Organosulfur compounds as a potential fungicides: The preparation and properties of some substituted benzyl 2-hydroxyethyl oligosulfides

Compounds of the general type ArCH2SnCH2CH2OH (n = 1 - 4, Ar = Ph, 2-MeC6H4 , 4-MeC6H4, 4-ClC6H4, 4-MeOC6H4; n = 1 - 3, Ar = 2-ClC6H4; n = 2, Ar = 4-FC 6H4; n = 3 or 4, Ar = 2-furyl) have been prepared as analogues of the trisu lfide PhCH2SSSCH2CH2OH (an antimicrobial compound which occurs in the plant Petiveria alliacea) and their potential for application as agricultural fu ngicides has been examined. In vitro tests against Fusarium culmorum, Fusar ium axysporum and Gauenomyceles graminis showed that all compounds gave >80 % control of these organisms at 1000 ppm. Tests at 100 and 10 ppm showed va rying levels of control but the activity did not depend significantly on th e number of sulfur atoms present. Selected compounds were also shown to be active in vivo against Erysiphe graminis on barley seedlings, Botrytis faba e and Uromyces viciae-fabae on bean seedlings, Podosphaera leucotricha on a pple seedlings, and Phytophthora infestans on potato leaf. The compounds we re phytotoxic at concentrations greater than 0.33%.