The present invention relates to ethers of 4-halomethyl- pyridines, fungicidal compositions containing them, and a method for protecting plants from fungal disease organisms.

U.S. Patent No. 3,244,722 describes among other related compounds those corresponding to the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a lower alkenyl group.

Exemplary compounds listed in this patent include 2-chloro-4-methoxy-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine, 2-chloro-6-methoxy-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine, 5-chloro-2-methoxy-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine, and 3-chloro-2-methoxy-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine. As disclosed in this patent specification, various of these compounds are useful as herbicides; various other compounds are useful in the control of pest fish and aquatic insects; and other compounds are taught to be useful as insecticides and anthelmintic agents for warm-blooded animals.

U.S. Patent No. 4,062,962 discloses the use of a select group of the compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,244,722 as fungicides for the control of soil-borne plant disease organisms which attack the roots of plants.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a 4-halomethylpyridine ether derivative having the general formula:

wherein Y represents a trichloromethyl, dichloromethyl, or dichlorofluoromethyl group; X represents a chlorine, bromine or fluorine atom, an alkoxy group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or the group OR; wherein each R independently represents an

2-furanylmethyl, 5-(C₁-C₄ alkyl)-2-furanylmethyl, tetra- hydro-3-furyl, tetrahydro-2-furylmethyl, tetrahydro-2- pyranylmethyl, 2-thiophenemethyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzodioxin-2--ylmethyl, or 2,2-dimethyl-l,3-dioxolan-4-ylmethyl group; each R' independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and each n independently represents an integer of from 1 to 12.

In the present specification and claims, the term "alkyl" designates a straight or branched chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl. The term "alkoxy" as employed in the present specification and claims designates straight or branched chain alkoxy groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, secondary-butoxy and tertiary butoxy.

In the present specification and claims, the formula

is employed to designate both oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups and when n is more than 1, the formula designates the residue of a homopolymer of each alkylene oxide.

In the present specification and claims, the formula

is employed to designate the residue of copolymers containing at least one oxyethylene and at least oxypropylene group and when each n is more than 1, the formula designates the residue of copolymers of ethylene and propylene oxide. It is preferred that the oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups are arranged in random fashion along the oxyalkylene chain.

The pyridine compounds of the present invention are crystalline solids or oils and are of low solubility in water and of moderate solubility in common organic solvents.

The pyridine compounds of the present invention are compositions containing said compounds have been found useful, as agronomic fungicides, especially useful and valuable for the control of soil-borne plant root disease organisms.

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared by a variety of methods. In the preparation of compounds wherein X is chloro, bromo, fluoro, or OR, the compounds can be prepared by the reaction of an appropriate halomethyl substituted halopyridine reactant with an alkali metal salt of an appropriate glycol ether, polyglycol or hydroxy containing oxygen or sulfur heterocyclic in the presence of a reaction medium (the alkali metal salt can be preformed or formed in situ). This reaction can be represented as follows:

In the above reaction representation, no attempt has been made to present a balanced equation. In addition, X' represents chloro, bromo, or fluoro; Y, X, and R are as hereinbefore defined; and M represents alkali metal, i.e. sodium, potassium, lithium, or cesium.

In carrying out the above reaction, the appropriate halomethyl substituted halopyridine reactant is mixed with the alkali metal salt of an appropriate hydroxy containing compound and the reaction medium and the mixture refluxed until the reaction is complete. The reaction is usually complete in from about 0.5 to about 18 hours, depending upon the specific reactants and solvents employed.

After the completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is usually diluted with water and extracted with a solvent such as methylene chloride, petroleum ether, hexane, or toluene. The extract is thereafter usually washed with water, dried, and filtered, if desired, and the solvent and any residual alcoholic by-products present are removed by evaporation or other conventional separatory procedures. The product is thereafter recovered and, if desired, can be purified by various conventional techniques such as crystallization and/or recrystallization from solvents such as, for example, methanol, hexane, or toluene or by distillation, depending upon whether the product is a solid or oil.

In carrying out the above preparations, the amounts of the reactants employed are not critical as some of the desired product is formed with any amounts. However, since tne reaction consumes the reactants in equimolar proportions (1 molar equivalent of the alkali metal salt reactant per halogen atom to be reacted), these amounts for the most part should be employed. However, it has been found, when preparing compounds wherein both halogens are reacted or wherein the last halogen is being reacted, that an increase in the yield of the desired product can be obtained by employing an excess of the alkali metal salt reactant. Therefore, it is preferred to employ from about 1.5 to about 6 molar equivalents of the alkali metal salt reactant per halogen atom to be reacted.

Representative reaction medias useful for carrying out the above preparations include, for example, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, toluene, or the alkanols of the same carbon content as the alkali metal alkoxides employed for the reaction (this includes the glycols and heterocyclic alcohols).

In the preparation of compounds wherein X is alkoxy, the compound can be prepared by the reaction of an appropriate halomethyl-2-ether substituted 6-halopyridine reactant with an alkali metal alkoxide in the presence of a reaction medium. This reaction can be represented as follows:

In the above reaction representation, no attempt has been made to present a balanced equation. In addition, X', Y, M and R are as hereinbefore defined. Additionally, Z represents alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. In the above procedure, the reaction proceeds as outlined hereinabove and the product is separated in the same manner.

Since many 4-halomethyl-2-halo-6-alkoxy pyridines are known as taught in U.S. Patent 3,244,722, it is within the scope of the present invention to employ such compounds as starting materials in the preparation of compounds of the present invention wherein X is alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. In such procedures, this reactant is mixed with the desired MOR reactant as hereinabove set forth, and the reaction proceeds as outlined hereinbefore.

In some instances, it may be desirable to convert the halomethyl group of an existing product to a different halomethyl group. For example, a compound of the present invention containing a trichloromethyl group can be dehalogenated, with a dehalogenation agent such as, for example, stannous chloride or zinc metal in the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid and a solvent, to the dichloromethyl analog under conventional conditions; or with antimony trifluoride in the presence of chlorine gas, to the dichlorofluoromethyl analog.

In such procedure, a solution of the trichloromethyl substituted pyridine compound in a solvent such as acetone, acetic acid, or toluene is contacted and refluxed with a solution containing an excess of the dehalogenation agent dissolved in the solvent. The reaction is usually straightforward and is completed in from about 1 to about 4 hours.

Preparation of Starting Materials

2,6-Dichloro-4-(dichloromethyl)pyridine

To a solution of 73 grams (0.275 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine dissolved in 125 milliliters of acetone was added a solution of 108 grams (0.48 mole) of stannous chloride hydrate and 40 milliliters of concentrated hydrochloric acid in 500 milliliters of acetone. The mixture was refluxed for 2.0 hours. The solid which formed was separated by filtration and three-fourths of the solvent was thereafter removed by evaporation. The remainder of the reaction mixture was diluted with water, and the oil phase which formed was removed by extraction with hexane. The 2,6--dichloro-4-(dichloromethyl)pyridine product was dried and recovered from the solvent by evaporation of the solvent. The product had a boiling point of 123-126°C at 1.6 millimeters of mercury.

2,6-Dichloro-4-(dichlorofluoromethyl)pyridine

A mixture containing 138.5 grams (0.522 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine and 34 grams (0.187 mole) of antimony trifluoride was heated to 80°--84°C and maintained under agitation for 23 minutes. During this step, a slow stream of chlorine gas was passed over the surface of the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture was steam distilled, and the crude 2,6--dichloro-4-(dichlorofluoromethyl)pyridine was purified by fractionation. The product had a boiling point of 74-76°C at 1.0 millimeter of mercury.

The 2,6-dibromo or difluoro counterparts of the above dichloro compounds can be prepared by conventional halogen exchange. They can also be prepared by employing the 2,6-dibromo(or difluoro)-4-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine as the starting material in the above procedure.

The compounds employed as starting materials in the present invention which correspond to the formula:

wherein R is as hereinbefore defined, are known in the art and can be purchased commercially or they can be prepared as taught in U.S. Patent 3,244,722. The compounds can be prepared by reacting 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl) pyridine with an alkali metal salt of the appropriate hydroxy compound in a solvent at a temperature of from about 60° to about 120°C for about 0.5 to 10 hours.

The compounds employed as starting materials of the present invention which correspond to the formula:

can be prepared as taught in U.S. Patent 3,244,722. This patent teaches that the compounds can be prepared by contacting 4-methylpyridine and hydrogen chloride at temperatures of about 50°C to produce a liquid methylpyridine hydrochloride composition, thereafter passing chlorine gas through the liquid mixture at temperatures of from about 95° to about 110⁰C while irradiating the reaction mixture and thereafter fractionally distilling the liquid mixture. The compounds may also be prepared by rapidly mixing in the vapor phase chlorine, 4-methylpyridine, and an inert diluent such as a perchlorinated hydrocarbon solvent during a brief contact time at temperatures of from about 400°C to about 490°C and thereafter cooling to precipitate the desired starting material or fractionally distilling to recover the desired starting material.

The compounds employed as starting materials which correspond to the formula:

wherein each X" is chloro, bromo, or fluoro can be prepared employing the procedures taught by McBee et al., 2nd Eng. Chem. 39, pages 389-391 (1947) (see Chem. Abstracts, Vol. 41, page 3461d). In this procedure, an appropriate 2,6-dihalo-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine is treated with HF in an autoclave at temperatures up to 300°C.

The compounds of the present invention and formulations containing them have been found to be useful as agronomic fungicides, especially valuable for the control of soil-borne plant root disease organisms which attack the roots of plants. In accordance with the present invention, a method for protecting plants, which are in soil containing soil-borne plant root disease organisms, from attack by said organisms is provided, which comprises contacting plants or plant parts with at least one of the compounds set forth hereinabove or with a composition containing at least one of the compounds.

One of the advantages of the present method is that by the mode of action of the active compounds, plant root diseases can be eliminated from infected plants and non-infected plants can be protected from attack.

The present method also offers a practical advantage in that there is no need to employ the additional time and labor required by conventional pre-plant sterilization with soil fumigants.

A further practical advantage of the present method is that the active compounds are used in much smaller amounts than conventional soil fumigants.

The term "plant part" is employed to designate all parts of a plant and includes seeds, the underground portion (bulbs, stolons, tubers, rhizomes, ratoons, corms, the root system), and the above-ground portion (the crown, stalk, stem, foliage, fruit, or flower).

The term "systemic" defines the translocation of the active compound employed in the present method through the plant whereby they selectively accumulate principally in the underground portions of the plant.

Compositions containing one or more of the active compounds of the present invention have been found to be very effective in the control of plant root disease in plants either before or after the plant has been attacked by soil-borne plant root disease organisms.

Representative soil-borne plant root disease organisms which attack the root system and which are controlled by the present method include Verticillium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium, Thielaviopsis, Aphanomyces and gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas.

Generally in the actual practice of the method of the present invention, the active compounds can be applied to the plant or plant part by a variety of convenient procedures. Such procedures include soil incorporation, above-ground applications, drenching onto the soil surface and seed treatment.

The exact dosage of the active compound employed can be varied depending upon the specific plant, its stage of development, hardiness, the mode of application, and the growth media. Generally, the active ingredient should be present in an amount equivalent to from about 50 micrograms to about 140 grams per plant. Translating this into conventional application rates, this amount is equivalent to from about 0.0005 to about 10 pounds of the active ingredient per acre (0.00056--11.2 kg./hectare).

Seed treatment of small seeded plant species, such as grasses or carrots, will require much smaller amounts than 50 micrograms per plant. Generally, rates in the range of 1/32 to about 8 ounces per 100 pounds of seeds (0.002-0.5 percent by weight of active compound based on weight of seeds) will be optimum for seed treatment. For practices such as conventional tobacco transplant treatment or in-furrow soil treatment of plants such as soybeans at seeding or the like, an amount of - active compound approximately equal to 8 to about 32 milligrams would be utilized on a per plant basis.

Larger amounts of the active ingredient may advantageously be applied when treatments are employed which distribute the material throughout the soil. For example, when the active ingredient is applied as an at--plant row treatment or as an early or mid-season post--plant side dress treatment, those amounts of chemical not proximal to plant roots are essentially unavailable to the plant and therefore not effective as set forth hereinabove. In such practices, the amount of the active ingredient employed needs to be increased to rates as high as about 20 pounds per acre (22.4 kg./hectare) to assure that the requisite effective quantity of active ingredient is made available to the plants.

The present invention can be carried out by employing the pyridine compounds directly, either singly or in combination. However, the present invention also embraces the employment of liquids, dusts, wettable powders, granules or encapsulated compositions containing at least one of said compounds as active ingredient. In such usage, the compound or compounds can be modified with one or more of a plurality of additaments or adjuvants including inert solvents, inert liquid carriers and/or surface active dispersing agents and coarsely or finely-divided inert solids. The augmented compositions are also adapted to be employed as concentrates and subsequently diluted with additional inert carrier to produce other compositions in the form of dusts, sprays, granules, washes, or drenches. In compositions where the adjuvant is a coarsely or finely-divided solid, a surface active agent or the combination of a surface active agent and a liquid additament, the adjuvant cooperates with the active component so as to facilitate the invention. Whether the composition is employed in liquid, wettable powder, gel, wax, jelly, dust, granule, or encapsulated form, the active compound will normally be present in an amount of from 2 to 98 percent by weight of the total composition.

In the preparation of dust, or wettable powder compositions, the active compounds can be compounded with any of the finely-divided solids, such as pyrophyllite, talc, chalk, gypsum, fuller's earth, bentonite, attapulgite, modified clays, starch, casein, or gluten. In such operations, the finely-divided carrier is ground or mixed with the compound or wet with a solution of the toxicant in a volatile organic solvent. Also, such compositions when employed as concentrates can be dispersed in water, with or without the aid of dispersing agents to form spray mixtures.

Granular formulations are usually prepared by impregnating a solution of the compound in a volatile organic solvent onto a bed of coarsely divided attapulgite, bentonite, diatomite, organic carriers such as ground corn cobs, or walnut hulls.

Similarly, the active compounds can be compounded with a suitable water-immiscible inert organic liquid and a surface active dispersing agent to produce an emulsifiable concentrate which can be further diluted with water and oil to form spray mixtures in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. In such compositions, the carrier comprises an aqueous emulsion, i.e., a mixture of inert water-immiscible solvent, emulsifying agent, and water. Preferred dispersing agents which can be employed in these compositions, are oil-soluble materials including non-ionic emulsifiers such as the condensation products of alkylene oxides with the inorganic acids, polyoxyethylene derivatives or sorbitan esters, complex ether alcohols, or alkyl phenols. Also, oil-soluble ionic emulsifying agents such as mahogany soaps can be used. Suitable inert organic liquids which can be employed in the compositions include petroleum oils and distillates, toluene, liquid halohydrocarbons, synthetic organic oils, and vegetable oils. The surface-active dispersing agents are usually employed in liquid compositions and in the amount of from 0.1 to 20 percent by weight of the combined weight of the dispersing agent and active compound.

In addition, other liquid compositions containing the desired amount of effective agent can be prepared by dissolving the active compound in an inert organic liquid such as acetone, methylene chloride, chlorobenzene, or petroleum distillate. The preferred inert organic solvent carriers are those which are adapted to accomplish the penetration and impregnation of the soil with the active compounds and are of such volatility as to leave little permanent residue thereon. Particularly desirable carriers are the petroleum distillates boiling almost entirely under 400°F (204°C) at atmospheric pressure and having a flash point above 80°F (27°C). Also desirable are those petroleum fractions with higher boiling points which can leave residues due to their low vapor pressure, provided they are low in aromatic content such as paraffinic and isoparaffinic oils which are of low phytotoxicity potential. The proportion of the compounds of this invention employed in a suitable solvent may vary from about 2 to about 50 percent. Additionally, the active components can be compounded with water or petroleum jellies to prepare the viscous or semi-solid treating compositions.

The following examples illustrate the manner by which the method of the invention can be practiced but, as such, should not be construed as limitations upon the overall scope of the same.

Example 1

Soil infected with the tobacco black shank pathogen Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianeae was uniformly mixed and placed in 6-inch (15 cm.) pots. To said pots were transplanted six week old tobacco seedlings which had been grown in pathogen free soil. Test dispersions of the hereinafter set forth compounds were prepared by dissolving 0.225 grams of the chemical in 1-cubic centimeter (cc) of acetone containing 10 milligrams (mg) of emulsifier (polyoxyethylene₂₀ sorbitan trioleate) and thereafter diluting the solution with water to prepare dispersions of the test chemical. Thereafter, the test dispersions were employed to treat separate pots containing the seedling by pouring 100 cubic centimeters of each of the test dispersions onto the soil, assuring root contact with sufficient chemical. The test compounds were present in amounts equivalent to 12 and 6 ounces of the active compound per acre (0.84 and 0.42 kg./hectare). Additional pots were treated with an aqueous acetone solution containing no toxicant to serve as controls. After treatments, the plants were maintained under conditions conducive for good plant growth. Nineteen days after treatment, the plants were examined for disease control. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table I.

Example 2

Acetone dispersions were prepared by admixing predetermined amounts of one of the hereinafter set forth compounds with predetermined amounts of acetone, water and surfactant.

Soil infected with the pea root rot disease organism Aphanomyces euteiches was uniformly mixed and used to fill 3-inch (7.5 cm.) pots. Five pea seeds were planted in each pot with 4 pots being used per test mixture. The pots were treated by spraying one ounce of one of the test mixtures directly onto the soil surface and seeds in the pots to give dosages equivalent to 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 pounds per acre (0.28, 0.56 and 1.12 kg./hectare) applied as an in-furrow treatment, wherein a 1-inch (2.5 cm.) band of a crop with a 36-inch (0.9 m.) row spacing is treated. After the acetone had evaporated, the soil in the pots was capped with a layer of sterile soil. Additional pots were also prepared as above and sprayed with acetone--water-surfactant solution containing no toxicant to serve as controls. The pots were thereafter maintained under conditions conducive to both plant growth and disease development. Two weeks after treatment, the pots were examined to determine the amount of disease control, as evidenced by the number of plants surviving. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table II.

Example 3

Soil infected with the tobacco black shank pathogen Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianeae was uniformly mixed and placed in 2-inch (5 cm.) pots. To said pots were transplanted four week old tobacco seedlings which had been grown in pathogen free soil. Test dispersions of each of the compounds 2-chloro-6-(2-furanyl- methoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine and 2-(((6-chloro--4-(trichloromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)oxy)methyl)-2,3-dihydro--l,4-benzodioxin were prepared by dissolving the chemicals in acetone and thereafter diluting the solution with water and a surfactant to prepare dispersions containing 100, 33 and 11 parts by weight of each of the compounds per million (1,000,000) parts of the ultimate dispersion (ppm). Thereafter, the various test dispersions were employed to treat separate pots containing the seedlings by pouring 50 cubic centimeters of each of the dispersions onto the soil, assuring root contact with sufficient chemical. Additional pots were treated with an aqueous acetone solution containing no toxicant to serve as controls. After treatments, the plants were maintained under conditions conducive for good plant growth and disease development. Five days, 8 days, and 13 days after treatment, the plants were examined for disease control. The results of these examinations are set forth below in Table III.

Example 4

A study was conducted following the practice of the present invention to determine the effectiveness of drench treatment of the compounds of the present invention in controlling the tobacco black shank pathogen Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianeae in tobacco plants.

Test concentrates were prepared by dissolving one of the hereinafter set forth compounds in acetone containing polyoxyethylene₂₀ sorbitan trioleate emulsifier. The final dispersions were prepared by diluting the concentrate with water. Test dispersions were prepared containing 100, 33 and 11 ppm of each compound.

Tobacco plants were grown in 3-inch (7.5 cm.) pots in sterile soil until they were of the 3 to 4 leaf stage. The plants were transplanted into pots filled with soil infected with the tobacco black shank pathogen Phytophthora parasicitica. This infected soil being a blend of 1 part of a stock culture soil containing said pathogen on 4 parts of a soil composed of 75 percent sandy loam and 25 percent peat. After transplanting, the plants were drenched with 50 cc of one of the test dispersions. At the same time, additional plants are treated with an acetone/emulsifier/water solution containing no toxicant to serve as controls. The plants were thereafter maintained under conditions conducive for good plant growth and disease development. Five, 12 and 19 days after treatment, the plants were examined to determine the percent disease control. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table IV.

Example 5

Acetone dispersions were prepared by admixing one of the hereinafter set forth compounds with acetone.

Soil infected with the soybean root rot organism Phytophthora megasperma was prepared by admixing sterile sandy loam soil with soil infected with the above organism in a 2:1 ratio. The soil mixture was uniformly mixed and used to fill 8 x 30-inch (20 x 75 cm.) trays. Twenty soybean seeds were planted in two 30-inch (75 cm.) rows in said trays with 2 trays being used per test mixture. The trays were treated by spraying 2 cc of one of the test mixtures, per row, directly onto the soil surface in the trays to give dosages equivalent to 0.5 and 1.0 pound of the active material per acre (0.56 and 1.12 kg./hectare) in-furrow based upon a 36-inch (0.9 m.) row spacing. Additional trays were also prepared as above to serve as controls and were sprayed with acetone containing no toxicant. The trays were thereafter maintained under conditions conducive to both plant growth and disease development. Ten, 15, 27, 31, and 33 days after treatment, the trays were examined to determine the amount of disease control, as evidenced by the number of plants surviving. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table V.

Example 6

Acetone dispersions were prepared by admixing one of the hereinafter set forth compounds with acetone.

Soil infected with the soybean root rot organism Phytophthora megasperma was prepared by admixing sterile sandy loam soil with soil infected with the above organism in a 2:1 ratio. The soil mixture was uniformly mixed and used to fill 7 x 15-inch (17.8 x 38 cm.) trays. Twenty soybean seeds were planted in two 15-inch (38 cm.) rows in said trays with 2 trays being used per test mixture. The trays were treated by spraying 2 cc of one of the test mixtures, per row, directly onto the soil surface in the trays to give dosages equivalent to 0.5 pound of the active material per acre (0.56 kg./hectare) in-furrow based upon a 36-inch (0.9 m.) row spacing. Additional trays were also prepared as above to serve as controls and were sprayed with acetone containing no toxicant. The trays were thereafter maintained under conditions conducive to both plant growth and disease development. Nine, 16 and 22 days after treatment, the trays were examined to determine the amount of disease control, as evidenced by the number of plants surviving. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table VI.

Example 7

Acetone dispersions were prepared by admixing one of the hereinafter set forth compounds with acetone.

Soil infected with the pea root rot organism Aphanomyces euteiches was prepared by admixing 2 parts sterile sandy loam soil with 1 part of soil infected with the above organism. The soil mixture was uniformly mixed and used to fill 8 x 30-inch (20 x 75 cm.) trays. Twenty pea seeds were planted in two 30-inch (75 cm.) rows in said trays with 2 trays being used per test mixture. The trays were treated by spraying 4 cc of one of the test mixture, per row, directly onto the soil surface in the trays to give dosages equivalent to 0.5 of the active material per acre (0.56 kg./hectare) in-furrow based upon a 36-inch (0.9 m.) row spacing. Additional trays were also prepared as above to serve as controls and were sprayed with acetone containing no toxicant. The trays were thereafter maintained under conditions conducive to both plant growth and disease development. Twelve, 30, and 44 days after treatment, the trays were examined to determine the amount of disease control, as evidenced by the number of plants surviving. The results of this examination are set forth below in Table VII.

The following examples illustrate preparation of compounds of the invention.

Example 8

2-Chloro-6-(2-methoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine:

• To a solution of 26.54 grams (0.10 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine dissolved in 150 milliliters (ml) of 2-methoxyethanol was added over a 35 minute period, a solution composed of 2.53 grams (0.11 mole) of sodium metal dissolved in 100 ml of 2-methoxyethanol. The mixture was stirred for 5 hours at 65°-75°C. The insoluble by-products were removed by filtration, and the 2-methoxyethanol was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The resulting oily product was diluted with water, extracted with methylene chloride, and dried with sodium sulfate. The methylene chloride was then removed, leaving the 2-chloro-6-(2-methoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine as an oil. The product was recovered in a yield of 25.6 grams (84 percent of theoretical) and had a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.5440. Upon analysis, the compound was found to have carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents of 35.48, 2.99 and 4.72 percent, respectively, as compared with the theoretical contents of 35.44, 2.97 and 4.59 percent, respectively.

Example 9

2-Chloro-6-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine:

• To a solution of 26.54 grams (0.1 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine dissolved in 150 ml of 2-ethoxyethanol, there was added over a 35 minute period a solution of 2.53 grams (0.11 mole) of sodium metal dissolved in m100 ml of 2-ethoxyethanol. The mixture was heated for 5 hours at 65°-75°C. The insoluble by-products were filtered off, and the 2-ethoxyethanol was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue which remained was diluted with water, extracted with methylene chloride, and the extract dried with sodium sulfate. The extract was filtered and the methylene chloride evaporated off, leaving the 2-chloro--6-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine product as an oil. The product had a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.5395 and was recovered in a yield of 23.8 grams (75 percent of theoretical). Upon analysis, the compound was found to have carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and chlorine contents of 37.72, 3.25, 4.55 and 44.61 percent, respectively, as compared with the theoretical contents of 37.64, 3.48, 4.39 and 44.45 percent, respectively.

Example 10

2-Chloro-6-(2-phenoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine:

• A solution was prepared by dissolving 5.28 grams (0.11 mole) of sodium hydride (as a 50 percent oil mixture) in 15.20 grams (0.11 mole) of 2-phenoxyethanol. To this solution was added, over a 30 minute period, 26.54 grams (0.1 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine. The mixture was heated and refluxed for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 700 ml of water and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with water, dried with sodium sulfate, and filtered. The methylene chloride and other volatile impurities were removed by distillation under reduced pressure. The 2--chloro-6-(2-phenoxyethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine product which was recovered distilled at 95°C under 0.05 mm of pressure. The product was recovered in a yield of 27 grams (73.5 percent of theoretical). The product solidified upon standing at 60°-62°C. Upon analysis, the product was found to have carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and chlorine contents of 46.22, 3.15, 3.94 and 37.92 percent, respectively, as compared with the theoretical contents of 45.81, 3.02, 3.82 and 38.64 percent, respectively.

Example 11

2-Chloro-4-(trichloromethyl)-6-pyridinyl heteric- poly(oxyethylene)_11.36(oxypropylene)_8.62 monoether:

• A suspension was prepared by admixing 0.72 grams (0.015 mole) of hexane washed sodium hydride (as a 50 percent oil mixture) with 100 ml of toluene. To this suspension was added 15.0 grams (0.015 mole) of the diol of a heteric adduct of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (HO(-CH₂CH₂O)_11.36(CH₂CH(CH₃)O)_{8 .62}H) dissolved in 40 ml of toluene. The mixture was slowly heated, with stirring, to a temperature of 60°C over a period of m7₀ minutes. To this mixture was added 3.84 grams (0.015 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine dissolved in 40 ml of toluene. The mixture was heated under reflux conditions for m4 hours. The toluene was removed by evaporation, and the reaction mixture was washed with a small amount of water and the water decanted off. The mixture was thereafter extracted with methylene chloride to remove any water. The mixture was then diluted with additional methylene chloride, washed with a small amount of water, and dried over sodium sulfate. The methylene chloride was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The 2-chloro-4-(trichloromethyl)-6-pyridinyl hetericpoly(oxyethylene) ₁₁.₃₆ (oxypropylene) ₈.₆₂ monoether product was recovered in a yield of 8 grams (43.7 percent of theoretical) as a dark amber oil having a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.4839.

Example 12

Butyl 2-chloro-4-(trichloromethyl)-6-pyridinyl hetericpoly(oxyethylene)_11.36(oxypropylene)_8.62 diether:

• A suspension was prepared by admixing 0.72 grams (0.015 mole) of hexane washed sodium hydride (as a 50 percent oil mixture) with 100 ml of toluene. To this suspension was added 15 grams of a heteric adduct of butanol and ethylene oxide and propylene oxide:

  • (HO(-CH₂CH₂O)_11.36(CH₂CH(CH₃)O)_8.62C₄H₉) in 40 ml of toluene. The mixture was heated, with stirring, to a temperature of 65°C over a period of ml hour. To this mixture was added 3.84 grams (0.015 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine dissolved in 40 ml of toluene. The mixture was heated under reflux conditions for <4 hours. The toluene was removed by evaporation, and the residue was washed with water, extracted with methylene chloride, and the methylene chloride layer dried over sodium sulfate. The methylene chloride was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The butyl 2-chloro-4-(trichloromethyl) -6-pyridinyl hetericpoly(oxyethylene)_11.36(oxypropylene)_8.62 diether product was recovered in a yield of 11 grams (60 percent of theoretical) as a dark amber oil having a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.4769.

Example 13

2-(((6-Chloro-4-(trichloromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)-oxy)methyl)-2,3-dihydro-l,4-benzodioxane:

• A suspension was prepared by admixing 5.52 grams (0.115 mole) of hexane washed sodium hydride (as a 50 percent oil mixture) with 110 ml of dimethoxyethane. To this suspension was added, over a 5 minute period, 19.11 grams (0.115 mole) of 2-hydroxymethyl-l,4-benzodioxane dissolved in 65 ml of dimethoxyethane. The temperature rose to 40°C, and ~30 minutes later the temperature was at 35°C. At this point, 26.54 grams (0.1 mole) of 2,6-dichloro--4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine was added to the mixture and the mixture refluxed for ~5 hours. The reaction mixture was added to 600 ml of water and the mixture extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. The methylene chloride was then removed by evaporation. The work-up of the product was continued. The residue was washed with water, extracted with methylene chloride, and the extract washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. The methylene chloride was removed by evaporation and the residue heated to 78°C at 1.25 millimeters of mercury to remove any dimethoxyethane present. Thereafter, the residue, an oily material, was dissolved in 400 ml of ethanol. The mixture was chilled overnight, and the oil which settled out was recovered by decantation and the oily product dissolved in 25 ml of pentane. The insolubles were removed by decantation and the pentane removed by evaporation, leaving the 2-(((6-chloro-4--(trichloromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)oxy)methyl)-2,3-dihydro--l,4-benzodioxane product. After drying, the product was recovered as a colorless oil, in a yield of 14 grams. The product had a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.5832 and upon analysis was found to have carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and chloride contents of 46.75, 3.15, 3.59 and 34.06 percent, respectively, as compared with the theoretical contents of 45.59, 2.81, 3.54 and 35.90 percent, respectively. The structure of the product was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Example 14

2-Chloro-6-(2-furanylmethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine:

• To 24 grams (0.6 mole) of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 120 ml of water, was added 300 ml of 2-(hydroxymethyl)furan and the solution warmed to 50°C. In this mixture was added incremently over a 20 minute period, 106.15 grams (0.4 mole) of 2,6-dichloro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine. The mixture was heated to ~80°C for ~3.5 hours and thereafter diluted with water and extracted with hexane. The extract was washed with water and the hexane evaporated off, leaving <114 grams (N87 percent of theoretical) of the desired 2-chloro-6-(2--furanylmethoxy)-4-(trichloromethyl)pyridine product. The product, an oil, had a refractive index of n 25/d = 1.5722 and upon analysis was found to have carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen contents of 40.41, 2.21 and 4.21 percent, respectively, as compared with the theoretical contents of 40.40, 2.16 and 4.28 percent, respectively.

By following the general procedures as set forth above and in the examples, the following compounds are prepared.