PESTICIDAL FORMULATIONS

Abstract

The present invention relates to pesticidally-active, in particular insecticidally-active, compositions comprising Thiamethoxam, and to their use for controlling animal pests in field crops.

Claims

1. A pesticidal composition comprising: (a) a compound of formula (I): ##STR00006## or an agrochemically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; (b) water; and (c) a surfactant system comprising: at least one block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II):
HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.x(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.y(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.xH(II) wherein x and x, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 70 to 120, and y is an integer from 20 to 45, and wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is from 4:1 to 7:1, and at least one alkoxylated lignosulfonate salt of formula (III): ##STR00007## R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 and CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, i, j and k, equal to or different from each other, are 0 or integers from 1 to 15, with the proviso that at least one of i, j and k is different from 0, and X is sodium or potassium.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) x and x, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 75 to 85, and y is an integer from 25 to 35, and wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is from 5:1 to 6:1.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) x and x, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 75 to 80, and y is an integer from 25 to 30, and wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is from 5:1 to 6:1.

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is between 5.1:1 and 5.5:1.

5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the alkoxylated lignosulfonate salt of formula (III) when any of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, i, j and k, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 1 to 12, preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3, or when any of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2, i, j and k, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 3, more preferably from 1 to 2, or when any of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, i, j and k, equal to or different from each other, are integers from 1 to 3, preferably from 1 to 2, more preferably 1, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are equal to or different from each other.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant system comprises: from 35% to 40% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the surfactant system, of at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer of formula (II); and from 60% to 65% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the surfactant system, of at least one alkoxylated lignosulfonate salt of formula (III).

7. The composition according to claim 1, said composition further comprising: (d) at least one clay; and (e) at least one heteropolysaccharide.

8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein the weight ratio of at least one clay to at least one heteropolysaccharide is from 8:1 to 15:1.

9. The composition according to claim 7, wherein the weight ratio of at least one clay to at least one heteropolysaccharide is from 9:1 to 10:1.

10. The composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising: (a) from 10% to 75% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the compound of formula (I) or an agrochemically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; (b) from 10% to 65% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of water; (c) from 1% to 25% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the surfactant system; (d) from 0.1% to 2% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one clay; and (e) from 0.05% to 1% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one heteropolysaccharide.

11. The composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising: (a) from 25% to 60% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the compound of formula (I) or an agrochemically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; (b) from 25% to 60% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of water; (c) from 2% to 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the surfactant system; (d) from 0.5% to 1.5% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one clay; and (e) from 0.05% to 0.15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one heteropolysaccharide.

12. The composition according to claim 1, said composition comprising: (a) from 40% to 60% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the compound of formula (I) or an agrochemically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; (b) from 30% to 50% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of water; (c) from 4% to 10% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of the surfactant system; (d) from 0.08% to 1.2% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one clay; and (e) from 0.06% to 0.15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the composition, of at least one heteropolysaccharide.

13. A method of controlling insects, acarines, nematodes or molluscs which comprises applying an insecticidally, acaricidally, nematicidally or molluscicidally effective amount of the pesticidal composition according to claim 1 to a pest, a locus of pest, to a plant susceptible to attack by a pest or to plant a propagation material thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of cereals, vegetables, field crops, oil seed crops, forage crops and fiber crops.

15. Use of the pesticidal composition according to claim 1 as an insecticide, acaracide, nematicide or molluscicide.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0259] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment according to the invention containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the following formulation:

TABLE-US-00003 % [by Composition 1 weight] Thiamethoxam 47.6% Polyoxypropylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer 2.1% HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.80(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.30(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.80H Ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt 3.4% (degree of sulfonation: 1.2 moles/Kg) Smectite clay .sup.1% Xanthan gum 0.11% Dispersant 1.4% Liquid carrier .sup.6% Solid carrier .sup.1% Preservative 0.2% Antifoam 0.1% Water up to 100%

[0260] The above ingredients were formulated as follows: [0261] (1) preparing a xanthan gum gel; [0262] (2) preparing an aqueous millbase containing the compound of formula (I); [0263] (3) grinding the millbase from (1) through a wet bead mill to a fine particle size; and [0264] (4) adding the remaining ingredients followed by mixing until a uniform composition is obtained.

[0265] Non-limiting examples of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) suitable for use in the pesticidal composition of Example 1 include, for instance, surfactants which are commercially available under the trademark name PLURONIC? F68.

Example 2

[0266] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but without the clay (composition 2).

Comparative Example 1

[0267] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but replacing the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) with HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.61(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.40(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.61H, wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is outside the range from 4:1 to 7:1 (comparative composition 1):

TABLE-US-00004 % [by Comparative composition 1 weight] Thiamethoxam 47.6% Polyoxypropylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer 2.1% HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.61(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.40(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.61H Ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt 3.4% (degree of sulfonation: 1.2 moles/Kg) Smectite clay .sup.1% Xanthan gum 0.11% Dispersant 1.4% Liquid carrier .sup.6% Solid carrier .sup.1% Preservative 0.2% Antifoam 0.1% Water up to 100%

[0268] Non-limiting examples of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide suitable for use in the pesticidal composition of Comparative Example 1 include, for instance, surfactants which are commercially available under the trademark name PLURONIC? F87.

Comparative Example 2

[0269] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but replacing the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) with HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.8(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.50(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.8H, wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is outside the range from 4:1 to 7:1 (comparative composition 2):

TABLE-US-00005 % [by Comparative composition 2 weight] Thiamethoxam 47.6% Polyoxypropylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer 2.1% HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.8(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.50(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.8H Ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt 3.4% (degree of sulfonation: 1.2 moles/Kg) Smectite clay .sup.1% Xanthan gum 0.11% Dispersant 1.4% Liquid carrier .sup.6% Solid carrier .sup.1% Preservative 0.2% Antifoam 0.1% Water up to 100%

[0270] Non-limiting examples of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide suitable for use in the pesticidal composition of Comparative Example 2 include, for instance, surfactants which are commercially available under the trademark name PLURONIC? L92.

Comparative Example 3

[0271] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but replacing the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) with HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.19(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.39(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.19H, wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is outside the range from 4:1 to 7:1 (comparative composition 3):

TABLE-US-00006 % [by Comparative composition 3 weight] Thiamethoxam 47.6% Polyoxypropylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer 2.1% HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.19(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.39(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.19H Ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt 3.4% (degree of sulfonation: 1.2 moles/Kg) Smectite clay .sup.1% Xanthan gum 0.11% Dispersant 1.4% Liquid carrier .sup.6% Solid carrier .sup.1% Preservative 0.2% Antifoam 0.1% Water up to 100%

[0272] Non-limiting examples of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide suitable for use in the pesticidal composition of Comparative Example 3 include, for instance, surfactants which are commercially available under the trademark name PLURONIC? P84.

Comparative Example 4

[0273] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but without an ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt (comparative composition 4).

[0274] Tests have been carried out by pouring samples of the compositions of any one of Example 1, Example 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 into a cup and checking for any sediments remaining in the bottom of the cup through visual assessment. The results are as set forth in Table 1 below.

Comparative Example 5

[0275] An aqueous flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing the compound of formula (I) as active ingredient was prepared according to the procedure as set forth in Example 1 but replacing the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II) with HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.127(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.48(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.127H, wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is in the range from 4:1 to 7:1, but x and x are integers outside the range from 70 to 120, and y is an integer outside the range from 20 to 45 (comparative composition 5):

TABLE-US-00007 % [by Comparative composition 5 weight] Thiamethoxam 47.6% Polyoxypropylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer 2.1% HO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.127(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.48(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.127H Ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt 3.4% (degree of sulfonation: 1.2 moles/Kg) Smectite clay .sup.1% Xanthan gum 0.11% Dispersant 1.4% Liquid carrier .sup.6% Solid carrier .sup.1% Preservative 0.2% Antifoam 0.1% Water up to 100%

[0276] Non-limiting examples of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide suitable for use in the pesticidal composition of Comparative Example 5 include, for instance, surfactants which are commercially available under the trademark name PLURONIC? F108.

[0277] As shown in Table 1, the sedimentation index is an integer comprised between 1 and 5 that takes into account the long term physical stability upon storage of the formulation. When the formulation is fully homogeneous on storage, the index is 5. When the index is 3 or higher, the formulation advantageously shows a satisfactory stability performance as it can be easily rehomogenised by pouring the sample back and forth no more than 5-10 times. When the index is 1 or 2, the formulation disadvantageously shows a high sedimentation rate and settles to the bottom of the cup.

[0278] The pesticidal compositions of the invention including, for instance, the composition 1 of Example 1 and the composition 2 of Example 2 show an improved sedimentation profile in comparison to the comparative compositions 1, 2 and 3 comprising a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide of formula (II), wherein the polyoxyethylene:polyoxypropylene chain length ratio is outside the range from 4:1 to 7:1 (see Comparative Examples 1-3).

[0279] The pesticidal compositions of the invention including, for instance, the composition 1 of Example 1 further show an easier rehomogenisation of the sediments in the presence of an additional clay together with an additional heteropolysaccharide in comparison to the composition 2 of Example 2 which is free from the clay.

[0280] The pesticidal compositions of the invention including, for instance, the composition 1 of Example 1 and the composition 2 of Example 2 also show good crystal inhibition properties in comparison to the comparative composition 4 of Comparative Example 4, which is free from an ethoxylated lignosulfonate sodium salt. While the comparative composition 4 shows a satisfactory stability performance, crystal growth takes place in storage in comparison to the composition 1 and the composition 2 thereby undesirably generating cloudiness.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 1 Stability performance 2 weeks 2 weeks 4 weeks 8 weeks (54? C.) (50? C.) (50? C.) (50? C.) Example 1 3 4 4 3 Example 2 3 4 3 3 C. Example 1 1 1 1 1 C. Example 2 1 1 1 1 C. Example 3 1 2 2 2 C. Example 4 3 3 3 3 C. Example 5 1 2