Development of Novel Herbicidal Ionic Liquids

Aims: The present study involved the synthesis of small carboxylic acid based ionic liquids as potential herbicides.

Study Design: Synthesized ionic liquids.

Place and Duration of Study: Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, CBSH, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar-263145, Uttarakhand, India between September 2016 and May 2017.

Methodology: In the present studies, we synthesized ionic liquids comprising tetrabutylammonium as cation and prolinate, tartrate, alanate, serinate, crotonate, citrate, malonate, nicotinate, glycinate and oxalate as organic anions. The synthesized ionic liquids were screened for seed germination inhibition activity at 0.005M, 0.01M and 0.02M concentration in distilled water against radish (Raphanus sativus) seeds.

Results: Seed germination inhibition activity increased with increase in concentration. The compounds having an anion of tartrate, crotonate, citrate, malonate and oxalate were found at par with standard butachlor at 0.02M concentration.

Conclusion: From the above studies it clearly indicate that ionic liquids containing these organic acid anions as a part of ionic liquid may be developed as potential herbicides.