New microparticles containing active substances

The present invention is directed to icroparticles, wherein said microparticles contain one or more active substance, said one or more active substance being water immiscible, wherein said one or more active substance is liquid (at 21 °C) or dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent S that is immiscible with water, and wherein said microparticles contain i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) optionally at least one sterol ST.

It is further directed to processes for making such microparticles and for their uses and to formu lations and uses of such microparticles.

When reference is made herein to two components “interacting” with each other, this shall mean that such two components interact with each other through the formation of non-covalent bonds. When reference is made herein to inorganic salt “crosslinking” components phospholipid PL and Sterol ST via formation of non-covalent bonds, this shall have the same meaning as “interacting with the components phospholipid PL and sterol ST via formation of non-covalent bonds”.

The encapsulation of active substances has been known for a long time. It offers several ad vantages over non-encapsulated formulations. For example, it is possible to control the release profile of the active substance in the formulation.

Known encapsulation technologies involve for example the formation of polymer shells or poly mer particles around an encapsulated active substance. Polymers often used for such encapsu lation include acrylic polymers, polyurea or polyurethane polymers or aminoplast polymers.

It is a drawback of the abovementioned encapsulation technologies that the polymers are not easily biodegradable and may lead to the formation of small polymer particles that may persist over extended periods of time. Such persistent polymer particles are sometime also referred to as microplastics.

Is was therefore the objective of the present invention to provide microparticles containing ac tive substances that have excellent release profiles and form stable formulations, yet at the same time can degrade easily under ambient conditions and do not form microplastics.

This objective was achieved by microparticles, wherein said microparticles contain one or more active substance, said one or more active substance being water immiscible, wherein said one or more active substance is liquid (at 21 °C) or dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent S that is immis cible with water, and wherein said microparticles contain i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) optionally at least one sterol ST.

In one embodiment, this objective was achieved by microparticles, wherein said microparticles contain one or more active substance, said one or more active substance being water immiscible, wherein said one or more active substance is liquid (at 21 °C) or dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent S that is immiscible with water, and wherein said microparticles contain i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) at least one sterol ST.

In one embodiment, this objective was achieved by microparticles, said microparticles being mi crocapsules having a shell and a core or being microspheres, wherein said microspheres or the core of said microcapsules contain one or more active substance, said one or more active sub stance being water immiscible, wherein said one or more active substance is liquid (at 21 °C) or dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent S that is immiscible with water, and wherein said microspheres or the shell of said microcapsules contain i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) optionally at least one sterol ST.

In one preferred embodiment, this objective was achieved by microparticles, said microparticles being microcapsules having a shell and a core or being microspheres, wherein said microspheres or the core of said microcapsules contain one or more active substance, said one or more active substance being water immiscible, wherein said one or more active substance is liquid (at 21 °C) or dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent S that is immiscible with water, and wherein said microspheres or the shell of said microcapsules contain i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) at least one sterol ST.

Microparticles of the invention are typically microcapsules having a shell and a core or are micro spheres.

The term microsphere as used herein denotes a particulate structure characterized by the ab sence of an outer shell, an outer membrane, or any distinct outer layer, having an average particle size as described below that contains one or more active substance distributed in a matrix mate rial. According to the invention, said matrix material comprises at least one phospholipid PL and optionally at least one sterol ST as the main components by weight. Microspheres according to the invention are typically liquid or semiliquid (“jellylike”) at 21 °C. Microspheres of the invention are typically spherical.

The active substance can be partly dissolved in the matrix material and partly present in a sepa rate phase as droplets that are distributed in the matrix.

The microparticles of the invention contain in the matrix of the microsphere or in the core of the microcapsule one or more active substances. An active substance as used herein shall mean any chemical compound or mixture of compounds that is used to achieve a certain effect on a target upon its release.

According to the invention, active substances contained in the microparticles of the invention are immiscible with water. “immiscible with water” in this context shall mean that such active substances have a solubility in water of less than 10 g/l at 21 °C, preferably less than 1 g/l at 21 °C. In one embodiment, wa ter immiscible active substances have a solubility in water of less than 0.1 g/l at 21 °C.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from pesticides, plant health agents, repel- lants, biocides, phase-change materials, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic ingredients (like fragrances, perfumes, vitamins, essential oils, plant extracts), nutrients, food additives (like vegetable oils, marine oils, vitamins, aromas, antioxidants, essential oils, plant extracts), pheromones, cata lysts.

Preferred active substances are selected from pesticides, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic ingredi ents (like fragrances, perfumes, vitamins, essential oils, plant extracts), nutrients, food additives (like vegetable oils, marine oils, vitamins, aromas, antioxidants, essential oils, plant extracts), pheromones and catalysts.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from pesticides, cosmetic ingredients (like fragrances, perfumes, vitamins, essential oils, plant extracts), nutrients, food additives (like veg etable oils, marine oils, vitamins, aromas, antioxidants, essential oils, plant extracts), phero mones and catalysts.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from pesticides.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from active substances for personal care.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from cosmetic ingredients (like fragrances, perfumes, vitamins, essential oils, plant extracts).

In one embodiment, active substances are selected nutrients.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from food additives (like vegetable oils, ma rine oils, vitamins, aromas, antioxidants, essential oils, plant extracts).

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from pheromones.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from catalysts.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from insect repellants.

In one embodiment, active substances are selected from biocides.

In one embodiment, active substances are nutrients that are used in the food and animal nutri tion sector, such as lipophilic vitamins, such as, for example, tocopherol, vitamin A and deriva tives thereof, vitamin D and derivatives thereof, vitamin K and derivatives thereof, vitamin E, vit amin F and derivatives thereof, or saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and also derivatives and compounds thereof, natural and synthetic flavorings, aroma substances and fragrances and lipophilic dyes, such as, for example, retinoids, flavonoids or carotenoids.

In one embodiment, active substances are pharmaceuticals such as anesthetics and narcotics, anticholinergics, antidepressants, psychostimulants, and neuroleptics, antiepileptics, antimycot- ics, antiphlogistics, bronchodilators, cardiovascular medicaments, cytostatics, hyperemics, antili- pemics, spasmolytics, testosterone derivatives, tranquilizers or virustatics.

In one embodiment, active substances are food additives like vegetable oils, marine oils, vita mins, aromas, antioxidants, essential oils, plant extracts. One preferred active substance is vitamin A.

One preferred active substance is vitamin E.

One preferred type of active substance are edible oils (e.g. vegetable or marine oils) containing unsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids or mire highly unsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid.

In one embodiment, active substances are substances used in the field of personal care (e.g. cosmetics), such as perfume oils, organic UV filters, dyes, or care substances, such as pan- thenol.

In one embodiment, active substances are preferred dyes which can be used as active sub stances in the capsules according to the invention are natural or synthetic dyes which are ap proved in the field of nutrition or of cosmetics, as are described, for example, in WO 2005/009604 A1 on page 9, lines 18 to 30.

In one embodiment, the active substance is an organic UV filter. Examples of such organic UV filters are the following commercially available UV filters:

PABA, Homosalate (HMS), Benzophenone-3 (BENZ-3), Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM), Octocrylene (OC), Polyacrylamidomethyl Benzylidene Camphor, Ethylhexyl Methox- ycinnamate (EMC, OMC), Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate (IMC), Ethylhexyl Triazone (OT, ET), Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone (DBT), 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (MBC), 3-Benzylidene Camphor (BC), Ethylhexyl Salicylate (OS, ES), Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA (OD-PABA, ED-PABA), Benzophenone-4 (BENZ-4), Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetra- methylbutylphenol (Bisoctyltriazol, BOT), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (AT), Polysilicone 15 or Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and mixtures of these UV fil ters. Further UV filters can likewise be used: 2,4,6-Tris (biphenyl )-1,3,5-triazine (TBT), Meth- anone 1,T-(1,4-piperazinediyl)bis[1-[2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxy benzoyl]phenyl]] (CAS num ber 919803-06-8), 1,1-di(carboxy-(2’,2’-dimethylpropyl))-4,4-diphenylbutad iene, merocyanine derivatives or benzylidene malonate UVB filters, and also mixtures of these UV filters with one another or with the UV filters.

Particular preference is given to UV filters selected from Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methox- ycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol or Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, and mixtures of these UV filters.

Suitable pheromones as active substances include the following:

In one preferred embodiment, said active substance is selected from the following list

(1 S)-4, 6, 6-trimethyl bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-en-2-one; 3,7-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1 ]hept-3-en-2-ol;

4.6.6-trimethyl-, [1S-(1a,2b,5 a)]-2,6-octadienal; (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde; mixture of (2Z) (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde and (2E) (3,3-dimethylcyclohexyli- dene)-acetaldehyde; 2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol; (2E) 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyli- dene)-ethanol; cis-1-methyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclobutaneethanol;

(2Z)- 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol; 2-methyl-6-methylene-7-Octen-4-ol; 4-methyl-5-Nonanone; (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol; (5Z)- 5-Decen-1-ol; 4-methyl-5-Nonanol; (2E,4E,6Z)-2,4,6-Decatrienoic acid methyl ester; (2E,4Z)-2,4-Decadienoic acid methyl ester;

4.6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one; mixture of (4R,6S,7S)-(.+-.)- 4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy- nonan-3-one and (4R,6R,7R)-(.+-.)- 4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one; (8E,10E)- 8,10-Do- decadien-1-ol; (5E)- 5-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (3Z)- 3-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (5Z)- 5-Decen-1- olacetate; (7Z)- 7-Decen-1-ol, acetate; (8Z)- 8-Dodecen-1-ol; (9Z)- 9-Dodecen-1-ol;(8E,10E)- 8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol acetate; (7E,9Z)-7,9-Dodecadien-1-ol acetate;

11-tetradecenal; Mixture of (11E)- 11-Tetradecenal, and (11Z)-11-Tetradecenal;

(11Z)- 11-Tetradecenal; (9Z)- 9-Tetradecenal;(9Z,12E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol; (7Z)- 7- Tetradecen-2-one; 11-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (7E)-7-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (8E)- 8-Dodecen-1- o I acetate; (9E)-9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; 8-Dodecen-1-ol -1 -acetate; Mixture of (8E)- 8-Dode- cen-1-ol -1 -acetate and (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol -1 -acetate; (5Z)- 5-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (7Z)- 7-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (8Z)- 8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate; (9Z)- 9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate (11 E)- 11-Tetradecen-1-ol; (11Z)- 11-Tetradecen-1-ol; (6E)-7,11-dimethyl-3-methylene-1 ,6,10-Dode- catriene; 4-tridecen-1-ol acetate; Mixture of (4E)- 4-tridecen-1-ol acetate and (4Z)- 4-tridecen-1- ol acetate; (4Z)- 4-Tridecen-1-ol acetate; (11Z,13Z)-11,13-Hexadecadienal; (9E, 11 E)-9, 11 - Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (9Z,12E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (9Z, 11 E)-9, 11- Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; (11Z)-11-Hexadecenal; (9Z)-9-Hexadecenal; (11Z)-11-Tetrade- cen-1-ol acetate; (11E)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (9E)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (7Z)-7- Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (8Z)-8-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (9Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate; (11 E)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (11Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (8Z)- 14-methyl-8-Hexadecenal; 6-ace- toxy-5-Hexadecanolide; (13Z)- 13-Octadecenal; (11Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol acetate; (11 E); 11- Hexadecen-1-ol acetate; 2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate; Mixture of (2E,13Z)- 2,13-Octadeca- dien-1-ol acetate and (3E,13Z)- 2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol acetate; (7Z)-7-Eicosen-11-one; (13Z)- 13-Octadecen-1-ol acetate; (6Z)-6-Heneicosen-11-one; (9Z)-9-Tricosene; 3-methyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-one; 1-Octen-3-ol; (3R)-1-Octen-3-ol; Mixture of 8-Dodecen-1-ol ac etate and -(8Z)-Dodecen-1-ol; Mixture of (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol acetate, (8E)-8-Dodecen-1-ol ac etate and (8Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol; 5-Decen-1-ol acetate; Mixture of (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol acetate and, and (5E)-5-Decen-1-ol; Mixture of (11 E)- 11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate, and (9E,11E)- 9,11- Tetradecadien-1-ol acetate; Mixture of Compounds with the CAS numbers [30820-22-5], [26532- 23-0], [26532-24-1] and[26532-25-2]; Mixture of (Z)-9-hexadecenal, (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-13-octadecenal; L-carvone; citral; (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate; ethyl formate; ( E,Z )- 2,4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester); (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal; heptyl butyrate; isopropyl myristate; lavanulyl senecioate; cis-jasmone; 2-methyl 1-butanol; methyl eugenol; methyl jasmonate; (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol; (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate; (E,Z)-3,13-octa- decadien-1-ol; (R)-1-octen-3-ol; pentatermanone; (E,Z,Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate; (Z,£)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate; (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one; (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate; (Z)- 11-tetradecenal; (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol; extract of Chenopodium ambrosiodes ; Neem oil; Quil- lay extract or mixtures thereof.

When mixtures of different isomers or of different pheromones are used, these are typically used in a mass ratio of 1 : 100 to 100: 1 , preferably 1 : 10 to 10: 1.

In case of ternary or higher mixtures such ration shall apply with respect to each combination of the mixing partners.

In one embodiment, said active substance is selected from L-carvone, citral, (£,Z)-7,9-dodeca- dien-1-yl acetate, ethyl formate, (£,Z)-2, 4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester), (Z,Z,£)-7,11,13-hex- adecatrienal, heptyl butyrate, isopropyl myristate, lavanulyl senecioate, cis-jasmone, 2-methyl 1- butanol, methyl eugenol, methyl jasmonate, (£,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (£,Z)-2,13-octadeca- dien-1-ol acetate, (£,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (R)-1-octen-3-ol, pentatermanone, (£,Z,Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate, (Z,£)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate, (Z)-7-tetradecen- 2-one, (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol, extract of Che nopodium ambrosiodes, Neem oil, Quillay extract or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, said active substance is selected from L-carvone, citral, (£,Z)-7,9-dodeca- dien-1-yl acetate, ethyl formate, (£,Z)-2, 4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester), (Z,Z,£)-7,11,13-hex- adecatrienal, heptyl butyrate, isopropyl myristate, lavanulyl senecioate, cis-jasmone, 2-methyl 1- butanol, methyl eugenol, methyl jasmonate, (£,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (£,Z)-2,13-octadeca- dien-1-ol acetate, (£,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (R)-1-octen-3-ol, pentatermanone, (£,Z,Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate, (Z,£)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate, (Z)-7-tetradecen- 2-one, (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-olor mixtures thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, said active substance is selected from (E,Z)-7,9-Dodecadienyl acetate; 11-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-9- Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Hexadecenyl acetate; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-4,7-Tridecadienyl acetate; (E,Z,Z)-4,7,10-Tridecatrienyl acetate; (Z,Z,E)-7,11 ,13-Hexade- catrienal; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienal; (Z)-11-Hexadecenal; (Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (Z)-11-Hex- adecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Tetradecenal; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexa- decadienal; (Z,E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol; (Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol;

(Z,E)-9,12-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate;

(Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (Z,E)-9,11-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)- 10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E,Z,Z)-3,8,11-Tetradecatrienyl ace tate; (E,Z)-3,8-Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-3, 7, 11 -Trimethyl-2, 6, 10-dodecatrien-1-ol; (Z)- 3, 7, 11 -Trimethyl-1 , 6, 10-dodecatrien-3-ol; (E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol; 3,7-Dimethyl-6- octen-1-ol; 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)- (2E)- Ethanol; Cyclobutaneethanol, 1-methyl-2-(1- methylethenyl)-, cis-; Ethanol, 2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-, (2Z)-; cis-2-lsopropenyl-1- methylcyclobutaneethanol; 10-Methyltridecan-2-one; 8-Methyldecan-2-yl propionate;

Butyl butyrate; (E)-2-Butenyl butyrate; (Z,E)-4,4-(1,5-Dimethyl-4-heptenylidene)-1-methylcyclo- hexene; Ethyl 2-propenoate; 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; (E)-2-Decenal; 1-Methyl-4- (1 ,5-dimethyl-(Z)-1 ,4-hexadienyl)-cyclohexene; (1 S,2R,4S)-4-(1 ,5-Dimethyl-(Z)-1 ,4-hexadienyl)- 1 ,2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane; (1 R,2S,4S)-4-(1,5-Dimethyl-(Z)-1 ,4-hexadienyl)-1,2-epoxy-1- methylcyclohexane; Hexyl hexanoate; (E)-2-Hexenyl hexanoate; Octyl butyrate; 3-Methyl-6-iso- propenyl-9-decenyl acetate; (Z)-3-Methyl-6-isopropenyl-3,9-decadienyl acetate;

(E)-7,11-Dimethyl-3-methylene-1,6,10-dodecatriene; (1S,2R,3S)-2-(1-Formylvinyl)-5-methylcy- clopentanecarbaldehyde; (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-Hexahydro-4,7-dimethylcyclopenta[c]pyran-1-o l; (4aS,7S,7aR)-Tetrahydro-4, 7-dimethyl cyclopenta[c]pyranone;

2-Phenylacetonitrile; (S)-5-Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4-enyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate; (S)-5- Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4-enyl 3-methylbutanoate; (S)-5-Methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-hex-4- en-1-ol; (Z)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl propionate; (E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl propionate;

3-Methylene-7-methyl-7-octenyl propionate or mixtures thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, said active substance is selected from (E,Z)-7,9-Dodecadienyl acetate; 11-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-9- Tetradecenyl acetate; (E)-11-Hexadecenyl acetate; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)- 4,7-Tridecadienyl acetate; (E,Z,Z)-4,7,10-Tridecatrienyl acetate; (Z,Z,E)-7, 11,13; Hexadeca- trienal; (Z,Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienal; (Z)-11-Hexadecenal; (Z)-11-Hexadecen-1-ol; (Z)-11-Hexa- decenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Tetradecenal; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexadecadienyl acetate; (Z,E)-7,11-Hexadeca- dienal; (Z,E)-9,12-Tetradecadien-1-ol; (Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol; (Z,E)-9,12; Tetradecadienyl ace tate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-9-Tetradecenyl acetate; (Z,E)- 9,11 -Tetradecadienyl acetate; (E,Z)-10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal; (E)-7- Dodecenyl acetate; (E)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-8-Dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-7-Dodecenyl ace tate; (E,Z,Z)-3,8,11-Tetradecatrienyl acetate; (E,Z)-3,8-Tetradecadienyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

Preferred insect repellants as active substances are ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, diethyl- toluamide, picaridin, 2-undecanone.

In one embodiment, active substances are pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, nemati- cides, rodenticides, molluscicides, growth regulators, herbicides or biocides.

In one embodiment, active substances are pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, nemati- cides, rodenticides, molluscicides, growth regulators and herbicides.

Preferred pesticides are insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

The term pesticide (or agrochemical active substance) refers to at least one active substance selected from the group of fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, rodenticides, safen- ers and/or growth regulators. Preferred pesticides are fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides and herbicides. Mixtures of pesticides of two or more of the aforementioned classes can also be used. The person skilled in the art is familiar with such pesticides, which can be found, for ex ample, in the Pesticide Manual, 14th ed. (2006), The British Crop Protection Council, London. Pesticides:

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as "any substance or mix ture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest". The skilled worker is familiar with such pesticides, which can be found, for example, in the Pesticide Manual, 16th Ed. (2013), The British Crop Protection Council, London. A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests includ ing insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread disease or are a nui sance. In the following examples, pesticides suitable for the agrochemical compositions accord ing to the present invention are given.

Fungicides: Fungicides are chemical compounds used to prevent the spread of fungi in gardens and crops. Fungicides are also used to fight fungal infections. Fungicides can either be contact or systemic. A contact fungicide kills fungi when sprayed on its surface. A systemic fungicide has to be absorbed by the fungus before the fungus dies. Examples for suitable fungicides, ac cording to the present invention, encompass the following compounds from the classes A) to L):

A) Respiration inhibitors

Inhibitors of complex III at Q ₀ site: azoxystrobin (A.1.1), coumethoxystrobin (A.1.2), coumoxystrobin (A.1.3), dimoxystrobin (A.1.4), enestroburin (A.1.5), fenaminstrobin (A.1.6), fenoxystrobin/flufenoxystrobin (A.1.7), fluoxastrobin (A.1.8), kresoxim-methyl (A.1.9), mande- strobin (A.1.10), metominostrobin (A.1.11), orysastrobin (A.1.12), picoxystrobin (A.1.13), pyra- clostrobin (A.1.14), pyrametostrobin (A.1.15), pyraoxystrobin (A.1.16), trifloxystrobin (A.1.17), 2-(2-(3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl-allylideneaminooxymeth yl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-/\/-me- thyl-acetamide (A.1.18), pyribencarb (A.1.19), triclopyricarb/chlorodincarb (A.1.20), famoxadone (A.1.21), fenamidone (A.1.21), methyl-/\/-[2-[(1,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-pyrazol-3-yl)oxylmethy l]phe- nyl]-/\/-methoxy-carbamate (A.1.22), metyltetraprole (A.1.25), (Z,2£)-5-[1-(2,4-dichloro- phenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-oxy-2-methoxyimino-/\/,3-dimethyl-pent- 3-enamide (A.1.34), (Z,2£)-5-[1-(4- chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxy-2-methoxyimino-/\/,3-dimethyl- pent-3-enamide (A.1.35), pyrim- inostrobin (A.1.36), bifujunzhi (A.1.37), 2-(ortho-((2,5-dimethylphenyl-oxymethylen)phenyl)-3- methoxy-acrylic acid methyl ester (A.1.38); inhibitors of complex III at Q, site: cyazofamid (A.2.1), amisulbrom (A.2.2), [(6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carb onyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo- 1 ,5-dioxonan-7-yl] 2-methylpropanoate (A.2.3), fenpicoxamid (A.2.4), florylpicoxamid (A.2.5), [(1 S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine- 2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3- hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate,

[(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-car- bonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa noate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2-me- thyl-phenyl)-1 , 3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]pro- panoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyri- dine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2- [(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1S,2S)-2-(2-fluoro-4-methyl- phenyl)-1, 3-dimethyl-butyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa no- ate, [2-[[(1S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butoxy]-1-methyl-2-oxo- ethyl]carbamoyl]-4-methoxy-3-pyridyl]oxymethyl 2-methylpropanoate, [2-[[(1 S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2- (2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-butoxy]-1-methyl-2-oxo-eth yl]carbamoyl]-4-methoxy-3- pyridyl]oxymethyl 2-methylpropanoate,

[2-[[(1S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-butoxy]-1-methyl-2 -oxo-ethyl]carba- moyl]-4-methoxy-3-pyridyl]oxymethyl 2-methylpropanoate, [2-[[(1 S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2-(2-fluoro-4-me- thyl-phenyl)-1 ,3-dimethyl-butoxy]-1-methyl-2-oxo-ethyl]carbamoyl]-4-methox y-3-pyridyl]oxyme- thyl 2-methylpropanoate, [(1 S,2S)-1-methyl-2-(o-tolyl)propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyri- dine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-1-methyl-2-(o-tolyl)propyl] (2S)-2-[(4-methoxy-3- propanoyloxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1S,2S)-1-methyl-2-(o-tolyl)propyl] (2S)-2- [(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [4-methoxy-2-[[(1 S)-1-methyl-2- [(1 S,2S)-1-methyl-2-(o-tolyl)propoxy]-2-oxo-ethyl]carbamoyl]-3- pyridyl] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-di ethylphenyl)-1- ethyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-car- bonyl)amino]propanoate,

[2-[[(1S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-methyl-propoxy]-1-methyl-2-ox o-ethyl]carbamoyl]- 4- ethoxy-3-pyridyl] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa noate,

[(1 S,2S)-2-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1-methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-car- bonyl)amino]propanoate, [2-[[(1 S)-2-[(1S,2S)-2-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1-methyl-propoxy]-1-me- thyl-2-oxo-ethyl]carbamoyl]-4-methoxy-3-pyridyl] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(2,6-dime- thylphenyl)-1 -methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa no- ate, [(1S,2S)-2-[4-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-methyl-pro pyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa noate, [2-[[(1S)-2-[(1 S,2S)-2-[4-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-methyl-propox y]-1-methyl-2-oxo- ethyl]carbamoyl]-4-methoxy-3-pyridyl] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1S,2S)-2-[4-fluoro-2-(trifluorome- thyl)phenyl]-1 -methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa no- ate, [(1S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1-methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyri- dine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [2-[[(1S)-2-[(1S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1-methyl- propoxy]-1-methyl-2-oxo-ethyl]carbamoyl]-4-methoxy-3-pyridyl ] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2- (4-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-1 -methyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-car- bonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-1-methyl-2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-ace- toxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [4-methoxy-2-[[(1S)-1-methyl-2- [(1 S,2S)-1-methyl-2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propoxy]-2-oxo-e thyl]carbamoyl]-3-pyridyl] 2- methylpropanoate, [(1S,2S)-1-methyl-2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4- methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propanoate, [(1 S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-1-me- thyl-propyl] (2S)-2-[(3-acetoxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa noate, [2-[[(1 S)-2- [(1 S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-1-methyl-propoxy]-1-m ethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]carbamoyl]-4- methoxy-3-pyridyl] 2-methylpropanoate, [(1S,2S)-2-(4-fluoro-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-1-methyl-pro- pyl] (2S)-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-pyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]propa noate; inhibitors of complex II: benodanil (A.3.1), benzovindiflupyr (A.3.2), bixafen (A.3.3), bos- calid (A.3.4), carboxin (A.3.5), fenfuram (A.3.6), fluopyram (A.3.7), flutolanil (A.3.8), fluxapy- roxad (A.3.9), furametpyr (A.3.10), isofetamid (A.3.11), isopyrazam (A.3.12), mepronil (A.3.13), oxycarboxin (A.3.14), penflufen (A.3.15), penthiopyrad (A.3.16), pydiflumetofen (A.3.17), pyrazi- flumid (A.3.18), sedaxane (A.3.19), tecloftalam (A.3.20), thifluzamide (A.3.21), inpyrfluxam (A.3.22), pyrapropoyne (A.3.23), fluindapyr (A.3.28), N-[2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phe- noxy]phenyl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-1-methyl-pyrazole-4 -carboxamide (A.3.29), methyl (£)- 2-[2-[(5-cyano-2-methyl-phenoxy)methyl]phenyl]-3-methoxy-pro p-2-enoate (A.3.30), isoflu- cypram (A.3.31), 2-(difluoromethyl)-/\/-(1 ,1,3-trimethyl-indan-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.32), 2-(difluoromethyl)-/\/-[(3R)-1 ,1 ,3-trimethylindan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.33), 2-(difluoromethyl)-/\/-(3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl)pyri dine-3-carboxamide (A.3.34), 2-(difluo- romethyl)-/\/-[(3R)-3-ethyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine -3-carboxamide (A.3.35), 2-(difluoro- methyl)-/\/-(1 ,1-dimethyl-3-propyl-indan-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.36), 2-(difluoromethyl)- A/-[(3R)-1 ,1-dimethyl-3-propyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.37), 2-(difluoromethyl)-/\/- (3-isobutyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.38), 2-(difluoromethyl)-/\/-[(3R)-

3-isobutyl-1,1-dimethyl-indan-4-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide (A.3.39); other respiration inhibitors: diflumetorim (A.4.1); nitrophenyl derivates: binapacryl (A.4.2), dinobuton (A.4.3), dinocap (A.4.4), fluazinam (A.4.5), meptyldinocap (A.4.6), ferimzone (A.4.7); organometal compounds: fentin salts, e. g. fentin-acetate (A.4.8), fentin chloride (A.4.9) or fentin hydroxide (A.4.10); ametoctradin (A.4.11); silthiofam (A.4.12);

B) Sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI fungicides)

C14 demethylase inhibitors: triazoles: azaconazole (B.1.1), bitertanol (B.1.2), bromucona- zole (B.1.3), cyproconazole (B.1.4), difenoconazole (B.1.5), diniconazole (B.1.6), diniconazole- M (B.1.7), epoxiconazole (B.1.8), fenbuconazole (B.1.9), fluquinconazole (B.1.10), flusilazole (B.1.11), flutriafol (B.1.12), hexaconazole (B.1.13), imibenconazole (B.1.14), ipconazole (B.1.15), metconazole (B.1.17), myclobutanil (B.1.18), oxpoconazole (B.1.19), paclobutrazole (B.1.20), penconazole (B.1.21), propiconazole (B.1.22), prothioconazole (B.1.23), simeconazole (B.1.24), tebuconazole (B.1.25), tetraconazole (B.1.26), triadimefon (B.1.27), triadimenol (B.1.28), triticonazole (B.1.29), uniconazole (B.1.30), 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-3-(te- trazol-1-yl)-1-[5-[4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl]-2-pyridy l]propan-2-ol (B.1.31), 2-(2,4-difluoro- phenyl)-1,1-difluoro-3-(tetrazol-1-yl)-1-[5-[4-(trifluoromet hoxy)phenyl]-2-pyridyl]propan-2-ol (B.1.32), 4-[[6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(5-su lfanyl-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pro- pyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy]benzonitrile (B.1.33), ipfentrifluconazole (B.1.37), mefentrifluconazole (B.1.38), (2R)-2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1, 2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol, (2S)-2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(1, 2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol, 2- (chloromethyl)-2-methyl-5-(p-tolylmethyl)-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1 -ylmethyl)cyclopentanol (B.1.43); im idazoles: imazalil (B.1.44), pefurazoate (B.1.45), prochloraz (B.1.46), triflumizol (B.1.47); pyrim idines, pyridines, piperazines: fenarimol (B.1.49), pyrifenox (B.1.50), triforine (B.1.51), [3-(4- chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)isoxazol-4-yl] -(3-pyridyl)methanol (B.1.52), 4-[[6-[2- (2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol -1-yl)propyl]-3-pyridyl]oxy]benzonitrile (B.1.53), 2-[6-(4-bromophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]-1-(1,2, 4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol (B.1.54), 2-[6-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]-1-(1,2 ,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol (B.1.55);

Deltal 4-reductase inhibitors: aldimorph (B.2.1), dodemorph (B.2.2), dodemorph-acetate (B.2.3), fenpropimorph (B.2.4), tridemorph (B.2.5), fenpropidin (B.2.6), piperalin (B.2.7), spirox- amine (B.2.8);

Inhibitors of 3-keto reductase: fenhexamid (B.3.1);

Other Sterol biosynthesis inhibitors: chlorphenomizole (B.4.1);

C) Nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors phenylamides or acyl amino acid fungicides: benalaxyl (C.1.1), benalaxyl-M (C.1.2), kiral- axyl (C.1.3), metalaxyl (C.1.4), metalaxyl-M (C.1.5), ofurace (C.1.6), oxadixyl (C.1.7); other nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors: hymexazole (C.2.1), octhilinone (C.2.2), oxolinic acid (C.2.3), bupirimate (C.2.4), 5-fluorocytosine (C.2.5), 5-fluoro-2-(p-tolylmethoxy)pyrimidin-

4-amine (C.2.6), 5-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenylmethoxy)pyrimidin-4-amine (C.2.7), 5-fluoro- 2-(4-chlorophenylmethoxy)pyrimidin-4 amine (C.2.8);

D) Inhibitors of cell division and cytoskeleton tubulin inhibitors: benomyl (D.1.1), carbendazim (D.1.2), fuberidazole (D1.3), thia bendazole (D.1.4), thiophanate-methyl (D.1.5), pyridachlometyl (D.1.6), A/-ethyl-2-[(3-ethynyl-8- methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]butanamide (D.1.8), A/-ethyl-2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]-2-me- thylsulfanyl-acetamide (D.1.9), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]-/\/-(2-fluoroethyl)bu tan- amide (D.1.10), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]-/\/-(2-fluoroethyl)-2 -methoxy-acetamide (D.1.11), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]-/\/-propyl-butanamide (D.1.12), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8- methyl-6-quinolyl)oxy]-2-methoxy-/\/-propyl-acetamide (D.1.13), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6- quinolyl)oxy]-2-methylsulfanyl-/\/-propyl-acetamide (D.1.14), 2-[(3-ethynyl-8-methyl-6- quinolyl)oxy]-/\/-(2-fluoroethyl)-2-methylsulfanyl-acetamide (D.1.15), 4-(2-bromo-4-fluoro-phe- nyl)-/\/-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-phenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-3-a mine (D.1.16); other cell division inhibitors: diethofencarb (D.2.1), ethaboxam (D.2.2), pencycuron (D.2.3), fluopicolide (D.2.4), zoxamide (D.2.5), metrafenone (D.2.6), pyriofenone (D.2.7), phena- macril (D.2.8);

E) Inhibitors of amino acid and protein synthesis methionine synthesis inhibitors: cyprodinil (E.1.1), mepanipyrim (E.1.2), pyrimethanil (E.1.3); protein synthesis inhibitors: blasticidin-S (E.2.1), kasugamycin (E.2.2), kasugamycin hy drochloride-hydrate (E.2.3), mildiomycin (E.2.4), streptomycin (E.2.5), oxytetracyclin (E.2.6);

F) Signal transduction inhibitors

MAP / histidine kinase inhibitors: fluoroimid (F.1.1), iprodione (F.1.2), procymidone (F.1.3), vinclozolin (F.1.4), fludioxonil (F.1.5);

G protein inhibitors: quinoxyfen (F.2.1);

G) Lipid and membrane synthesis inhibitors

Phospholipid biosynthesis inhibitors: edifenphos (G .1.1), iprobenfos (G.1.2), pyrazophos (G.1.3), isoprothiolane (G.1.4); lipid peroxidation: dicloran (G.2.1), quintozene (G.2.2), tecnazene (G.2.3), tolclofos-methyl (G.2.4), biphenyl (G.2.5), chloroneb (G.2.6), etridiazole (G.2.7), zinc thiazole (G.2.8); phospholipid biosynthesis and cell wall deposition: dimethomorph (G.3.1), flumorph (G.3.2), mandipropamid (G.3.3), pyrimorph (G.3.4), benthiavalicarb (G.3.5), iprovalicarb (G.3.6), valifenalate (G.3.7); compounds affecting cell membrane permeability and fatty acides: propamocarb (G.4.1); inhibitors of oxysterol binding protein: oxathiapiprolin (G.5.1), fluoxapiprolin (G.5.3), 4-[1-[2-[3-(difluoromethyl)-5-methyl-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4- piperidyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyridine-2-car- boxamide (G.5.4), 4-[1-[2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-piper idyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl- pyridine-2-carboxamide (G.5.5), 4-[1-[2-[3-(difluoromethyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl] acetyl]- 4-piperidyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyridine-2-carboxamide (G.5.6), 4-[1-[2-[5-cyclopropyl-3-(difluorome- thyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-piperidyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyr idine-2-carboxamide (G.5.7), 4-[1-[2-[5- methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-piperidyl]- /\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyridine-2-carboxamide (G.5.8), 4-[1-[2-[5-(difluoromethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl] acetyl]-4-piperidyl]-/\/-tetralin-1- yl-pyridine-2-carboxamide (G.5.9), 4-[1-[2-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-pi- peridyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyridine-2-carboxamide (G.5.10), (4-[1-[2-[5-cyclopropyl-3-(trifluorome- thyl)pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl]-4-piperidyl]-/\/-tetralin-1-yl-pyr idine-2-carboxamide (G.5.11);

H) Inhibitors with multi site action inorganic active substances: Bordeaux mixture (H.1.1), copper (H.1.2), copper acetate (H.1.3), copper hydroxide (H.1.4), copper oxychloride (H.1.5), basic copper sulfate (H.1.6), sul fur (H.1.7); thio- and dithiocarbamates: ferbam (H.2.1), mancozeb (H.2.2), maneb (H.2.3), metam (H.2.4), metiram (H.2.5), propineb (H.2.6), thiram (H.2.7), zineb (H.2.8), ziram (H.2.9); organochlorine compounds: anilazine (H.3.1), chlorothalonil (H.3.2), captafol (H.3.3), cap- tan (H.3.4), folpet (H.3.5), dichlofluanid (H.3.6), dichlorophen (H.3.7), hexachlorobenzene (H.3.8), pentachlorphenole (H.3.9), phthalide (H.3.10), tolylfluanid (H.3.11); guanidines and others: guanidine (H.4.1), dodine (H.4.2), dodine free base (H.4.3), guaza- tine (H.4.4), guazatine-acetate (H.4.5), i inoctadine (H.4.6), iminoctadine-triacetate (H.4.7), iminoctadine-tris(albesilate) (H.4.8), dithianon (H.4.9), 2,6-dimethyl-1H,5H-[1,4]dithiino[2,3- c:5,6-c']dipyrrole-1 ,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetraone (H.4.10);

I) Cell wall synthesis inhibitors inhibitors of glucan synthesis: validamycin (1.1.1), polyoxin B (1.1.2); melanin synthesis inhibitors: pyroquilon (1.2.1), tricyclazole (1.2.2), carpropamid (1.2.3), di- cyclomet (1.2.4), fenoxanil (1.2.5);

J) Plant defense inducers acibenzolar-S-methyl (J.1.1), probenazole (J.1.2), isotianil (J.1.3), tiadinil (J.1.4), prohexa- dione-calcium (J.1.5); phosphonates: fosetyl (J.1.6), fosetyl-aluminum (J.1.7), 4-cyclopropyl-A/- (2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thiadiazole-5-carboxamide (J.1.10);

K) Unknown mode of action bronopol (K.1.1), chinomethionat (K.1.2), cyflufenamid (K.1.3), cymoxanil (K.1.4), dazomet (K.1.5), debacarb (K.1.6), diclocymet (K.1.7), diclomezine (K.1.8), difenzoquat (K.1.9), difen- zoquat-methylsulfate (K.1.10), diphenylamin (K.1.11), fenitropan (K.1.12), fenpyrazamine (K.1.13), flumetover (K.1.14), flusulfamide (K.1.15), flutianil (K.1.16), harpin (K.1.17), methasul- focarb (K.1.18), nitrapyrin (K.1.19), nitrothal-isopropyl (K.1.20), tolprocarb (K.1.21), oxin-copper (K.1.22), proquinazid (K.1.23), tebufloquin (K.1.24), tecloftalam (K.1.25), triazoxide (K.1.26), N’- (4-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl) -/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl formamidine (K.1.27), N -(4-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl )-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl formamidine (K.1.28), L/ -[4-[[3-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-1 ,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]oxy]-2,5-dimethyl- phenyl]-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl-formamidine (K.1.29), L/ -(5-bromo-6-indan-2-yloxy-2-methyl-3- pyridyl)-/V-ethyl-/V-methyl-formamidine (K.1.30), A/-[5-bromo-6-[1-(3,5-difluorophenyl)ethoxy]-2- methyl-3-pyridyl]-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl-formamidine (K.1.31), A/-[5-bromo-6-(4-isopropylcyclo- hexoxy)-2-methyl-3-pyridyl]-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl-formamidine (K.1.32), A/-[5-bromo-2-methyl-6-(1- phenylethoxy)-3-pyridyl]-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl-formamidine (K.1.33), L/ -(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl- 4-(3-trimethylsilanyl-propoxy)-phenyl)-/\/-ethyl-/\/-methyl formamidine (K.1.34), L/ -(5-difluorome- thyl-2-methyl-4-(3-trimethylsilanyl-propoxy)-phenyl)-/\/-eth yl-/\/-methyl formamidine (K.1.35), 2- (4-chloro-phenyl)-/\/-[4-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-y l]-2-prop-2-ynyloxy-acetamide (K.1.36), 3-[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyrid ine (pyrisoxazole) (K.1.37), 3-[5-(4-methylphenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridi ne (K.1.38), 5-chloro-1-(4,6-di- methoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl)-2-methyl-1/-/-benzoimidazole (K.1.39), ethyl (Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3- phenyl-prop-2-enoate (K.1.40), picarbutrazox (K.1.41), pentyl A/-[6-[[(Z)-[(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)- phenyl-methylene]amino]oxymethyl]-2-pyridyl]carbamate (K.1.42), but-3-ynyl A/-[6-[[(Z)-[(1-me- thyltetrazol-5-yl)-phenyl-methylene]amino]oxymethyl]-2-pyrid yl]carbamate (K.1.43), ipflufeno- quin (K.1.44), quinofumelin (K.1.47), benziothiazolinone (K.1.48), bromothalonil (K.1.49), 2-(6- benzyl-2-pyridyl)quinazoline (K.1.50), 2-[6-(3-fluoro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-5-methyl-2-pyridyl]- quinazoline (K.1.51), dichlobentiazox (K.1.52), A/-(2,5-dimethyl-4-phenoxy-phenyl)-/\/-ethyl-/\/- methyl-formamidine (K.1.53), aminopyrifen (K.1.54), fluopimomide (K.1.55), A/'-[5-bromo-2-me- thyl-6-(1-methyl-2-propoxy-ethoxy)-3-pyridyl]-N-ethyl-N-meth yl-formamidine (K.1.56), N'-[4-(4,5- dichlorothiazol-2-yl)oxy-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl]-N-ethyl-N-meth yl-formamidine (K.1.57), N-(2-fluor- ophenyl)-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1 ,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzamide (K.1.58), N-methyl-4-[5-(trifluoro- methyl)-1 ,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]benzenecarbothioamide (K.1.59);

L) Biopesticides

L4) Biochemical pesticides with insecticidal, acaricidal, molluscidal, pheromone and/or nemat- icidal activity: L-carvone, citral, (£,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, ethyl formate, (£,Z)-2, 4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester), (Z,Z,£)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal, heptyl butyrate, isopropyl myristate, lavanulyl senecioate, cis-jasmone, 2-methyl 1-butanol, methyl eugenol, methyl jasmonate, (£,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol, (£,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate, (£,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1- ol, (R)-1-octen-3-ol, pentatermanone, (£,Z,Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate, (Z,£)-9,12- tetradecadien-1-yl acetate, (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one, (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)- 11- tetradecenal, (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol, extract of Chenopodium ambrosiodes, Neem oil, Quillay extract;

Preferred fungicides are the following:

(3-ethoxypropyl)mercury bromide, 2-methoxyethyhmercury chloride, 2-phenylphenol, 8-hy- droxyquinoline sulfate, S-phenylmercurioxyquinoline, acibenzolar, acylamino acid fungicides, acypetacs, aldimorph, aliphatic nitrogen fungicides, allyl alcohol, amide fungicides, ampropylfos, anilazine, anilide fungicides, antibiotic fungicides, aromatic fungicides, aureofungin, azacona- zole, azithiram, azoxystrobin, barium polysulfide, benalaxyl benalaxyl-M, benodanil, benomyl, benquinox, bentaluron, benthiavalicarb, benzalkonium chloride, benzamacril, benzamide fungi cides, benzamorf, benzanilide fungicides, benzimidazole fungicides, benzimidazole precursor fungicides, benzimidazolylcarbamate fungicides, benzohydroxamic acid, benzothiazole fungi cides, bethoxazin, binapacryl, biphenyl, bitertanol, bithionol, blasticidin-S, Bordeaux mixture, boscalid, bridged diphenyl fungicides, bromuconazole, bupirimate, Burgundy mixture, buthi- obate, butylamine, calcium polysulfide, captafol, captan, carbamate fungicides, carbamorph, carbanilate fungicides, carbendazim, carboxin, carpropamid, carvone, Cheshunt mixture, chi- nomethionat, chlobenthiazone, chloraniformethan, chloranil, chlorfenazole, chlorodinitronaph- thalene, chloroneb, chloropicrin, chlorothalonil, chlorquinox, chlozolinate, ciclopirox, climbazole, clotrimazole, conazole fungicides, conazole fungicides (imidazoles), conazole fungicides (tria zoles), copper(ll) acetate, copper(ll) carbonate, basic, copper fungicides, copper hydroxide, copper naphthenate, copper oleate, copper oxychloride, copper(ll) sulfate, copper sulfate, basic, copper zinc chromate, cresol, cufraneb, cuprobam, cuprous oxide, cyazofamid, cyclafura- mid, cyclic d i th i oca rba mate fungicides, cycloheximide, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cypendazole, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, dazomet, DBCP, debacarb, decafentin, dehydroacetic acid, dicar- boximide fungicides, dichlofluanid, dichlone, dichlorophen, dichlorophenyl, dicarboximide fungi cides, dichlozoline, diclobutrazol, diclocymet, diclomezine, dicloran, diethofencarb, diethyl pyro carbonate, difenoconazole, diflumetorim, dimethirimol, dimethomorph, dimoxystrobin, dinicona- zole, dinitrophenol fungicides, dinobuton, dinocap, dinocton, dinopenton, dinosulfon, dinoterbon, diphenylamine, dipyrithione, disulfiram, ditalimfos, dithianon, dithiocarbamate fungicides,

DNOC, dodemorph, dodicin, dodine, DONATODINE, drazoxolon, edifenphos, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, etem, ethaboxam, ethirimol, ethoxyquin, ethylmercury 2,3-dihydroxypropyl mer- captide, ethylmercury acetate, ethylmercury bromide, ethylmercury chloride, ethylmercury phos phate, etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenaminosulf, fenapanil, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fenfuram, fenhexamid, fenitropan, fenoxanil, fenpiclonil, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fentin, fer- bam, ferimzone, fluazinam, fludioxonil, flumetover, flumorph, fluopicolide, fluoroi ide, fluotrima- zole, fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flusulfamide, flutolanil, flutriafol, folpet, formalde hyde, fosetyl, fuberidazole, furalaxyl, furametpyr, furamide fungicides, furanilide fungicides, fur- carbanil, furconazole, furconazole-cis, furfural, furmecyclox, furophanate, glyodin, griseofulvin, guazatine, halacrinate, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadiene, hexachlorophene, hexacona- zole, hexylthiofos, hydrargaphen, hymexazol, imazalil, imibenconazole, imidazole fungicides, iminoctadine, inorganic fungicides, inorganic mercury fungicides, iodomethane, ipconazole, iprobenfos, iprodione, iprovalicarb, isoprothiolane, isovaledione, kasugamycin, kresoxim-methyl, lime sulphur, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, mebenil, mecarbinzid, mepanipyrim, mepronil, mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, mercurous chloride, mercury fungicides, metalaxyl, met- alaxyl-M, metam, metazoxolon, metconazole, methasulfocarb, methfuroxam, methyl bromide, methyl isothiocyanate, methylmercury benzoate, methylmercury dicyandiamide, methylmercury pentachlorophenoxide, metiram, metominostrobin, metrafenone, metsulfovax, milneb, morpho line fungicides, myclobutanil, myclozolin, N-(ethylmercury)-p-toluenesulphonanilide, nabam, na- tamycin, nitrostyrene, nitrothal-isopropyl, nuarimol, OCH, octhilinone, ofurace, organomercury fungicides, organophosphorus fungicides, organotin fungicides, orysastrobin, oxadixyl, oxathiin fungicides, oxazole fungicides, oxine copper, oxpoconazole, oxycarboxin, pefurazoate, pen- conazole, pencycuron, pentachlorophenol, penthiopyrad, phenylmercuriurea, phenylmercury ac etate, phenylmercury chloride, phenylmercury derivative of pyrocatechol, phenylmercury nitrate, phenylmercury salicylate, phenylsulfamide fungicides, phosdiphen, phthalide, phthalimide fungi cides, picoxystrobin, piperalin, polycarbamate, polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicides, polyoxins, polyoxorim, polysulfide fungicidese, probenazole, prochloraz, procymidone, propamocarb, pro- piconazole, propineb, proquinazid, prothiocarb, prothioconazole, pyracarbolid, pyraclostrobin, pyrazole fungicides, pyrazophos, pyridine fungicides, pyridinitril, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, pyrimi dine fungicides, pyroquilon, pyroxychlor, pyroxyfur, pyrrole fungicides, quinacetol, quinazamid, quinconazole, quinoline fungicides, quinone fungicides, quinoxaline fungicides, quinoxyfen, quintozene, rabenzazole, salicylanilide, silthiofam, simeconazole, spiroxamine, streptomycin, strobilurin fungicides, sulfonanilide fungicides, sulfur, sultropen, TCMTB, tebuconazole, te- cloftalam, tecnazene, tecoram, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, thiadifluor, thiazole fungicides, thicyofen, thifluzamide, thiocarbamate fungicides, thiochlorfenphim, thiomersal, thiophanate, thi- ophanate-methyl, thiophene fungicides, thioquinox, thiram, tiadinil, tioxymid, tivedo, tolclofos- methyl, tolnaftate, tolylfluanid, tolylmercury acetate, triadimefon, triadimenol, triamiphos, triar- imol, triazbutil, triazine fungicides, triazole fungicides, triazoxide, tributyltin oxide, trichlamide, tricyclazole, tridemorph, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, triforine, mefentrifluconazole, metyltetraprole, triticonazole, unclassified fungicides, undecylenic acid, uniconazole, urea fungi cides, validamycin, valinamide fungicides, vinclozolin, zarilamid, zinc naphthenate, zineb, ziram, zoxamide and their mixtures.

Herbicides: An herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by inter fering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones. Herbicides used to clear waste ground are nonselective and kill all plant material with which they come into contact. Herbicides are widely used in agriculture and in landscape turf management. They are applied in total vegetation control (TVC) programs for maintenance of highways and railroads. Smaller quantities are used in forestry, pasture systems, and management of areas set aside as wildlife habitat. In the following, a number of suitable herbicides are compiled: In one embodiment, the microparticles or compositions of the invention can contain a large num ber of representatives of other groups of herbicidal or growth-regulatory active substances or their mixtures as the active substance, below referred to as herbicidal or growth-regulatory active sub stances B) and C), or applied together with these. It is also possible that the microparticles may comprise one or more active substances B) or C) encapsulated in the microparticle.

B) herbicides of class b1) to b15): b1) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors; b2) acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors); b3) photosynthesis inhibitors; b4) protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors, b5) bleacher herbicides; b6) enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP inhibitors); b7) glutamine synthetase inhibitors; b8) 7,8-dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors (DHP inhibitors); b9) mitosis inhibitors; b10) inhibitors of the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA inhibitors); b11) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors; b12) decoupler herbicides; b13) auxinic herbicides; b14) auxin transport inhibitors; and b15) other herbicides selected from the group consisting of bromobutide, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, cinmethylin, cumyluron, dalapon, dazomet, difenzoquat, dif- enzoquat-metilsulfate, dimethipin, DSMA, dymron, endothal, etobenzanid, flam- prop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M-isopropyl, flamprop-M-me- thyl, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, flurprimidol, fosamine, indanofan, indaziflam, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, metam, methiozolin, methyl azide, methyl bromide, methyl- dymron, methyl iodide, MSMA, oleic acid, oxaziclomefone, pelargonic acid, pyri- buticarb, quinoclamine, tetflupyrolimet, triaziflam, tridiphane and 6-chloro-3-(2-cy- clopropyl-6-methylphenoxy)-4-pyridazinol (CAS 499223-49-3) and its esters; including their agriculturally acceptable derivatives; and

C) safeners.

If the herbicidal compounds B and/or the safeners C as described herein are capable of forming geometrical isomers, for example E/Z isomers, it is possible to use both, the pure iso mers and mixtures thereof, in the compositions according to the invention.

If the herbicidal compounds B and/or the safeners C as described herein have one or more centers of chirality and, as a consequence, are present as enantiomers or diastereomers, it is possible to use both, the pure enantiomers and diastereomers and their mixtures, in the compositions according to the invention.

Herbicidal compounds B and/or safeners C as described herein having a carboxyl group can be employed in the form of the acid or else in the form of an agriculturally acceptable deriv ative, for example as amides, such as mono- and di-Ci-C ₆ -alkylamides or arylamides, as esters, for example as allyl esters, propargyl esters, Ci-Cio-alkyl esters, alkoxyalkyl esters, tefuryl ((tet- rahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl) esters and also as thioesters, for example as Ci-Cio-alkylthio esters. Preferred mono- and di-Ci-C ₆ -alkylamides are the methyl and the dimethylamides. Preferred ar ylamides are, for example, the anilides and the 2-chloroanilides. Preferred alkyl esters are, for example, the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, mexyl (1-methylhexyl), mep- tyl (1-methylheptyl), heptyl, octyl or isooctyl (2-ethylhexyl) esters. Preferred Ci-C4-alkoxy-CrC4- alkyl esters are the straight-chain or branched CrC4-alkoxy ethyl esters, for example the 2- methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, 2-butoxyethyl (butotyl), 2-butoxypropyl or 3-butoxypropyl ester. An example of a straight-chain or branched Ci-Cio-alkylthio ester is the ethylthio ester.

According to a first embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one inhibi tor of the lipid biosynthesis (herbicide b1). These are compounds that inhibit lipid biosynthesis. Inhibition of the lipid biosynthesis can be affected either through inhibition of acetylCoA carbox ylase (hereinafter termed ACC herbicides) or through a different mode of action (hereinafter termed non-ACC herbicides). The ACC herbicides belong to the group A of the HRAC classifi cation system whereas the non-ACC herbicides belong to the group N of the HRAC classifica tion.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one ALS inhibitor (herbicide b2). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of acetolactate synthase and thus on the inhibition of the branched chain amino acid biosynthesis. These inhibitors belong to the group B of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one in hibitor of photosynthesis (herbicide b3). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based ei ther on the inhibition of the photosystem II in plants (so-called PSII inhibitors, groups C1 , C2 and C3 of HRAC classification) or on diverting the electron transfer in photosystem I in plants (so-called PSI inhibitors, group D of HRAC classification) and thus on an inhibition of photosyn thesis. Amongst these, PSII inhibitors are preferred.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one in hibitor of protoporphyrinogen-IX-oxidase (herbicide b4). The herbicidal activity of these com pounds is based on the inhibition of the protoporphyrinogen-IX-oxidase. These inhibitors belong to the group E of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one bleacher-herbicide (herbicide b5). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of the carotenoid biosynthesis. These include compounds which inhibit carotenoid bio synthesis by inhibition of phytoene desaturase (so-called PDS inhibitors, group F1 of HRAC classification), compounds that inhibit the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate-dioxygenase (HPPD inhibi tors, group F2 of HRAC classification), compounds that inhibit DOXsynthase (group F4 of HRAC class) and compounds which inhibit carotenoid biosynthesis by an unknown mode of ac tion (bleacher - unknown target, group F3 of HRAC classification). According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one EPSP synthase inhibitor (herbicide b6). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase, and thus on the inhibition of the amino acid biosynthesis in plants. These inhibitors belong to the group G of the HRAC classifi cation system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one glu tamine synthetase inhibitor (herbicide b7). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of glutamine synthetase, and thus on the inhibition of the amino acid biosynthe sis in plants. These inhibitors belong to the group H of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one DHP synthase inhibitor (herbicide b8). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of 7,8-dihydropteroate synthase. These inhibitors belong to the group I of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one mi tosis inhibitor (herbicide b9). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the disturb ance or inhibition of microtubule formation or organization, and thus on the inhibition of mitosis. These inhibitors belong to the groups K1 and K2 of the HRAC classification system. Among these, compounds of the group K1, in particular dinitroanilines, are preferred.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one VLCFA inhibitor (herbicide b10). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the in hibition of the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids and thus on the disturbance or inhibition of cell division in plants. These inhibitors belong to the group K3 of the HRAC classification sys tem.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one cel lulose biosynthesis inhibitor (herbicide b11). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of the biosynthesis of cellulose and thus on the inhibition of the synthesis of cell walls in plants. These inhibitors belong to the group L of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one de coupler herbicide (herbicide b12). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the disruption of the cell membrane. These inhibitors belong to the group M of the HRAC classifica tion system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one auxinic herbicide (herbicide b13). These include compounds that mimic auxins, i.e. plant hor mones, and affect the growth of the plants. These compounds belong to the group O of the HRAC classification system.

According to another embodiment of the invention the compositions contain at least one auxin transport inhibitor (herbicide b14). The herbicidal activity of these compounds is based on the inhibition of the auxin transport in plants. These compounds belong to the group P of the HRAC classification system. As to the given mechanisms of action and classification of the active substances, see e.g. "HRAC, Classification of Herbicides According to Mode of Action", http://www.plantprotec- tion . org/hrac/MOA. htm I) .

Preference is given to those compositions according to the present invention comprising at least one herbicide B selected from herbicides of class b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, b9 and b10.

Specific preference is given to those compositions according to the present invention which comprise at least one herbicide B selected from the herbicides of class b4, b6 b9 and b10.

Particular preference is given to those compositions according to the present invention which comprise at least one herbicide B selected from the herbicides of class b4, b6 and b10.

Examples of herbicides B which can be used in combination with the compositions according to the present invention are: b1) from the group of the lipid biosynthesis inhibitors:

ACC-herbicides such as alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, cy- cloxydim, cyhalofop, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P-butyl, halox- yfop, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-tefuryl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim,

4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl) -5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran- 3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-72-6); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-cyclopropyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydro xy-

2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-45-3); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'- biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H) -one (CAS 1033757-93-5); 4-(2',4'- Dichloro-4-ethyl[1,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H- pyran-3,5(4H,6H)-dione (CAS 1312340-84-3); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihy- dro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312337-48-6); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2 ^' ,4'-dichloro-4- cyclopropyl- [1,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyra n-3-one; 5-(Acetyloxy)- 4-(4'-chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihy dro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312340-82-1); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2',4'-dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-

2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1033760-55-2); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'- fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- 5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid me thyl ester (CAS 1312337-51-1); 4-(2 ^' ,4'-Dichloro -4-cyclopropyl- [1,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-

2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester; 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'- fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- 5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid me thyl ester (CAS 1312340-83-2); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-ethyl[1,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1033760-58-5); and non ACC herbicides such as benfuresate, butylate, cycloate, dalapon, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethofumesate, flupropanate, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, TCA, thiobencarb, tio- carbazil, triallate and vernolate; b2) from the group of the ALS inhibitors: sulfonylureas such as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlo- rimuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flucetosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsul- furon, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, iofensulfuron, mesosulfu- ron, metazosulfuron, metsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfu- ron, primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, propyrisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, pyrazosul- furon-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, thifen- sulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tri- flusulfuron-methyl and tritosulfuron, imidazolinones such as imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic, ima- zapyr, imazaquin and imazethapyr, triazolopyrimidine herbicides and sulfonanilides such as cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, diclosulam, flumetsulam, florasulam, metosulam, penoxsu- lam, pyrimisulfan and pyroxsulam, pyrimidinylbenzoates such as bispyribac, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyriminobac-me- thyl, pyrithiobac, 4-[[[2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]phenyl]methyl]amino ]-benzoic acid-1 - methylethyl ester (CAS 420138-41-6), 4-[[[2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]phenyl]me- thyl]amino]-benzoic acid propyl ester (CAS 420138-40-5), N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-[(4,6-di- methoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]benzenemethanamine (CAS 420138-01-8), sulfonylaminocarbonyl-triazolinone herbicides such as flucarbazone, propoxycarbazone, thien- carbazone and thiencarbazone-methyl; and triafamone; among these, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one imidazolinone herbicide; b3) from the group of the photosynthesis inhibitors: amicarbazone, inhibitors of the photosystem II, e.g. 1-(6-tert-butylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-hydroxy-4- methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654744-66-7), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-hydroxy- 4-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637455-12-9), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-chloro- 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637453-94-1), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654057-29-0), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl-py- razol-3-yl)-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654747-80-44-hydroxy-1-meth- oxy-5-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2 -one; (CAS 2023785-78-4), 4-hy- droxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazol idin-2-one (CAS 2023785-79-5), 5- ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]i midazolidin-2-one (CAS 1701416-69- 4), 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazol idin-2-one (CAS 1708087-22-2), 4-hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazo l-3-yl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 2023785-80-8), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-im idazolidin-2-one (CAS 1844836-64-1), triazine herbicides, including of chlorotriazine, triazinones, triazindiones, methylthiotriazines and pyridazinones such as ametryn, atrazine, chloridazone, cyanazine, desmetryn, dimethametryn, hexazinone, metribuzin, prometon, prometryn, propazine, simazine, simetryn, terbumeton, terbuthylazin, terbutryn and trietazin, aryl urea such as chlorobromuron, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, met- amitron, methabenzthiazuron, metobenzuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, neburon, siduron, tebuthiuron and thiadiazuron, phenyl carbamates such as desmedipham, karbutilat, phen- medipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, nitrile herbicides such as bromofenoxim, bromoxynil and its esters, ioxynil and its esters, uraciles such as bromacil, lenacil and terbacil, and bentazon , pyri- date, pyridafol, pentanochlor and propanil and inhibitors of the photosystem I such as diquat, diquat-dibromide, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride and paraquat-dimetilsulfate. Among these, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one aryl urea herbicide. Among these, likewise a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one triazine herbicide. Among these, likewise a pre ferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one nitrile herbicide; b4) from the group of the protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors: acifluorfen, azafenidin, bencarbazone, benzfendizone, bifenox, butafenacil, carfentrazone, car- fentrazone-ethyl, chlomethoxyfen, chlorphthalim, cinidon-ethyl, cyclopyranil, fluazolate, flufenpyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen, fluorogly- cofen-ethyl, fluthiacet, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, halosafen, lactofen, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, profluazol, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfen- trazone, thidiazimin, tiafenacil, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-diox o- 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-3-yl)phenoxy]-2-pyridyloxy]acetat e (CAS 353292-31-6; S-3100J, N- ethyl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1/- /-pyrazole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 452098-92-9), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenox y)-5-methyl-1/-/-pyra- zole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 915396-43-9), N-ethyl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-

5-methyl-1/-/-pyrazole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 452099-05-7), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2-chloro-6- fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1/-/-pyrazole-1-ca rboxamide (CAS 452100-03-7), 3-[7- fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl]-1,5-dimethyl-6-thioxo- [1,3,5]triazinan-2,4-dione (CAS 451484-50-7) , 2-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-dihy- dro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-isoindole-1 ,3-dione (CAS 1300118-96-0), 1- methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-3-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-y nyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazin-

6-yl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 1304113-05-0), methyl (£)-4-[2-chloro-5-[4-chloro-5-(difluo- romethoxy)-1 /-/-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-3-methoxy-but-2-e noate (CAS 948893- 00-3), and 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1 H-benzimidazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-6-(trifluorome- thyl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 212754-02-4),

2-[2-chloro-5-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]- 4-fluorophenoxy]-2-methoxy-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 1970221-16-9), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo ro- methyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] -acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158274-96-3), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo romethyl)-1(2H)-py- rimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 158274-50-9), methyl 2- [[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1 ,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2- pyridyl]oxy]acetate (CAS 2271389-22-9), ethyl 2-[[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5- oxo-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]oxy]acet ate (CAS 2230679-62-4), 2-[[3-[[3- chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl) -1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridi- nyl]oxy]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158275-73-9), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6- dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimid inyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-2-pyri- dinyl]oxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 2158274-56-5), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl- 2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2- pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]-N-(methyl- sulfonyl)-acetamide (CAS 2158274-53-2), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4- (trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]ox y]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-N-(methylsulfonyl)- acetamide (CAS 2158276-22-1); b5) from the group of the bleacher herbicides:

PDS inhibitors: beflubutamid, diflufenican, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, norflurazon, picolinafen, 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyri midine (CAS 180608-33- 7) and 3-chloro-2-[-3-(difluoromethyl)isoxazol-5-yl]phenyl-5-chloro pyrimidin-2-yl-ether, HPPD inhibitors: benzobicyclon, benzofenap, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, fenquinotrione, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione (CAS 1486617-21-3), pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, sulcotri- one, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, bipyrazone, fenpyrazone, cypyraflu- one, tripyrasulfone, benquinotrione, 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-[2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-en- 1yl)carbonyl]-6-methylpyridazin-3(2/-/)-one; bleacher, unknown target: aclonifen, amitrole flume- turon,2-chloro-3-methylsulfanyl-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide (CAS 1361139-71-0), bixlozone and 2-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7); b8) from the group of the DHP synthase inhibitors: asulam; b9) from the group of the mitosis inhibitors: compounds of group K1: dinitroanilines such as benfluralin, butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine and trifluralin, phosphoramidates such as ami- prophos, amiprophos-methyl, and butamiphos, benzoic acid herbicides such as chlorthal, chlor- thal-dimethyl, pyridines such as dithiopyr and thiazopyr, benzamides such as propyzamide and tebutam; compounds of group K2: carbetamide, chlorpropham, flamprop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M-isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl and propham ; among these, compounds of group K1 , in particular dinitroanilines are preferred; b10) from the group of the VLCFA inhibitors: chloroacetamides such as acetochlor, alachlor, amidochlor, butachlor, dimethachlor, dimethena- mid, dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, metolachlor, metolachlor-S, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor and thenylchlor, oxyacetanilides such as flufenacet and mefenacet, acetanilides such as diphenamid, naproanilide, napropamide and napropamide-M, tetrazolinones such fentrazamide, and other herbicides such as anilofos, cafenstrole, fenoxasulfone, ipfen- carbazone, piperophos, pyroxasulfone, dimesulfazet and isoxazoline compounds of the formulae 11.1 , II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9

11.3 11.4 11.5

II.9

II.8 the isoxazoline compounds of the formula (II) are known in the art, e.g. from WO 2006/024820, WO 2006/037945, WO 2007/071900 and WO 2007/096576; among the VLCFA inhibitors, preference is given to chloroacetamides and oxyacetamides; b11) from the group of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: chlorthiamid, dichlobenil, flupoxam, indaziflam, isoxaben, triaziflam and 1-cyclohexyl-5-pen- tafluorphenyloxy-1 ⁴ -[1,2,4,6]thiatriazin-3-ylamine (CAS 175899-01-1); b12) from the group of the decoupler herbicides: dinoseb, dinoterb and DNOC; b13) from the group of the auxinic herbicides:

2,4-D and its esters such as clacyfos, 2,4-DB and its esters, aminocyclopyrachlor and its esters, aminopyralid and its esters, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, chloramben and its esters, clomeprop, clopyralid and its esters, dichlorprop and its esters, dichlorprop-P and its esters, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-butometyl, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen and its esters (CAS 943832-60- 8); MCPA and its esters, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB and its esters, mecoprop and its esters, mecoprop-P and its esters, picloram and its esters, quinclorac, quinmerac, TBA (2,3,6) and its esters, triclopyr and its esters, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661-72-9) and 4- amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 H-indol-6-yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6); b14) from the group of the auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr, naptalam; b15) from the group of the other herbicides: bromobutide, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, cinmethylin, cumyluron, cyclopyrimorate (CAS 499223-49-3) and its esters, dalapon, dazomet, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, dimethipin, DSMA, dymron, endothal, etobenzanid, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, flurprimidol, fosamine, indanofan, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, metam, methiozolin, methyl azide, methyl bromide, methyl-dymron, methyl iodide, MSMA, oleic acid, ox- aziclomefone, pelargonic acid, pyributicarb, quinoclamine, tetflupyrolimet and tridiphane. Preferred herbicides B that can be used in combination with the compositions according to the present invention are: b1) from the group of the lipid biosynthesis inhibitors: clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-P- ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, 4-(4'-Chloro-4- cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6- tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-72-6); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-cyclopropyl[1 ,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetra- methyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-45-3); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3- yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1033757-93-5); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4- ethyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3,5( 4H,6H)-dione (CAS 1312340-84-3); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biph enyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetra- methyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312337-48-6); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2 ^' ,4'-dichloro-4-cyclopropyl- [1,1'- biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-o ne; 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4- ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tet ramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312340-82-1); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2',4'-dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1033760-55-2); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-bi- phenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran -3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312337-51-1); 4-(2 ^' ,4'-Dichloro -4-cyclopropyl- [1,1 ^, -biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester; 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'- biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyr an-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312340-83-2); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetrame- thyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1033760-58-5); benfuresate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethofumesate, molinate, orbencarb, prosulfocarb, thiobencarb and triallate; b2) from the group of the ALS inhibitors: amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cloransulam- methyl, cyclosulfamuron, diclosulam, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flo- rasulam, flucetosulfuron, flumetsulam, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazamethabenz- methyl, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, iofensulfuron, mesosulfuron, metazosulfuron, metosulam, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, or- thosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, penoxsulam, primisulfuron-methyl, propyrisulfuron, prosulfuron, py- razosulfuron-ethyl, pyribenzoxim, pyrimisulfan, pyriftalid, pyriminobac-methyl, pyroxsulam, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, thiencarbazone-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, tritosulfuron and triafa- mone; b3) from the group of the photosynthesis inhibitors: ametryn, amicarbazone, atrazine, bentazone, bromoxynil and its esters, chloridazone, chloroto- luron, cyanazine, desmedipham, diquat-dibromide, diuron, fluometuron, hexazinone, ioxynil and its esters, isoproturon, lenacil, linuron, metamitron, methabenzthiazuron, metribuzin, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride, phenmedipham, propanil, pyridate, simazine, terbutryn, terbuthylazine, thidiazuron, 1-(6-tert-butylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl- 2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654744-66-7), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2 H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637455-12-9), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H -pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637453-94-1), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3- methyl-2H-pyr- rol-5-one (CAS 1654057-29-0), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-4- me- thyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654747-80-4), 4-hydroxy-1-methoxy-5-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)- 2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one; (CAS 2023785-78-4), 4-hydroxy-1 ,5-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-

2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 2023785-79-5), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoro- methyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1701416-69-4), 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluorome- thyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1708087-22-2), 4-hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-[1-methyl-5- (trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 2023785-80-8) and 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-

3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1844836-64-1); b4) from the group of the protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors: bencarbazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, carfentrazone-ethyl, cinidon-ethyl, cyclopyranil, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, lactofen, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sul- fentrazone, tiafenacil, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-diox o-1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydropyrimidin-3-yl)phenoxy]-2-pyridyloxy]acetate (CAS 353292-31-6; S-3100), N-ethyl-3- (2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1/-/-pyrazo le-1 -carboxamide (CAS 452098-92- 9), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenox y)-5-methyl-1/-/-pyrazole-1 -car boxamide (CAS 915396-43-9), N-ethyl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-met hyl- 1/-/-pyrazole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 452099-05-7), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-tri- fluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1/-/-pyrazole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 452100-03-7), 3-[7-fluoro-3- oxo-4-(prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazin-6-yl]-1, 5-dimethyl-6-thioxo-[1,3,5]triazinan- 2,4-dione (CAS 451484-50-7), 2-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H- benzo[1,4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-isoindole-1,3-dion e (CAS 1300118-96-0) ;1-methyl-6- trifluoromethyl-3-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-d ihydro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazin-6-yl)-1H- pyrimidine-2, 4-dione (CAS 1304113-05-0), and 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-ben- zimidazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2, 4-dione (CAS 212754-02-4), 2-[2-chloro-5-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]-4-f luorophenoxy]-2-methoxy-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 1970221-16-9), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo ro- methyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] -acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158274-96-3), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo romethyl)-1(2H)-py- rimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 158274-50-9), methyl 2- [[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-tri azol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2- pyridyl]oxy]acetate (CAS 2271389-22-9), ethyl 2-[[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5- oxo-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]oxy]acet ate (CAS 2230679-62-4), 2-[[3-[[3- chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl) -1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridi- nyl]oxy]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158275-73-9), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6- dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimid inyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-2-pyri- dinyl]oxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 2158274-56-5), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl- 2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2- pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]-N-(methyl- sulfonyl)-acetamide (CAS 2158274-53-2), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4- (trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]ox y]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-N-(methylsulfonyl)- acetamide(CAS 2158276-22-1); b5) from the group of the bleacher herbicides: aclonifen, amitrole, beflubutamid, benzobicyclon, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, cypyrafluone, diflufenican, fenquinotrione, flumeturon, flurochloridone, flurtamone, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione (CAS 1486617-21-3), norflurazon, picolinafen, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, sulcotri- one, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-(4-tri- fluoromethylphenyl)pyrimidine (CAS 180608-33-7), 2-chloro-3-methylsulfanyl-N-(1-methylte- trazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (CAS 1361139-71-0), bixlozone, 2-(2,5-dichloro- phenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7), chloro-2-[-3-(difluorome- thyl)isoxazol-5-yl]phenyl-5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl-ether and 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-[2-hydroxy- 6-oxocyclohex-1-en-1yl)carbonyl]-6-methylpyridazin-3(2/-/)-o ne; b8) from the group of the DHP synthase inhibitors: asulam; b9) from the group of the mitosis inhibitors: benfluralin, dithiopyr, ethalfluralin, flamprop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M- isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl, oryzalin, pendimethalin, thiazopyr and trifluralin; b10) from the group of the VLCFA inhibitors: acetochlor, alachlor, amidochlor, anilofos, butachlor, cafenstrole, dimethenamid, dimethenamid- P, dimesulfazet, fentrazamide, flufenacet, mefenacet, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, naproanilide, napropamide, napropamide-M, pretilachlor, fenoxasulfone, ipfencarbazone, pyrox- asulfone, thenylchlor and isoxazoline-compounds of the formulae 11.1 , II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9 as mentioned above; b11) from the group of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: dichlobenil, flupoxam, indaziflam, isoxaben, triaziflam and 1-cyclohexyl-5-pentafluorphenyloxy-1 ⁴ -[1,2,4,6]thiatriazin-3-ylamine (CAS 175899-01-1); b13) from the group of the auxinic herbicides:

2,4-D and its esters, aminocyclopyrachlor and its esters, aminopyralid and its esters, clopyralid and its esters, dichlorprop-P and its esters, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen and its esters (CAS 943832-60-8, MCPA and its esters, MCPB and its esters, mecoprop-P and its esters, picloram and its esters, quinclorac, quinmerac, triclopyr and its esters, florpyrauxifen , florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661-72-9) and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 H-indol-6- yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6); b14) from the group of the auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr; b15) from the group of the other herbicides: bromobutide, cinmethylin, cumyluron, cyclopy- rimorate (CAS 499223-49-3) and its esters, dalapon, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, DSMA, dymron (= daimuron), indanofan, metam, methylbromide, MSMA, oxaziclomefone, pyri- buticarb, tetflupyrolimet and tridiphane.

Particularly preferred herbicides B that can be used in combination with the compositions according to the present invention are: b1) from the group of the lipid biosynthesis inhibitors: clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalo- fop-butyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, pinoxaden, profoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, 4-(4'-Chloro-4- cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3 (6H)-one (CAS 1312337-72-6); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-cyclopropyl[1 ,T-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetra- methyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-45-3); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3- yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1033757-93-5); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4- ethyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3,5( 4H,6H)-dione (CAS 1312340-84-3); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biph enyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetra- methyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312337-48-6); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2 ^' ,4'-dichloro-4-cyclopropyl- [1,1'- biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-o ne; 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4- ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tet ramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312340-82-1); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2',4'-dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1033760-55-2); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'-bi- phenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran -3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312337-51-1); 4-(2 ^' ,4'-Dichloro -4-cyclopropyl- [1,1 ^, -biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester; 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1,1'- biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyr an-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312340-83-2); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetrame- thyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1033760-58-5); esprocarb, prosul- focarb, thiobencarb and triallate; b2) from the group of the ALS inhibitors: bensulfuron-methyl, cyclosulfamuron, diclosulam, flumetsulam, foramsulfuron, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosul- furon, iodosulfuron, iofensulfuron, mesosulfuron, metazosulfuron, nicosulfuron, penoxsulam, propyrisulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyroxsulam, rimsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, thiencarbazon-me- thyl, tritosulfuron and triafamone; b3) from the group of the photosynthesis inhibitors: ametryn, atrazine, diuron, fluometuron, hex- azinone, isoproturon, linuron, metribuzin, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride, propanil, terbutryn, ter- buthylazine, 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2 H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637455-12-9) , 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H -pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637453-94-1), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-im idazolidin-2-one (CAS 1844836-64-1); b4) from the group of the protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors: cyclopyranil, flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5- (1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyri midin-3-yl)phenoxy]-2-pyridyloxy]ac- etate (CAS 353292-31-6; S-3100), 3-[7-fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H- benzo[1,4]oxazin-6-yl]-1,5-dimethyl-6-thioxo-[1,3,5]triazina n-2,4-dione (CAS 451484-50-7) , 2- (2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1, 4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- isoindole-1,3-dione (CAS 1300118-96-0), and 1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-3-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo- 4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 1304113- 05-0);

2-[2-chloro-5-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]- 4-fluorophenoxy]-2-methoxy-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 1970221-16-9), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo ro- methyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] -acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158274-96-3), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluo romethyl)-1(2H)-py- rimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 158274-50-9), methyl 2- [[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-tri azol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2- pyridyl]oxy]acetate (CAS 2271389-22-9), ethyl 2-[[3-[2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5- oxo-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]oxy]acet ate (CAS 2230679-62-4), 2-[[3-[[3- chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl) -1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridi- nyl]oxy]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-acetic acid methyl ester (CAS 2158275-73-9), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6- dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimid inyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-2-pyri- dinyljoxy] acetic acid ethyl ester (CAS 2158274-56-5), 2-[2-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl- 2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2- pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]-N-(methyl- sulfonyl)-acetamide (CAS 2158274-53-2), 2-[[3-[[3-chloro-6-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4- (trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl]ox y]-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-N-(methylsulfonyl)- acetamide (CAS 2158276-22-1); b5) from the group of the bleacher herbicides: amitrole, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, diflufenican, fenquinotrione, flumeturon, flurochloridone, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione (CAS 1486617- 21-3), picolinafen, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, 2-chloro-3- methylsulfanyl-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzamide (CAS 1361139-71-0), bixlozone, 2-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7), and chloro-2-[-3-(difluoromethyl)isoxazol-5-yl]phenyl-5-chloropy rimidin-2-yl-ether; b9) from the group of the mitosis inhibitors: pendimethalin and trifluralin; b10) from the group of the VLCFA inhibitors: acetochlor, cafenstrole, dimethenamid-P, fentraza- mide, flufenacet, mefenacet, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, fenoxasulfone, ipfen- carbazone and pyroxasulfone; likewise, preference is given to isoxazoline compounds of the formulae 11.1, II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9 as mentioned above; b11) from the group of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: indaziflam, isoxaben and triaziflam; b13) from the group of the auxinic herbicides: 2,4-D and its esters such as clacyfos, and amino- cyclopyrachlor and its esters, aminopyralid and its esters, clopyralid and its esters, flopyrauxi- fen, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen, halauxifen-methyl, quinclorac, quinmerac, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661-72-9) and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6- yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6); b14) from the group of the auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr, b15) from the group of the other herbicides: cinmethylin, dymon (= daimuron), indanofan, oxazi- clomefone and tetflupyrolimet.

In another embodiment of the present invention the compositions according to the present invention comprise at least one safener C.

Safeners are chemical compounds which prevent or reduce damage on useful plants without having a major impact on the herbicidal action of the herbicidal active components of the present compositions towards unwanted plants. They can be applied either before sowings (e.g. on seed treatments, shoots or seedlings) or in the pre-emergence application or post-emergence application of the useful plant. The safeners and the compositions of the invention and/or the herbicides B can be applied simultaneously or in succession. Suitable safeners are e.g. (quinolin-8-oxy)acetic acids, 1-phenyl-5-haloalkyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3- carboxylic acids, 1 -phenyl-4, 5-dihydro-5-alkyl-1H-pyrazol-3,5-dicarboxylic acids, 4,5-dihydro-

5.5-diaryl-3-isoxazol carboxylic acids, dichloroacetamides, alpha-oximinophenylacetonitriles, acetophenonoximes, 4,6-dihalo-2-phenylpyrimidines, N-[[4-(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]sulfonyl]-2- benzoic amides, 1,8-naphthalic anhydride, 2-halo-4-(haloalkyl)-5-thiazol carboxylic acids, phosphorthiolates and N-alkyl-O-phenylcarbamates and their agriculturally acceptable derivatives such amides, esters, and thioesters, provided they have an acid group.

Examples of preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyometrinil, cyprosulfamide, di- chlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxa- difen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4- azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1,3-oxa- zolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31-4), metcamifen and BPCMS (CAS 54091-06-4).

Especially preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, naphthalic anhy dride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3),

2.2.5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1,3-oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31-4) and metcamifen.

Particularly preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, naphthalic anhydride, 4-(dichloroace- tyl)-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroace- tyl)-1,3-oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31-4) and metcamifen.

The active compounds B of groups b1) to b15) and the active compounds C are known herbi cides and safeners, see, for example, The Compendium of Pesticide Common Names (http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/); Farm Chemicals Handbook 2000 volume 86, Meister Publishing Company, 2000; B. Hock, C. Fedtke, R. R. Schmidt, Herbizide [Herbicides], Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1995; W. H. Ahrens, Herbicide Handbook, 7th edition, Weed Science Society of America, 1994; and K. K. Hatzios, Herbicide Handbook, Supplement for the 7th edi tion, Weed Science Society of America, 1998. 2,2,5-Trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1,3-oxazolidine [CAS No. 52836-31-4] is also referred to as R-29148. 4-(Dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4- azaspiro[4.5]decane [CAS No. 71526-07-3] is also referred to as AD-67 and MON 4660.

The assignment of the active compounds to the respective mechanisms of action is based on current knowledge. If several mechanisms of action apply to one active compound, this sub stance was only assigned to one mechanism of action.

Active compounds B and C having a carboxyl group can be employed in the form of the acid, or else in the form of an agriculturally acceptable derivative in the compositions according to the invention.

Examples of suitable esters of 2,4-D are 2,4-D-butotyl, 2,4-D-2-butoxypropyl, 2,4-D-3-butoxy- propyl, 2,4-D-butyl, 2,4-D-ethyl, 2,4-D-ethylhexyl, 2,4-D-isobutyl, 2,4-D-isooctyl, 2,4-D-isopropyl,

2,4-D-meptyl, 2,4-D-methyl, 2,4-D-octyl, 2,4-D-pentyl, 2,4-D-propyl, 2,4-D-tefuryl and clacyfos. Suitable esters of 2,4-DB are for example 2,4-DB-butyl and 2,4-DB-isoctyl.

Examples of suitable esters of dichlorprop are dichlorprop-butotyl and dichlorprop-isooctyl. Suitable esters of MCPA include MCPA-butotyl, MCPA-butyl, MCPA-diolamine, MCPA-ethyl, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPA-2-ethylhexyl, MCPA-isobutyl, MCPA-isooctyl, MCPA-isopropyl, MCPA- methyl, MCPA-olamine and MCPA-trolamine.

A suitable ester of MCPB is MCPB-ethyl.

Example of suitable esters of clopyralid is clopyralid-methyl.

Examples of a suitable ester of fluroxypyr are fluroxypyr-meptyl and fluroxypyr-2-butoxy-1-meth- ylethyl, wherein fluroxypyr-meptyl is preferred.

A suitable ester of picloram is picloram-isoctyl.

Suitable esters of triclopyr are for example triclopyr-ethyl and triclopyr-butotyl.

Suitable esters of chloramben include chloramben-diolamine, chloramben-methyl. .

Suitable esters of bromoxynil are for example bromoxynil-butyrate, bromoxynil-heptanoate, bro- moxynil-octanoate.

Suitable esters of ioxonil are for example ioxonil-octanoate.

Suitable esters of mecoprop include mecoprop-butotyl, mecoprop-diolamine, mecoprop-ethadyl, mecoprop-2-ethylhexyl, mecoprop-isoctyl, mecoprop-methyland mecoprop-trolamine.

Suitable esters of aminocyclopyrachlor are for example aminocyclopyrachlor-methyl.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as herbicidal active compound B or component B at least one, preferably exactly one herbicide B.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as her bicidal active compounds B or component B at least two, preferably exactly two herbicides B dif ferent from each other.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as her bicidal active compounds B or component B at least three, preferably exactly three herbicides B different from each other.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as saf- ening component C or component C at least one, preferably exactly one safener C.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component B at least one, preferably exactly one herbicide B, and as component C at least one, preferably exactly one, safener C.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least two, preferably exactly two, herbicides B different from each other, and as component C at least one, preferably exactly one, safener C.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least three, preferably exactly three, herbicides B different from each other, and as component C at least one, preferably exactly one, safener C.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b1), in particular selected from the group consisting of clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalofop- butyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, esprocarb, ethofumesate, molinate, prosulfocarb, thiobencarb and triallate.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b2), in particular selected from the group consisting of bensulfuron-methyl, cloransulam-methyl, chlorsulfuron, clorimuron, cyclosulfamuron, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, foramsulfuron, imazamox, , imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, , imazosulfuron, iofensulfuron, , mesosulfuron-me- thyl, metazosulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, metosulam, nicosulfuron, penoxsulam, pyrazosulfu- ron-ethyl, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyroxsulam, propyrisulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, thien- carbazon-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, tribenuron-methyl, tritosulfuron and triafamone.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b3), in particular selected from the group consisting of ametryn, atrazine, bentazon, bromoxynil, bromoxynil-oc- tanoate, bromoxynil-heptanoate, diuron, fluometuron, hexazinone, isoproturon, linuron, metam- itron, metribuzin, paraquat-dichloride, propanil, simazin, terbutryn and terbuthylazine.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b4), in particular se lected from the group consisting of acifluorfen, butafencil, carfenetrazone-ethyl, flumioxazin, fomesafen, oxadiargyl, oxyfluorfen, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-diox o-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-3-yl)- phenoxy]-2-pyridyloxy]acetate (CAS 353292-31-6; S-3100)..

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b5), in particular selected from the group consisting of amitrole, benzobicyclon, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, diflufenican, fenquintrone, fluometuron, flurochloridone, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, norflurazone, oxotrione (CAS 1486617-21-3), picolinafen, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, 2-chloro-3-methylsulfanyl-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifl uoromethyl)benzamide (CAS 1361139-71-0) , bixlozone , 2-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7 and chloro-2-[-3-(difluoromethyl)isoxazol-5-yl]phenyl-5-chloropy rimidin-2-yl- ether.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b9), in particular selected from the group consisting of pendimethalin and trifluralin.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b10), in particular se lected from the group consisting of acetochlor, butachlor, cafenstrole, dimethenamid-P, fentra- zamide, flufenacet, mefenacet, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, fenoxasulfone, ipfen- carbazone and pyroxasulfone.

Likewise, preference is given to compositions comprising at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b10), in particular selected from the group consisting of isoxazoline compounds of the formulae 11.1, II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9, as defined above.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b11), in particular indaziflam, isoxaben and triaziflam.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b13), in particular selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D, 2,4-D-isobutyl, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminocyclopy- rachlor-methyl, aminopyralid, aminopyralid-methyl, clopyralid, clopyralid-methyl, clopyralid- olamine, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen, halauxifen-methyl, MCPA, MCPA-2-ethylhexyl, quinclorac, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661-72-9), and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 H-indol-6-yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6).

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises, at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b14), in particular selected from the group consisting of diflufenzopyr, dymron, indanofan.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least one and especially exactly one herbicidally active compound from group b15), in particular selected from the group consisting of cinmethylin, dymron (= daimuron), indanofan, oxaziclome- fone and tetflupyrolimet.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises at least one and especially exactly one safener C, in particular selected from the group consisting of be- noxacor, cloquintocet, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, furilazole, isoxa- difen, mefenpyr, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3) and 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1,3-oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31-4).

In binary compositions two active compounds, the weight ratio these active compounds is generally in the range of from 1:1000 to 1000:1, preferably in the range of from 1:500 to 500:1, in particular in the range of from 1 :250 to 250:1 and particularly preferably in the range of from 1 :75 to 75:1.

In binary compositions comprising a herbicidal active substance B and at least one safener C, the weight ratio of the herbicidal active substance B : safener C is generally in the range of from 1:1000 to 1000:1 , preferably in the range of from 1 :500 to 500:1 , in particular in the range of from 1 :250 to 250:1 and particularly preferably in the range of from 1:75 to 75:1.

In ternary compositions comprising two herbicidal active compounds B and at least one safener C, the relative proportions by weight of the herbicidal components B are generally in the range of from 1 :1000 to 1000:1 , preferably in the range of from 1 :500 to 500:1 , in particular in the range of from 1 :250 to 250:1 and particularly preferably in the range of from 1:75 to 75:1 , the weight ratio of each herbicide B : components C is generally in the range of from 1:1000 to 1000:1, preferably in the range of from 1:500 to 500:1, in particular in the range of from 1:250 to 250:1 and particularly preferably in the range of from 1:75 to 75:1, and the weight ratio of the components B:C is generally in the range of from 1:1000 to 1000:1, preferably in the range of from 1:500 to 500:1, in particular in the range of from 1:250 to 250:1 and particularly preferably in the range of from 1:75 to 75:1..

Particularly preferred herbicides B are the herbicides B as defined above; in particular the herbi cides B.1 - B.214 listed below in table B:

Table B: Particularly preferred safeners C, which, as component C, are constituent of the composition according to the invention are the safeners C as defined above; in particular the safeners C.1 - C.17 listed below in table C: Table C

The weight ratios of the individual components in the preferred mixtures mentioned below are within the limits given above, in particular within the preferred limits.

Preferred herbicides as the active substance are the following or their mixtures:

Atrazine, a triazine herbicide used in corn and sorghum for control of broadleaf weeds and grasses. It is still used because of its low cost and because it works as a synergist when used with other herbicides, it is a photosystem II inhibitor.

Clopyralid, a broadleaf herbicide in the pyridine group, used mainly in turf, rangeland, and for control of noxious thistles. Notorious for its ability to persist in compost. It is another example of synthetic auxin. Imazapyr, a non-selective herbicide used for the control of a broad range of weeds includ ing terrestrial annual and perennial grasses and broadleaved herbs, woody species, and ripar ian and emergent aquatic species.

Imazapic, a selective herbicide for both the pre- and post-emergent control of some an nual and perennial grasses and some broadleaf weeds. Imazapic kills plants by inhibiting the production of branched chain amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine), which are necessary for protein synthesis and cell growth.

Metoalachlor, a pre-emergent herbicide widely used for control of annual grasses in corn and sorghum; it has largely replaced atrazine for these uses. Paraquat, a nonselective contact herbicide used for no-till burn down and in aerial de struction of marijuana and coca plantings. More acutely toxic to people than any other herbicide in widespread commercial use.

Picloram, a pyridine herbicide mainly used to control unwanted trees in pastures and edges of fields. It is another synthetic auxin.

Triclopyr.

Cinmethylin

Saflufenacil trifludimoxazin

In one embodiment, the active substance is a herbicide selected from cinmethylin, dimethena- mid-P, clomazone, picolinafen, metazachlor, S.metalochlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, bixlozone, prosulfocarb, flufenacet, Aclonifen, Triallate, Flumioxazin, Metazachlor, Pethoxamid, Napropamid, Terbuthylazin, Isoxaflutole, Isoxaben, Metamitron, triflu dimoxazin, Tiafenacil, Sulfentrazone or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a herbicide selected from cinmethylin, dimethena- mid-P, clomazone, picolinafen, metazachlor, S-metalochlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, bixlozone, or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a mixture of dimethenamid-P and clomazone.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a mixture of cinmethylin and picolinafen.

In one embodiment, the active substance is cinmethylin.

Insecticides: An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. In the following, suitable insecticides are mentioned:

O) Insecticides from classes 0.1 to 0.28

0.1 Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors: aldicarb, alanycarb, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, bu- tocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, ethiofencarb, fenobucarb, for- metanate, furathiocarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, methomyl, metolcarb, oxamyl, pirimicarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox, trimethacarb, XMC, xylylcarb, triazamate; acephate, aza- methiphos, azinphos-ethyl, azinphosmethyl, cadusafos, chlorethoxyfos, chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, coumaphos, cyanophos, demeton-S-methyl, dia- zinon, dichlorvos/ DDVP, dicrotophos, dimethoate, dimethylvinphos, disulfoton, EPN, ethion, ethoprophos, famphur, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenthion, fosthiazate, heptenophos, imicyafos, isofenphos, isopropyl O-(methoxyaminothio-phosphoryl) salicylate, isoxathion, malathion, me- carbam, methamidophos, methidathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate, oxyde- meton-methyl, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenthoate, phorate, phosalone, phosmet, phos- phamidon, phoxim, pirimiphos- methyl, profenofos, propetamphos, prothiofos, pyraclofos, pyri- daphenthion, quinalphos, sulfotep, tebupirimfos, temephos, terbufos, tetrachlorvinphos, thi- ometon, triazophos, trichlorfon, vamidothion; 0.2 GABA-gated chloride channel antagonists: endosulfan, chlordane; ethiprole, fipronil, flufiprole, pyrafluprole, pyriprole;

0.3 Sodium channel modulators: acrinathrin, allethrin, d-cis-trans allethrin, d-trans allethrin, bifenthrin, kappa-bifenthrin, bioallethrin, bioallethrin S-cylclopentenyl, bioresmethrin, cyclopro- thrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cyperme- thrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, theta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, cyphe- nothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flu- cythrinate, flumethrin, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, heptafluthrin, imiprothrin, meperfluthrin, meto- fluthrin, momfluorothrin, epsilon-momfluorothrin, permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, profluthrin, pyrethrin (pyrethrum), resmethrin, silafluofen, tefluthrin, kappa-tefluthrin, tetramethylfluthrin, tet- ramethrin, tralomethrin, transfluthrin; DDT, methoxychlor;

0.4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists: acetamiprid, clothianidin, cycloxaprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam; 4,5-dihydro-/V-nitro- 1-(2-oxiranylmethyl)-1/-/-imidazol-2-amine, (2E)-1-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-/\/-nitro-2-pen- tylidenehydrazinecarboximidamide; 1-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxy- 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; nicotine; sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, triflumezopy- rim, (3R)-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)-8-methyl-5-oxo-6-phenyl-2,3-di hydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-8- ium-7-olate, (3S)-3-(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)-8-methyl-5-oxo-6-phenyl-2,3-dihy drothiazolo[3,2-a]py- rimidin-8-ium-7-olate, (3S)-8-methyl-5-oxo-6-phenyl-3-pyrimidin-5-yl-2,3-dihydrothi azolo[3,2- a]pyrimidin-8-ium-7-olate, (3R)-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)-8-methyl-5-oxo-6-[3-(trifluoro methyl)phe- nyl]-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-8-ium-7-olate; (3R)-3-(2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)-6-(3,5-dichlo- rophenyl)-8-methyl-5-oxo-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin -8-ium-7-olate, (3R)-3-(2-chlorothi- azol-5-yl)-8-ethyl-5-oxo-6-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a] pyrimidin-8-ium-7-olate;

0.5 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric activators: spinosad, spinetoram;

0.6 Chloride channel activators: abamectin, emamectin benzoate, ivermectin, lepimectin, milbe- mectin;

0.7 Juvenile hormone mimics: hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene; fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen; 0.8 miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors: methyl bromide and other alkyl halides; chloropicrin, sulfuryl fluoride, borax, tartar emetic;

0.9 Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators: pymetrozine, pyrifluquinazon;

0.10 Mite growth inhibitors: clofentezine, hexythiazox, diflovidazin; etoxazole;

0.11 Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes: Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus sphaeri- cus and the insecticdal proteins they produce: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, the Bt crop proteins: CrylAb, CrylAc, CrylFa, Cry2Ab, mCry3A, Cry3Ab, Cry3Bb, Cry34/35Ab1 ;

0.12 Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase: diafenthiuron; azocyclotin, cyhexatin, fenbutatin oxide, propargite, tetradifon;

0.13 Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient: chlorfenapyr, DNOC, sulfluramid;

0.14 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers: bensultap, cartap hydrochlo ride, thiocyclam;

0.15 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 0: bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, flu- cycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, teflubenzuron, tri- flumuron;

0.16 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 1: buprofezin;

0.17 Moulting disruptors: cyromazine; 0.18 Ecdyson receptor agonists: methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, halofenozide, fufenozide, chromafenozide;

0.19 Octopamin receptor agonists: amitraz;

0.20 Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors: hydramethylnon, acequinocyl, fluacrypyrim, bifenazate;

0.21 Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors: fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrim- idifen, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad; rotenone;

0.22 Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers: indoxacarb, metaflumizone, 2-[2-(4-cyano- phenyl)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene]-/\/-[4-(dif luoromethoxy)phenyl]-hydrazinecarbox- amide, A/-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)-[4-[methyl( methylsulfonyl)amino]phe- nyl]methylene]-hydrazinecarboxamide;

0.23 Inhibitors of the of acetyl CoA carboxylase: spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramat, spi- ropidion;

0.24 Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors: aluminium phosphide, calcium phosphide, phosphine, zinc phosphide, cyanide;

0.25 Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors: cyenopyrafen, cyflumetofen;

0.26 Ryanodine receptor-modulators: flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, cyclaniliprole, tetraniliprole; (R)-3-chloro-/\/ ¹ -{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2 -tetrafluoro-l-(trifluoromethyl)- ethylJphenylJ-A^-O-methyl^-methylsulfonylethyOphthalamide, (S)-3-chloro-/\/ ¹ -{2-methyl- 4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl}-/\/ ² -(1-methyl-2-methylsulfonylethyl)- phthalamide, methyl-2-[3,5-dibromo-2-({[3-bromo-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)- 1/-/-pyrazol-5-yl]car- bonyl}amino)benzoyl]-1 ,2-dimethylhydrazinecarboxylate; A/-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4- sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(t rifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carbox- amide; A/-[4-chloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-6 -methyl-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro- 2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide; A/-[4-chloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sul- fanylidene)carbamoyl]-6-methyl-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl )-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-car- boxamide; A/-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carb amoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3- chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide; A/-[4,6-dibromo-2-[(diethyl-lambda- 4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5- (trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carbox- amide; A/-[2-(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-chloro-6-methylpheny l]-3-bromo-1-(3-chloro-2-pyr- idinyl)-1/-/-pyrazole-5-carboxamide; 3-chloro-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-/\/-[2,4-dichloro-6-[[(1-c y- ano-1-methylethyl)amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-1/-/-pyrazole-5-car boxamide; tetrachlorantraniliprole; A/-[4-chloro-2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]-6-methyl phenyl]-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-3- (fluoromethoxy)-l /-/-pyrazole-5-carboxamide; cyhalodiamide;

0.27: Chordotonal organ modulators - undefined target site: flonicamid;

0.28. insecticidal compounds of unknown or uncertain mode of action: afidopyropen, afox- olaner, azadirachtin, amidoflumet, benzoximate, broflanilide, bromopropylate, chinomethionat, cryolite, dicloromezotiaz, dicofol, flufenerim, flometoquin, fluensulfone, fluhexafon, fluopyram, fluralaner, metoxadiazone, piperonyl butoxide, pyflubumide, pyridalyl, tioxazafen, 11-(4-chloro- 2,6-dimethylphenyl)-12-hydroxy-1,4-dioxa-9-azadispiro[4.2.4. 2]-tetradec-11-en-10-one, 3-(4’- fluoro-2,4-dimethylbiphenyl-3-yl)-4-hydroxy-8-oxa-1-azaspiro [4.5]dec-3-en-2-one, 1-[2-fluoro-4- methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl]-3-(trifluor omethyl)-1/-/-1 ,2,4-triazole-5-amine, Ba cillus firmus 1-1582; flupyrimin; fluazaindolizine; 4-[5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4/-/- isoxazol-3-yl]-2-methyl-/\/-(1-oxothietan-3-yl)benzamide; fluxametamide; 5-[3-[2,6-dichloro-4- (3,3-dichloroallyloxy)phenoxy]propoxy]-1/-/-pyrazole; 4-cyano-/\/-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dibromo- 4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]c arbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-ben- zamide; 4-cyano-3-[(4-cyano-2-methyl-benzoyl)amino]-/V-[2,6-dichloro -4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro- 1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]-2-fluoro-benzamide; A/-[5-[[2-chloro-6-cyano-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hex- afluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano- phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-ben- zamide; A/-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[2, 2, 2-trifluoro-1 -hydroxy-1 -(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl]car- bamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide; A/-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3- hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cya no-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-ben- zamide; 4-cyano-/\/-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexaflu oro-1-(trifluoromethyl)pro- pyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide; 4-cyano-/\/-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-4- [1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamo yl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide; A/-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoro methyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cy- ano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide; 2-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)-6-[2-(3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-pyri- dine; 2-[6-[2-(5-fluoro-3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyr imidine; 2-[6-[2-(3-pyridinyl)-5-thia- zolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyrimidine; A/-methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-ca rbox- amide; A/-methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-ca rboxamide; 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyri- dinyl)methyl]-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-5-methoxy-7-methyl-8-nit ro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; 1-[(6- chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexa hydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-5-ol; 1- isopropyl-/\/,5-dimethyl-/\/-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carbo xamide; 1-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-/\/-ethyl- 5-methyl-/\/-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; /V,5-dimethyl-/V-pyridazin-4-yl-1 -(2,2,2-tri- fluoro-1 -methyl-ethyl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide; 1 -[1 -(1 -cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-/\/-ethyl-5-methyl- A/-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; A/-ethyl-1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl)-5-meth-yl-/\/-pyri- dazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; 1-(1 ,2-dimethylpropyl)-/\/,5-dimethyl-/\/-pyridazin-4-yl-pyra- zole-4-carboxamide; 1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-/\/,5-dimethyl-/\/-pyridazin -4-yl-pyrazole-4- carboxamide; /\/-methyl-1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-5-methyl-/\/-pyridaz in-4-yl-pyrazole-4-car- boxamide; 1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-/\/-ethyl-5-methyl-/\/-pyridazin- 4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;

1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-/\/,5-dimethyl-/\/-pyridazin-4 -yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, A/-(1-meth- ylethyl)-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazole-4-carboxamide; A/-cyclopropyl-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazole-4- carboxamide; A/-cyclohexyl-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazole-4-carboxamide; 2-(3-pyridinyl)-/\/-(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl)-2/-/-indazole-4-carboxamide; 2-(3-pyridinyl)-/\/-[(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)methyl]-2/-/- indazole-5-carboxamide; methyl 2-[[2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazol-5-yl]carbonyl]hydrazinecarb ox- ylate; A/-[(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methyl]-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-in dazole-5-carboxamide; A/-(2,2-di- fluoropropyl)-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazole-5-carboxamide; 2-(3-pyridinyl )-A/-(2-pyrimidinylmethyl )-2/-/-indazole-5-carboxa ide; A/-[(5-methyl-2-pyrazinyl) ethyl]-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2/-/-indazole-5- carboxa ide, tyclopyrazoflor; sarolaner, lotilaner, A/-[4-chloro-3-[[(phenylmethyl)a ino]car- bonyl]phenyl]-1- ethyl-3-(1 ,1 ,2,2,2-pentafluoroethyl)-4-(trifluoro ethyl)-1/-/-pyrazole-5-carbox- amide; 2-(3-ethylsulfonyl-2-pyridyl)-3-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)im idazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-[3-ethyl- sulfonyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]-3-methyl-6-(trifluor omethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, isocyclo- seram, A/-[4-chloro-3-(cyclopropylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-2-methyl-5-(1 , 1,2,2, 2-pentafluoroethyl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide, A/-[4-chloro-3-[(1-cyanocyclopropyl)carbamoyl]phenyl]-

2-methyl-5-(1 , 1 ,2,2,2-pentafluoroethyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carbo xamide; acynonapyr; benzpyrimoxan; tigolaner; chloro-/\/-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)-5-[1-[2-methyl-5-(1 ,1 ,2,2,2-pentafluo- roethyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]pyrazol-4-yl]benzam ide, oxazosulfyl, [(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)- 3,5-dimethoxy-6-methyl-4-propoxy-tetrahydropyran-2-yl]-/\/-[ 4-[1-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-

1.2.4-triazol-3-yl]phenyl]carbamate, [(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyl-tetrahydropy- ran-2-yl] N-[4-[1-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]phen yl]carbamate, [(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,5-dimethoxy-6-methyl-4-propoxy-tetrahydr opyran-2-yl]-/\/-[4-[1-[4-

(1 , 1 ,2,2,2-pentafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1 ,2,4-triazol-3-yl]phenyl]carbamate, [(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-

3.4.5-trimethoxy-6-methyl-tetrahydropyran-2-yl]-/\/-[4-[1 -[4-(1 ,1 ,2,2,2-pentafluoroethoxy)phenyl]- 1 ,2,4-triazol-3-yl]phenyl]carbamate, (2Z)-3-(2-isopropylphenyl)-2-[(E)-[4-[1-[4-(1 ,1 ,2,2,2-pen- tafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]phenyl]methylenehy drazono]thiazolidin-4-one; 2-(6- chloro-3-ethylsulfonyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-3-methyl- 6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyri- dine, 2-(6-bromo-3-ethylsulfonyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-3-met hyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imid- azo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-(3-ethylsulfonyl-6-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-3-meth yl-6-(trifluorome- thyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-[3-ethylsulfonyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 2-yl]-3-me- thyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-(7-chloro-3-ethylsulfonyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2- yl)-3-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-(3-ethylsulfonyl-7-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]py- ridin-2-yl)-3-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridi ne, 3-ethylsulfonyl-6-iodo-2-[3-methyl- 6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl]imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine-8-carbonitrile, 2-[3-ethyl- sulfonyl-8-fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2 -yl]-3-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imid- azo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-[3-ethylsulfonyl-7-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 2-yl]-3-methyl-6- (trifluoromethylsulfinyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, 2-[3-ethylsulfonyl-7-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-2-yl]-3-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[4,5-c]py ridine, 2-(6-bromo-3-ethylsulfonyl-im- idazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[4,3-c] pyridine, pyrethrum extract, icaridin, N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), p-menthane diole (PMD), metofluthrin, meperfluthrin, dimeflluthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, heptafluthrin, d-heptafluthrin, tetramethrin, imiprothrin, saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids, d-tetrame- thrin, d-phenothrin, 1R trans phenothrin, transfluthrin, d-allethrin, d-trans allethrin 75/25, prallethrin, piperonyl butoxide and its analogues/homologues, and their mixtures.

Preferred insecticides are the following: o Chlorinated insecticides such as, for example, Camphechlor, Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Methoxychlor, Pentachlorophenol, TDE, Aldrin, Chlordane, Chlordecone, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex and their mixtures; o Organophosphorus compounds such as, for example, Acephate, Azinphos-methyl, Ben-'sulide, Chlorethoxyfos, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyriphos-methyl, Diazinon, Dichlorvos (DDVP), Dicrotophos, Dimethoate, Disulfoton, Ethoprop, Fenamiphos, Fenitrothion, Fenthion, Fos- thiazate, Malathion, Methamidophos, Methidathion, Methyl-parathion, Mevinphos, Naled, Omethoate, Oxydemeton-methyl, Parathion, Phorate, Phosalone, Phosmet, Phostebupirim, Pi- rimiphos-methyl, Profenofos, Terbufos, Tetrachlorvinphos, Tribufos, Trichlorfon and their mix ture; o Pyrethroids such as, for example, Allethrin, Bifenthrin, Deltamethrin, Permethrin, Resmethrin, Sumithrin, Tetramethrin, Tralomethrin, Transfluthrin and their mixtures; o Plant toxin derived compounds such as, for example, Derris (rotenone), Pyrethrum, Neem (Azadirachtin), Nicotine, Caffeine and their mixtures.

Rodenticides: Rodenticides are a category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rodents. In the following, examples for suitable rodenticides are given: o Anticoagulants, e.g. difenacoum, brodifacoum, floccumafen, bromadiolone, difethialone, warfarin, coumatetralyl, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, coumachlor, coumafuryl and pindone; o Metal phosphides; o Phosphides; or o Hypercalcemia, e.g. Calciferols (vitamins D), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalcif- erol (vitamin D2). Miticides, moluscicides and nematicides: Miticides are pesticides that kill mites. Antibiotic miti- cides, carbamate miticides, formamidine miticides, mite growth regulators, organochlorine, per methrin and organophosphate miticides all belong to this category. Molluscicides are pesticides used to control mollusks, such as moths, slugs and snails. These substances include metalde- hyde, methiocarb and aluminium sulfate. A nematicide is a type of chemical pesticide used to kill parasitic nematodes (a phylum of worm). A nematicide is obtained from a neem tree's seed cake; which is the residue of neem seeds after oil extraction. The neem tree is known by sev eral names in the world but was first cultivated in India since ancient times.

The pesticide usually has a water-solubility up to 10 g/l, preferably up to 5 g/l, and more prefera bly up to 1 g/l.

The pesticide may be solid or liquid at 20 °C.

Preferred pesticides are herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a herbicide.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a fungicide.

In one embodiment, the active substance is an insecticide.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a mixture of dimethenamid-P and clomazone.

In one embodiment, the active substance is a mixture of cinmethylin and picolinafen.

Especially preferred pesticides as the active substance are tepraloxydim, flufenacet, napropa- mid, isoxaben, fluazifop-P-butyl, metamitron, propyzamide, phenmedipham, clethodim, chlorida- zon, dimethenamid-P, pendimethalin, Chlorpyrifos, dimethoate alpha-cypermethrin, cyperme- thrin, clothianidin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, dimethenamid-P, clomazone, picolinafen, metazachlor, S-metalochlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, bixlozone, pyraclostrobin, dimethenamide-P, fenpropimorph, saflufenacil, trifludimoxazin and cinmethylin .

In one embodiment, the active substance is a herbicide selected from dimethenamid-P, cloma zone, picolinafen, metazachlor, S.metalochlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, saflufenacil, pyrox asulfone, bixlozone, cinmethylin or mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred pesticides as the active substance are cinmethylin, pyraclostrobin, dime- thenamide-P.

In one embodiment, the active substance is selected from pyrethrum extract, icaridin, N,N-Di- ethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), p-menthane diole (PMD), metofluthrin, meperfluthrin, dimeflluth- rin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, heptafluthrin, d-heptafluthrin, tetramethrin, imipro- thrin, saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids, d-tetramethrin, d-phenothrin, 1 R trans phe- nothrin, transfluthrin, d-allethrin, d-trans allethrin 75/25, prallethrin, piperonyl butoxide and its analogues/homologues, essential oils and their components, and their mixtures.

In one embodiment, the active substance is selected from pyrethrum extract, icaridin, N,N-Di- ethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), p-menthane diole (PMD), metofluthrin, meperfluthrin, dimeflluth- rin, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, heptafluthrin, d-heptafluthrin, tetramethrin, imipro- thrin, saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids, d-tetramethrin, d-phenothrin, 1 R trans phe- nothrin, transfluthrin, d-allethrin, d-trans allethrin 75/25, prallethrin, piperonyl butoxide and its analogues/homologues, and their mixtures.

Typically, microparticles of the invention contain from 1 to 95 wt%, preferably 10 to 90 wt%, more preferably 30 to 85 wt% of said one or more active substance.

In principle, active substance may be a liquid or a solid at 21 °C, where the solid itself may also be present dissolved in a water immiscible solvent S. Solvent S is liquid at 21 °C.

In one embodiment, the active substance used in the capsule according to the invention is liquid at 21°C.

In one embodiment, the active substance used in the capsule according to the invention is liquid at 21°C and is contained in the microparticles of the invention without being dissolved in a sol vent.

In one embodiment, the active substance used in the capsule according to the invention is a liq uid at 21 °C and is contained in the microparticles of the invention as a pure substance.

In one embodiment, the active substance is comprised in microparticles of the invention as a solution in a water immiscible solvent S.

Sometimes, the active substance can also act as a solvent, or a solvent can also act as an ac tive substance.

Water immiscible solvents S have a solubility in water of 1 wt% or less at 21 °C, preferably of 0.1 wt% or less at 21 °C.

Solvents S include: mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahy- dronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes and C8 to C11 aromatic petroleum derivatives (aro matic hydrocarbons) with a boiling point range from 130°C to 300°C; vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oils, hydrocarbons such as aromatic depleted, lin ear paraffinic, isoparaffinic, cycloparaffinic having a flash point between 40°C and 250°C and a distillation range between 150°C and 450°C; ketones, e.g. acetophenone; carbonates, e.g. dibutyl carbonate; esters, e.g. benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, propyl benzoate, butyl benzoate, benzyl lactate, 2-phenoxyethyl propionate; lactates, e.g. 2-ethylhexyl lactate; fatty acid esters, fatty acids; phosphonates; fatty acid amines; pyrrolidones, such as N-butylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-ethyl pyrrolidone, N-docedyl pyr- rolidone, hydroxy ethyl pyrrolidone; fatty acid amides, e.g. N,N-dimethyloctanamide, N,N-dimethylnonaneamide, N,N-dimethylde- canamide, N,N-Dimethyl 9-decenamide, lauryl N,N-dimethylamide, lauryl N,N-dimethylamide, and mixtures thereof.

Herein, “C8 dimethylamide” and “N,N-dimethyl octaneamide” shall be understood to mean ”C8 fatty acid N,N-dimethylamide” (analogously for other chain lengths).

“Fatty acid” herein shall denote a linear or branched carboxylic acid with a saturated or unsatu rated aliphatic chain.

In one embodiment, solvent S is an oil. The phrase "oil" in the context of the present invention encompasses all kinds of oil bodies or oil components, in particular vegetable oils like e.g. rape seed oil, sunflower oil, soy oil, olive oil and the like, modified vegetable oils e.g. alkoxylated sun flower or soy oil, synthetic (tri)glycerides like e.g. technical mixtures of mono, di and triglycer ides of C6-C22 fatty acids, fatty acid alkyl esters e.g. methyl or ethyl esters of vegetable oils (Agnique® ME 18 RD-F, Agnique® ME 18 SD-F, Agnique® ME 12C-F, Agnique® ME1270, all products of BASF SE, Germany) fatty acid alkyl esters based on said C6-C22 fatty acids, min eral oils and their mixtures. In one form the oil comprises preferably mineral oils.

Examples illustrating the nature of suitable solvents S without limiting the invention to these ex amples are: Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of linear C6-C22-fatty acids with linear or branched C6-C22-fatty alcohols or es ters of branched C6-C 13-carboxylic acids with linear or branched C6-C 22-fatty alcohols, such as, for example, myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristyl erucate, cetyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stea rate, cetyl isostearate, cetyl oleate, cetyl behenate, cetyl erucate, stearyl myristate, stearyl pal mitate, stearyl stearate, stearyl isostearate, stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearyl erucate, isostearyl myristate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl stearate, isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl oleate, isostearyl behenate, isostearyl oleate, oleyl myristate, oleyl palmitate, oleyl stearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl behenate, oleyl erucate, behenyl myristate, behenyl palmi tate, behenyl stearate, behenyl isostearate, behenyl oleate, behenyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucyl myristate, erucyl palmitate, erucyl stearate, erucyl isostearate, erucyl oleate, erucyl be henate and erucyl erucate. Also suitable are esters of linear C6-C22-fatty acids with branched alcohols, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, esters of C18-C38- alkyl hydroxy carboxylic acids with lin ear or branched C6-C 22-fatty alcohols, in particular Dioctyl Malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (such as, for example, propylene glycol, dimerdiol or trimertriol) and/or Guerbet alcohols, triglycerides based on C6-C10-fatty acids, liquid mono- /di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C6-C18-fatty acids, esters of C6-C22-fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular benzoic acid, esters of C2- C12- dicarboxylic acids with linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 22 carbon atoms or polyols hav ing 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C6-C22-fatty alcohol carbonates, such as, for example, dicaprylyl carbonate (Cetiol® CC), Guerbet carbonates, based on fatty alcohols hav ing 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C6-C22-alcohols, linear or branched, symmetrical or asymmetrical dialkyl ethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as, for example, dicaprylyl ether, ring-opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils (cyclomethicones, silicone methicone grades, etc.), aliphatic or naphthenic hydrocarbons, such as, for example, squalane, squalene or dialkylcyclohexanes, and/or mineral oils. In one form the oil comprises preferably aliphatic or naphthenic hydrocarbons, and/or mineral oils.

Within the context of the present invention, preferred solvents S are, Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of linear C6-C22-fatty ac ids with linear or branched C6-C22-fatty alcohols or esters of branched C6-C13-carboxylic acids with linear or branched C6-C22-fatty alcohols, such as e.g. myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristyl erucate, cetyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, cetyl isostearate, cetyl oleate, cetyl behenate, cetyl erucate, stearyl myristate, stearyl palmitate, stearyl stearate, stearyl isostearate, stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearyl erucate, isostearyl myristate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl stearate, isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl oleate, isostearyl behenate, isostearyl oleate, oleyl myristate, oleyl palmitate, oleyl stearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl behenate, oleyl erucate, be- henyl myristate, behenyl palmitate, behenyl stearate, behenyl isostearate, behenyl oleate, be- henyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucyl myristate, erucyl palmitate, erucyl stearate, erucyl isos tearate, erucyl oleate, erucyl behenate and erucyl erucate.

Also preferred oils are esters of linear C6-C22-fatty acids with branched alcohols, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, esters of C18-C38-alkylhydroxycarboxylic acids with linear or branched C6-C22-fatty alcohols, linear or branched C6-C22-fatty alcohols, in particular dioctyl malates, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (such as e.g. propylene gly col, dimerdiol or trimertriol) and/or Guerbet alcohols, triglycerides based on C6-C10-fatty acids, liquid mono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C6-C18-fatty acids, esters of C6-C22-fatty alco hols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular benzoic acid, esters of C2-C12-dicarboxylic acids with linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 22 carbon atoms or poly ols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C6-C22-fatty alcohol carbonates, such as e.g. dicaprylyl carbonate (Cetiol™ CC), Guerbet carbonates based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C6-C22-alcohols (e.g. Finsolv™ TN), linear or branched, symmetrical or asymmetrical dialkyl ethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as e.g. dicaprylyl ether (Cetiol™ OE), ring-opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils (cyclomethi- cones, silicon methicone types etc.) and/or aliphatic or naphthenic hydrocarbons, such as e.g. squalane, squalene or dialkylcyclohexanes.

Furthermore, liquid linear and/or branched and/or saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons or any desired mixtures thereof can be used as oils within the context of the present invention. These may be e.g. alkanes having 4 to 22, preferably 6 to 18, carbon atoms, or any desired mixtures thereof. Also of suitability are the unsaturated hydrocarbons having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, or un saturated hydrocarbons of identical carbon number, and any desired mixtures of these hydro carbons. Cyclic hydrocarbons and aromatics, e.g. toluene and mixtures thereof may also be oils within the context of the present invention. In another preferred form the oil comprises aromat ics. Also suitable are silicone oils. Any desired mixtures of all of the specified core materials

Customary oil components in cosmetics are, for example, paraffin oil, glyceryl stearate, isopro pyl myristate, diisopropyl adipate, dibutyl adipate, cetylstearyl 2-ethylhexanoate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, vaseline, caprylic/capric triglycerides, microcrystalline wax, lanolin and stearic acid. However, this list is exemplary and not exhaustive.

Particular preference is given to those sparingly water-soluble or water-insoluble organic active substances which are soluble or suspendable in the water-insoluble or sparingly water-soluble sol-gel precursor which is used for constructing the shell of the capsule according to the inven tion.

Preferred solvents S, especially for pesticides as active substances, are: mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahy- dronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes and C8 to C11 aromatic petroleum derivatives (aro matic hydrocarbons) with a boiling point range from 130°C to 300°C; vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oils, hydrocarbons such as aromatic depleted, lin ear paraffinic, isoparaffinic, cycloparaffinic having a flash point between 40°C and 250°C and a distillation range between 150°C and 450°C; acetophenone; dibutyl carbonate; benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, propyl ben zoate, butyl benzoate, benzyl lactate, 2-phenoxyethyl propionate; 2-Ethylhexyl lactate; fatty acid esters; fatty acids; C8-C12 fatty acid dimethyl amides; and mixtures thereof.

More preferred organic solvents S are: acetophenone; dibutyl carbonate; benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, propyl ben zoate, butyl benzoate, benzyl lactate, 2-phenoxyethyl propionate; 2-Ethylhexyl lactate; fatty acid esters; fatty acids; C8-C12 fatty acid dimethyl amides; and mixtures thereof.

C8-C12 fatty acid dimethyl amides include and preferred C8-C12 fatty acid dimethyl amides are: C8 dimethyl amide (N,N-dimethyloctanamide), C8/C10 dimethyl amide (mixture of N,N-dime- thyloctanamide and N,N-dimethyldecanamide), C9 dimethyl amide (N,N-dimethylnonaneamide or N,N-Dimethyl iso-nonaneamide), C10 dimethyl amide (N-Dimethyldecanamide or N,N-Dime- thyl 9-decenamide), C12 dimethyl amide (lauryl N,N-dimethylamide), vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oils.

Especially preferred organic solvents S are vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oils, benzylacetate, methylbenzoate, C8-C12 fatty acid dimethyl amide, aromatic hydrocarbon or their mixtures.

Particularly preferred organic solvents S are, aromatic hydrocarbon, adipates (e.g. dibu- tyladipate), vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oils or their mixtures.

In one embodiment, form the core of microparticles or the inventions contains a pesticide blended with a solvent S selected from aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons or vegetable oils such as coco oil, palm kern oil, palm oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and the methyl or ethyl esters of the afore-mentioned oil.

Besides the one or more active substance and optionally solvent S, microparticles of the inven tion, in particular the microspheres or the core of the microcapsules according to the invention, can also comprise auxiliaries which are usually used in the respective fields of application.

Microparticles according to the invention contain a matrix material or a shell that surrounds the core which contains one or more active substance.

Said matrix material or shell comprises i) at least one phospholipid PL, and ii) optionally at least one sterol ST.

Microparticles of the invention are biomimetic, meaning that they comprise a matrix material or a shell containing naturally occurring phospholipids and optionally sterols or derivatives of such naturally occurring phospholipids and sterols and optionally minerals or inorganic salts.

Typically, microparticles of the invention are free from microplastics and materials that form mi croplastics.

In one embodiment, microparticles of the invention are vegan, meaning that its components do not originate from or were obtained using any animals.

Phospholipids, sometimes also referred to as phosphatides, are a class of lipids that is gener ally known to the skilled person and whose molecular structure contains a hydrophilic "head" containing a phosphate group, and two hydrophobic "tails" derived from fatty acids and/or fatty alcohols, linked by a polyalcohol residue (e.g. glycerol) or aminoalcohol. The phosphate group can be modified with simple polyfunctional organic molecules such as choline, ethanolamine or serine or sugars (e.g. Inositol).

Phospholipids wherein the hydrophobic part is are least partly derived from fatty alcohols are also referred to a phospholipid ethers or plasmologens.

Preferably, phospholipids contain two hydrophobic "tails" that are esters of fatty acids with a polyalcohol residue (e.g. glycerol) or an aminoalcohol. Preferred phospholipids contain two hy drophobic "tails" that are esters of fatty acids with glycerol.

Phospholipids are amphiphilic.

The term “lipid” refers to biomolecules that have a high solubility in unpolar solvents such as hy drocarbons.

The term “phospholipids” as used herein includes naturally occurring phospholipids as well as synthetic phospholipids.

In one embodiment, phospholipid PL is selected from Glycerophospholipids (also referred to as phosphoglycerides) and Phosphosphingolipids, with Glycerophospholipids being preferred.

Preferred phospholipids PL are Phosphatidic acids (phosphatidates), Phosphatidylethanola- mines (cephalin), Phosphatidylcholines (lecithin (e.g. egg yolk lecithin, asolectin, soybean and sunflower lecithin), Phosphatidylserines, Phosphoinositides, Phosphatidylinositols, Phosphati- dylinositol phosphates, bisphosphates, Phosphatidylinositols, Ceramide phosphorylcholines (Sphingomyelin), Ceramide phosphorylethanolamines (Sphingomyelin), Ceramide phosphor- yllipids or mixtures thereof.

Asolectin is a preferred phospholipid PL and is mixture of phospholipids obtained commercially from soybeans that contains lecithin, cephalin and inositol phosphatides.

Natural phospholipids are typically purified from, e.g., soybeans, sunflower or egg yolk, for ex ample using solvent extraction and chromatographic procedures. Preferred sources of phospho lipids are soybean and sunflower. Synthetic phospholipids with specific polar head group, fatty acid composition can be manufactured using various synthesis routes. They can be synthesized de novo, or naturally occurring phospholipids can be derivatized, e.g. by hydrogenation of dou ble bonds or by enzymatic derivatization.

Examples of derivatives of phospholipids include Phosphatidic acid (DMPA, DPPA, DSPA),

Phosphatidylcholine (DDPC, DLPC, DMPC, DPPC, DSPC, DOPC, POPC, DEPC), Phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG, DPPG, DSPG, POPG),

Phosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE, DPPE, DSPE DOPE),

Phosphatidylserine (DOPS) and

PEG phospholipid (mPEG-phospholipid, polyglycerin-phospholipid, functionalized-phospholipid, terminal activated-phospholipid).

Synthetic phospholipids with the natural stereochemical configuration are for example synthe sized from glycerophosphocholine (GPC), which is obtained from natural phospholipids, using acylation and enzyme catalyzed reactions.

In especially preferred embodiments, phospholipid PL is asolectin, lecithin or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment, phospholipid PL is obtained from soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, eggs of birds (e.g. chicken eggs), bovine milk or fish eggs.

In one embodiment, phospholipid PL obtained from soybean, rapeseed or sunflower.

In one embodiment, phospholipid PL obtained from soybean or sunflower.

In one embodiment, phospholipid PL is lecithin obtained from soybean or sunflower.

Specific examples of phospholipids include the following:

Abbreviation CAS Name Type

Phosphatidyl

DDPC 3436-44-0 1 ,2-Didecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine choline

80724-31- 1 ,2-Dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (Sodium Phosphatidic

DEPA-NA

8 Salt) acid

56649-39- Phosphatidyl

DEPC 1 ,2-Dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

9 choline

1 ,2-Dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanola- Phosphatidyl-

DEPE 988-07-2 mine ethanolamine Abbreviation CAS Name Type

1 ,2-Dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DEPG-NA glycerol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

Phosphatidyl

DLOPC 998-06-1 1 ,2-Dilinoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine choline

1 ,2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (Sodium Phosphatidic

DLPA-NA Salt) acid

18194-25- Phosphatidyl

DLPC 1 ,2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

7 choline

1 ,2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanola- Phosphatidyl-

DLPE mine ethanolamine

1 ,2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DLPG-NA glycerol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

1.2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DLPG-NH4 glycerol...) (Ammonium Salt) glycerol

1.2-Dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (So Phosphatidyl-

DLPS-NA dium Salt) serine

1.2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (So Phosphatidic

DMPA-NA dium Salt) acid

18194-24- Phosphatidyl

DMPC 1 ,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

6 choline

1 ,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanola- Phosphatidyl-

DMPE 988-07-2 mine ethanolamine

67232-80- 1 ,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1- Phosphatidyl-

DMPG-NA 8 glycerol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

1 ,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DMPG-NH4 glycerol...) (Ammonium Salt) glycerol

1.2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DMPG-NH4/NA glycerol...) (Sodium/Ammonium Salt) glycerol

1.2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine Phosphatidyl-

DMPS-NA (Sodium Salt) serine

1.2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (Sodium Phosphatidic

DOPA-NA Salt) acid

Phosphatidyl

DOPC 4235-95-4 1 ,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine choline 1 ,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanola- Phosphatidyl-

DOPE 4004-5-1- mine ethanolamine

62700-69- 1 ,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1-glyc- Phosphatidyl-

DOPG-NA 0 erol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

70614-14- 1 ,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (So- Phosphatidyl-

DOPS-NA 1 dium Salt) serine Abbreviation CAS Name Type

71065-87- 1 ,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (So- Phosphatidic

DPPA-NA 7 dium Salt) acid

Phosphatidyl

DPPC 63-89-8 1 ,2-Dipal itoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine choline

1.2-Dip ^a l it°yl- ^sn -gly ^cero -3-ph ^os ph ^oe th ^ano l ^a - Phosphatidyl-

DPPE y u I O mine ethanolamine

67232-81- 1 ,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1- Phosphatidyl-

DPPG-NA 9 glycerol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

73548-70- 1 ,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1- Phosphatidyl-

DPPG-NH4 6 glycerol...) (Ammonium Salt) glycerol

1.2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine Phosphatidyl-

DPPS-NA (Sodium Salt) serine

108321- 1 ,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (So- Phosphatidic

DSPA-NA 18-2 dium Salt) acid

Phosphatidyl

DSPC 816-94-4 1 ,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine choline

1069 79 0 1 ’2 Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanola- Phosphatidyl-

DSPE mine ethanolamine

67232-82- 1 ,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1- Phosphatidyl-

DSPG-NA 0 glycerol...) (Sodium Salt) glycerol

108347- 1 ,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac-(1 - Phosphatidyl-

DSPG-NH4

80-4 glycerol...) (Ammonium Salt) glycerol

1 ,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine Phosphatidyl-

DSPS-NA (Sodium Salt) serine

Phosphatidyl

EPC Egg-PC choline

Phosphatidyl

HEPC Hydrogenated Egg PC choline

Phosphatidyl

HSPC Hydrogenated Soy PC choline

LYSOPC 18194-24- Lysophosphati- 1-Myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

MYRISTIC 6 dylcholine

LYSOPC PAL 17364-16- Lysophosphati- 1-Palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine MITIC 8 dyl choline

LYSOPC STEA 19420-57- Lysophosphati- 1-Stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine RIC 6 dylcholine

Milk Sphingomye 1-Myristoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero 3-phospho- Phosphatidyl lin MPPC choline choline

1-Myristoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho- Phosphatidyl

MSPC choline choline Abbreviation CAS Name Type

1-Pal itoyl-2- yristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho- Phosphatidyl

PMPC choline choline

26853-31- 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocho- Phosphatidyl-

POPC

6 line choline

1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoeth- Phosphatidyl-

POPE anola ine ethanolamine

81490-05- 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3[Phospho-rac- Phosphatidyl-

POPG-NA 3 (1 -glycerol)...] (Sodium Salt) glycerol

1-Palmitoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho- Phosphatidyl

PSPC choline choline

1 -Stearoyl-2-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho- Phosphatidyl

SMPC choline choline

1 -Stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocho- Phosphatidyl

SOPC line choline

1-Stearoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho- Phosphatidyl

SPPC choline choline

The microparticles of the invention, in particular the microspheres or the shell of microcapsules of the invention, optionally further comprise at least one sterol ST.

In one embodiment, the microparticles of the invention, in particular the microspheres or the shell of microcapsules of the invention, further comprises at least one sterol ST.

Sterols are chemical compounds containing a 3-hydroxy gonane backbone.

Sterol ST can be a phytosterol, a zoosterol or a synthetic sterol.

In one embodiment, Sterol ST is a zoosterol.

In one embodiment, Sterol ST is a phytosterol.

In one embodiment, Sterol ST is a synthetic sterol.

In one embodiment, Sterol ST is a synthetic sterol that does naturally occur.

In on embodiment, sterol ST is prepared by extraction of plants and contains a mixture of differ ent sterols. Whenever reference is made herein to a certain sterol suitable as sterol ST, this shall include mixtures of such sterol with other sterols.

In one embodiment, sterol ST is selected from cholesterol, beta sitosterol, beta sitostanol, stig- masterol, stigmastanol, campesterol, campestanol, ergosterol, avenasterol, brassicasterol, lanos- terol, soy sterols, wood sterols, rape sterols or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, sterol ST is selected from beta sitosterol, beta sitostanol, stigmasterol, stig mastanol, campesterol, campestanol, ergosterol, avenasterol, brassicasterol, lanosterol, soy ster ols, wood sterols, rape sterols or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, sterol ST is selected from cholesterol, beta sitosterol, ergosterol, lanosterol, soy sterols, wood sterols, rape sterols, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, sterol ST is selected from beta sitosterol, lanosterol, soy sterols, wood ster ols, rape sterols or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the mass ratio of phospholipid PL (component i) to sterol ST (component ii) in the microparticles is from 1:10 to 10:1. In one preferred embodiment, the mass ratio of phos pholipid PL (component i) to sterol ST (component ii) in the microparticles is from 1 :1 to 10:1.

In one embodiment, microparticles of the invention further comprise an inorganic salt or a mineral, typically in particulate form, said mineral having a solubility in water of less than 0.01 wt% at 21 °C.

Typically, said inorganic salt or mineral is present in the form of solid particles.

In one embodiment, said inorganic salt or mineral is present in the form of solid particles having an average particle diameter d50 that is smaller than the average particle size d50 of the micro particles. In one embodiment said particles of inorganic salt or mineral form a coating on the surface of said microparticle.

In one preferred embodiment, said inorganic salt or mineral is a phosphate containing inorganic salt or mineral.

Preferably, said inorganic salt or a mineral is selected from hydroxy apatite, tricalcium phosphate, brushite, calcium hydrogenophosphates and ammonium polyphosphate.

Typically said inorganic salt or a mineral is added to the formulation such that the ratio of phos pholipid PL to inorganic salt or a mineral is from 1 :2 to 50 : 1.

In one embodiment, microparticles of the invention contain a nonionic surfactant.

Typically, a nonionic surfactant is present at the interface of the capsule shell and the water shell. It is also possible that certain amounts of surfactants are present in the core of the cap sule and the water phase.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include alkoxylates, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkox ylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Examples of N- substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfac tants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate.

Examples of nonionic surfactants include the neutral surface-active compounds of the formula

(II),

R’-(0-B) _n -0H (II) wherein

R’ is a hydrocarbon residue having from 8 to 40 and more preferably from 12 to 30 carbon atoms and optionally one oxygen atom,

B is C ₂ -C ₄ -alkane-1,2-diyl, such as 1 ,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene or 1,2-butylene or a combination thereof and more preferred 1,2-ethylene or a combination thereof with 1,2-propylene, and n is from 3 to 100, preferably from 4 to 50 and more preferred from 5 to 40.

Preferred nonionic surfactants include block copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO). Such block copolymers can for example have the structure R-(EO)x-(PO)y-(EO)z, with R being H or a C4 to C30 alkyl rest and x, y, z independently being numbers from 2 to 100.

Examples of suitable hydrocarbon R’ include the residue mentioned for R. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the residue R’ is a phenyl residue being substituted with one C4-C18-alkyl group.

Further preferred examples or nonionic surfactants are ethoxylates of sorbate molecules. Preferred are ethoxylates of polysorbates that bear terminal ester groups with fatty acids, such as C ₆ to C30, especially C12 to C18 fatty acids.

Typically, if present, formulations containing microparticles of the invention contain 0.01 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.1 to 1 wt% or 0.1 to 0.5 wt% of nonionic surfactants, based on the formulation. In one embodiment, formulations containing microparticles of the invention contain 0.01 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.1 to 5 wt% or 0.1 to 0.1 wt% of nonionic surfactants, based on the formulation.

Typically, if present, microparticles of the invention contain 0.01 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 wt% of nonionic surfactant, based on the microparticles. In one embodiment, microparticles of the invention contain 0.01 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.05 to 3 wt% of nonionic surfactant, based on the microparticles.

The shape the microparticles according to the invention is typically spherical or essentially spherical.

Microparticles of the invention typically have an average diameter d50 of 0.1 to 20 pm, preferably 0.5 to 10 pm, even more preferably 0.5 to 5 pm. All particle sizes given herein are determined by statistic laser scattering using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 according to European norm ISO 13320 EN.

Microcapsules of the invention are typically obtained without the use of any crosslinkers that form covalent bonds. In particular, microcapsules of the invention do not contain addition products of aldehydes like aliphatic aldehydes like glutaraldehyde as covalent crosslinkers. Thus, microcapsules of the invention typically do not comprise any covalent bonds between phospholipid PL and sterol ST. Microcapsules of the invention typically also do not contain any covalent bonds between different moieties of phospholipid PL and sterol ST that are obtained through crosslinking after formation of the microcapsule, for example by chemical reactions with aldehydes like aliphatic aldehydes like glutaraldehyde. Another aspect of the invention is directed to processes for making microparticles, comprising the following steps:

A) Providing a non-aqueous mixture containing one or more active substance, at least one phospholipid PL, optionally at least one sterol ST and optionally a nonaqueous solvent that is not miscible with water, wherein phospholipid PL and said sterol ST are at least partially dissolved in said nonaqueous solvent or said one or more active sub stance,

B) Emulsifying the non-aqueous mixture obtained in step A) with water, optionally sup ported by stirring and/or surfactants,

C) Optionally adding at least one inorganic salt or mineral, preferably phosphate contain ing salt or mineral, having a solubility in water of less than 0.1 wt% at 21°.

By adding at least one inorganic salt or mineral in step C), the microparticles obtained in step B) are be coated with particles of such inorganic salt or mineral.

Typically, microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are microcapsules hav ing a shell and a core or are microspheres.

In one embodiment, step B) is carried out such that an oil in water emulsion is obtained in step B).

When reference is made herein that an emulsification is supported by “stirring”, this shall be un derstood to include all customary mechanical means for supporting emulsification, such as stir ring, application of ultrasound, shaking or the like.

In one embodiment, the reaction medium in step A) is acidic.

In one embodiment, said inorganic salt is added in step C) such that the mixture obtained com prises 0.001 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.002 to 3wt %, especially preferably 0.005 to 2 wt% of said inorganic salt, based on the entire mixture.

In one embodiment, said inorganic salt is added in step C) such that the mixture obtained com prises 0.002 to 1 wt %, preferably 0.005 to 0.1 wt% of said inorganic salt, based on the entire mixture.

In one embodiment, the surfactant used in step B) is a nonionic surfactant.

It was of the surprising results of the invention that the process for making microparticles of the invention, including the encapsulation step and the crosslinking using inorganic salts, especially phosphate salts, can be carried out at room temperature or without the need for cooling the reac tion mixture.

Another aspect of the invention are microparticles obtainable by processes according to the in vention as described above and with the embodiments as described.

Another aspect of the invention are microparticles obtained by processes according to the inven tion as described above and with the embodiments as described. Another aspect of the invention are formulations comprising microparticles of the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention.

Microparticles of the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the inven tion can be converted into customary types of agrochemical compositions suspensions, pastes, granules, pressings or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, microparticles containing formulations of the invention are liquid formulations, wherein the microparticles are present as dispersed particles in solvent (i.e. a suspension), pref erably an aqueous medium.

The term "aqueous medium" stands for the liquid phase of the composition and comprises an aqueous solvent and optionally compounds dissolved therein, e.g. surfactants as mentioned above, and if present, conventional one or more conventional formulation additives, such as thick eners or biocides. The aqueous solvent of the aqueous suspension is either water or a mixture thereof with a water-miscible organic solvent, such as C1-C4-alkanols, e.g. methanol, ethanol, n- propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, or tert. butanol, C2-C5-alkanediols and C3-C8- alkanetriols, preferably from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1 ,2-propanediol, 1 ,3- propanediol, glycerol and 1 ,4-butanediol. Generally, the amount of water in the aqueous solvent is at least 50% by weight, in particular at least 80% by weight or at least 90 % by weight, based on the aqueous solvent. The aqueous solvent may consist mainly of water, i.e. water makes up at least 95% by weight of the total amount of solvent present in the suspension. The aqueous solvent may also be a mixture of the aforementioned water-miscible organic solvent and water. In the latter case, the weight ratio of water to water-miscible organic solvent in the aqueous sol vent preferably is in the range of from 99:1 to 1:1; more preferably in the range of from 50:1 to 3:1 ; and most preferably in the range of from 20:1 to 4:1. Expressed differently the amount of organic solvent may be from 1 to 50% by weight, more preferably from 2 to 25% by weight, and most preferably from 5 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solvent.

Formulations of the invention may comprise one or more further active substances outside the microparticles. Such further active substances can for example be dissolved in the solvent me dium, preferably the aqueous phase, or may be present as solid particles that are dispersed in the solvent medium, preferably the aqueous phase.

In one embodiment, formulations of the invention comprise 1 to 50 wt%, preferably 5 to 45 wt%, more preferably 10 to 40 wt% of said one or more active substances based on the formulation.

If present, the concentration of surfactants in the aqueous suspension will frequently be in the range from 0.01 to 10% by weight, in particular from 0.05 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous suspension of the microparticles.

The aqueous compositions according to the invention may also comprise customary formulation auxiliaries. Examples of auxiliaries include such as viscosity-modifying additives (thickeners), antifoam agents, preservatives, buffers, inorganic dispersants, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective col loids, adhesion agents, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants, compatibilizers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants, tackifiers and binders etc., which are usually employed in aqueous formulations active substances.

The amount of auxiliaries will typically not exceed 10% by weight, in particular 5% by weight of the total weight of the formulation.

Such auxiliaries may be incorporated into the aqueous suspension during or after the formation of the microparticles as described herein has been carried out. The amount of additives will gen erally not exceed 10% by weight, in particular 5% by weight of the total weight of the formulation.

Suitable inorganic dispersants, also termed anticaking agents, for preventing agglutination of the microparticles, are silica (such as, for example Sipernat® 22 from Degussa), alumina, calcium carbonate and the like. In the context of the present invention silica is a preferred inorganic dis persant. The concentration of inorganic dispersants in the final suspension will generally not ex ceed 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the final suspension, and, if present, it is prefer ably in the range from 0.01 to 2% by weight, in particular from 0.02 to 1.5% by weight and espe cially from 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the final formulation.

Suitable thickeners are compounds which affect the flow behavior of the suspension concentrate and may assist in stabilizing the aqueous suspension of the microparticles against caking. Men tion may be made, in this connection, for example, of commercial thickeners based on polysac charides, such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel® grades), Xanthan Gum (commercially available e.g. as Kelzan® grades from Kelco or Rhodopol® grades from Rhodia), synthetic polymers, such as acrylic acid polymers (Carbopol® grades), pol yvinyl alcohol (e.g. Mowiol® and Poval® grades from Kuraray) or polyvinyl pyrrolones, silicic acid or phyllosilicates, such as montmorillonite and bentonites, which may be hydrophobized, (com mercially available as Attaclay® grades and Attaflow® grades from BASF SE; or as Veegum® grades and Van Gel® grades from R.T. Vanderbilt). In the context of the present invention, Xan than Gum is a preferred thickener. The concentration of thickeners in the aqueous suspension will generally not exceed 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous suspension, and is preferably in the range from 0.01 to 2% by weight, in particular from 0.02 to 1.5% by weight and especially from 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous suspension or the final formulation, respectively.

Antifoam agents suitable for the compositions according to the invention are, for example, silicone emulsions (such as, for example, Silicone SRE-PFL from Wacker or Rhodorsil® from Bluestar Silicones), polysiloxanes and modified polysiloxanes including polysiloxane blockpolymers such as FoamStar® SI and FoamStar® ST products of BASF SE, long-chain alcohols, fatty acids, organofluorine compounds and mixtures thereof.

Suitable preservatives to prevent microbial spoiling of the compositions of the invention include formaldehyde, alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, sodium benzoate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane- 1 ,3-diol, o-phenylphenol, thiazolinones, such as benzisothiazolinone, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothi- azolinone, pentachlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. Commercially available preservatives that are based on isothiazolinones are for example marketed under the trademarks Proxel® (Arch Chemical), Acticide® MBS (Thor Chemie) and Kathon® MK (Rohm & Haas).

If appropriate, the formulations according to the invention, in particular the aqueous suspensions, may comprise buffers to regulate the pH. Examples of buffers are alkali metal salts of weak inor ganic or organic acids such as, for example, phosphoric acid, boric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid and succinic acid.

In addition, the compositions according to the invention, in particular the aqueous suspensions, can be formulated with conventional binders, for example aqueous polymer dispersions, water- soluble resins, for example water-soluble alkyd resins, or waxes.

The compositions of the invention may also contain one or more adjuvants. Suitable adjuvants are known to skilled persons and include surfactants, crop oil concentrates, spreader-stickers, wetting agents, and penetrants. In other particular groups of embodiments, the microparticle com position is in the form of solid composition. Such a solid composition contains the microparticles of the invention, optionally one or more surfactants, , and optionally an inert solid carrier material. The solid compositions may e.g. be redispersible powders, water-dispersible granules wettable powders and the like.

Solid carriers include e.g. mineral earths, such as silicas, silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, lime stone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, am monium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders, or other solid carriers.

Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emulsifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective col loid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon’s, Vol.1 : Emulsifiers & De tergents, McCutcheon’s Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.).

Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sul fates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylaryl- sulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty ac ids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sul fonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sul fates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.

Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Exam ples of N-substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Ex amples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar- based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpoly- glucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vi- nylalcohols, or vinylacetate.

Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. Suitable polyelectrolytes are polyacids or polybases. Examples of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or poly- ethyleneamines.

Suitable adjuvants are compounds, which have a neglectable or even no pesticidal activity themselves, and which improve the biological performance of the compound I on the target. Ex amples are surfactants, mineral or vegetable oils, and other auxiliaries. Further examples are listed by Knowles, Adjuvants and additives, Agrow Reports DS256, T&F Informa UK, 2006, chapter 5.

Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), inor ganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates.

Suitable bactericides are bronopol, phenoxyethanol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones.

Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin.

Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids.

Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and wa ter-soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron hexacy- anoferrate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants).

Suitable tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidons, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylates, biological or synthetic waxes, and cellulose ethers.

The solid formulations according to the invention may also comprise customary formulation aux iliaries, such as antifoam agents, preservatives, buffers, inorganic dispersants, etc., which are usually employed in solid formulations of active substances. Such auxiliaries may be incorporated into the solid formulation at any conventional stage of their preparation process. The amount of additives will generally not exceed 10% by weight, in particular 5% by weight of the total weight of the solid composition. Another aspect of the present invention is the use of microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention in agrochemical applications (e.g. crop protection, agricultural non-crop applications, seed treatment), pharma ceutical applications, public health, personal care applications (e.g. cosmetic applications), textile applications, human or animal nutrition applications, chemical process applications, adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, building and construction materials, self-healing materials, to bacco industry, household applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in crop protection.

The inventive microparticles and formulations containing pesticides as active substances are par ticularly important in the control of a multitude of phytopathogenic fungi, undesired vegetation of insects or nematodes on various cultivated plants, such as cereals, e. g. wheat, rye, barley, triti- cale, oats or rice; beet, e. g. sugar beet or fodder beet; fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e. g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, black berries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; veg etables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cu curbits or paprika; lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy and raw material plants, such as corn, soybean, rape, sugar cane or oil palm; corn; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; vines (Table grapes and grape juice grape vines); hop; turf; sweet leaf (also called Stevia); natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, such as flowers, shrubs, broad leaved trees or evergreens, e. g. conifers; and on the plant propagation material, such as seeds, and the crop material of these plants.

Preferred crops are Arachis hypogaea, Beta vulgaris spec altissima, Brassica napus var. napus, Brassica oleracea, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Coffea arabica (Coffea canephora, Coffea li- berica), Cynodon dactylon, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum, (Gossypium arboreum, Gossy- pium herbaceum, Gossypium vitifolium), Helianthus annuus, Hordeum vulgare, Juglans regia, Lens culinaris, Linum usitatissimum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Malus spec., Medicago sativa, Nicotiana tabacum (N.rustica), Olea europaea, Oryza sativa , Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vul garis, Pistacia vera, Pisum sativum, Prunus dulcis, Saccharum officinarum, Secale cereale, So- lanum tuberosum, Sorghum bicolor (s. vulgare), Triticale, Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, Vicia faba, Vitis vinifera and Zea mays

Especially preferred crops are crops of cereals, corn, soybeans, rice, oilseed rape, cotton, pota toes, peanuts or permanent crops.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in non-crop applications like home and garden, turf and amenity.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in seed treatment. In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in pharmaceutical applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in public health applications (e.g. dis ease control, vector control (e.g. of mosquitos)).

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in personal care applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in cosmetic applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in textile applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in human or animal nutrition applica tions.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in chemical process applications.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in adhesives and sealants.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in paints and coatings.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in building and construction materials. In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in self-healing materials.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in the tobacco industry.

In one embodiment microparticles or formulations according to the invention or microparticles prepared according to processes of the invention are used in household applications.

Another aspect of the present invention are methods for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants, where microparticles according to the invention or prepared according to pro cesses of the invention or formulations according to the invention, in each case containing one or more pesticides as an active substance, are allowed to act on the particular pests, their habitat or the plants to be protected from the particular pest, the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or the useful plants and/or their habitat.

Another aspect of the present invention are seeds containing microparticles of the invention or prepared according to the invention, especially containing one or more pesticides as active sub stances.

Another aspect of the present invention are seeds containing a coating containing microparticles of the invention or prepared according to the invention, especially containing one or more pesti cides as active substances.

Microparticles according to the invention or prepared according to processes of the invention formulations according to the invention, in each case containing one or more pesticides as an active substance are in one embodiment used for treatment of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds, as part of Suspoemulsions (SE), flowable concentrates (FS), and gels (GF) The formulations in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active substance con centrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight, in the ready- to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing. Methods for apply ing microparticles on plant propagation material, especially seeds, include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrow application methods of the propagation material. Pref erably, compound I or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propa gation material by a method such that germination is not induced, e. g. by seed dressing, pellet ing, coating and dusting.

When employed in plant protection, the amounts of active substances applied are, depend ing on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, and in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha.

In treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds, e. g. by dusting, coating or drenching seed, amounts of active substance of from 0.1 to 1000 g, preferably from 1 to 1000 g, more preferably from 1 to 100 g and most preferably from 5 to 100 g, per 100 kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seeds) are generally required.

When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active substance applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1 kg, of active substance per cubic meter of treated material.

Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e.g. herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners) may be added to the mi croparticles or the formulations comprising them as premix or, if appropriate not until immedi ately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1 : 100 to 100: 1 , preferably 1 : 10 to 10: 1.

The user usually applies the composition according to the invention containing one or more pesticides as active substances in crop protection applications from a predosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemi cal composition is made up with water, buffer, and/or further auxiliaries to the desired applica tion concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2000 liters, preferably 50 to 400 liters, of the ready-to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area.

According to one embodiment, individual components of the composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

The present invention offers the following advantages:

Microparticles of the invention are environmentally friendly.

Microparticles of the invention only contain naturally occurring polymers in the shell or polymers that are inspired by nature. Microparticles of the invention do not form any microplastic.

Microparticles of the invention are easily degradable, for example under ambient conditions. Microparticles of the invention contain a shell based on natural materials.

Microparticles of the invention are obtained without any covalent crosslinking. They do not re quire the use of reactive crosslinking agents. Thus they have a favorable EHS profile and are easy to produce.

Microparticles of the invention in many cases have a unique surface morphology. In many cases they have an uneven, rough surface that differentiates them from other encapsulation technologies.

Microparticles of the invention allow for a controlled release of active substances. The release profile can be adjusted to the requirements of the application. It is possible to provide capsules with very easy release of the active substances. It is possible to provide capsules with very slow release of the active substances. It is possible to provide capsules with good volatility profiles. It is possible to provide capsules with low volatility of the active substances.

Microparticles of the invention can be used in a broad range of applications such as agrochemi cal applications (e.g. crop protection, agricultural non-crop applications, seed treatment), phar maceutical applications, public health applications, personal care applications (e.g. cosmetic ap plications), textile applications, human or animal nutrition applications, chemical process appli cations, adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, building and construction materials, self- healing materials, tobacco industry, household applications.

Microparticles of the invention comprising one or more pesticides show a high efficacy for con trolling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants.

Microparticles of the invention comprising one or more pheromones show a high efficacy for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired attack by in sects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants.

Microparticles of the invention are easy and economical to make. They do not require compli cated equipment. The can be formed at room temperature and do not requiring cooling during their preparation. They can be prepared in high amounts and processes for their manufacture can be scaled up.

Microparticles and formulations of the invention are storage stable.

Microparticles and formulations of the invention are compatible with a broad range of other active substances and can be formulated with a broad range of other active substances.

Examples

Particle size Distribution (PSD) was determined by statistic laser scattering using a Malvern Mas- tersizer 200 according to European norm ISO 13320 EN. The data were treated according to the Mie-Theory by software using a "universal model" provided by Malvern Instruments. Important parameters are the devalues for n = 10, 50 and 90.

Materials used:

Phospholipid A: soybean fluid lecithin (Lecico F200, supplier: Lecico)

Phospholipid B: Asolectin (purified phospholipid product from soybean crop containing lecithin, cephalin, inositol phosphatides & soybean oil, content saturated fatty acids ca. 24 mol%, content monounsaturated fatty acids: ca. 14 mol%, content polyunsaturated fatty acids: 62 mol% (in each case based on the fatty acids, ³20mol% phosphatidyl choline based (TLC), ca. 25mol% phospha tidylcholine based, supplier: DC Fine Chemicals)

Phospholipid C: soybean fluid lecithin (acid value: max. 35 mg KOH/g, peroxide value: max. 10 meq/kg, viscosity 25 °C: max. 12.5 Pa.s) (Soycithin F60, supplier: Novastell)

Sterol A: Vegapure® FS: betasistosterol (supplier: BASF)

Sterol B: Cholesterol (supplier: Southeast Pharmaceuticals), melting point: 148 °C Sterol C: General ^® 98 RF: Refined grade natural phytosterol (rape sterols) (supplier: BASF) Sterol D: General® 867 F: Wood phytosterol (supplier: BASF)

Surfactant A ethoxylated sorbitan ester based on oleic acid polyethylene sorbitol ester, with a calculated molecular weight of 1 ,310 Daltons, assuming 20 ethylene ox ide units, 1 sorbitol, and1 oleic acid as the primary fatty acid viscosity 25 °C: 400 - 620 Pa.s; fatty acid composition (as oleic acid): min 58%;

Surfactant B Amides, C8-18 and C18-unsatd., N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)

Hydroxyapatite loss on ignition: max 8%; titration (ZnSCU 0.1 M): min 90% Solvent A: aromatic hydrocarbon mixture (Solvesso 200 ND)

Solvent B: n-octyl pyrrolidone Solvent C: n-butyl-2- pyrrolidone

Example 1

First the oil phase composed of 62.42 g cinmethylin, 9.85 g of Phospholipid A and 1.97g Sterol A was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the or ganic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a 500 ml_ beaker was added 9.85 g Surfactant A and 115.9 g of demineralized water. Under stirring with an ultra-turrax T25 homogenizer at 23,000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the wa ter phase and dispersed at the same speed over 15 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 - 40°C by using an ice bath. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature and 200 g of dispersion was obtained (dm = 1.4 pm, dso = 7.5 pm and d90 = 14.6 pm, pH neat: 4.8).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 1 is shown in Figure 1. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 200, no aggregates were observed.

Example 2

First the oil phase composed of 62.42 g cinmethylin, 9.85 g of Phospholipid A and 1.97g Sterol C was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the or ganic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a 500 ml_ beaker was added 9.85 g Surfactant A and 115.9 g of demineralized water. Under stirring with an ultra-turrax T25 homogenizer at 23,000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the wa ter phase and dispersed at the same speed over 15 min. The temperature was maintained at 30 - 40°C by using an ice bath. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature and 200 g of dispersion was obtained (dio = 1.2 pm, dso = 6.0 pm and dgo = 12.7 pm, pH neat: 6.2).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 2 is shown in Figure 2. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The objects were spherical with an irregular cap sule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribution measured with Malvern Mastersizer 200, no aggregate was visible.

Example 3

To a solution of Surfactant A (30.4 g) in demi water (679.8 g, electrical conductivity <2 mS/cm) at 20 - 25 °C, a suspension of Phospholipid B (90.3 g) and Sterol B (18.4 g) in Cinmethylin (359.5 g) was added at the same temperature. The resulting mixture was dispersed by means of IKA Ultra-Turrax T50 homogenizer, operated 8 minutes at 10 000 rpm. Hydroxyapatite (21.6 g) was then added to the mixture and the resulting suspension was further homogenized 2 minutes at 10 000 rpm, so to obtain 1200 g of product. The microparticles obtained had an av erage particle size dio = 1.5 pm and dso = 20 pm, the pH neat was 4.8.

Example 4

To a solution of Tween 20 (3.8 g) in demi water (80.9 g, electrical conductivity <2 mS/cm) at 20 - 25 °C, a suspension of Phospholipid B (16.9 g) in Cinmethylin (45 g) is added at the same temperature. The resulting mixture is dispersed by means of IKA Ultra-Turrax T50 homogenizer, operated 2 minutes at 10 000 rpm. Hydroxyapatite (3.4 g) is then added to the mixture and the resulting suspension is further homogenized 1 minute at 10 000 rpm , so to obtain 150 g of product. The microparticles obtained had an average particle size dio = 1.6 pm and dso = 20 pm, the pH neat was 5.4.

The lipid-based capsules prepared in the examples 1 to 4 were compared to Emulsifiable Con centrate (EC) and Polyurea Capsules Suspension (PU CS) formulations, they showed excellent efficacies in controlling ALOMY, LOLRI, LOLMU, GALAP weeds but also good crop tolerance on winter wheat and Barley, under greenhouse and field conditions. The capsules so prepared showed also delayed volatility property than EC.

Examples 5 and 6

1) A solution of Surfactant A (7.4 g) in demi water ( 66.3 g, electrical conductivity <2 pS/cm) was prepared by stirring at 20 - 25 °C;

2) A solution of DMTA-P (31.3 g) in Solvent A was prepared by stirring at 20 - 25 °C; 3) To the solution prepared in 2), Sterol C (2.8 g) and either Phospholipid A (11.1 g, for Ex ample 5) or Phospholipid C (11.1 g, for Example 6) were added. The mixture so obtained was stirred at 20 - 25 °C to obtain a homogeneous mixture; 4) The organic mixture prepared in 3) was emulsified into the aqueous solution prepared in

1) with IKA UltraTurrax T50 (10Ό00 rpm, 3 mins). Occasional cooling was required in order to keep the temperature at 20 - 25 °C.

• SAMPLES COMPOSITION

Examples 7.1 to 7.4 Table 7.1: Composition of the experiments 7.1-7.4 Batch creation process:

1 preparation of two Aqueous phases a) 55g Polysorbat 80 was dissolved in 80% of the needed water at 40°C. b) 25g Hydroxyapatite was dispersed in the remaining 20% water.

2) Organic phase

42g Beta-Sitosterol was dissolved in 350g Cinmethylin at 70°C. Then the solution was cooled down to 40°C, 70g Phospholipid A was added subsequently and in experiment 2 and 4 , 100 or espectivly 120 g of the Surfactant B was added. For experiment 435.2g Picolinafen is dissolved in 200g Cinmethylin.

3) Finishing solution:

70 g propylenglykole ,5 g preservative, 6 g naphtalene isobutyl sulfonate and 2 g thickener xan- than gum were combined and mixed till the solution was homogenous

5) Preparation

The organic phase was added to the aqueous phase obtained in step 1a and homogenized with Ultraturrax 30 s 12000 rpm at 40°C.

Subsequently the Hydroxyapatite dispersion of step 1b was added to the so obtained mixture and homogenized with Ultraturrax 30s lOOOOrpm at 40°C.

The finishing solution obtained in step 3) was added and the so obtained mixture was stirred for 60min with Viskojet, 600rpm at 20-40°C.

Finally the obtained mixture was cooled down to 20°C and sieved over a 150pm mesh.

The particle dispersions so btained were tested for the biological performance.

The biological tests in the greenhouse of the formulations 7.1-7.3 in table 7.1 were performed as follows: Application rate of the compound was always 100g/ha. Evaluation of the efficacy was done 20 days after application in Pre-treatment. Values to 100 designates a high efficacy on the weeds. This was reached on Alopecurus and Lolium. Opposite was true for the values on the crops. Wheat and barley were evaluated with no findings of phytotoxicity. All different formu lations performed good on the desired target species.

Table 7.2: Greenhouse results of the evaluated formulations

Example 8

First the oil phase composed of 20 w/w% DMTA-P, 20 w/w% Solvent A, 7.4 w/w% of Phospho lipid A and 1.87 w/w% Sterol C was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the organic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a beaker was added 4.93 w/w% Surfactant A and 45.8 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10.000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 3 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 - 40°C by using a cooler. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature (dio = 0.8 pm, dso = 1.9 pm and d90 = 12.2 pm, pH neat: 5.6).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 8 is shown in Figure 3. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

Example 9

First the oil phase composed of 20 w/w% DMTA-P, 20 w/w% Solvent A, 7.4 w/w% of Phospho lipid A and 1.87 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the organic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a beaker was added 4.93 w/w% Surfactant A and 45.8 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10.000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 3 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 - 40°C by using a cooler. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature (dm = 0,8 pm, dso = 1,7 pm and d90 = 9,6 pm, pH neat: 5,6).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 9 is shown in Figure 4. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

The lipid-based capsules prepared in examples 8 and 9 were compared to Dimethenamid-P Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) They showed excellent efficacies in controlling CAPBP, GALAP, STEME ,VIDAR, LAMPU weeds, also SETVI, ECHCG, DIGSA grasses under greenhouse con ditions.

In the field the so prepared capsules showed good handling, also much better compatibility with key US herbicide Tank-mix partner, similar weed control when compared to EC on soybean, and cotton. Example 10

First the oil phase composed of 30 w/w% DMTA-P, 5 w/w% Solvent A, 2.5 w/w% Solvent B,

7.77 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.96 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the dif ferent components. The flask was sealed. That all the ingredients are mixed into a homogene ous solution, they are stirred at room temperature.

In a beaker was added 5.18 w/w% Surfactant A and 47.59 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10.000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 1 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 °C by using a cooler. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature (dio = 0.3 pm, dso = 0.7 pm and d90 = 1.4 pm, pH neat: 5.3).

Example 11

First the oil phase composed of 20 w/w% DMTA-P, 2.5 w/w% Clomazone, 17.5 w/w% Solvent A, 7.4 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.87 w/w% Sterol C was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the organic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homoge nous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a beaker was added 4.93 w/w% Surfactant A and 45.8 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10.000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 3 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 - 40°C by using a cooler. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature (dm = 0.8 pm, dso = 6.4 pm and d90 = 15.1 pm, pH neat: 5.4).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 11 is shown in Figure 5. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

Example 12

First the oil phase composed of 20 w/w% DMTA-P, 2.5 w/w% Clomazone, 17.5 w/w% Solvent A, 7.4 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.87 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed and the organic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 50°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homoge nous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a beaker was added 4.93 w/w% Surfactant A and 45.8 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10.000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 3 min. The temperature did not exceed 30 - 40°C by using a cooler. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture was allowed to cool down to room temperature (dm = 1.8 pm, dso = 6.3 pm and d90 = 14.7 pm, pH neat: 5.5).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 12 is shown in Figure 6. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

The lipid-based capsules prepared in examples11 and 12 were compared to Tank-mix of Dime- thenamid-P Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) and Clomazone Polyurea Capsules Suspension (PU CS), also to Dimethenamid-P and Clomazone co-Polyurea Capsules Suspension. They showed excellent efficacies in controlling SETFA, STEME weeds under greenhouse conditions.

• SAMPLES COMPOSITION

Example 13

First the oil phase composed of 25 w/w% S-Metalochlor, 8.33 w/w% Solvent A, 7.77 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.96 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the different compo nents. The flask was sealed and the organic phase was put in water bath and warmed to ca. 40°C under stirring to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution which was cooled down to room temperature afterwards.

In a beaker was added 5.18 w/w% Surfactant A and 51.76 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 15,000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 4 min. The temperature did exceed to 60°C. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture could cool down to room temperature and the disper sion was obtained (dm = 0.194 pm, dso = 0.475 pm and d90 = 2.64 pm, pH neat: 6.3).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 13 is shown in Figure 7. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

Example 14

First the oil phase composed of 30 w/w% S-Metalochlor, 5 w/w% Solvent A, 2.5 w/w% Solvent C, 7.77 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.96 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the different components. The flask was sealed, and the organic phase was stirred to dissolve com pletely the components and get a homogenous solution.

In a beaker was added 5.18 w/w% Surfactant A and 47.59 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 10,000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 2 min. The temperature did exceed to 30°C. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture could cool down to room temperature and the disper sion was obtained (dm = 0.202 pm, dso = 0.464 pm and d90 = 1.01 pm, pH neat: 5.8).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 14 is shown in Figure 8. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed. Example 15

First the oil phase composed of 25 w/w% Acetochlor, 8.33 w/w% Solvent A, 7.77 w/w% of Phospholipid A and 1.96 w/w% Sterol D was prepared in a flask by adding the different compo nents. The flask was sealed, and the organic phase was stirred at room temperature to dissolve completely the components and get a homogenous solution.

In a beaker was added 5.18 w/w% Surfactant A and 51.76 w/w% of demineralized water. Under stirring with an Polytron homogenizer at 15,000 rpm, the oil phase was added to the water phase and dispersed at the same speed over 4 min. The temperature did exceed to 60°C. After stopping the emulsification, the mixture could cool down to room temperature and the disper- sion was obtained (dm = 0.207 pm, dso = 0.652 pm and d90 = 5.14 pm, pH neat: 5.7).

An optical micrograph of the microparticles obtained in Example 15 is shown in Figure 9. The morphology of the microparticles can be seen. The microparticles were spherical with an irregu lar capsule wall. The size of the capsule was in good agreement with the particle size distribu tion measured with Malvern Mastersizer 3000, no aggregates were observed.

• SAMPLES COMPOSITION