Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ICI-2~m 1606-2l~
_OMPOSITION FO _ ODENT CONTKOL
Background of the Inventi_n
Toxicants applied ~o the exterior of ro-
dents, referred eO as contac~ toxicants, are of par
-ticular importance in thosP ~i~uations where conven-
tional rod~nt devices, such as baits 9 are either dif-
ficult to apply or are poorly accepted.
Although contact ~oxicant~ can be directly
applied (e.g. by sprayin~) to pest animals, ~he logis-
tics of this approach make passive systems preferable.
Passive contact toxicant ~ystems are those wherein the
pest animal encounters the toxicant during ~he course
of it'~ normal movement or behavior. Most passi~e
contact toxicant systems involve ~racking powders
w~ich are ingeste~ ~hrough subsequent grooming activi-
ty of the animal after exposure and body contamina-
~ion. Such formulations, unfortunately 9 are unable to
withstand changes in climatic conditions and therefore
contaminate the environment.
Passive contact toxicant~ are further em-
ployed in control d~vices. An example of such a de-
vic~ is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,281,471. In
this reference, an apparatus characterized by an elon-
gated tube with an interior cross-~ection ls dis-
closed. Within this interior cross-section is located
at least one cartridge onto which is loaded an absor-
bent mater~al commonly referred to as the "wick."
- 30 The absorbent material is satura~ed with ~ toxic solu-
tion. Rodents passing through the elongated tube
come ~nto contact with the to~icant formul~tion.
.. ~ .
87 ~ ~S
~- During grooming, the rodent ingests the adh~d
_ ~ toxicant and subsequently dies, usually outside the
`` area of contact. This apparatus offers maximum
contact between the rodent ~nd pesticide, while
substantially reducing chances of contamina~ion to
non-target species.
Morris et al, "Design and Evaluation Crite-
ria for Development of Toxic Wicks for Rodent Con-
trol", Special Technical Publication 817, pp. 165-182,
1984, discusses the feasibili~y of using similar de-
vices in the control of rodents. In this publication,
the toxicant composition applied to the wick is a
0.25Z solution of brodifacoum in a propylene glycol
solution containing polyethylene glycol of an approxi-
mate molecular weight of 200. Unfortuna~ely, rodentsoften find such toxicant compositions attractive for
nesting purposes and thus they readily remove them
from the cartridges. Further, this toxic formulation
readily absorbs water. Thus, the probability of the
formulation leaking off the wick into the interior
cross-section of the tu~e and, thus 9 into the environ-
ment is high. As a result, this composition may
contaminate non-target species and the environment.
Further, it is unsuitable for use in mass marketing
due to it's susceptibility to physical changes in the
~ atmosphere.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of this invention *o provide
a liquid composition for use in rodent control which:
~7~ ~S
1. contains a lethal dose of r~denticide,
2. is palatable Si.e., non-offensive) to
~~ the rodent, but not an attractant such that the
-rodent removes the wick;
3. is stable ~i.e., non-volatile) at high
temperatures; and
4. is non-hygroscopic.
It is further an object of this inven~ion to
provide a composition for use in rodent control
tubular devices, w~ich in sddition to the above-
identified properties, is also
~ . of sufficient viscosity that it adheres
to the wick and wicks off onto the rodent without
leaking into thP tube and/or environment; and
6. is compatible with the plastic material
of ~he elongated tube and/or cartridge.
It is further an objec~ of ~his invention to
provide a rodenticidal composition which is child-
proof, i.e., not resulting in death upon ingestion.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The composition of this invention, parti
cularly useful for the control of rats and mice, has a
low vapor pressure. As a result, evaporation of the
- rodenticide at high temperatures is avoided. In
~ . ~ddition~ the composition does not absorb large
quantities of water, especially at low temperatures.
Further, fiince the targeted rodent must ingest, for
efficacy purposes, the rodenticidal formulation, the
composition preferably should not contain an emetic.
The composition of this invention
may be characterized by the following properties:
s
Vapor Pressure, mm Hg at 25C, 0.-001-20,
preferably less than 2.
`` Viscosity, Brookfield LVT, cps, at 25C:
5-800 cps, preferably below 300, most preferably below
250.
Flash Point, Seta-Flash: greater than 100F.
At room temperature, the composition of this
invention is a homogeneous liquid and comprises a
rodenticidally effective amount of at least one
rodenticide and a~ least one additive.
The rodenticides of this ;nven~ion are
selected from the group consisting of:
1. 4-~ydroxycoumarin derivatives such as:
A. Compounds of the formuia
R~
wherein
Rl and R2 are independently selected from
~he group consisting of hydrogen or halogen atoms
(preferably chlorine or bromine) and alkyl or alkoxy
groups (preferably having from 1 to 6 car~on a~oms),
R is an aryl group having the formula
3 0 ~ 3n
~.~8~5
-s-
.where n is 1 or 2, and
R4 is independently selected from the group
consisting of halo~en atoms, a straight or branched
chain alkyl or alkoxy group, preferably containing at
least 2, more preferably from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, a
cycloalkyl, preferably cyclohexyl group, a benzyl,
phenyl, halogenophenyl, phenoxy and halogenophenoxy
group. The halogen atom or atoms are preferably
chlorine or bromine. When n is 1, R4 is preferably in
the para position and when n is 2, one of the R~
groups is preferably in the para position. Preferably
R3 contains at leas~ l (but not more than 3) and
optîmally not more than 2 halogen atoms. These
compounds are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,957,824
15 and 4,035,505.
Especially preferred are the compounds of
- the structural formulae
~ .
OH
~ , ~
w~erein X is hydrogen and bromine, com~only referred
to as difenacoum and brodifacoum, respectiveiy;
.
9L~877~i
B. Compounds of the foI~ula
pH H
R ---L ~ ~ CH-CH -C-R
wherein
R is hydrogen, phenyl, halophenyl, dihalo-
phenyl ! nitrophenyl, methoxyphenyl, tolyl 3 methylene
dioxyphenyl or furyl,
Rl is methyl, phenyl, halophenyl, nitro-
phenyl, diphenyl, halodiphenyl, nitrodiphenyl and
naphthyl radicals, and
R2 is hydrogen or a halogen.
Such compounds are disclosed in U.S. Patent No,
3,7649693. ~specially preferred axe the compounds
wherein R is -H or
6 5 1 C6HS or -C6H4-C6H4X wherein X is Br or
Cl; and R2 is H. Especially preferred ;s the compound
wherein R2 is hydrogen, R is -C6H5 and Rl is ~ r.
This compound is co~monly referred to as Bromadiolone.
C. Compounds of the ormula
~ <
~ 4
.,
:3L2~7~5
--7--
.. in which ~ reprcsents a halogen atom, pre~e~ably a
chlorine atom, and n is 0, 1 or 2 and R4 represents
either (1) a grouping which compri~es a phenylene
-~ radical attached directly or indirectly to the tetra-
lin ring and having in the para position twith respect
to such a~achment~ sn ~lec~ron-withdrawing atom or
group whose rotational volume substan~ially does not
exceed that of a phenyl group and which forms toge~her
with said phenylene radical a polarisable structure,
or (2) a grouping selected from:
~ or ~N or
15 \=/.
~O--~N
or (3) a grouping which comprises a phenylene radical
attached directly to the ~etralin ring and having in
- the para position (with respect to such attachment) a
substituted furanyl or thiophenyl radical attached
thereto directly or through oxygen and/or methylene,
said furanyl or thiophenyl radical having sn electron-
withdrawing atom or group as a ubstituent i~ R
position orming with the furanyl or thiophenyl
radical a polarisable structure, said atom or group
~ 2877~
having a rotational vol~tme which su~stanti~l~y does
not exceed that o a phenyl group and halogenated
~~~ derivatives thereof.
Preferred compounds are ~hose in which R4
represents a grouping (1) above, which includes a
phenylene radical. When such phenylene radical is
attached directly, or through another phenylene
radical only, or ~hrough an oxygen atom and ano~her
phenylene radical to the tetralin ring the electron-
withdrawing atom or group hould not be a halogenatom. Preferably, the just-stated preferred compounds
are compounds in which the R4 6ubstituent in the
tetralin ring contains ~wo-linked phenylene radicals 9
the outer one being attached to the para position of
the inner one (itself attached in the para dash
position to the tetralin ring) by a linear or essen-
tially linear radical selected from: -O-(C712)m-;
-(CH2)m-O-; -O-(CH2~-O-; -~CH2)m-O-(CH2~p-; -(CH?)m-;
and the sulphur analogues thereof, in which m is 1 to
6 and p is 1 to 6. When said linking radical is
-(CH2~m-, it is noted that such a radical represents
the specific ~election of a chain of from 1 to 6,
preferably 2 to 4, more preferably 3, methylene
radicals.
Most preferred are the compounds wherein R4
~ is one of the following:
(a)
~ ~ ~ 7~
wherein X is as defined below preferably CN or CF3,
~ ~ and n is 0, 1 or 2, provided that when n is ~ or 2, Y
`3'~ iS fluorine or chlorine in a position adjacent to X
~b3
wherein X is as defined below, preferabI~ CN or CF3
and Y is fluorine or chlorine, and n is either 0, 1 or
2 provided ehat when n is 1 or 2, Y is in a position
adjacent to X and X can also be a halogen atom
(c)
~N or ~GN or
J
(d)
~ x~ ~ ~ x~
_
~:t or ~CH2l~LX
~ ~ x
~s~ss
-10-
_- . wherein X is as defined below, nr ls a hal~en atom,
~ ~ preferably a bromine atom
. _ ~e)
~ ~.c~ ~ x'
wherein X is as defined below and n=0, or i5 a halogen
atom and Y is a halogen atom and n is 1 or 2.
(f)
~X~
{~ICH ~
~30--~CH ~ ~A;-
~ I~ CH~)~ ~ X~r
{~ICU~ X'
wherein X is as defined below and n=0, or is a halogen
- atom. Y is a halogen atom and n is 1 or 2, and m is 1
~. to 6 and p is 1 to 6, together with the sulphur
analogues of the above structures in which an S atom
replaces one or both O atoms.
In such compounds X is selected fr-om the
group consisting of
CN; NO~; So2R5; CF3; OCF3; COOR~ CoR7 an~
~ ~~R~.
--CH2--a C~---CSIa~3~02;
--CH~3CII).--CH ~ R~:
C~2 ~ OC~ d CH2 ~ 3 Coo~^~
in which R5, R~ and R7 signify alkyl groups especially
Cl to C4 alkyl groups. Of these, the -CN and -CF3
- groups are particularly preferred. Especially pre-
ferred ~re compounds wherein ~ is chlorine, n is 0, 1
or 2 and R4 represents
~ ,~.
-
- in which Hal is a fluorine or chlorine atom and n is 0
or 1, X is a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom or a
-CN, -CF3 or -OCF3 group and D represents -OCH2- or
~(CH2)m~ where m is 2 to 3; ~nd most especially the
compound 4-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-[4~
~8779S
-12-
~ ~ .trifluoro~ethylbenzyloxy)phenyl]-l-naphth~l~ eoumarin
-~ F_ represented by the formula
.
~H~
most commonly referred to as Flocoumafen. These
compounds are further discussed in U.S. Patent
4,520,007.
2. Indandione derivatives, ~uch as 1,1-diphenyl-2-
acetyl-1,3-indandione, commonly referred to as ~iphac-
inone and (l'-parachlorophenyl-l'-phenyl~-2-acetyl-1,
3-indandione, commonly referred to as Chlorodiphaci-
none; and
3. Monofluoroacetic acid.
4. Compounds of the formula
NO2 R2 ~3
,, 02N~N~R~
CF'3 i;~S R4
~ wherein
~~ R represents methyl, ethyl or propyl;
Rl represents hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, - .
bromo, iodo, cyano, methyl, nitro or trifluoromethyl;
R and R independently represent--hydrogen,
fluoro, chloro, bromo, nitro, methyl or trifluoro-
\
~L~87'79~
-13-
~,. . methyl, provided that no more than one of ~ ~nd R5
~~~` represents ni~ro;
se~ R3 and R4 indepenaently represent hydrogen,
-~methyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo or trifluoromethyl;
S provided that
~ a) no more than one of Rl, R2, R3~ R4 and
R5 represents methyl~ except that R3 and R4 may both
represent methyl;
(b) when Rl, R2, R3, R~ or R5 represents
methyl or fluoro, two or three of Rl, R2 and R5
represent chloro or bromo;
. (c) no more than one of Rl 9 R2, R3, R4 and
R5 represents trifluoromethyl, except that R3 and R4
may both represent trifluoromethyl;
(d) when R2 or R5 represents trifluorometh-
yl, R represents chloro or bromo;
(e) when one and only one of R and R
represents trifluoromethyl, two or three of Rl, R2 and
R5 represent chloro or bro~o;
(f) no more than four of Rl, R2, R3, R4 and
R5 represent hydrogen;
(g) two fluorine atoms are not adjacent to
each other;
(h) when R2 or RS represents nitro,
represents chloro, bromo or nitro;
(i) hen Rl R2 R3 R4 and R5 represents
~ . trifluoromethyl, none of Rl~ R2, R3, R4 and R5 repre-
sents fluoro or methyl.
These compounds are disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,187,318. Especially preferred is the comp~und
wherein R is -CH3, R , R and R are bromine and R
8779S
; "~
,,~
t'
-~4^
_ . and R~ are hydrogen, i.e. N-methyl-2,4-din~t~o-N-
-~ _ (2,4~6-tribromophenyl)-6-ttrifluoromethyl) benzene-
~-~ amine, more commonly referred to as Bromethalin.
-5. Vi~amin D compounds, such as calciferol (ergocal-
ciferol) and cholecalciferol. Such compounds are
especially preferred when used in com~ination with any
other rodenticide referred to herein.
Further included as compounds in this invention, are
the 4-hydroxy coumarin derivatives Dicoumarol, Cou-
matetraly and Coumachlor and the indanedione deriva-
tive Pindone.
Further, salts of the aforementioned com-
pounds may be employed. Such salts are generally
formed by the reaction of the selected rodenticide
with a salt-forming agent selected from the group
~onsisting of:
(i~ an alkali metal, such as sodium or
pota~sium, or ~he hydroxides thereof;
(ii) ammonia or ammonium hydroxide; and
tiii) a conventional amine.
Preferred as the amine are
(a) alkanolamines of the fo~mula
N[~CnH2n)yOH]X (H)z wherein n=l to 6, x
and y are independently,l to 3, z is 0
to 2 and further wherein x+z=3.
- Especially prefesred is the alkanol-
~ amine wherein n ~ 2 and y = ~; and
~b) amines of the formula ~
~=3
~2 ~ /2
~1 ~N -R3~ oR4)pOH
7~5
-15-
~herein Rl and R2 are independently hydro-
gen, methyl, ethyl, propyl or iso-propyl;
R3 and R4 are independen~ly -CH2-, -CH2CH2-,
-CH2CH2CH2- .
CH3
and -~HCH~-; and p is Pither 0 or 1.
The compounds useful as rodenticides in this
inven~ion are more fully discussed in Kirk-Othmer9
Encyclopedia Of Chemical Technology, Vol. 18, 3rd
Edition, pps. 308-318 (1982). Further, combinations
of the above rodenticides may also be employed.
The total amount of rodenticide normally
employed in the composition is between 0.05 and 15.0,
preferably between 0.15 and 5.0, most preferably 0.25,
percent of the total weight of the composition.
Of the above rodenticides, especially
preferred are brodifacoum and difenacoum and their
metal, a~monium and amine salts since they are ~ore
effective at lower concentrations and a~ainst rodent
populations resistant to such rodenticides as chloro-
phacinone, diphacinone, and warfarin.
The additives of this invention modify the
viscosity and other physical properties of the compo-
sition such that water absorption, wick adhesion,
palatibility, structural compatibility and rodenticid-
al effect are optimized. ~n particular, the
additives of this invention must: .
~a? absorb less than fifteen percent
moisture when exposed to 55Z humidity
s
-
at S~C in a 3 inch diameter open petri
.~ ~ dish for 72 hours; ~~
b) undergo less than ive per cent weight
loss when exposed to 55% humidity at
50C for 72 hours in a 3 inch diameter
open petri dish; and
(c) have a viscosity less than 800
centepoisP (cps) at 25DC.
Such additives may be selected from the group consist-
ing of
1. polyoxyalkylated alkyl phenols;
2. sorbitan fat~y acids and polyoxy-
alkylated derivatives thereof;
3. polyoxyalkylated fatty amines;
4. polyoxyalkylated branched or linear
alcohols, diols or polyols; ~This group
can also be referred to as polyoxyalk-
ylated ethers.)
5. polyoxyalkylated branched or linear
mercaptans;
6. polyoxyalkylated esters; and
7. polyoxyalkylated amines.
The polyoxyalkylated al~yl phenols are
produced by condensing l mole of a higher alkyl phenol
with between 1.0 ana 12.5.moles, preferably 6 to 11
_ moles, of alkylene oxide, pr~ferably ethylene and/or
-- propylene oxide. The phenol typically contains one or
more C~ to C12 alkyl group(s~. Nonyl and octyl
phenols are especially preferred. Examples include
the condensa~ion products of l mole of nonyl phenol
and it~ isomers and 4, 5 and lO moles of ethylene
oxide.
7~5
-17-
- The sorbitan fatty acid is derived fro~
-~ ~ 1 mole of sorbitan and between one and three~moles of
at least one C~ to C16 ~a~urated or unsaturated fatty
~acid such as lauric, palmitic, myristic and oleic
acid. Examples of suitable sorbitan fatty acids
include sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate,
sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, and
sorbitan trioleate.
The polyoxyalkylated sorbitan fatty acid
esters are derived from 1 mole of the above described
sorbitan fatty acid ~nd between 1.0 and 12.5, most
preferably 5, moles of alkylene oxide; preferably
ethylene and/or propylene oxide. Specific examples
of polyoxyalkylated sorbitan fat~y acid esters suitable
as additives in thîs inven~ion include the condensation
products of 20 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of
either sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monolaurate or
sorbitan tall oil esters.
The polyoxyalkylated fatty amines are
produced by reacting 1 mole of a C~2 to C18 saturated
or unsaturated fatty amine, most preferably a C15
fatty amine, with between 1 and 16 moles of alkyl~ne
oxide, preferably ethylene and~or propylene oxide,
most preferably ethylene oxide. Suitable fatty amines
are oleyl, coco, so~a a~d lauryl amines. Examples of
~ polyoxyalkylated fatty amines include the reaction
-- product of 1 mole of oleylamine and 5 mole~ of e~hylene
oxide; and the reaction product of 1 mole of the
~mina~ed derivative of tall oil and 16 moles of
ethylene oxide.
The polyoxyalkylated branched or linear
alcohols, diols or polyols are derived from 1 ~ole of
8~ ~9
-18-
.a Clo to C15 saturated or unsaturated pri~ry,
-~ ~ secondary or tertiary alcohol and between 1 and 15
moles o~ alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene andlor
-propylene oxide. Examples of poly~xyalkylated branched
linear alcohols include the reaction product of 2
moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of olelyl alcohol;
8 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of 2,4,7,9-tetra-
methyl 5 decyn-4,7-diol; a Cll-C15 secondary alcohol
with 7 or 9 moles of ethylene oxide; 1 mole of tri-
decyl alcohol and 6 moles of ethylene oxide; 1 mole oftridecyl alcohol and 8 moles of ethylene oxide; and 1
mole of 2,6,8-trimethylnonanol and 6 moles of ethylene
oxide.
The polyoxyalkylated branched or linear
mercaptans are the reaction products of (i) one mole
of a mercaptan of the formula RSH, where R is a C7 to
C30 saturated alkyl group and (ii~ between 1 and 16
moles of alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene and/or
propylene oxide. An example of this additive is the
reaction product o 1 mole of dodecyl ~ercaptan and 8
moles of ethylene oxide.
The polyoxyalkylated esters are of the
formula
o
"
- R-c-otcH2cH~o)xR
-- wherein
R is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or
acyclic C10-C22 group,
Rl is -~ or -C-R; and
X is between one and eighteen.
s
-19-
These esters are produced by reacting onP mole of the
~r appropriate acid with between 1 and 18 moles-of
alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene andlor propylene
.oxide. An example of such an additive is polyoxyethy-
lene (10) glycol oleate.
The polyoxyalkylated amines employed in
this invention are selected from the group consisting
of
H A
~) R-N-~CH2)3-N-A
A A
(b) R-N-(CH2)3-N-H; and
A A
~c) R-N-(CH2)3-N-A
wherein
R is a ~12 to ~18 saturated alkyl group;
A is independently (CH2CH2CH2O)x H or
(CH2CH2~)X H wherein X is between 1 ~nd 14 and further
wherein the sum of all X's in any one compound is not
greater than 15.
Suitable methods for producing the above
polyoxyalkylated additives are well known in the art
and are discussed in many standard textbooks; such as
the Surfactant Science Series, ~ol. I to VII, Martin
~; J. Schick, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., publisher, and
particularly Vol. I, entitled Nonionics.
Further, combinations of the above additives
may also be employed. The total amount of such
3779
-20 -
additive in tlle composition is be~ween 70-90%, prefer
ably 80-90%, most preferably 87Z, based on the weight
of the total composition.
Further, the composition may also contain an
organic solvent. This solvent serves to enhance the
shelf life of thP liquid concer.trate and further,
serves to solvate the a~ine salt in the additive.
Generally any organic solvent or combination of
organic solvents miscible with the above-identified
additives and rodenticides and which permit the
composition of this invention to have the following
characteristics:
(a) absorbs less than fifteen percent
moisture when exposed to 55% humidity
at 5~C in a 3 Inch diameter open petri
dish for 72 hours;
(b) undergo less than five percent weight
loss when exposed to 55Z hu~idity at
50C for 72 hours in a 3 inch diameter
open petri dish; and
(c) have a viscosity less than 800 cente-
poise (cps) at 25C.
may be employed. Preferred are polyalkylene polyols,
especially those of molecular weight between lO0 and
600. Polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol are
especially preferred. Most preferred is a polyethy-
lene glycol of molecular weight 200. The amount of
solvent normally employed in the formulation is
between 2 ~nd 50Z, preferably between 2 and lOX, based
on the total weight of ~he composition.
Further the composition may contain any
conventional dye that is fluorescent and soluble in
the composition. ~uch dyes have a three-fold purpose.
._ .
12~ 95
.
-21
l. Analytical Tool. The fluorescent dyes sre em-
ployed to determine the relative amount of rodenticide
in any given sample or the relative amount of rodenti-
cide uptake in a given subject. Further, due to the
high level of toxicity of the colorless rodenticides
of this invention, appropriate precautionary measures
can be undertaken after this quantity is determined.
2. Use in Field Operations. When employed in the
above-discussed tubular rodent control devices, the
amount of dye presen~ in any given sample may also be
used to determine the efficacy of the wick. This can
be ascertained by ~easuring the amount of dye uptake
(which is analogo~ls to the uptake of the active
ingredient) by the rodent per pass over the wick, as
outlined in the Morris et al article cited above.
3. Contamination of Substrates. It is oten neces-
sary to determine how much rodenticide is contaminat-
- - ing the substrate. Thus, for example, the amount of
rodenticide in wood can be ascertained by extracting
the dye from the wood and calculating the correspond-
ing rodenticide content.
Examples of especially suitable dyes are
listed in D.M. Marmion, Handbook of U.S. Colorants
for Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley and Sons,
1984. Especially preferred are:
A. fluorescent dyes selected from the group
consisting of fluorescein dyes such as fluorescein (D
& C Yellow ~7) and its metal (e.g. Ca, Na) 6~1ts;
4-iodofluorescein; 4,5-diiodofluorescein; and
2,4,5,7-tetraiodofluorescein;
~ 2877~3S
B, Xanthenes s~ch as D & C Yellow ~5~
~- Rhodamine B (D ~ C Red ~19?; D & C Yellow 11~ (quino-
line yellow, i.e. the disodium salt of 2-t2-quinolyl)-
~1,3-indandione); and D & C Yellow ~11 (quinoline
yellow SS); and
C. F D ~ C Blue tl, Brillisnt Blue FCF.
Combinations of dyes may also be employed. The total
amount of dye normally employed is ~etween 0.01 to 2%,
most preferably 0.1 and 0.2~ by weight of the total
composition.
While the composition o this invention may
be produced by processes known in the art, ~wo pro-
cesses are especially preferred. In the first, the
rodenticide and additive and, optionally, solvent,
and/or dye are simultaneously mixed and stirred
between 20 and 30C, preferably room temperature,
from 30 seconds to 3 days depending on such factors,
well known to one skilled in the art, as volume,
agitator shear, temperature of the reaction vessel,
and product solubilityO The mixture is sufficiently
blended when the resulting coMposition remains homo-
geneous.
If the rodenticide employed is ~o be a
metal, amine or ammonium salt o one of the aforemen-
tioned compounds, the appropriate salt-forming agent
is also simultaneously mixed with the above co~pon-
-- ents. Alternatively, the metal, ammonia or amine salt
may be formed prior to admixing with the rodenticide
with the other components of this invention.
The sequential process is espeoially useful
when the rodenticide employed is a metal~ amine or
-23-
ammonium salt of one of the aforementioned compounds.
~P In this process one of the aforementioned compounds 9
the salt-forming agent and organic solvent sre simul-
.taneously added to a reaction vessel and the mi~ture
stirred from 1 to 7 hours. To the resulting mixture
containing the formed rodenticidal salt is added the
additive and, optionally, the dye. Alternatively the
rodenticide, salt-forming agent and additive ~ay be
simultaneously added to the reaction vessel and
stirred or 1 to 7 hours. The dye and organie sol-
vent, if desired, may be added either to the reaction
vessel during or subsequent to ehe formation of the
rodenticidal salt. In either alternative or in any
other feasible method, the components of ~he composi-
tion are stirred between 20~ to 80C, preferably 25C,
for 30 seconds to one day until the resulting composi-
tion remains homogeneous. This process may also
employ the pre-formed rodenticidal salt.
When the rodenticidal soluble salt is formed
in one of the above defined in situ processes, the
amount of ~al~-formang ag~nt employed is between
3-50%, preferably 3-10%, most preferably 6%, based on
the wei~ht of the total composition.
Especially preferred as the composition of
this invention is 0.15 to 5.0 weight percent of a
compound of the formula ~
, ~
30 OH
~ ,'
:
2~95
-24 -
. 70 to 90 weight percent of the reaction prQdL~ct o an
~r oleylamine ~nd alkylene oxide; 3 to 50 weight percent
o triethanolamine; 2 to 10 weight percent of a
- --polyalkylene glyeol of molecular weight between 100
and 600; and 0.1 to 0.2 weight percent of Rhodamine
B.
While the composition of this invention may
be employed in various devices and forms, it is
especially adapted for use in a rodent control tubular
apparatus. In particular, due to ~he synergistic
effect of the physical properties of the composition,
it genesally will not leak from the cartridge of such
a device when loaded onto the wick and thus the
danger of contamina~ion to both non-~arget species and
the environment is eliminated. In such rodent control
tubes, the amount of composition added ~o a single
wick is that amount needed to achieve between S0 to
90, most preferably 75-9Q, percent saturation.
Further, the composition of this invention
is considered to be child-proof when employed in such
apparatus. The composition is considered ~o be
child-proof since accidental ingestion by a 25 kg
child of the composition of this invention from either
or both cartridges would not be fatal.
The following non-limiting examples are
presented to urther illustrate the invention and the
advantages thereof.
~2 ~ S
Ex~ple I
To a 250 ml beaker was added 6.12 g of
salt-forming a~ent ~triethanolamine) and 6.08 g
5 of solven~ (polyethylene glycol 200). A homo-mixer
~International Laboratory, Model No. X-1020) was then
lowered into the beaker and the mixturP was stirred
(approximately 30 seconds) until homogeneous. To the
resulting blend was added 0.266 g of brodifacoum
ttechnical, 93.89 wt. Z active ingredient). After
stirring with the homo-mixer for approximately 23
minutes, 0.04 g of Xhodamine B was added to the
beaker. The mixture was then stirred for approximate-
ly 25 minutes until it was homogenized. 87.494 g of
additive (N,N-polyoxyethyl(5~oleylamine~ was ~hen
added and the composition was stirred ~ntil homogen-
ous, approximately five minutes. The resulting
composition was characterized as follows:
Specific Gravity at 25C 0.9730
Vapor Pressure mm Hg at 25C2 2.0
Boiling Point, C 42-280
Viscosity (Brookfield LVT9
cps), at 25C, Spindle ~2
at 30 rpm 135
Flash Point (Seta-Flash, F) >230
Z Evaporation at 50 D C ~
72 hrs., 52% relative hum-
idity (R.H.) (wt. Z) 1.0
% Water Absorption at 5C,
72 hr~. 9 52Z R.H. ~wt. ~ 8.0
37~3S
.. Brodifacoum not present ln compos~tion whP~_this
~r index was obtsined.
-- Examples 2-9
The procedure of Example 1 was repeated.
The reactants employed and their respective amounts
are the same as recited in Example 1 except for the
additive eomponent. The properties of the resulting
formulations are summarized in Table I.
TABLE I
Example No.
2 3 ~ ~ 5 6 7 8 9
Additive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(87.49 g)
20 Viscosity 155 38~ 560 120 775 120 85 131
(cps) Brook-
field LVT
Spindle t2
at 30 rpm, 25C
Z Evapora- 1.5 1.0 2.5 2.0 1.0 3.0 8.5 1.2
tion a~ 50C,
72 hrs., 52Z
R.H. (wt. X)
% Water 9.0 2.0 10.0 11.5 3.5 9.0 4.0 6.3
Absorption
- at 5C,
72 hrs., 52%
35 R.H. (wt. %)
1. Polyoxye~hylene (3.5)
2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol;
2. Sorbitan trioleate;
8~ ~ ~S
-27-
3. Polyoxyethylene (20)sorbitan_~onooleate
~r 4. Polyethylene glycol rlO)oleate (the
reaction product of 1 mole of oleic
- acid and 10 moles of ethylene oxide;
5. ~ " tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-~-
tallow-1,3-propanediamine;
6. Reaction product of 1 mole of Dodecyl
mercaptan and 8 moles ethylene oxide;
7. A branched alcohol e~hoxylate compris-
ing the reaction product of 1 mole of
2,6,8-trimethylnonanol and 6 moles of
ethylene oxide;
8. Reaction Product of 1 mole of tridecyl
alcohol and B moles of e~hylene oxide.
Example 10
To a 250 ml beaker was added 6.06 g of
triethanolamine and 6.03 g of polyethylene glycol
200. A homo-mixer (International Laboratory, Model
No. X-1020) was then lowered into the beaker and the
mixture was stirred until homogeneous, approximately
30 seconds. To the resulting blend was added 0.266
g of brodifacoum (technical, 93.89 wt. Z active ingre-
dient) and 20.55 g of polyethylene glycol 400. After
- stirring with the homo-mixer for approximately 20
- minutes, 0.04 g of Rhodamine B was added to ~he
beaker. The mixture was ~tirred until homogeneous
~approximately 25 minutes~. 67.054 g of pol-yoxy~
3D ethylene S103 non71 phenol was added to the composi-
tion which was then stirred until homogeneous, approx-
imately 5 minutes. The resulting composition was
characterized as follows:
-28-
~iscosity (Brookfield LVT, cps), at 25C,
Spindle ~2, at 30 rpm: 240 cps. ~
~;~~ % E~aporation at 50C, 72 hrs., 52% R.H.:
~.B (wt. ~).
X Water absorption at 5C, 72 hrs., 52
R.H.~ 2 ~wt. Z).
F.xample 1 1
5 male and 5 female wild house mice ~Mus
musculus3 were dusted with an insecticide to control
any ectoparasites. Mice were then placed in~o group
enclosures and were given laboratory chow and water
ad lib All mice were held sexes separate for a
minimum of 3 weeks to prevent the use of pregnant
females as well as to acclimate them to capti~e
conditions. The animals were then weighed and toe-
- clipped for future identification prior to introduc-
- tion into the test enclosure. This enclosure was a
plastic laundry tub (U~S. Plastics Corp. Model No~
143675) which was 22.9 x 15.24 x 7.0 om. The floor
was covered wi~h Bed-O-Cobs animal bedding ~The
Andersons, Maumee, Ohio) and two nesting boxes (22.9 x
15.24 x 7.0 cm) were placed into the enclosure for the
mice to nest in. ~ single food bowl containing Ground
Purina laboratory chow (ad libitum) was placed on top
of one of the nesting bo~es and a second bowl was
filled with water and placed on top of the other box.
All the animals were conditioned to the actual test
en~ironment for 3 days prior to the start of the test
period with food consumption being monitored daily.
-29-
Following the conditioning period, a mouse tube
~F similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,281l471 was
placed along one wall of the enclosure. Each car-
tridge was loaded with 1.25 g of the composition of
5 Example 1. Two Actimeter motion detection devices were
fitted into the tube at a point jus~ in front of the
wick so that mouse activity within the tube could be
monitored. Actimeters, as described by Kaukeinen in
"Field Methods for Census Taking of Commercial Rodents
10 in Rodenticide Evaluations,l' Vertebrate Pes~ Control
and Management Materials: Second Symposium, ASTM STP
680, American Society ~or Testing and Materials,
Philadelphia, 1979, pp. 68-83 are infrared sensing
devices which measure the combination of heat and body
15 movement. These units have an internal memory and can
register up to 9999 counts (activations). Counts are
a relative index of activity and do no~ relate to the
total number of passages, i.e~, Actimeters count
activity at a certain poine rather than necessarily
20 revealing complete passes through the device. Each of
the Actimeters was monitorPd daily and counts were
taken. Food consumption was also monitored daily.
Following the third day o the test, all nesting boxes
were searched for dead mice. At death or the end of
25 the 15 day treatment period, all mice were reweighed.
The resul~s tabulated in Tables I & II below indicates
~ that the composition of Example 1 has good removal
qualities such that suffic~ent toxicant was removed by
the rodents in a relatively short period to-cause
30 mortality. In this ~rial, 100% of the mice ~ied with
~n average day of death a~ 7.1 days.
-30-
Table 1 ~_-
~- Animal InitalFinal Day of
~; No. Sex Weight W~ htDeath
-- _
1 F 16.5 15.5 6
2 F 12.0 19.1 6
3 F 20.5 13.9 7
4 F 17.3 12.2 10
S F 17.1 1~.3 6
6 M 14.6 16.9 7
7 M 17.5 13.7
8 M 20.3 18.3 7
9 M 15.0 13.7 6
M 20.9 16.7 8
AVERAGE 17.2 1~1 7~1
T~ble 2
Dl~Y
CONDITIONING TEST
CORSI~MPTION -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 2 13 14 lS
(p) 22.!~ 23.2 12.8 26.4 27.1 12.62.B 12.8 6.9 23.0 0.6 0.0 0.3
ACTI~IEll~R LEFI~ 442 196 165 128 96 45 335 8 0 0
COUNIS RIÆ 465 238 161 123 89 69339 2 0 0
Exam~le 12-13
5 male and 5 female wild house mice (Mus
musculus) were dusted with an insecticide to control
any ectoparasites. Mice were then placed into group
enclosures and were given laboratory chow and water
~; 35 ad lib. All mice were held sexes separate for a
- minimum of 3 weeks to prevent the use of pregnant
females as well as to acclimate them to captive
conditions. The animals were then weighed and toe-
clipped for future identification prior to
77~5
-31 -
. introduction into the test enclosure. Th~-enclosure
~ was a plastic laundry tub ~U.S. Plasties Corp. Model
~~; No. 143675) which was 22.9 x 15.24 x 7.0 cm. The
~ floor was covered with Bed-O-Cobs animal bedding ~The
Andersons, ~aumee9 Ohio) and two nes~ing boxes (22.9 x
15.24 x 7.0 cm~ were placed into the enclosure for the
mice to nest in. A single food bowl containing Ground
Purina laboratory chow ~ad libitum) was placed on top
of one of the nesting boxes and a second bowl was
fill~d with water and placed on top of ~he other box.
All the animals were conditioned to the actual test
environment for 3 days prior to the ~tart of the test
period with food consumption being monitored daily~
Following the conditioning period, a mouse tube
lS similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,281,471
was placed along one wall of the enclosure. The cart-
ridge was lsaded wi~h 1.25 g of the formulation. To
the top of ~he cartridge was placed a 20 mesh screen
with 0.02 diameter. The tubes were removed after the
fourth day of the test. At death or at the end of the
thirteenth day, a body count was made. The results
are tabulated in Table II.
TABLE II
Formu- % Z Average
-- lation Mortality MortalityRange of Day of
. Employed Male FemaleDeath (Days) Death
Ex. ~ 60 80 7-11 9
Ex~ 10 100 80 6-13
779
-32-
E~
_
~ ~ 5 Male and 5 female wild house mice (Mus
-musculus) were placed in separate cages for a period
of five days. A food bowl containing Ground Purina
laboratory chow and a water bowl was placed in each
cage. Each mouse was permitted to pass through a
mouse tube similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent
4,281,471 five times per day. The cartridge of the
tube was loaded with 1.25 g of the formulation of
Example 10. The mean date of death was 6.8 days 1.6
days. 100% mortality occurred by day 15.
