Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions

Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions (named herbicidal ionic liquids-HILs) were synthesized and characterized. The combination of two active chemicals as the [cation][anion] form in a single moiety reduced the number of additional chemicals required per application. HILs ([cation][MCPA]) exhibited higher biological activity than currently used salts of MCPA, and involved pesticides of a multidirectional activity ([plant growth regulator][MCPA]). Acute toxicity of HILs could be controlled by appropriate selection of cation type. These salts had chemical and thermal stability, and showed substantially lower water solubility than starting herbicides, thus reducing soil and groundwater mobility. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.