NITRIFICATION INHIBITORS

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel nitrification inhibitors of formula I. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of these novel nitrification inhibitors for reducing nitrification, as well as agrochemical mixtures and compositions comprising the nitrification inhibitors. Further encompassed by the present invention are methods for reducing nitrification comprising the treatment of plants, soil and/or loci with said nitrification inhibitors, and methods for treating a fertilizer or a composition by applying said nitrification inhibitor.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17: A compound of formula I ##STR00246## or a stereoisomer, salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof, wherein A is aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring may in each case be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.A; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently of each other selected from H and C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl; and R.sup.3 is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-hydroxyalkyl, ethynylhydroxymethyl, phenylhydroxymethyl, or aryl, wherein the aromatic ring may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.B; and wherein R.sup.A is (i) halogen, CN, NR.sup.aR.sup.b, OR.sup.c, SR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)OR, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, Y.sup.3Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, NR.sup.gNC(R.sup.d)(R.sup.e), C(NOR.sup.c)R.sup.g, C(NOR.sup.c)R.sup.g, C(NSR.sup.c)R.sup.g, C(NNR.sup.aR.sup.b)R.sup.g, S(O).sub.2R.sup.f, NR.sup.gS(O).sub.2R.sup.f, S(O).sub.2Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, S(O).sub.2Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.c, S(O).sub.2Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, S(O).sub.2Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, NO.sub.2, NONCN, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-cyanoalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy; (ii) C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.c, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aNR.sup.b, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aNR.sup.b, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-NR.sup.aR.sup.b, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-NR.sup.aR.sup.b, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-OR.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-OR.sup.c, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-SR.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-SR.sup.c, wherein the C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene or C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene chain may in each case be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by OR.sup.g, CN, halogen or phenyl; (iii) aryl, aryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, hetaryl or hetaryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; (iv) a 3- to 14-membered saturated or unsaturated carbocycle or heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the carbocycle or heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g; or (v) L-B, wherein L is CH.sub.2, CHCH, CC, C(O) or CH, and B is aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the ary or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; or a 3- to 14-membered saturated or unsaturated carbocycle or heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the carbocycle or heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g; or (vi) two substituents R.sup.A together represent a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, which is fused to A and may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1c, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the carbocycle or heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1c is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-heterocyclyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-heterocyclylmethyl or OR.sup.g; and wherein R.sup.B is NHC(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl), NHC(O)(C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl), NHC(O)(C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkoxy-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl), NHC(O)(C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl), NHS(O).sub.2(C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl), or NO.sub.2; and wherein Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 are independently of each other selected from O, S and NR.sup.1a, wherein R.sup.1a is in each case independently H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, OR.sup.g, SR.sup.g or NR.sup.mR.sup.n; R.sup.a and R.sup.b are independently of each other selected from (i) H, NR.sup.jR.sup.k, OR.sup.l, SR.sup.l, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.jR.sup.k, C(Y.sup.1)C(Y.sup.2)R, S(O).sub.2R.sup.f; (ii) aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; or R.sup.a and R.sup.b together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound form (iii) a hetaryl group which may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; or (iv) a 3- to 10-membered, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g; R.sup.c is (i) H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C(O)OR.sup.l, C(O)SR.sup.l, C(O)NR.sup.jR.sup.k; (ii) C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(O)R.sup.l, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene-C(O)OR.sup.l, wherein the C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene chain may in each case be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by OR.sup.g, CN, halogen, or phenyl; (iii) aryl, aryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, hetaryl, or hetaryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; or (iv) a 3- to 10-membered saturated or unsaturated carbocycle or heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the carbocycle or heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g; R.sup.d and R.sup.e are independently selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, NR.sup.jR.sup.k, OR.sup.l, SR.sup.l, CN, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.l, or C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.jR.sup.k; R.sup.f is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, NR.sup.jR.sup.k, OR.sup.l, SR.sup.l, aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; R.sup.g is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; R.sup.h is halogen, CN, NO.sub.2, NR.sup.jR.sup.k, OR.sup.l, SR.sup.l, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)OR, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.jR.sup.k, aryl, aryloxy, hetaryl and hetaryloxy; R.sup.i is (i) halogen, CN, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-haloalkenyl; (ii) NR.sup.1d, wherein R.sup.1d is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g; (iii) O, S, NR.sup.jR.sup.k, OR.sup.l, SR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.l, C(Y.sup.1)SR, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.jR.sup.k; (iv) aryl, aryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, hetaryl, or hetaryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from halogen, CN, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy, OR.sup.g, and SR.sup.g; or (v) C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, or 3- to 6-membered heterocyclyl, wherein the cycloalkyl ring or the heterocyclyl ring may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from halogen, CN, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, OR.sup.g, and SR.sup.g; R.sup.j and R.sup.k are independently selected from H, OR.sup.g, SR.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.mR.sup.n, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently selected from halogen, CN, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy, OR.sup.g, and SR.sup.g; R.sup.l is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.g, C(Y.sup.1)SR, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.mR.sup.n, aryl or hetaryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl or hetaryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently selected from halogen, CN, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy, OR.sup.g, and SR.sup.g; and R.sup.m and R.sup.n are independently selected from H and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl.

18: The compound of claim 17, wherein in said compound of formula I, A is phenyl or a 6-membered hetaryl, preferably phenyl, wherein the aromatic ring may in each case be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.A.

19: The compound of claim 17, wherein in said compound of formula I, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 both represent hydrogen.

20: The compound of claim 17, wherein in said compound of formula I, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl or ethinylhydroxymethyl, and preferably R.sup.3 is hydrogen.

21: The compound of claim 17, wherein in said compound of formula I, R.sup.A, if present, is (i) halogen, CN, NR.sup.aR.sup.b, OR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)OR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)SR.sup.c, C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R, Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, NR.sup.gNC(R.sup.d)(R.sup.e), S(O).sub.2R.sup.f, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6- C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy; (ii) C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene-Y.sup.2C(Y.sup.1)R.sup.c, wherein the C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylene or C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenylene chain may in each case be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by CN or halogen; (iii) aryl, wherein the aromatic ring of the aryl group may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents, which are independently of each other selected from R.sup.h; or (iv) a 3- to 14-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from R.sup.i; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl, or OR.sup.g, wherein preferably Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 are independently of each other selected from O, S and NR.sup.1a, wherein R.sup.1a is in each case independently H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, OH, or NH.sub.2. R.sup.a and R.sup.b are independently of each other selected from (i) H, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-hydroxyalkyl, C(O)H, C(S)H, C(NH)H, C(N(C.sub.1-C.sub.4)alkyl))H, C(NOH)H, C(NNH.sub.2)H, or R.sup.a and R.sup.b together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound form (iv) a 3- to 10-membered, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-haloalkenyl, and O; and wherein R.sup.1b is H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, or OH; R.sup.c is (i) H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; or (iv) a 3- to 10-membered saturated or unsaturated carbocycle or heterocycle, which may contain 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms which, independently of each other, are selected from NR.sup.1b, O, and S, wherein S may be oxidized and/or wherein the carbocycle or heterocycle may be unsubstituted or may be partially or fully substituted by substituents which, independently of each other, are selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-haloalkenyl, and O; and wherein R.sup.1b is preferably H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, or OH; R.sup.d and R.sup.e are independently selected from NH.sub.2 and C(O)OH; R.sup.f is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; R.sup.g is H; R.sup.h is halogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy; and R.sup.i is (i) C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-haloalkenyl; or (iii) O.

22: The compound of claim 17, wherein in said compound of formula I, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 both represent hydrogen, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, and A is phenyl, wherein the aromatic ring is substituted by 1, 2, or 3 substituent(s) R.sup.A, wherein the substituent(s) R.sup.A are independently of each other selected from halogen, CN, NH.sub.2, C(O)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, NHC(O)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, NHC(S)NR.sup.aR.sup.b, NHC(O)H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyl-C.sub.1-C.sub.2-hydroxyalkyl, and C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkynyloxy, wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b are in each case independently of each other selected from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.2-alkyl, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-C.sub.2-hydroxyalkyl, or wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b may together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a morpholine ring.

23: A composition for reducing nitrification comprising at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined in claim 17 and at least one carrier.

24: An agrochemical mixture comprising (i) at least one fertilizer; and (ii) at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined in claim 17.

25: A method for reducing nitrification, comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with at least a compound of claim 17.

26: The method of claim 25, wherein the plant and/or the locus or soil or soil substituents where the plant is growing or is intended to grow is additionally provided with a fertilizer.

27: The method of claim 26, wherein the application of said compound and of said fertilizer is carried out simultaneously or with a time lag, preferably an interval of 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks.

28: The agrochemical mixture of claim 24, wherein said fertilizer is an ammonium-containing inorganic fertilizer such as an NPK fertilizer, anhydrous ammonium, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate or ammonium phosphate; an organic fertilizer such as liquid manure, semi-liquid manure, biogas manure, stable manure and straw manure, worm castings, compost, seaweed or guano, or an urea-containing fertilizer such as, urea, formaldehyde urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, urea sulphur, stabilized urea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate.

29: The method of claim 25, wherein said plant is an agricultural plant such as wheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape, canola, sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice, or a vegetable such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, or cabbages; or sorghum; a silvicultural plant; an ornamental plant; or a horticultural plant, each in its natural or in a genetically modified form.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0623] Soil was sampled fresh from a field (e.g. Limburgerhof), dried and sieved through a 500 m sieve. Approximately 200 mg of soil were placed into each well of a 48 well plate. Compounds, or DMSO alone, were added at a concentration of 10 ppm, dissolved in 1% DMSO. 6 mol ammonium sulfate was added per well as well as 4.8 mg NaClO.sub.3.

[0624] Subsequently, the samples were incubated at room temperature for up to 72 hrs. After the incubation period 64 mg KCl were added and mixed. 25 l of the supernatant were placed into a fresh plate and 260 l of a color reaction solution (from Merck Nr 1.11799.0100) were added.

[0625] Measurements were taken with a Tecan plate Reader at 540 nm wavelength.

[0626] The results of the measurements (with a dose of 10 ppm) were that all compounds #1 to #215 as shown in Table 1, supra demonstrated an inhibition of 10% compared to a control (DMSO only).

[0627] The inhibition in % is calculated by the equation [(ab)/a]100, wherein a is the nitrification rate in the presence of the control (which is assumed to be 100%), and b is the nitrification rate in the presence of the tested compound.

[0628] The phenylpropargylether compounds 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77, 79, 81, 113, and 118 of Table 1 above supra demonstrated an inhibition of 45%. The results are provided in the following table 1a. In each case, the best rating obtained for a compound is provided.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1a Compound Rating [00236] 66 [00237] 61 [00238] 59 [00239] 58 [00240] 57 [00241] 62 [00242] 56 [00243] 55 [00244] 53 [00245] 48