GB1042203A - Substituted phenyl carbamates and their use as plant growth regulants - Google Patents

Abstract

The growth characteristics of plant life are altered by treating the plant life with a compound of the formula <FORM:1042203/C1/1> wherein R is 3 to 5 carbon atom alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, or hydroxyalkoxy, n has a value of 1 to 4, X is nitro, and R1 and R2 are H, C1-6 aliphatic or alicyclic, or aryl, or together with the N atom represent the atoms necessary to complete a 6-membered heterocycle, or a composition comprising a compound as defined above and a surface active adjuvant which is a dispersing, emulsifying or wetting agent. The compositions may be formulated as dusts with a finely divided solid carrier, as a suspension or dispersion in water, as an oil-in-water type emulsion or as a solution in an organic solvent. The compounds and compositions are especially useful for promoting germination of seeds by application to the soil in which seeds have been or are to be deposited, cotton defoliation by spraying or dusting mature plants prior to harvesting.ALSO:The invention comprises nitro-substituted phenyl carbamates of the formula <FORM:1042203/C2/1> wherein R is isomeric 3 to 5 carbon atom alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, or hydroxy-alkoxy, n has a value of 1 to 4, X is nitro and R1 and R2 are H, alipharic or alicyclic of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl, or together with the N atom represent the atoms necessary to complete a 6-membered heterocycle. The novel compounds may be made by reacting an isocyanate R2NCO with an equimolar amount of a phenol <FORM:1042203/C2/2> Alternatively a carbamyl chloride R1R2NCOCl may be reacted with the above phenol with venting of HCl or in the presence of an acid-is reacted with an alkali metal salt of the above binding agent. In a third method, phosgene phenol and the resulting chloroformate is reacted with ammonia or an amine HNR1R2.ALSO:The growth characteristics of plant life are altered by treating the plant life with a compound of the formula: <FORM:1042203/A5-A6/1> wherein R is 3 to 5 carbon atom alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl or hydroxyalkoxyn, has a value of 1 to 4, X is nitro, and R1 and R2 are H, C1-6 aliphatic or alicyclic, or aryl, or together with the N atom represent the atoms necessary to complete a 6-membered heterocycle, or a composition comprising a compound as defined above and a surface active adjuvant which is a dispersing, emulsifying or wetting agent. The compositions may be formulated as dusts with a finely divided solid carrier, as a suspension or dispersion in water, as an oil-in-water type emulsion or as a solution in an organic solvent. The compounds and compositions are especially useful in the selective control, inhibition or erradication of weeds and other undesirable vegetation.