Triarylmethane compounds for controlling enzyme-induced urea decomposition
Provided herein are compositions and methods for controlling enzyme-induced urea decomposition attendant to the application of solid or liquid urea-containing fertilizers to soils. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed herein is concerned with selected triarylmethane compounds as urease inhibitors and their use, either alone or in combination with tetrapolymer synergists. Further, the disclosed compositions have good storage stability, long-lived activity in soil, and avoid the toxicity issues common with present-day urease inhibitors used in agriculture.
1. A method of controlling enzyme-induced urea decomposition comprising the step of applying to soil a triarylmethane compound in a quantity sufficient to inhibit the decomposition of urea by the action of soil-borne urease inhibitor, wherein said triarylmethane compound comprises a central carbon atom C bonded with three individual aryl groups X, Y, and Z, where:
(1) the aryl group X has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and X1-X5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(2) the aryl group Y has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Y1-Y5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(3) the aryl group Z has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6,
where all of the selected substituents X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, either belong to group I or group II,
where the group I substituents are:
(A) at least one of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or substituents Z1-Z5, inclusive, is a sulfonate group bonded at any of the positions 2-6 of the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, said at least one sulfonate group comprising the structure (i)
or the structure (ii)
where “*” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to the corresponding X, Y, or Z aryl group, and “**” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to another atom of the triarylmethane compound;
(B) at least two of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, are substituents comprising an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, and selected from the group consisting of O and OH, with the proviso that no more than two such oxygen atoms are present in any of the X, Y, and Z aryl groups; and
(C) X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, which are not the substituents of paragraphs (A) and (B), are all H,
the group II substituents are:
(D) at least one nitrogen substituent is bonded to at least one of the aryl groups X, Y, and/or Z, where the nitrogen substituent is selected from the group consisting of
where R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 , and
(E) the remainder of the substituents X1-X5, Y1-Y5, and Z1-Z5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 .
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound with group I substituents has one or more of the following:
(a) only a single sulfonate group;
(b) said central carbon atom C being the only carbon atom of the triarylmethane compound not a part of an aryl ring.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said sulfonate group is bonded to said X, Y, or Z aryl ring at a position ortho to the bond between the corresponding ring and said central carbon atom C.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound with group I substituents has at least two of said aryl rings X, Y, and Z with two substituents, each of which have an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl rings, and wherein:
(a) at least one aryl ring of said two aryl rings has two hydroxyl substituents; or
(b) each of said two aryl rings has two hydroxyl substituents.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound with group I substituents has at least two of said aryl rings X, Y, and Z with two substituents, each of which have an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl rings, and wherein:
(a) at least one aryl ring of said two aryl rings has one hydroxyl substituent and one oxygen substituent; or
(b) each of said two aryl rings has one hydroxyl substituent and one oxygen substituent.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of said two aryl rings has two hydroxyl substituents, wherein said two hydroxyl substituents are positioned ortho to each other.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound is methyl violet or 3,3′,4-trihydroxysuchsone-2″-sulfonic acid.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound has the structure
where one of the bonds between the central carbon atom C and one of the aryl rings X, Y, or Z is a double bond, and the remaining two bonds are single bonds, said at least one sulfonate group comprising either the structure (A)(i) when the triarylmethane compound is a Group I compound;
or comprising the structure (A)(ii), with the “**” representing the bonding of the S—O oxygen to said central carbon atom C.
9. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of applying said triarylmethane compound in conjunction with a urea-containing fertilizer, wherein said triarylmethane compound and urea-containing fertilizer are applied either separately or simultaneously.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said triarylmethane compound is contacted with said urea-containing fertilizer prior to said application thereof.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said triarylmethane compound is in combination with a polyanionic tetrapolymer comprising sulfonate repeat units.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said tetrapolymer comprises maleic, itaconic, and sulfonate repeat units; and/or said tetrapolymer is present at a level to increase the control of enzyme-induced urea decomposition, as compared with use of said triarylmethane compound alone.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said urea-containing fertilizer is a liquid fertilizer, said triarylmethane compound being mixed with the liquid fertilizer.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said urea-containing fertilizer is a solid fertilizer, said triarylmethane compound being coated with, mixed with, impregnated with, or in contact with said fertilizer.
15. The method of claim 1 comprising one or more of the following:
(a) said method decreasing urease activity by at least about 50%;
(b) said method decreasing nitrogen volatilization;
(c) said method decreasing nitrogen volatilization by at least about 25% when compared to a control;
(d) said method decreasing nitrogen volatilization after about 3 days;
(e) said method further comprising the step of applying poly(styrene sulfonate).
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises application of a composition comprising a triarylmethane compound and a synergist, wherein said triarylmethane compound comprises a central carbon atom C bonded with three individual aryl groups X, Y, and Z, where:
(1) the aryl group X has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and X1-X5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(2) the aryl group Y has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Y1-Y5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(3) the aryl group Z has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6,
where all of the selected substituents X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, belong to either group I or group II,
where the group I substituents are:
(A) at least one of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, is a sulfonate group bonded at any of the positions 2-6 of the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, said at least one sulfonate group comprising the structure (i)
or the structure (ii)
where “*” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to the corresponding X, Y, or Z aryl group, and “**” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to another atom of the triarylmethane compound;
(B) at least two of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, are substituents comprising an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, and selected from the group consisting of O and OH, with the proviso that no more than two such oxygen atoms are present in any of the X, Y, and Z aryl groups; and
(C) X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, which are not the substituents of paragraphs (A) and (B), are all H,
the group II substituents are:
(D) at least one nitrogen substituent is bonded to at least one of the aryl groups X, Y, and/or Z, where the nitrogen substituent is selected from the group consisting of
where R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 , and
(E) the remainder of the substituents X1-X5, Y1-Y5, and Z1-Z5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 ,
said synergist comprising a polyanionic polymer comprising sulfonate repeat units, wherein one or more of the following applies:
(a) said composition comprises a triarylmethane compound in a range from about 0.01% to about 2.0%;
(b) said triarylmethane compound being 3,3′,4-trihydroxysuchsone-2″-sulfonic acid;
(c) said composition comprising a tetrapolymer in a range from about 0.01% to about 2.0%;
(d) said composition comprising a T5 polymer.
17. A fertilizer product comprising a urea-containing fertilizer in contact with a triarylmethane compound comprising a central carbon atom C bonded with three individual aryl groups X, Y, and Z, where:
(1) the aryl group X has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and X1-X5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(2) the aryl group Y has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Y1-Y5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(3) the aryl group Z has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6,
where all of the selected substituents X2-X6, inclusive, Y2-Y6, inclusive, and Z2-Z6, inclusive, either belong to group I or group II,
where the group I substituents are:
(A) at least one of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, is a sulfonate group bonded at any of the positions 2-6 of the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, said at least one sulfonate group comprising the structure (i)
or the structure (ii)
where “*” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to the corresponding X, Y, or Z aryl group, and “**” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to another atom of the triarylmethane compound;
(B) at least two of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, are substituents comprising an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, and selected from the group consisting of O and OH, with the proviso that no more than two such oxygen atoms are present in any of the X, Y, and Z aryl groups; and
(C) X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, which are not the substituents of paragraphs (A) and (B), are all H,
the group II substituents are:
(D) at least one nitrogen substituent is bonded to at least one of the aryl groups X, Y, and/or Z, where the nitrogen substituent is selected from the group consisting of
where R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 , and
(E) the remainder of the substituents X1-X5, Y1-Y5, and Z1-Z5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 .
18. The fertilizer product of claim 17 comprising one or more of the following:
(a) a weight ratio of polyanionic tetrapolymer to triarylmethane compound from about 1:4 to about 4:1;
(b) the color of said fertilizer product being pH-dependent;
(c) said fertilizer product decreasing urease activity by at least about 50%;
(d) said fertilizer product further comprising poly(styrene sulfonate).
19. A composition comprising a triarylmethane compound and a synergist, wherein said triarylmethane compound comprises a central carbon atom C bonded with three individual aryl groups X, Y, and Z, where:
(1) the aryl group X has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and X1-X5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(2) the aryl group Y has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Y1-Y5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6;
(3) the aryl group Z has the structure
where the carbon atom C is bonded at position 1, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, are H or substituents bonded at any of the positions 2-6,
where all of the selected substituents X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and Z1-Z5, inclusive, belong either to group I or group II,
where the group I substituents are:
(A) at least one of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, is a sulfonate group bonded at any of the positions 2-6 of the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, said at least one sulfonate group comprising the structure (i)
or the structure (ii)
where “*” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to the corresponding X, Y, or Z aryl group, and “**” represents the bonding of the sulfonate group to another atom of the triarylmethane compound;
(B) at least two of X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, are substituents comprising an oxygen atom bonded to the corresponding aryl ring(s) X, Y, and/or Z, and selected from the group consisting of O and OH, with the proviso that no more than two such oxygen atoms are present in any of the X, Y, and Z aryl groups; and
(C) X1-X5, inclusive, Y1-Y5, inclusive, and/or Z1-Z5, inclusive, which are not the substituents of paragraphs (A) and (B), are all H,
the group II substituents are:
(D) at least one nitrogen substituent is bonded to at least one of the aryl groups X, Y, and/or Z, where the nitrogen substituent is selected from the group consisting of
where R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 , and
(E) the remainder of the substituents X1-X5, Y1-Y5, and Z1-Z5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C 2 H 5 ,
said synergist comprising a polyanionic polymer comprising sulfonate repeat units.
20. The composition of claim 19 comprising one or more of the following:
(a) a weight ratio of synergist to triarylmethane compound from about 1:4 to about 4:1;
(b) the color of said composition being pH-dependent;
(c) said composition decreasing urease activity by at least about 50%;
(d) said composition further comprising a solvent or carrier;
(e) said composition further comprising water as a solvent;
(f) said composition further comprising poly(styrene sulfonate).