Surfactants and surfactant compositions
Surfactant compounds are of the general formula (I): R 1 (R 2 )X 1 CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 (OA) n OR 3 (I) where R 1 is hydrocarbyl; R 2 is hydrocarbyl; R 2 is H or hydrocarbyl; X 1 is a nitrogen containing group as defined, and R 3 is hydrocarbyl, and X 1 n and AO have defined meanings, provided that at least one group R 1 , R 2 or R 3 is or contains a C 6 to C 30 hydrocarbyl group. The compounds of the formula (I) can function as surfactants in agrochemical formulations, particularly as emulsifiers, wetting agents, dispersants, thickeners or solubilisers and, especially as adjuvants; or as and, especially for amino oxide or quaternary compounds, in personal care formulations or as fabric softeners. The compounds can be used as adjuvants particularly where the agrochemical is a plant growth regulator, herbicide, and/or pesticide, for example insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, nematocides, miticides, rodenticides, bactericides, molluscicides and/or a bird repellent. Particularly useful formulations include water soluble herbicide(s), particularly such as Glyphosate, Sulfosate, Glufosinate and Paraquat.
1 . A compound of the formula (I):
R 1 R 2 X 1 —CH 2 —CH(OH)—CH 2 —(OA) n -OR 3 (I)
where R 1 is hydrocarbyl;
R 2 is H or hydrocarbyl;
X 1 is N; N + ->O − ; N + R 4 —where: R 4 — is C 1 to C 6 hydrocarbyl carrying an anionic substituent; or N + R 5 An − where: R 5 is a C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbyl; and An − is a charge balancing anion;
OA is an oxyalkylene residue;
n is from 1 to 100; and
R 3 is hydrocarbyl;
provided that at least one group R 1 , R 2 , R 3 or R 5 (when present) is or contains a C 6 to C 30 hydrocarbyl group.
2 . A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R 2 is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or alkoxyalkyl group, R 5 is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl or aralkyl group, An − is an alkali metal or ammonium ion, and R 3 is a C 10 to C 3-0 alkyl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aryl or aralkyl group.
3 . A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oxyalkylene group(s) OA is (are) oxyethylene, oxypropylene or mixtures of oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups and n is from 1 to 50.
4 . A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oxyalkylene groups OA are all oxyethylene and n is from 8 to 30.
5 . A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oxyalkylene groups OA are mixtures of oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups; n is from 8 to 30 and the molar ratio of oxyethylene groups to oxypropylene groups is from 1:1 to 10:1.
6 . An agrochemical composition of a compound as claimed in claim 1 and at least one agrochemically active compound.
7 . An agrochemical composition of a compound of the formula (I′):
R 1 R 2 X 1 —CH 2 —CH(OH)—CH 2 —(OA) n′ -OR 3 (I′)
where R 1 , R 2 , X 1 , OA, and R 3 are as defined for formula (I) in claim 1 , and
n′ is from 0 to 100; and
at least one agrochemically active compound.
8 . An agrochemical composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least one agrochemically active compound is or includes one or more plant growth regulators, herbicides, and/or pesticides and/or bird repellants.
9 . A composition as claimed in either claim 6 wherein the at least one agrochemically active compound is or includes at least one water soluble herbicide.
10 . A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein the water soluble herbicide is or includes at least one phosphonomethyl glycine; at least one phosphinyl amino acid; and/or at least one bipyridinium compound.
11 . A method of treating vegetation by applying to plants and/or soil a composition as claimed in claim 6 .
12 . A method of killing or inhibiting vegetation by applying a formulation which includes one or more growth regulators and/or herbicides and at least one compound of the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1 and/or at least one compound of the general formula (I′) as an adjuvant.
13 . A method of killing plant pests by applying a formulation as claimed in claim 7 which includes one or more pesticides and at least one compound of the general formula (I) and/or at least one compound of the general FORMULA (I′) as an adjuvant.