Derivatives of carbonic acid

Abstract

Esters of carbonic and chlorocarbonic acids as yet have not been practically used in controlling harmful insects, although some of them have high insecticidal or acaricidal activity. In particular, the simplest esters of chlorocarbonic acid such as methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl chlorocarbonates are active fumigants; but they are not used because they are easily hydrolyzed by water, forming HC1. The insecticidal activity of the dialkyl carbonates is slight. The aliphatic-aromatic esters of carbonic acid are more active. Thus, mixed esters of the general formula (I) have powerful acaricidal an fungicidal effects; they suppress the development of powdery mildews. It is possible that the biological activity of this group of compounds should be ascribed to the radicals of dinitro-sec-butyl- and dinitro-sec-amylphenol, esters which even with other acids show high activity as acaricides and fungicides for powdery mildews.