Thio pyridine N-oxides and regulation of the natural growth and development of plants therewith

Claim 1

A method of regulating the natural growth or development of plants which comprises applying to said plants an effective non-herbicidal plant-regulating amount of a 2-thiopyridine N-oxide compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein: R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 to C 15 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl; R 2 is hydrogen, C 1 to C 12 alkyl, C 1 to C 4 alkenyl, C 2 or C 3 alkoxycarbonyl, C 5 or C 6 alicyclic, phenyl provided R 1 is not phenyl, phenyl substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents which may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C 1 to C 3 alkyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 or C 2 alkoxy, phenoxy, dioxymethylene and 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl; and phenyl substituted with 4 to 5 substituents which may be the same or different and are selected from methyl and chlorine; 1-methyl-2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl, 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl, naphthyl, 9-anthryl, 5-indanyl, 4-biphenylyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-thienyl or benzyl; R 1 and R 2 may be joined together in the form of a polymethylene chain --(CH 2 ) m -- where m is 3, 4 or 5 to form a carbocyclic ring; and when R 1 is hydrogen or methyl R 2 can be the radical ##STR7## where y is 0, 1 or 2 and the X's are the same or different and are selected from C 1 to C 3 alkyl, halogen, and 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl.

Claim 2

A method of regulating the natural growth or development of plants which comprises applying to said plants an effective non-herbicidal plant-regulating amount of a 2-thiopyridine N-oxide compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein: R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 to C 15 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl; R 2 is hydrogen, C 1 to C 12 alkyl, C 1 to C 4 alkenyl, C 2 or C 3 alkoxycarbonyl, C 5 or C 6 alicyclic, phenyl provided R 1 is not phenyl, phenyl substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents which may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C 1 to C 3 alkyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 or C 2 alkoxy, phenoxy, dioxymethylene and 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl; and phenyl substituted with 4 to 5 substituents which may be the same or different and are selected from methyl and chlorine; 1-methyl-2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl, 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl, naphthyl, 9-anthryl, 5-indanyl, 4-biphenylyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-thienyl or benzyl; R 1 and R 2 may be joined together in the form of a polymethylene chain --(CH 2 ) m -- where m is 3, 4 or 5 to form a carbocyclic ring; and when R 1 is hydrogen or methyl R 2 can be the radical ##STR7## where y is 0, 1 or 2 and the X's are the same or different and are selected from C 1 to C 3 alkyl, halogen, and 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl.