Insecticides from dimethylmuconic acid

Abstract

Novel compounds having the formula: ##STR1## or mixtures thereof, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbyl groups which may be the same or different, or one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be hydrogen, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are methyl or hydrogen, and may be the same or different, can be prepared by the reaction of an alkyl ester, preferably the methyl ester, of polymethylmuconic acid with (C.sub.2 H.sub.5 O).sub.2 PSSH, the reaction product of ethanol and phosphorus pentasulfide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.