Abstract:
A composition of matter is described herein which has insecticidal and miticidal activity and methods of use. The composition may be defined by the following generic formula ##EQU1## wherein X can be oxygen or sulfur; R 1  and R 2  can be the same or different and can be selected from lower alky, lower alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, thiophenyl, haloalkyl, alkoxythioalkyl, thiocyano, furfuryloxy, alkyldioxolanealkoxy and sulfolaneyloxy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a division of Application Ser. No. 293,974, filed Oct. 2, 1972, which is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 208,046, filed Dec. 10, 1971, both now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many insecticidal and miticidal compounds available, the organotin compounds have reached a relatively high degree of commercial success. Specifically, the organotins described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,264,177, 3,591,614 and 3,591,615 are widely used. These compounds, however, suffer from considerable unstability due to the presence of an ester linkage to the tin atom. Thus, these compounds are quite susceptible to hydrolysis on use. Additionally, the organotin compounds described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,321,361 and 3,321,365 are useful as insecticides. However, these compounds are quite toxic to vegetation and thus have extremely limited use. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been discovered that certain organotin compounds have relatively low phytotoxicity properties and are relatively stable. These organotin compounds may be defined by the following generic formula. ##STR1## wherein X can be oxygen or sulfur; R 1  and R 2  can be the same or different and can be selected from a group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, thiophenyl, haloalkyl, alkoxythioalkyl, thiocyano, furfuryloxy, alkyldioxolanealkoxy and sulfolaneyloxy. The term alkyl is defined as branched or straight chain alkyls having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the practice of the present invention, the compounds of the present invention are manufactured by reacting an alkyl tin halide with an alkali phosphate in a neutral solvent. The halide moiety in the alkyl tin halides can be selected from a group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine. After the compounds of the present invention are formed, they can be applied to the habitat in an effective amount to control respective mites and insects. 
    
    
     The following examples illustrate the merits of the present invention: 
     EXAMPLE 1 ##SPC1## 
     A mixture was formed containing 10.1 grams of tricyclohexyltin chloride (0.025 M), 7.6 grams potassium diisopropyl dithiophosphate (0.03 M) and 100 ml. of acetone. The mixture was heated to reflux for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and taken up in water (100 ml.) and methylene chloride (100 ml.), dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in a vacuum to yield 6.5 grams of product. 
     EXAMPLE 2 ##SPC2## 
     The procedure of Example 1 was repeated in its entirety except 8.4 grams ofpotassium diisobutyl dithiophosphate was substituted for the potassium diisopropyl dithiophosphate. 
     Other compounds were made in a similar manner using appropriate starting materials. The compounds are listed in Table I. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________Example 3    ##STR2##Example 4    ##STR3##Example 5    ##STR4##Example 6    ##STR5##Example 7    ##STR6##Example 8    ##STR7##Example 9    ##STR8##Example 10    ##STR9##Example 11    ##STR10##Example 12    ##STR11##Example 13    ##STR12##Example 14    ##STR13##Example 15    ##STR14##Example 16    ##STR15##__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     Insecticidal Evaluation Tests 
     The following insect species are subjected to evaluation tests for insecticidal activity. 
     1. Housefly (HF) -- Musca domestica (Linn.) 
     2. Lygus Bug (LB) -- Lygus hesperus (Knight) 
     3. Bean Aphid (BA) -- Aphis fabae (Scop.) 
     4. Two-spotted Mite (2-SM) -- Tetranychus urticae (Koch) 
     5. Salt-Marsh Caterpillar (SCM -- Estigmene acrea (Drury) 
     6. Beet armyworm (BAW) -- Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) 
     7. Tobacco budworm (TBW -- Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) 
     Aliquots of the toxicants, dissolved in an appropriate solvent, are dilutedin water containing 0.002% of a wetting agent, Sponto 221 (a polyoxyether of alkylated phenols blended with organic sulfonates). Test concentrationsrange from 0.1% downward to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. In thetests, for these species, 10 1-month old nymphs of the Lygus Bug are placedin a circular cardboard cage sealed on one end with cellophane and covered by a cloth netting on the other. Test concentrations for the Lygus Bug ranged from 0.05% downward to that at which 50% mortality was obtained. Each of the aqueous suspensions of the candidate compounds are sprayed onto the insects through the cloth netting by means of a hand spray gun. Per cent mortality in each case is recorded after 72 hours, and the LD 50  value expressed as per cent of toxicant in the aqueous spray is recorded. The results are in Table II under Column LB. 
     The following procedure is used to test houseflies: A stock solution containing 0.1 per cent by weight of the toxicant in an appropriate solvent is prepared. Aliquots of this solution are combined with 1 milliliter of an acetone-peanut oil solution in a glass Petri dish and allowed to dry. The aliquots are selected to achieve desired toxicant concentration ranging from 100 μg per Petri dish to that at which 50% mortality was attained. The Petri dishes are placed in a circular cardboard cage, closed on the bottom with cellophane and covered on top with cloth netting. Twenty-five female houseflies are introduced into the cage and the per cent mortality is recorded after 48 hours. The LD 50  values are expressed in terms of μg per 25 female flies. LD 50  values obtained in the above-mentioned housefly test are found in Table IIunder Column HF. 
     The compound is dissolved in the appropriate solvent and diluted to a concentration of 0.1 per cent with water containing 0.015% Sponto 221. A portion of the leaf from a bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) plant is immersed in the test solution for 10 seconds and allowed to dry. When dry,the leaf is placed in a Petri dish containing a 9 cm disc of moistened filter paper. Five third-instar saltmarsh caterpillar larvae are placed onthe treated leaf. Mortality is recorded after 72 hours. Test concentrationsrange from 0.1 per cent to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. This latter concentration is recorded as the LD 50  value for the test compound. 
     The test method for the cotton bollworm, beet armyworm and tobacco budworm is identical to the above except that Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is used as the test plant rather than bitter dock. 
     The compounds are also active against two-spotted mite (2-SM) Tetranychus urticae (Koch). Pinto bean plants (Phaseolus sp.) are utilized as the hostplant and infested with 50 to 75  mites of various ages. Twenty-four hours after infestation, they are sprayed to the point of run off with aqueous suspension of the toxicant. Test concentrations range from 0.05% to that at which 50% mortality is obtained. The values obtained in this test are found in Table II under the Columns 2SM-PE and 2SM-Eggs. 
     The compounds are also active against bean aphid (Aphis fabae (Scop.)) as acontact toxicant. The same test procedure as given for the two-spotted miteabove is used for the bean aphid except nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.) plants approximately 2 to 3 inches tall are used as the host plant. The LD 50 values obtained for the compounds of this invention are found in Table II under Column BA. 
     
                                           TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________2SM__________________________________________________________________________HF    LB  BA  PE   EGGS SMC  BAW  TBWExampleμg/25      %   %   %    %    %    %    %__________________________________________________________________________1    &gt;100  &gt;.05          .008              0.0008                   0.03 0.03 0.01 &gt;.12    100   &gt;.05          .03 0.0008                   0.003                        0.03 0.03 0.083    80    .05 .01 0.0005                   0.003                        0.1  0.05 0.14    80    .05 .03 0.0008                   0.003                        &gt;.1  0.03 &gt;.15    85    .05 .03 0.001                   0.008                        0.05 0.01 &gt;.16    50    &gt;.05          .01 0.001                   0.003                        0.01 0.03 &gt;.17    50    &gt;.05          .03 0.003                   0.008                        0.008                             0.008                                  0.18    90    &gt;.05          .05 0.0005                   0.003                        --   0.01 0.19    100   &gt;.05          &gt;.05              0.0003                   0.008                        &gt;10  --   &gt;.110   80    &gt;.05          .03 0.0005                   0.008                        .1   .01  .0111   65    &gt;.05          &gt;.05              0.0003                   0.003                        .1   .01  &gt;.112   65    &gt;.05          .03 0.0003                   0.003                        .1   .01  &gt;.113   65    &gt;.05          .03 0.0003                   0.003                        .1   .03  &gt;.114   65    &gt;.05          .05 0.0003                   0.003                        &gt;.1  --   &gt;.115   65    &gt;.05          .03 0.0008                   0.003                        &gt;.1  .05  &gt;.116   65    &gt;.05          .01 0.0003                   0.0008                        0.03 &lt;0.005                                  .008__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     The compounds of this invention are generally embodied into a form suitablefor convenient application. For example, the compounds can be embodied intopesticidal composition which are provided in the form of emulsions, suspensions, solutions, dusts and aerosol sprays. In general, such compositions will contain, in addition to the active compound, the adjuvants which are found normally in pesticide preparations. In these compositions, the active compounds of this invention can be employed as the sole pesticide component or they can be used in admixture with other compounds having similar utility. The pesticide compositions of this invention can contain, as adjuvants, organic solvents, such as sesame oil,xylene range solvents, heavy petroleum, etc.; water; emulsifying agents; surface active agents; talc; pyrophylite; diatomite; gypsum; clays; propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, etc. If desired, however, the active compounds can be applied directly to feedstuffs, seeds, etc. upon which the pests feed. When applied in such manner, it will be advantageous to use a compound which is not volatile. In connection with the activity of the presently disclosed pesticidal compounds, it should befully understood that it is not necessary that they be active as such. The purposes of this invention will be fully served if the compound is rendered active by external influences, such as light or by some physiological action which occurs when the compond is ingested into the body of the pest. 
     The precise manner in which the pesticidal compositions of this invention are used in any particular instance will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Generally, the active pesticide compound will be embodied in the form of a liquid composition; for example, an emulsion, suspension, or aerosol spray. While the concentration of the active pesticide in the present compositions can vary within rather wide limits, ordinarily the pesticide compound will comprise not more than about 15.0% by weight of the composition. Preferably, however, the pesticide compositions of this invention will be in the form of solutions or suspensions containing about 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the active pesticidecompound.