WO2013153030A1

WO2013153030A1 - Use of glycerol derivatives as solvent in agrochemical compositions

Info

Publication number: WO2013153030A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/057303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Schnabel
Original assignee: Basf Se; Basf Schweiz Ag
Priority date: 2012-04-12
Filing date: 2013-04-08
Publication date: 2013-10-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to a use of a solvent of the formula (A) as described below as a solvent in a composition comprising a pesticide; and to a composition comprising a pesticide and a solvent of the formula (A) as described herein below. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the composition by bringing the pesticide and the solvent into contact; a use of the solvent of the formula (A) as a solvent for pesticides; methods for control- ling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the re- spective pests, their environment or on the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or on the crop plants and/or on their environment; and to seed comprising the composition.

Description

Use of glycerol derivatives as solvent in agrochemical compositions

Description

The present invention relates to a use of a solvent of the formula (A) as described below as a solvent in a composition comprising a pesticide; and to a composition comprising a pesticide and a solvent of the formula (A) as described herein below. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the composition by bringing the pesticide and the solvent into contact; a use of the solvent of the formula (A) as a solvent for pesticides; methods for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or on the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or on the crop plants and/or on their environment; and to seed comprising the composition. Combinations of preferred features with other preferred features are comprised by the present invention. It is very difficult to identify new solvents for agrochemical compositions comprising a pesticide, because such solvents should meet various requirements: good solvency for the pesticides, low phytotoxicity to the crops, low toxicity to humans, low flammability, compatibility to the application equipment of the farmers, low cost, and low environmental impact. Especially polar solvents were required which could substitute the N-methylpyrrolidone, DMSO, or

dimethylacetamide, which are not based on renewable resources. An object of the present invention was to provide a composition comprising pesticide, which overcome these

disadvantages.

The object was achieved by a use of a solvent of the formula (A)

wherein

R¹ and R² are independently of one another H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group, or together are a keto group;

R³ is H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group, -C(0)R⁴, -CO2R⁵, or -

C(0)NR⁶R⁷;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are independently of one another H, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20- hydrocarbon group, or R⁶ and R⁷ form together a heterocyclic 3 to 8 membered ring.

The object was also achieved by a composition comprising the pesticide in dissolved form and at least 5 wt% of the solvent of the formula (A).

In one form R¹ and R² independently of one another can be H or Ci-C₂o-alkyl, it being possible for the alkyl radical to be linear or branched. It is preferably linear. Usually, R¹ and R² are H or aliphatic Ci-C2o-alkyl. Usually, R¹ and R² are unsubstituted Ci-C2o-alkyl. Preferably, R¹ and R² are identical H or Ci-C2o-alkyl. R¹ and R² are preferably independently of one another H or Ci- Ci2-alkyl, preferably H or Ci-C4-alkyl (such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso- butyl), and in particular H or methyl.

In another form R¹ and R² together may form a keto group resulting in the solvent of formula (A1 )

wherein R³ is defined as above. In another preferred form, R¹ and R² are both H, both methyl or together a keto group. In yet another preferred form, R¹ and R² are independently of one another H or a substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group.

Preferably, R³ may be H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group, -C(0)R⁴, - C0₂R⁵, or -C(0)NR⁶R⁷; and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are independently of one another H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-Ci2-hydrocarbon group. More preferably, R³ may be H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-Ci2-hydrocarbon group, wherein H is most preferred.

The solvent of the formula (A) can be present in any stereoconfiguration, such as racemic mixture, as purified isomer, or partly purified isomers.

Specifically suitable solvents of the formula (A) are those of the formulae A2, A3 or A4, with the formula A1 being most preferred. In another form the solvent of formula A3 is preferred. In yet another form t

(A2) (A3) (A4)

The solvent of the formula (A) usually has a solubility in water at 20°C of at least 1 .0% by weight, preferably of at least 5% by weight, especially preferably of at least 10 % by weight.

The compounds of the formula (A) are generally known and commercially available, for example under the trade names Soketal®, Jeffsol® Glycerine Carbonate, Glycasol, Glycamal, Glycanat. The solvents of the formula (A) can be prepared by customary processes, such as from glycerol as starting material.

The composition according to the invention usually comprises at least 5% by weight, preferably at least 10% by weight, especially preferably at least 20% by weight of solvent of the formula (A) based on the composition. In most cases, the composition comprises no more than 95% by weight, preferably no more than 90% by weight, especially preferably no more than 80% by weight, of solvent of the formula (A).

The composition comprises a pesticide in dissolved form. Preferably, the pesticide is dissolved in a phase which comprises the solvent of the formula (A). For example, the pesticide is dissolved in a homogenous solution, which comprises the solvent of the formula (A) (e.g. a SL formulation); or the pesticide is dissolved in a emulsified phase, which comprises the solvent of the formula (A) (e.g. droplets containing the pesticide in dissolved form and the solvent of the formula (A), wherein the droplets are emulsified in a continuous phase); or the pesticide is dissolved in a continuous phase of a dispersion, where the continuous phase comprises the solvent of the formula (A) (e.g. an oil-in-water emulsion).

More preferably, the solvent of the formula (A) comprises the pesticide in dissolved form.

Further components (e.g. further solvents, auxiliaries, further pesticides) may be present in the same phase together with the solvent of the formula (A).

The expression pesticide refers to at least one active substance selected from the group consisting of the fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners and/or growth regulators. Preferred pesticides are fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, in particular fungicides and herbicides. Mixtures of pesticides of two or more of the abovementioned classes may also be used. The skilled worker is familiar with such pesticides, which can be found, for example, in Pesticide Manual, 14th Ed. (2006), The British Crop Protection Council, London. Suitable insecticides are insecticides from the class of the carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorine insecticides, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, spinosins, avermectins, milbemycins, juvenile hormone analogs, alkyl halides, organotin compounds, nereistoxin analogs, benzoylureas, diacylhydrazines, METI acaricides, and insecticides such as chloropicrin, pymetrozine, flonicamid, clofentezine, hexythiazox, etoxazole, diafenthiuron, propargite, tetradifon, chlorfenapyr, DNOC, buprofezin, cyromazine, amitraz, hydramethylnon, acequinocyl, fluacrypyrim, rotenon, or their derivatives. Suitable fungicides are fungicides from the classes dinitroanilines, allylamines, anilinopyrimidines, antibiotics, aromatic hydrocarbons, benzenesulfonamides, benzimidazoles, benzoisothiazoles, benzophenones, benzothiadiazoles, benzotriazines, benzylcarbamates, carbamates, carboxamides, carboxylic acid amides, chloronitriles, cyanoacetamide oximes, cyanoimidazoles, cyclopropanecarboxamides, dicarboximides, dihydrodioxazines, dinitrophenyl crotonates, dithiocarbamates, dithiolanes, ethylphosphonates, ethylaminothiazolecarboxamides, guanidines, hydroxy(2- amino)pyrimidines, hydroxyanilides, imidazoles, imidazolinones, inorganic substances, isobenzofuranones, methoxyacrylates, methoxycarbamates, morpholines, N-phenylcarbamates, oxazolidinediones, oximinoacetates, oximinoacetamides, peptidylpyrimidine nucleosides, phenylacetamides, phenylamides, phenylpyrroles, phenylureas, phosphonates, phosphoro- thiolates, phthalamic acids, phthalimides, piperazines, piperidines, propionamides,

pyridazinones, pyridines, pyridinylmethylbenzamides, pyrimidinamines, pyrimidines,

pyrimidinonehydrazones, pyrroloquinolinones, quinazolinones, quinolines, quinones, sulfamides, sulfamoyltriazoles, thiazolecarboxamides, thiocarbamates, thiophanate, thiophene- carboxamides, toluamides, triphenyltin compounds, triazines, triazoles. Suitable herbicides are herbicides from the classes of acetamides, amides, aryloxyphenoxypropionat.es, benzamides, benzofuran, benzoic acids, benzothiadiazinones, bipyridylium, carbamates, chloroacetamides, chlorocarboxylic acids, cyclohexanediones, dinitroanilines, dinitrophenol, diphenyl ethers, glycines, imidazolinones, isoxazoles, isoxazolidinones, nitriles, N-phenylphthalimides, oxadiazoles, oxazolidinediones, oxyacetamides, phenoxycarboxylic acids, phenylcarbamates, phenylpyrazoles, phenylpyrazolines, phenylpyridazines, phosphinic acids, phosphoroamidates, phosphorodithioates, phthalamates, pyrazoles, pyridazinones, pyridines, pyridinecarboxylic acids, pyndinecarboxamides, pyrimidinediones, pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates, quinolinecarboxylic acids, semicarbazones, sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones, sulfonylureas, tetrazolinones, thiadiazoles, thiocarbamates, triazines, triazinones, triazoles, triazolinones,

triazolocarboxamides, triazolopyrimidines, triketones, uracils, ureas.

The pesticide is usually soluble in water, such as in an amount of at least 10 g/l at 20°C, preferably at least 30 g/l, and in particular at least 100 g/l.

In another form the pesticide may be insoluble in water, such as in an amount of up to 10 g/l at 20°C, preferably up to 1 g/l, and in particular up to 0,1 g/l. The pesticide is usually soluble at 20°C in the solvent of the formula (A) in an amount of a least 10 g/l, preferably to at least 30 g/l and especially preferably to at least 50 g/l.

In a further embodiment, the pesticide is present in the liquid agrochemical composition in dissolved form. Preferably, the pesticide is dissolved in the solvent system at 20°C to at least 90% by weight, preferably to at least 98% by weight, based on the pesticide.

The composition according to the invention can also comprise further pesticides. The further pesticides can be present in dissolved, suspended and/or emulsified form. In a further embodiment, at least one pesticide is suspended to at least 90% by weight, based on the pesticide, in the solvent system in the form of solid particles. If the composition comprises at least two pesticides, at least one pesticide may be dissolved to at least 90% by weight in the solvent system. Preferably, the pesticide is suspended to at least 95% by weight, especially preferably to at least 98% by weight, in the solvent system.

The composition according to the invention usually comprises from 0.1 to 70% by weight of pesticide, preferably from 1 to 50%, in particular from 3 to 30% by weight, based on the composition. The composition according to the invention comprises formulation auxiliaries, the choice of the auxiliaries usually depending on the specific embodiment and/or the active substance. Examples for suitable auxiliaries are additional solvents, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, disper- sants, emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants, compatibil- izers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants, tackifiers and binders.

Suitable additional solvents which may be present in the composition in addition to the solvent of the formula (A) are organic solvents. Suitable additional solvents are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, butanol, ben- zylalcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e.g. cyclohexanone; esters, e.g. lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e.g. N-methylpyrrolidone, fatty acid dimethylamides; and mixtures thereof.

In principle, it is also possible to use solvent mixtures. It is preferred to add up to 40% by weight, preferably up to 20% by weight, and in particular up to 5 wt%, of additional solvents to the composition according to the invention, in each case based on the composition. In another preferred form the composition is essentially free of additional solvents. The composition may be essentially free of additional solvents like amides based on ketocarboxylic acids, esters based on ketocarboxylic acids, monopropylenglycol esters, ester of hydroxycarboxylic acids, C8-C12 fatty acid dialkyl amides, or dialkylamides based on oleic or linoleic acid.

In another form the composition is essentially free of water, for example the composition may comprise up to 5 wt%, preferably up to 2 wt%, more preferably up to 0,5 wt% of water.

Suitable solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, lime- stone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharide powders, e.g. cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e.g. ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e.g. cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, nutshell meal, and mixtures thereof. Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emusifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon's, Vol.1 : Emulsifiers & Detergents, McCutcheon's Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.). The composition according to the invention preferably comprises at least one anionic surfactant. The composition according to the invention preferably comprises at least one nonionic surfactant. The composition according to the invention more preferably comprises at least one anionic surfactant and at least one nonionic surfactant. The composition according to the invention my be essentially free of cationic surfactants.

The composition according to the invention can comprise various amounts of surfactants. It can comprise from 0.1 to 40% by weight, preferably from 1 to 30 and in particular from 2 to 20% by weight total amount of surfactant, based on the total amount of the composition. Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates. Preferred anionic surfactants are sulfonates of ethoxylated arylphenols, in particular phosphated or sulfated di- and/or tristyrylphenyl alkoxylates, as are described for example in WO 2007/1 10355, page 3, line 30 to page 5, line 1 1. Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-subsituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Exam- pies of N-subsititued fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar- based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or al- kylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrroli- done, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate. The term "nonionic surfactant" does usually not relate to the solvent of the formula (A). Typically, the solvent of the formula (A) is not suitable as nonionic surfactant (probably because it does not comprise a polar and a nonpolar residue as usual for nonionic surfactants).

Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. Suitable polyelectrolytes are polyacids or polybases. Examples of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or pol- yethyleneamines.

Suitable adjuvants are compounds, which have a negligible or even no pesticidal activity themselves, and which improve the biological performance of the compound I on the target. Exam- pies are surfactants, mineral or vegetable oils, and other auxilaries. Further examples are listed by Knowles, Adjuvants and additives, Agrow Reports DS256, T&F Informa UK, 2006, chapter 5.

Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), anorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates.

Suitable bactericides are bronopol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones.

Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin.

Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids. Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and water- soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron hexacyanofer- rate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants).

Suitable tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols, pol- yacrylates, biological or synthetic waxes, and cellulose ethers.

The compositions according to the invention are usually present in the form of agrochemical formulations, e. g. solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for composition types are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g. EC), emulsions (e.g. EW, EO, ES, ME), capsules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e.g. BR, TB, DT), granules (e.g. WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), insecticidal articles (e.g. LN), as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (e.g. GF). These and further compositions types are defined in the "Catalogue of pesticide formulation types and international coding system", Technical Mono-graph No. 2, 6th Ed. May 2008, CropLife International. The compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001 ; or Knowles, New develop-ments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005.

Preferred agrochemical formulations are water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS), redispersible concentrates (DC), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions (EW, EO, ES, ME), suspensions (SC, OD, FS), suspoemulsions (SE), and powders and granules (WP, WG). Preferably, the composition is present in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, of an emulsion, a suspension (such as OD, FS), a suspoemulsion, a powder or granules. In a further preferred embodiment, the composition is present in the form of a WG formulation, such as described, for example, in WO2007/028505 or WO2007/028504. More preferably, the composition is present in the form of water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS), which is essentially free of water.

In most cases, the composition according to the invention will be diluted prior to application in order to prepare the so-called tank mix. Substances which are suitable for dilution are mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene or diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, for example toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or their derivatives, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, isophorone, strongly polar solvents, for example dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone or water. It is preferred to use water. The dilute composition is usually applied by spraying or fogging. Oils of various types, wetters, adjuvants, herbicides, bactericides, fungicides may be added to the tank mix immediately prior to application (tank mix). These agents can be admixed to the

compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio from 1 :100 to 100:1 , preferably 1 :10 to 10:1. The pesticide concentration in the tank mix can be varied within substantial ranges. In general, they are between 0.0001 and 10%, preferably between 0.01 and 1 %. When used in plant protection, the application rates are between 0.01 and 2.0 kg of active substance per ha, depending on the nature of the desired effect. The present invention also relates to the use of a composition according to the invention for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, where the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or the useful plants and/or their environment. The invention furthermore relates to the use of a composition according to the invention for controlling undesired insect or mite attack on plants and/or for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or for controlling undesired plant growth, where seeds of useful plants are treated with the

composition. Furthermore, the invention relates to seed which has been treated with a composition according to the invention. Preferably, the seed has been dressed with the composition according to the invention. Dressing means that the seed has been treated with the composition and the composition remains on the seed. This composition can be applied to the seed in undiluted or, preferably, diluted form. Here, the composition in question can be diluted 2- to 10-fold, so that from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight, of pesticide are present in the compositions to be used for dressing the seed. The application can take place before sowing. The treatment of plant propagation material, in particular the treatment of seed, is known to the skilled worker and is carried out by dusting, coating, pelleting, dipping or soaking the plant propagation material, the treatment preferably being effected by pelleting, coating and dusting, so that, for example, premature germination of the seed is prevented. In the treatment of seed, one will generally use pesticide amounts of from 1 to 1000 g/100 kg, preferably from 5 to 100 g/100 kg propagation material or seed.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of a composition according to the invention, where the pesticide and the solvent of the formula (A) are brought into contact, for example mixed. Preferred solvents of the formula (A) and solvent are as described

hereinabove. Mixing is carried out by customary mixing processes, such as stirring, shaking or any other energy input. Further adjuvants which are employed for the preparation of agrochemical formulations can be added in customary amounts. Examples of suitable formulation auxiliaries are as described above.

Advantages of the present invention are, inter alia, that a high concentration of pesticide can be dissolved in the solvent of the formula (A); that the compositions are storage stable; that the compositions form stable and sprayable tankmixes upon dilution with water; that the

compositions allow a high biological efficacy of the pesticides. The solvent of the formula (A) can be prepared on an industrial scale in a simple and inexpensive manner, starting with known materials. A further advantage of the solvents of the formula (A) is that they are very low in odor; that their flash point is very high; their low viscosity; their low phytotoxicity; their low human toxicity and their high solubility in water. These advantages are very important so that the solvents of the formula (A) can be employed safely by farmers, whereby advantageous agrochemical formulations can be provided. Another advantage is that the solvents of the formula (A) are based on glycerol, which is available from renewable resources, e.g. as byproduct from the biodiesel production.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention without imposing any limitation. Examples

Isopropylidenglycerin: clear liquid, boiling point 189-191 °C (1013 mbar), melting point -26 °C, viscosity 1 1 cP (25 °C), soluble in water, CAS 100-79-8, also known as 2,2-dimethyl-1 ,3- dioxolane-4-methanol.

Glycerinformal: clear liquid, boiling point 191 -195°C (1013 mbar), viscosity 14 cP (25 °C), soluble in water, CAS 5464-28-8, also known as 1 ,3-dioxolane-4-methanol.

Glycerine carbonate: clear liquid, boiling point 1 10-1 15°C (0,133 mbar), melting point -69 °C, viscosity 85 cP (25 °C), soluble in water, CAS 931-40-8, also known as 4-hydroxymethyl- 1 ,3-dioxolan-2-on.

Surfactant A: Anionic surfactant, phosphate ester (free acid form) of a polyalkoxylated fatty alcohol, liquid, acid number 200-220 mg KOH/g, surface tension (25°C, 0.1 % aqueous solution) 28.1 dynes/cm.

Surfactant B: Anionic surfactant of the sulphosuccinate class, pH 6-7 (5% in water), surface tension approximately 30 mN/m (0.1 % in water).

Surfactant C: Nonionic surfactant of the alkoxylate class, water-soluble, pH 5-7 (1 % in water), HLB value 15-17.

Example 1 - Preparation of agrochemical formulations

Agrochemical formulations were prepared by mixing the components according to table 1 at room temperature under stirring resulting in a homogenous solution (as SL formulation). Table 1 :

Example 2 - Stability of ready to use tankmix

All SL formulations of Example 1 were diluted at room temperature with CIPAC D water to a concentrationof 1 wt%. All samples formed ready to use tankmix, which was stable at 20 °C for at least 3 h.

Example 3 - Preparation of agrochemical formulation

An agrochemical formulation was prepared by mixing 2,0 g imazamox, 20 g Surfactant C, 5 dimethylsulfoxide, and Glycerine carbonate (ad 50 ml) at room temperature under stirring resulting in a homogenous solution (as SL formulation).

Claims

We claim:

1 . A use of a solvent of the formula (A)

wherein

R¹ and R² are independently of one another H, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20- hydrocarbon group, or together are a keto group;

C(0)NR⁶R⁷; and

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are independently of one another H, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20- hydrocarbon group, or R⁶ and R⁷ form together a heterocyclic 3 to 8 membered ring, as a solvent in a composition comprising a pesticide.

2. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the pesticide is present in dissolved form.

3. The use according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the composition comprises at least 5 wt% of the solvent of the formula (A).

4. The use according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein R¹ and R² are independently of one another H or a substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group.

5. A composition comprising a pesticide in dissolved form and at least 5 wt% of a solvent of the formula (A)

wherein

R³ is H, substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group, -C(0)R⁴, -CO2R⁵, or - C(0)NR⁶R⁷;

6. The composition according to claim 5, wherein R¹ and R² are both H, both methyl or togeth- er a keto group.

7. The composition according to any of claim 5, wherein R¹ and R² are independently of one another H or a substituted or unsubstituted Ci-C2o-hydrocarbon group.

8. The composition according to any of claims 5 to 7, comprising an anionic surfactant.

9. The composition according to any of claims 5 to 8, comprising a nonionic surfactant.

10. The composition according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the solvent of the formula (A) has a solubility in water at 20°C of at least 5.0 % by weight.

1 1 . The composition according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the pesticide is soluble in water in an amount of at least 10 g/l at 20°C.

12. The composition according to any of claims 5 to 1 1 , in form of a homogenous solution.

13. A process for the preparation of the composition according to any of claims 5 to 12, which comprises bringing the pesticide and the solvent of the formula (A) into contact.

14. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or unde- sired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition according to any of claims 5 to 12 is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or on the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or on the crop plants and/or on their environment.

15. Seed, comprising the composition according to any of claims 5 to 12.