants. 
     The emulsifiable concentrate or the wettable powder is diluted with water to obtain a emulsion or a solution in which the concentration of a compound of the formula (I) is 0.1-0.01% by weight and the emulsion or the solution is sprayed in an amount of 100- 1000 liter/10 ares. The dusting powder or the granule comprises 0.5--10% by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and 95.5-90% by weight of suitable adjuvants and is usually scattered in an amount of 1-5 kg/10 ares. 
     The acaricidal composition may be used in combination with other agricultural chemicals such as a pesticide, a herbicide, a fungicide or an acaricide. 
     The following are some examples of the preparation of compounds of the formula (I), some examples of the composition of the present invention and some examples which exhibit an excellent acaricidal effect of the present invention. All parts are by weight. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     The preparation of 3-chloro-propen-2-yl 4&#39;-chloro-3&#39;-ethylthiophenyl ether (Compound No.24). 
     Six (6) g of 4-chloro-3-ethylthiophenol and 2.1 g of potassium hydroxide (purity=85.5%) were disolved in 30 ml of DMAC above 90° C. 
     After the solution was cooled at 18°-28° C, 3.5g of 3-chloropropen-2-ylchloride were added to the solution and then the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 70°-80° C. The reaction mixture was poured into 100 ml of water and extracted with benzene. The extract was washed with a 5% hydrochloric acid solution and a 5% sodium hydroxide solution. 
     After thus washed extract dried over sodium sulfate, benzene was removed by distillation to obtain 67 g (80.1% of the theoritical yield) of 3-chloro-propen-2-yl 4&#39;-chloro-3&#39;-ethylthiophenyl ether. 
     Elemental analysis for C 11  H 12  Cl 2  OS: Found: C, 50.08; H, 4.60%. Calculated: C, 50.16; H, 4.56%. 
     In this Example, potassium salt of 4-chloro 3-ethylthiophenol instead of 4-chloro-3-ethylthiophenol and potassium hydroxide was used and the similar method was repeated. 3-chloro-propen-2-yl-4&#39;-chloro-3&#39;-ethylthiophenylether could be obtained. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The compounds shown in Table 2 were prepared by the similar method to Example 1. 
     
                                           Table 2__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR18##                                                Alkaline                                        Reaction                                                compoundComp-                                        Tempera-                                                (when M re-pound    (M:H or alkaline metal atom)               Z - R                    ture Time                                                present                                                       YieldNo. X  Y        M n Z R                  Solvent                                        (° C)                                             (hr)                                                atom)  (%)__________________________________________________________________________ 1  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Br                 CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                    DMF 18-28                                             5         87.5 3  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Br                  ##STR19##         &#34;   18-28                                             3.5       73.0 5  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           H O Cl                 CH.sub.2 CHCHCl    &#34;   70-80                                             3  K.sub.2 CO.sub.3                                                       84.4 7  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Cl                 CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                                    &#34;   18-28                                             6         81.8 9  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           Na             O Cl                  ##STR20##         DMAC                                        18-28                                             4.5       70.811  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           Na             O Cl                  ##STR21##         &#34;   18-28                                             6         76.414  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Cl                  ##STR22##         &#34;   25-35                                             5         83.017  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (i)           K O Cl                  ##STR23##         DMF 50-60                                             5         74.119  CH.sub.3  C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)           K O Cl                  ##STR24##         &#34;   85-95                                             6         86.121  CH.sub.3  CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2           K O Cl                 CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                                    &#34;   18-28                                             8         92.222  Cl CH.sub.3 K O Cl                 CH.sub.2 CHCHCH.sub.3                                    DMF 75-85                                             4         91.625  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           Na             O Cl                 CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                    &#34;   55-65                                             3         95.527  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Br                  ##STR25##         &#34;   60-70                                             2         98.129  Cl C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)           K O Cl                  ##STR26##         DMF 65-75                                             5         84.331  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Br                  ##STR27##         DMAC                                        18-28                                             6         90.633  Cl C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Br                 &#34;                  DMF 18-28                                             8         74.135  CH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)           K O Cl                 (CH.sub.2).sub.8 CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3                                    &#34;   85-95                                             2.5       85.8__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 3 
     The preparation of 3-chloro-buten-2-yl 4&#39;-methyl-3&#39;-i-propylsulfinylphenyl ether (Compound No.18) 
     Two (2) g of 4-methyl-3-i-propylsulfinylphenol, 1.4 g of potassium carbonate, 30 ml of DMAC and 1.3 g of 3-chloro-buten-2-yl chloride were mixed and reacted at 90°-100° C for 5 hours. The resultant reaction mixture was poured into 100 ml of water and extracted with benzene. The extract was washed with 5% sodium hydroxide solution and water. After the washed extract was dried over sodium sulfate, the benzene was removed by distillation to obtain 2 g (71.2% of the theoretical yield) of 3-chloro-buten-2-yl 4&#39;-methyl-3&#39;-i -propylsulfinyl-phenyl ether. 
     Elemental analysis for C 14  H 19  ClO 2  S: Found: C, 58.49; H, 6.78%. Calculated: C, 8.64; H, 6.63%. 
     The compounds No.2, No.4, No.6, No.8, No.10, No.12, No.15, No.16, No.20, No.23, No.26, No.28, No.30, No.32 and No.34 can be prepared by the similar method to this Example. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The preparation of allyl 4-methyl-3-n-propylsulfinylphenyl ether (Compound No.2) 
     Three (3.0) g of allyl 4-methyl-3-n-propylthiophenyl ether (Compound No.1) were dissolved into 30 ml of acetic acid. The resultant solution was cooled below 5° C and 2.5 g of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution were added to the solution. After the solution stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, the reaction mixture was poured into 100 ml of water and extracted with benzene. The obtained extract was washed with 5% sodium carbonate solution and then water and dried over sodium sulfate. 
     Then, benzene was removed to obtain 3.1 g (96.3% of the theoritical yield) of allyl 4-methyl-3-n-propylsulfinyl-phenyl ether. 
     Elemental analysis for C 13  H 18  O 2  S: Found: C, 70.11%; H, 8.13%. Calculated: C, 70.16%; H, 8.10%. 
     The compounds No.4, No.6, No.8, No.10, No.12, No.15, No.16, No.20, No.23, No.26, No.28, No.30, No.32 and No.34 were prepared by oxidation of the corresponding sulfide by the similar method to this Example. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     The preparation of 2-methyl-propen-2-yl 4&#39;-methyl-3&#39;-n-propylsulfonylphenyl ether (Compound No. 13) 
     Five (5) g of 2-methyl-propen-2-yl 4&#39;-methyl-3&#39;-n-propyl-thiophenyl ether (Compound No.11) were dissloved into 30 ml of acetic acid. After the solution was cooled below 5° C, 6.2g of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution were added dropwise to the solution and then the solution was stirred at 80° C for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into 100 ml of water and extracted with ether. The resultant extract was washed with 5% sodium hydrogen-carbonate solution and water. After the washed extract was dried over sodium sulfate, the ether was removed by distillation to obtain 4.46g (78.4% of the theoretical yield) of 2-methyl-propen-2-yl 4&#39;-methyl-3&#39;-n-propyl-sulfonylphenyl ether. 
     Elemental analysis for C 14  H 20  O 3  S: Found: C, 62.51 ; H, 7.53%. Calculated: C, 62.60 ; H, 7.45%. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     Emulsifiable concentrate 
     
         ______________________________________Compound No. 3       20 partsXylene               65 parts______________________________________ 
    
     The mixture of calcium alkylbenzensulfonate and a condensation product of an alkylphenol and 
     
         ______________________________________ethylenoxide         15 parts______________________________________ 
    
     The above ingredients were blended to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate which was diluted with water for spraying. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     Wettable powder 
     
         ______________________________________Compound No. 8          30 partsCaoline                 40 partsClay                    15 partsDiatomaceous earth      7.5 partsA mixture of sodium laurate anddinaphthylmethane sulfonic acid                   7.5 parts______________________________________ 
    
     The above ingredients were blended to form a wettable powder which is diluted with water for use. 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     Dusting powder 
     
         ______________________________________Compound No. 26       3 partsTalc                 48 partsClay                 49 parts______________________________________ 
    
     The above ingredients were mixed and crushed to form fine powder which was applied as it is for use. 
     EXAMPLE 9 
     Two seed leaves of a kidney-bean which was cultivated in porous pot having a diameter of 6 cm. were cut into pieces of about 3 square cm. Fifteen female imagos of the two-spotted spider mite were inoculated per leaf. Then, each leaf was immersed for 10 seconds in a solution containing 0.043% by weight of an acaricidal compound of the present invention. The resultant leaves were allowed to stand for 48 hours in a green house. The death and life of the mites were observed to calculate an acaricidal ratio. Thereafter, living mites were removed from each of the leaves. After leaving the leaves in the green house for 7 days, the number of unhatched eggs were examined. The results were shown in Table 3. 
     
                       Table 3______________________________________       Acaricidal ratio                     Egg-killing ratioCompound No.       (%)           (%)______________________________________1           100           1002           100           1003           100           1004           100           1005           100           1006           100           1007           100           828           100           1009           100           9610          100           8811          93            7312          72            9113          88            7214          100           10015          86            10016          100           7717          69            9218          63            9319          98            8220          95            6721          100           10022          85            10023          65            7324          100           10025          100           10026          100           10027          100           10028          100           10029          64            9830          80            7031          78            6332          64            9833          64            7534          69            9935          78            6636          76            6237          79            6338          72            62No-treated  3             0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 10 
     A summer orange was cultivated in a porous pot having a diameter of 12 cm. All leaves except two were cut off. An adhesive material was applied onto the stalks of two leaves for prevention of escape of mites and 10 female imagos of citrus red mites were inoculated per leaf and allowed to deposit eggs for 2 days in a green house. Then, a solution containing 0.04% by weight of compounds in accordance with the present invention were scattered on each leaf for 10 seconds by means of a spray gun. After the scattering, the resultant leaves were allowed to stand for 2 days in a green house. The death and life of the mites were observed by means of a binocular stereomicroscope to calculate an acaricidal ratio. 
     Thereafter, the dead and living mites were removed from each of the leaves and the numbers of eggs were counted, leaving in the leaves in the green house for 7 days. Numbers of unhatched eggs were observed by means of a binocular stereomicroscope to obtain the egg-killing ratio. 
     The test results are shown in Table 4. 
     
                       Table 4______________________________________       Acaricidal ratio                     Egg-killing ratioCompound No.       (%)           (%)______________________________________1           100           962           100           1003           96            914           100           1005           85            726           100           1008           100           10024          90            7325          96            6726          100           10027          100           100No-treated  3             0______________________________________