Complexation of carbendazim with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin to improve solubility and fungicidal activity

The effect of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) on the improvement of the solubility and fungicidal activity of carbendazim (MBC) has been investigated. The inclusion complexation of HP beta CD with MBC has been prepared and characterized by phase solubility diagram, fluorescence, H-1 NMR, ROESY and FT-IR spectra. The stoichiometric ratio and stability constant were determined by Job's plot and phase solubility studies, respectively. The inclusion complex MBC.HP beta CD has exhibited different properties from MBC. The obtained inclusion complex was found to significantly improve the water solubility of MBC. In addition, the biological activity indicated that the complex displayed the better fungicidal activity than MBC. The present study provided useful information for a more rational application of MBC. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.