Complex for use in stabilizing herbicidal compositions and methods for synthesizing and using the same

1. A complexing agent effective in stabilizing a herbicidal composition wherein said complexing agent is a reaction product of:

a. a herbicidal compound capable of transesterification and subject to relatively rapid hydrolysis of the esters in the absence of a weak acid buffer system; and

b. a weak acid buffer system,

wherein the herbicidal compound is pyrasulfotole and the weak acid buffer system comprises triethanolamine.

2. The complexing agent of claim 1 , further comprising a calcium cation.

3. A method for preventing an undesirable acid catalyzed hydrolysis of fenoxaprop ethyl and/or fenoxaprop p-ethyl and an undesirable transesterification of pyrasulfotole in a herbicidal composition which includes fenoxaprop p-ethyl, pyrasulfotole, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of bromoxynil, bromoxynil ester, bromoxynil mixed ester, and mefenpyr or mefenpyr diethyl comprising:

a. providing a herbicidal composition comprising fenoxaprop ethyl and/or fenoxaprop p-ethyl, pyrasulfotole, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of bromoxynil, bromoxynil ester, bromoxynil mixed ester, and mefenpyr;

b. adding triethanolamine to said herbicidal composition resulting in the formation of a complex with a;

whereupon said triethanolamine prevents an undesirable acid catalyzed hydrolysis of fenoxaprop ethyl and/or fenoxaprop p-ethyl and said complex prevents an undesirable transesterification of said pyrasulfotole.

4. A herbicidal composition comprising:

a. an acid-sensitive herbicide;

b. a weak acid herbicide;

c. an ester herbicide;

d. an optional safener; and

e. an optional cation donating agent;

wherein said herbicidal composition includes a complex, which complex prevents an acid catalyzed hydrolysis of said acid sensitive herbicide and prevents a transesterification of said weak acid herbicide,

wherein said acid-sensitive herbicide is fenoxaprop p-ethyl, said weak acid herbicide is selected from the group consisting of pyrasulfotole, isoxaflutole, clethodim and sethoxydim, conjugates thereof and combinations thereof, said ester herbicide includes a bromoxynil ester, said optional safener is present and is mefenpyr diethyl, and said optional cation donating agent is present and is dodecylbenzenesulfonate calcium.

5. The composition of claim 4 , further comprising an acidic herbicidally active ingredient.

6. A herbicidal composition comprising:

a. an acid-sensitive herbicide;

b. a weak acid herbicide;

c. an ester herbicide;

d. a buffer;

e. an optional safener; and

f. an optional cation donating agent;

wherein said herbicidal composition includes a complex, which complex prevents an acid catalyzed hydrolysis of said acid sensitive herbicide and prevents a transesterification of said weak acid herbicide, wherein:

a. said acid sensitive herbicide is present in said composition in a range of about 1 wt % to about 15 wt %;

b. said weak acid herbicide is present in said composition in a range of about 0.5 wt. % to 8 wt. %;

c. said ester herbicide is present in said composition in a range of about 1 wt. % to 30 wt. %;

d. said buffer is present in said composition in a range of about 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %;

e. said safener is present in said composition in a range of about 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. %; and

f. said cation donating agent is present in said composition in a range of about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt %, and wherein:

a. said acid-sensitive herbicide is fenoxaprop p-ethyl;

b. said weak acid herbicide is pyrasulfotole;

c. said ester herbicide includes one or more of bromoxynil and bromoxynil mixed esters;

d. said buffer includes triethanolamine;

e. said optional safener is present and is mefenpyr diethyl;

f. said optional cation donating agent is present and is dodecylbenzenesulfonate calcium.

7. The composition of claim 6 , further comprising:

g. an acidic herbicidally active ingredient.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein said acidic herbicidally active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-acetic acid, 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-propanoic acid, 4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-butanoic acid, 2,4-D, dicamba and combinations thereof.

9. A method of controlling plants, including weeds, with a herbicidal composition comprising applying the composition of claim 6 to a plant, to seeds or other propagation material of a plant, to a locus of said plant, to a locus where there is no plant but where prevention of the growth of said plant is desired, and combinations thereof.