Selective herbicidal compositions

Abstract

Novel selective herbicidal compositions comprising an herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea, N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and a carrier and a method of selectively killing weeds in cereal crops and fields of beets.

Description

STATE OF THE ART

French Pat. No. 2,065,315 describes the use of N-(2-fluorophenyl)-N'-substituted ureas as herbicides and West German published application Ser. No. 1,910,490 describes the use of N-aryl-N'-alkyl-N'-arylthio-ureas as herbicides. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,165,549, 3,288,586 and No. 3,228,762 also disclosed various urea compounds as herbicides and Danish Pat. Nos. 115,159 and 117,872 and German Pat. No. 1,204,879 described N-phenyl-N'-alkyl ureas as herbicides. Published Japanese application No. 35035/1973 also describes phenyl ureas as herbicides.

Our copending, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 615,401 filed Sept. 22, 1975 discloses generically urea derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R.sub.1 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, nitro, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and lower alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, X is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with halogen and a nitrogen heterocyclic optionally containing 1 or more other heteroatoms, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and S-Z wherein Z is a nitrogen heterocyclic optionally containing 1 or more other heteroatoms and the dotted lines indicate that the compounds of formula I may contain no oxygen bound to the sulfur atom or may be in sulfoxide or sulfonyl form which are useful as herbicides.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide novel substituted ureas and their preparation.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel herbicidal compositions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of killing weeds, particularly in cereal crops and fields of beets. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the following detailed description.

THE INVENTION

The novel selective herbicidal compositions of the invention are comprised of an herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea, N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and a carrier. The compositions may also contain one or more other pesticides or one or more other products to influence the growth of plants.

The said compositions may be in the form of powders, granules, suspensions, emulsions or solution containing the active ingredient such as a mixture with a vehicle and/or an anionic, cationic or nonionic surface active agent assuring, with others, a uniform dispersion of the substances of the composition. The vehicle used may be a liquid such as water, alcohol, hydrocarbons or other organic solvents, animal, vegetable or mineral oils or a powder such as talc, clays, silicates or kieselguhr. The compositions generally contain 5 to 90%, preferably 10 to 50% by weight of the active ingredient.

The remarkable herbicidal properties of the compounds of formula I make them useful in agriculture for combatting harmful organisms and particularly undesired weeds. The herbicidal properties have been demonstrated by tests on plants or large botanical families are reported herein.

The novel method of the invention of combatting weeds comprises contacting the weeds either pre-emergence or post-emergence with a herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I.

The ureas may be prepared by the process described in our copending application Ser. No. 615,401 by reacting the desired N-methyl-N'-phenyl-urea in the presence of a tertiary amine with a chloride of the formula

Cl--S--X wherein X is n-butyl, isopropyl or 2-chloroethyl to obtain the corresponding desired urea. The preferred tertiary base is pyridine or triethylamine.

In the following examples there are described several preferred embodiments to illustrate the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments.

EXAMPLE 1

N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea

27 g of chlorosulfuric acid were slowly added at -30.degree. C to a mixture of 30 g of diisopropyl disulfide and 200 ml of methylene chloride and after the temperature returned to 10.degree. C, the mixture was stirred at 10.degree. C for 15 minutes to obtain a solution of isopropyl sulfenyl chloride to which was slowly added at -30.degree. C a solution of 30 g of N-methyl-N'-phenyl-urea in 280 ml of pyridine. The temperature was allowed to raise to 0.degree. C and the mixture was then stirred for 2 hours at 0.degree. C and was poured into a mixture of water, ice, hydrochloric acid and methylene chloride. The organic phase was decanted, dried and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and the residue was chromatographed over silica gel. Elution was effected with a 9-1 benzene-ethyl acetate mixture and the product was dissolved in isopropyl ether. The solution was iced to -80.degree. C to obtain 23 g of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl urea melting at ' 50.degree. C.

Analysis: C.sub.11 H.sub.16 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 58.91, %H 7.19; %N 12.49; %S 14.30; Found: %C 59.2; %H 7.3; %N b 12.6; %S 14.3.

EXAMPLE 2

N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N-methyl-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea

27 g of chlorosulfuric acid were slowly added at 0.degree. C to a mixture of 12 g of ethylene sulfide and 200 ml of methylene chloride and the mixture was stirred at 0.degree. C for 10 minutes and was then cooled to -20.degree. C. A mixture of 32.6 g of N-methyl-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea in 210 ml of pyridine was added to the reaction mixture after which the temperature returned to 0.degree. C. The mixture was stirred at 0.degree. C for 10 minutes and was then poured into a mixture of ice, water, hydrochloric acid and methylene chloride. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and the decanted organic phase was washed, dried, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed over silica gel and the product was eluted witn 9-1 benzene-ethyl acetate mixture and was crystallized from isopropyl ether to obtain 10 g of N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N-methyl-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea melting at 62.degree. C.

Analysis: C.sub.10 H.sub.11 Cl.sub.3 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 38.29; %H 3.54; %N 8.93; %Cl 33.92; %S 10.22; Found: %C 38.3; %H 3.6; %N 8.7; %Cl 33.8; %S 10.0

EXAMPLE 3

N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea

16 ml of chlorosulfuric acid were added at -25.degree. C to a mixture of 35.6 of di-n-butyl disulfide in 200 ml of methylene chloride and the mixture was stirred at -5.degree. C and was then cooled to -40.degree. C. A mixture of 38.5 g of N-methyl-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea in 280 ml of pyridine was added dropwise to the mixture which was then stirred and poured into a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid and methylene chloride. The decanted organic phase was dired and concentrated to dryness and the residue was chromatographed over silica gel. Elution with a 95-5 benzene-ethyl acetate mixture yielded 15.5 g of a clear yellow oil which was N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea.

Analysis: C.sub.15 H.sub.24 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 64.25; %H 8.63; %N 9.99; %S 11.43; Found: %C 64.5; %H 8.9; %N 9.7; %S 11.4.

EXAMPLE 4

N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea

16 ml of chlorosulfuric acid were added dropwise at -25.degree. C to a mixture of 30 g of diisopropyl disulfide in 200 ml of methylene chloride and the mixture was stirred at -5.degree. C and then was cooled at -30.degree. C. A mixture of 38.5 g of N-methyl-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea in 280 ml of pyridine was added to the reaction mixture which was then stirred at -15.degree. C for one hour and was then poured into a water, ice, hydrochloric acid and methylene chloride mixture. The decanted organic phase was dried and evaporated to dryness and the residue was chromatographed over silica gel. Elution with a 95-5 benzeneethyl acetate mixture yielded 29 g of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio -N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea in the form of a yellow oil.

Analysis: C.sub.14 H.sub.22 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 63.12; %H 8.32; %N 10.52; %S 12.04; Found: %C 63.4; %H 8.4; %N 10.1; %S 11.8

EXAMPLE 5

N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea

Using the procedure of Example 4, N-methyl-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea was reacted to obtain 28 g of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea.

Analysis: C.sub.13 H.sub.20 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 61.87; %H 7.99; %N 11.1; %S 12.7; Found: %C 62.1; %H 8.0; %N 10.6; %S 12.3.

EXAMPLE 6

N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea

16 ml of chlorosulfuric acid were added at -25.degree. C to a mixture of 35.6 g. of di-n-butyl disulfide in 200 ml of methylene chloride and the mixture was stirred at -5.degree. C and then was cooled to -40.degree. C. A mixture of 35.6 g of N-methyl-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea in 280 ml of pyridine was added to the reaction mixture and the mixture was then stirred into a water, ice, hydrochloric acid and methylene chloride mixture. The decanted organic phase was dired and evaporated to dryness and the residue was chromatographed over silica gel. Elution with a 9-1 benzene-ethyl acetate mixture yielded 20 g of N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea in the form of a yellow oil.

Analysis: C.sub.14 H.sub.22 N.sub.2 OS Calculated: %C 63.12; %H 8.32; %N 10.51; %S 12.04; Found: %C 63.1; %H 8.1; %N 10.0; %S 11.8.

HERBICIDAL COMPOSITIONS

Herbicidal compositions in the form of a wettable powder were prepared containing 25% by weight of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea or N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, 15% by weight of Ekapersol S (condensation product of sodium naphthalene sulfonate), 0.5% by weight of Brecolane NVA (sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate) 34.5% by weight of Zerosil 39 (precipitated synthetic hydrated silica) and 25% by weight of Vercoryl S (colloidal Kaolin).

HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY

The test plants were grown in a culture flat (23 .times. 14 .times. 4 cm) having a double bottom and means for watering from below. The species were placed into a single flat at a ratio of 20 seeds per species, in rows spaced 3 cm apart. There were four sets of flats for each compound and concentration. The growing conditions were: temperature 20.degree. C " 2.degree. C, humidity about 60%, lighting by a fluroescent tube (day light + brilliant white) from 6 hours to 22 hours each day. The soil mixture was composed of 10 volumes of earth, 10 volumes of river sand and 2 volumes of peat.

For the pre-emergence tests, the herbicidal treatment was carried out 24 hours after the seeds had been planted and the first watering was effected by sprinkling to carry a part of the product to the seed level. The post-emergence tests were effected by 21 days after the seeds had been planted, on the aerial parts. The test products were each applied under standard conditions with the aid of a microsprayer at doses of 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312 and 0.156 kg/ha and at a dilution of 560 l/ha. Control tests without treatment were carried out in the same way. The final controls were effected by weight of the plants 21 days after treatment in the pre-emergence test and 15 days after treatment in the post-emergence test. The results where expressed as a percentage of reduction of weight of the vegatation P ##EQU1##

TABLE 1______________________________________N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-ureaConcentra-tions in Kg/ Pre-Emergence Post-Emergenceha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625______________________________________Bent Grass 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 92Oats 71 57 28 42 60 37 28 0Wheat 60 48 29 0 52 42 26 25Corn 41 22 0 0 27 0 0 0Barley 78 36 41 22 50 48 0 0Rye-Grass 100 84 65 67 100 74 60 40Beets 100 100 97 76 100 100 100 79Chenopode 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 29 100 100 69 43Mustard 100 100 100 96 100 100 96 74Rumex 100 100 100 92 100 100 98 88Clover 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100______________________________________ TABLE 2______________________________________N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-ureaConcentrations in Pre-EmergenceKg/ha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 0.312 0.156______________________________________Bent Grass 88 80 69 0Oats 89 72 45 20Wheat 89 49 0 0Corn 0 0 0 0Barley 86 56 0 0Rye-Grass 100 100 91 71Beets 100 100 100 83 43 40Chenopode 100 100 100 100 0 0Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 98 34 20Gaillet -- -- -- -- -- --Mustard 100 100 100 100 95 33Rumex 100 100 100 100 80 37Clover 100 100 100 100 72 55______________________________________ TABLE 3______________________________________ N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea______________________________________Concentrations in Post-EmergenceKg/ha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 0.312 0.156______________________________________Bent Grass 100 100 100 100 83 33Oats 100 100 100 74 0 0Wheat 100 93 85 72 26 27Corn 86 75 36 0 0 0Barley 100 96 97 81 0 0Rye-Grass 100 100 100 100 80 68Beets 100 100 100 100 100 100Chenopode 100 100 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 100 100 100Gaillet 100 100 100 100 100 --Mustard 100 100 100 100 100 100Rumex 100 100 100 100 100 100Clover 100 100 100 100 100 100______________________________________

HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY

The test plants were grown in a culture flat (23 .times. 14 .times. 4 cm) having a double bottom and means for watering from below. The species were placed into a single flat at a ratio of 20 seeds per species, in rows spaced 3 cm apart. There were four sets or flats for each compound and concentration. The growing conditions were: temperatue 20.degree. C .+-. 2.degree. C, humidity about 60%, lighting by a fluorescent tube (day light + birlliant white) from 6 hours to 22 hours each day. The soil mixture was composed of 10 volumes of earth, 10 volumes of river sand and 2 volumes of peat.

For the pre-emergence tests, the herbicidal treatment was carried out 24 hours after the seeds has been planted and the first watering was effected by sprinkling to carry a part of the product to the seed level. The post-emergence tests were effected by 21 days after the seeds had been planted, on the aerial part. The test products were each applied under standard conditions with the aid of a microsprayer at doses of 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312 and 0.156 kg/ha and at a dilution of 560 l/ha. Control tests without treatment were carried out in the same way. The final controls were effected by counting the plants 21 days after treatment in the pre-emergence test and 15 days after treatment in the post-emergence test. The results were expressed as a percentage of mortality M. ##EQU2##

TABLE 4______________________________________N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-ureaConcentra-tions in Kg/ Pre-Emergence Post-Emergenceha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625______________________________________Bent Grass 92 77 49 0 100 100 81 47Oats 65 0 0 0 81 0 0 0Wheat 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Corn 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0Barley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Rye-Grass 100 44 0 0 59 76 55 0Beets 100 100 85 40 100 100 100 43Chenopode 100 100 100 63 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 77 100 100 100 67Gaillet 52 33 0 0 100 78 37 0Mustard 100 100 100 58 100 86 68 0Rumex 100 100 88 20 100 100 100 80Clover 100 100 100 79 100 100 82 44______________________________________ TABLE 5______________________________________N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-ureaConcentrations Pre-Emergencein Kg/ha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625______________________________________Bent Grass 81 0 0 0Oats 100 85 0 0Wheat 0 0 0 0Corn 0 0 0 0Barley 13 0 0 0Rye-Grass 100 89 47 36Beets 100 100 100 85Chenopode 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 100Gaillet 58 36 0 0Mustard 100 100 100 100Rumex 100 100 100 100Clover 100 100 100 100______________________________________ TABLE 6______________________________________N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-ureaConcentra-tions in Kg/ Pre-Emergence Post-Emergenceha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625______________________________________Bent Grass 0 0 0 0 100 100 92 53Oats 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0Wheat 0 0 0 0 38 0 0 0Corn 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0Barley 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0Rye-Grass 0 0 0 0 100 65 84 25Beets 100 100 0 0 100 100 100 83Chenopode 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 56 100 100 94 88Gaillet 17 0 0 0 100 42 0 0Mustard 100 100 43 0 100 100 61 47Rumex 100 100 0 0 100 100 95 0Clover 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 58______________________________________ TABLE 7______________________________________N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-ureaConcentra-tions in Kg/ Pre-Emergence Post-Emergenceha products 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625 5.0 2.5 1.25 0.625______________________________________Bent Grass 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 100Oats 77 57 23 0 100 100 68 0Wheat 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0Corn 0 0 0 0 47 0 0 0Barley 0 0 0 0 34 0 0 0Rye-Grass 100 36 0 0 100 100 100 100Beets 100 100 32 0 100 100 100 91Chenopode 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Chrysanthemum 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Gaillet 0 0 0 0 100 100 78 0Mustard 100 100 100 65 100 100 100 82Rumex 100 100 100 85 100 100 100 100Clover 100 100 100 91 100 100 100 89______________________________________

The results of Tables 1 to 7 show that the tested compounds have a good pre-and post-emergence herbicidal activity, particularly against dicotyledons. Moreover, this is not a general herbicidal activity but rather a selective activity with some of them presenting selective activity with respect to dicotyledons at certain doses, for example with respect to beets. The products at certain doses are only slightly active against graminaceous plants, particularly cultivated graminaceous plants permitting their selective use in cereal crops.

Various modifications of the compositions and method of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and it should be understood that the invention is to be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of selectively killing weeds in cereal crops comprising applying to cereal crops an herbicidally effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea, N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and an inert carrier.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl -urea.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea.

5. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea.

7. A method of claim 1 wherein the compound is N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea.

8. N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea.