Compositions for Antifouling Protection

1 . An antifouling composition comprising a compound of formula IA and/or IB

wherein

Me represents metal, preferably Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Ca, Mg or Mn;

R1 is each independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 2-20 alkynyl, C 3-12 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl and C 7-20 arylalkyl;

R2 is each independently selected from NH, O, S, and Se;

R3 is NH, N(R4), O, S, and Se;

R4 is hydrogen, linear or branched C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 2-20 alkynyl, C 3-12 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl, C 7-20 arylalkyl;

R5 and R6 are each independently selected from H, linear or branched C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 2-20 alkynyl, C 3-12 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl and C 7-20 arylalkyl; or

R5 and R6 together form a group ═O, ═S, ═Se, ═NR4, ═C(R4) 2 , ═C(R4)(OR4), ═C(R4)(NHR4).

2 . The antifouling composition of claim 1 , wherein in said compound of formula IA and/or IB

Me represents Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg or Mn;

R1 is each independently selected from H, F, Cl, Br, I, linear or branched C 1-12 alkyl, C 2-12 alkenyl, C 2-12 alkynyl, C 6-12 aryl, and C 7-12 arylalkyl;

R2 is each independently selected from NH, 0, and S;

R3 is NH, N(R4), 0, and S;

R4 is H, linear or branched C 1-12 alkyl, C 2-12 alkenyl, C 2-12 alkynyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, C 6-12 aryl, C 7-12 arylalkyl;

R5 and R6 are each independently selected from H, linear or branched C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, C 2-4 alkynyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl, C 6-12 aryl and C 7-12 arylalkyl; or

R5 and R6 together form a group ═O, ═S, ═NR4, ═C(R4) 2 , ═C(R4)(OR4), ═C(R4)(NHR4).

3 . The antifouling composition of claim 1 , wherein in said compound of formula IA and/or IB

Me represents Cu or Zn;

R1 is each independently selected from H, F, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclo-butyl, cyclo-pentyl, cyclo-hexyl, C 8 alkyl, C 9 alkyl, C 10 alkyl, alkyl, C 12 alkyl, and benzyl;

R2 is each independently selected from NH, and O;

R3 is N(R4) and O;

R4 is H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclo-butyl, cyclo-pentyl, cyclo-hexyl, C 8 alkyl, C 9 alkyl, C 10 alkyl, C 11 alkyl, C 12 alkyl, and benzyl;

R5 and R6 are each independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, tert-butyl, and benzyl; or

R5 and R6 together form a group ═CH(OCH 3 ); ═CH(OC 2 H 5 ); ═CH(OnC 3 H 7 ); ═CH(OiC 3 H 7 ); ═CH(OnC 4 H 9 ); ═CH(OiC 4 H 9 ); ═CH(OtertC 4 H 9 ), ═CH(NHCH 3 ); ═CH(NHC 2 H 5 ); ═CH(NHnC 3 H 7 ); ═CH(NHiC 3 H 7 ); ═CH(NHnC 4 H 9 ); ═CH(NHiC 4 H 9 ); ═CH(NHtertC 4 H 9 );

4 . The antifouling composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biocidal agent is selected from the group consisting of copper 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide (copper pyrithione, CuPT), zinc 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide (zinc pyrithione, ZnPT), 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (DCOIT), cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O), zinc oxide (ZnO), 4-bromo-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (tralopyril), zinc ethane-1,2-diylbis(dithiocarbamate) (zineb), zinc N,N-dimethylcarbamodithioate (ziram), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron), copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN), 4-[1-[2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole (medetomidine), triazines, fluanids and 2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (chlorothalonil).

5 . The antifouling composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biocidal agent is selected from the group consisting of CuPT, ZnPT, DCOIT, Cu 2 O, and tralopyril.

6 . The antifouling composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biocidal agent is selected from the group consisting of CuPT and Cu 2 O.

7 . The antifouling composition of claim 6 , wherein the ratio of the compound of formula IA and/or IB (wt %) to CuPT (wt %), and/or the ratio of compound of formula IA and/or IB (wt %) to Cu 2 O (wt %) is from 100:1 to 1:100.

8 . Use of an antifouling composition of claim 1 for the inhibition of marine biofouling on a solid surface.

9 . The use of claim 8 , wherein the antifouling composition is used in combination with a polymer and/or copolymer allowing controlled release of compound of formula IA and/or IB.

10 . An antifouling paint comprising the antifouling composition of claim 1 and a polymer and/or copolymer allowing controlled release of compound of formula IA and/or IB.

11 . The antifouling paint of claim 10 , wherein the content of compound of formula IA and/or IB is from about 1 to about 25 wt %.

12 . The antifouling paint of claim 1 , wherein the total content of said one or more biocidal agent is less than about 30 wt %.

13 . The antifouling paint of claim 1 , wherein the total content of CuPT is less than about 10 wt %.

14 . A method for inhibiting marine biofouling on a solid surface, comprising applying an antifouling paint of claim 1 onto said surface.