Compositions with cyclopropenes and adjuvants - Patents

Compositions with cyclopropenes and adjuvants

Agent: Rohm And Haas Company Patent Department - Philadelphia, PA, US
Inventors: Richard M. Basel, Edward Charles Kostansek, Bridget Marie Stevens
Class: 504353000 (USPTO), A01N003/02 (Intl Class)
#20050261131
11/24/05

A composition is provided that contains one or more molecular encapsulation agents within each of which is encapsulated one or more cyclopropenes and that contains one or more adjuvants selected from the group consisting of surfactants, alcohols, hydrocarbon oils, and mixtures thereof. Also provided is a method that includes the step of contacting such compositions to one or more plants or plant parts.
BACKGROUND
[0001] Ethylene can cause the premature death of plants or plant parts including, for example, flowers, leaves, fruits, and vegetables through binding with certain receptors in the plant. Ethylene also promotes leaf yellowing and stunted growth as well as premature fruit, flower, and leaf drop. Cyclopropenes (i.e., substituted and unsubstituted cyclopropene and its derivatives) are effective agents for blocking the effects of ethylene. One difficulty in effectively contacting a plant or plant part with cyclopropenes is that many useful cyclopropenes are gasses at ambient conditions (10 to 35.degree. C. and approximately 1 atmosphere pressure); thus, in some cases, the cyclopropene tends to escape into the atmosphere instead of remaining in contact with the plant or plant part (either on the surface or in the interior or the plant or plant part). U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,988 discloses applying mixtures of cyclopropenes and wetting agents to plants. It is desired to provide compositions that can be contacted with plants or plant parts and that have improved the effectiveness of cyclopropenes at blocking the effects of ethylene.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising
[0003] (a) one or more molecular encapsulation agents within each of which is encapsulated one or more cyclopropenes of the formula 1
[0004] wherein said R is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl group; wherein the substituents, when present, are independently halogen, alkoxy, or substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy; and
[0005] (b) one or more adjuvants selected from the group consisting of surfactants, alcohols, hydrocarbon oils, and mixtures thereof.

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