Halophor composition

Claim 2

A halophor comprising a complex of (a) halogen selected from the group consisting of bromine and iodine, (b) sulfone selected from the group consisting of acyclic sulfones represented by the formula R 1 --SO 2 --R 2 , wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or phenyl, and heterocyclic sulfones represented by the graphic formula: ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and (c) halide represented by the formula, MX, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium and lithium, or alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium, and X is bromine, chlorine or iodine, the mole ratio of halide to halogen being from about 1:1 to 1:12, and the amount of halogen in the complex being between about 10 and about 50 weight percent.

Claim 3

The halophor of claim 1 wherein the halogen is bromine and the halide is an alkali metal bromide.

Claim 4

The halophor of claim 2 wherein the sulfone is dimethyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, sulfolane or 3-methyl sulfolane.

Claim 5

The halophor of claim 3 wherein the mole ratio of halide to halogen is from about 1:1 to 1:3 and the amount of halogen in the complex is from about 25 to 40 weight percent.

Claim 6

The halophor of claim 1 wherein the halide, MX, is a member selected from the group consisting of bromides and iodides of the alkali metals sodium, lithium and potassium.

Claim 7

A particulate halophor composition comprising particulate, inert, amorphous siliceous carrier having adsorbed thereon from about 1 to about 80 weight percent of a complex of (a) halogen selected from the group consisting of bromine and iodine, (b) sulfone selected from the group consisting of acyclic sulfones represented by the formula R 1 --SO 2 --R 2 , wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or phenyl, and heterocyclic sulfones represented by the graphic formula: ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and (c) halide represented by the formula, MX, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium, and lithium, or alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium, and X is bromine, chlorine or iodine, the mole ratio of halide to halogen being from about 1:1 to 1:12, and the amount of halogen in the complex being between about 10 and about 50 weight percent.

Claim 8

A particulate halophor composition comprising particulate, inert, amorphous siliceous carrier having adsorbed thereon from about 1 to about 80 weight percent of a complex of (a) halogen selected from the group consisting of bromine and iodine, (b) sulfone selected from the group consisting of acyclic sulfones represented by the formula R 1 --SO 2 --R 2 , wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or phenyl, and heterocyclic sulfones represented by the graphic formula: ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and (c) halide represented by the formula, MX, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium, and lithium, or alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium, and X is bromine, chlorine or iodine, the mole ratio of halide to halogen being from about 1:1 to 1:12, and the amount of halogen in the complex being between about 10 and about 50 weight percent.

Claim 9

The halophor composition of claim 6 wherein the sulfone is dimethyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, sulfolane or 3-methyl sulfolane.

Claim 10

The halophor composition of claim 6 wherein the siliceous carrier is a synthetic amorphous silica or naturally occurring silica- or silicate-containing mineral.

Claim 11

The halophor composition of claim 8 wherein the siliceous carrier contains from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of the complex.

Claim 12

The halophor composition of claim 7 wherein the siliceous carrier is a synthetic amorphous silica or naturally occurring silica- or silicate-containing mineral.

Claim 13

The halophor composition of claim 10 wherein the halogen is bromine, and the halide is sodium bromide, potassium bormide, lithium bromide, calcium bromide or magnesium bromide.

Claim 14

The halophor composition of claim 11 wherein the mole ratio of halide to halogen is from about 1:1 to 1:3 and the amount of halogen in the complex is from about 25 to 40 weight percent.

Claim 15

The halophor composition of claim 12 wherein the siliceous carrier is precipitated amorphous silica and the sulfone is sulfolane.

Claim 16

The halophor composition of claim 11 wherein the bromide is sodium bromide, lithium bromide or potassium bromide.

Claim 17

The halophor composition of claim 13 wherein the bromide is lithium bromide, sodium bromide or potassium bromide.

Claim 18

A fumigant comprising particulate, inert amorphous siliceous carrier having adsorbed thereon an insecticidal amount of a bromophor complex of (a) bromine, (b) sulfone selected from the group consisting of acyclic sulfones represented by the formula R 1 --SO 2 --R 2 , wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or phenyl, and heterocyclic sulfones represented by the graphic formula: ##STR4## wherein R is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and (c) bromide represented by the formula, MBr, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium and lithium, or alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium, the mole ratio of bromide to bromine being from about 1:1 to 1:12, and the amount of bromine in the complex being between about 10 and 50 weight percent.

Claim 19

A fumigant comprising particulate, inert amorphous siliceous carrier having adsorbed thereon an insecticidal amount of a bromophor complex of (a) bromine, (b) sulfone selected from the group consisting of acyclic sulfones represented by the formula R 1 --SO 2 --R 2 , wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl or phenyl, and heterocyclic sulfones represented by the graphic formula: ##STR4## wherein R is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and (c) bromide represented by the formula, MBr, wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium and lithium, or alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium, the mole ratio of bromide to bromine being from about 1:1 to 1:12, and the amount of bromine in the complex being between about 10 and 50 weight percent.

Claim 20

The fumigant of claim 16 wherein the sulfone is dimethyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, sulfolane or 3-methyl sulfolane.

Claim 21

The fumigant of claim 17 wherein from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the siliceous carrier-bromophor complex composition is the bromophor complex.

Claim 22

The fumigant of claim 18 wherein the bromide is alkali metal bromide selected from lithium bromide, sodium bromide, and potassium bormide, the sulfone is sulfolane, and the mole ratio of bromide to bromine in the complex is between about 1:1 and 1:3.

Claim 23

The fumigant of claim 19 wherein the siliceous carrier is precipitated, amorphous silica.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 wherein the halide is dissolved in the sulfone prior to introducing the halogen.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature at which the halophor complex is prepared is from about 25° C. to about 55° C.

Claim 28

The method of claim 23 wherein the halogen is bromine, the halide is lithium bromide, sodium bromide or potassium bormide, and the sulfone is sulfolane.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein the halophor is prepared in the substantial absence of water.