Optimally stabilized microgranule comprising 5-pyrrolyl-2-pyridylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazole derivative

A granule comprising a 5-pyrrolyl-2-pyridylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazole derivative represented by the following formula (1):

• in which
• X represents S, SO or SO2,
• R1 and R2 independently of one another represent hydrogen or alkyl,
• R3 represents hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl, —SR6, —N(R7)2, 1-piperidinyl, 4-morpholinyl, 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, or a group of general formula —OR6 or —O(CH2)m—Z,
• wherein
• R6 represents C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, optionally substituted C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C2-C5-fluoroalkyl, or phenyl or benzyl each of which is optionally substituted by one or more halogen, or C1-C4-alkyl or alkoxy each of which is optionally substituted by halogen,
• R7 represents hydrogen or C1-C5-alkyl,
• Z represents a group of general formula —O(CH2)p—OR8, —O(CH2)q—R9 or —O(CH2)rO(CH2)s—OR10, wherein p and q independently of one another represent an integer of 1 to 3, r and s independently of one another represent an integer of 1 to 5, R8 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, R9 represents hydrogen, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl or heteroaryl, and R10 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl,
• m represents an integer of 2 to 10,
• R4 and R5 independently of one another represent hydrogen or C1-C5-alkyl, or
• R4 and R3 or R3 and R5 represent —CH═CH—CH═CH—, —O(CH2)n—, —O(CH2)nO—, —CH2(CH2)n— or —OCH═CH— when R4 or R5 together with the adjacent carbon atoms on the pyridine ring form a ring, wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 4
• as an active ingredient, an alkali compound as a stabilizer in 0.2 to 7.0 times molar amount with respect to the active ingredient, and a water-soluble polymer as a binding agent in 0.1 to 50% by weight with respect to the granule.