GB944807A - Controlling plant growth - Google Patents

Abstract

Plant growth is controlled by treating the plants or the soil in which they are grown, or the seeds from which the plants are grown, with a compound of the general formula <FORM:0944807/C1/1> in which R is an alkyl or alkenyl group of 2-4 carbon atoms in which the carbon beta to the nitrogen atom is (1) doubly or triply bonded to a gamma carbon or a nitrogen atom and/or (2) is substituted by a halogen atom, a thioether, an ether, a cyano or mercapto radical, or (3) is a part of an epithio radical and Y is a non-phytotoxic anion or a composition of said compound with a carrier. Specified compounds are: (2-bromoethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2,3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2.3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2 - chloro - 2,3 -propylene) - trimethylammonium chloride; (bromomethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (3-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (4-bromobutyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-methoxy-ethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (methoxymethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-mercaptoethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2,3-epithio-propyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; and (2-chloroallyl)-trimethylammonium chloride. The compounds which may be made by the methods described in Division C2 may be applied in 10-2 to 10-7 molar solutions to roots or leaves and encourages shorter plants and earlier flowering.ALSO:Compounds of the general formula: R-N(CH3)3Y in which R is an alkyl or alkenyl group of 2-4 carbon atoms in which the carbon beta to the nitrogen atom is (1) doubly or triply bonded to a gamma carbon or a nitrogen atom and/or (2) is substituted by a halogen atom, a thioether, an ether, a cyano or mercapto radical or (3) is a part of an epithio radical and Y is a non-phytotoxic anion which may be used in controlling plant growth (see Division C1) are made by reacting a dihalide aliphatic compound such as 1,2-dibromoethane with trimethylamine in toluene and after standing at 40 DEG C. recrystallising the solid cake of product from ethanol, methanol or toluene and then treating with caustic potash in absolute ethanol. Specified compounds are:-(2-bromoethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2,3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2,3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-chloro - 2, 3 - propylene) - trimethylammonium chloride; (bromomethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (3-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (4-bromobutyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-methoxy-ethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (methoxymethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-mercaptoethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2, 3 - epithio - propyl) - trimethylammonium chloride; and (2-chloroallyl)-trimethylammonium chloride.ALSO:Plant growth is controlled by treating seeds of the plants with a composition containing a compound of the general formula R-N(CH3)3 Y in which R is an alkyl or alkanyl group of 2-4 carbon atoms in which the carbon beta to the nitrogen atom is (1) doubly or triply bonded to a gamma carbon or a nitrogen atom and/or (2) is substituted by a halogen atom, a thioether, an ether, a cyano or mercapto radical or (3) is a part of an epithio radical and Y is a non-phytotoxic anion or a composition of said compound with a carrier. Specified compounds are:- (2-bromoethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2,3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2,3n-propylene)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-chloro-2,3-propylene)-trimethylammonium chloride; (bromomethyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (3-bromopropyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (4-bromobutyl)-trimethylammonium bromide; (2-methoxy-ethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (methoxymethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-mercaptoethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2,3-epithio-propyl)-trimethylammonium chloride; (2-chloroallyl)-trimethylammonium chloride. The compounds which may be made by the methods described in Division C2 may be applied in 10-2 to 10-7 molar solutions to roots or leaves and encourages shorter plants and earlier flowering.