A Degradable Quaternary Ammonium-Based Pesticide Safe for Humans

Abstract

Reducing the emission of agrochemicals hazardous to the environment and human health is one of the key targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12. Herein, we report a kind of quaternary ammonium pesticides with an acid-cleavable silaketal linkage on their backbones that enables control of hydrolysis. These pesticides possess outstanding bactericidal and insecticidal properties but become harmless to humans and other organisms after hydrolysis. Depending on the conditions of use, the hydrolytic process can be controlled over the time range of 10 min to 3 months. Both laboratory simulations and agricultural field demonstrations confirm that these pesticides can effectively protect crops from bacterial diseases and pests. At the sametime, single-dose intragastric administration using diisopropylsilyloxy bisquaternary ammonium salt 9 (ISBQAS-9) in mice demonstrates its safety for multiple organs. Owing to the advantages of controllable degradability, environmental friendliness, and the low financial cost of these pesticides, this well-designed strategy holds great promise for the generation of environmentally harmless pesticides and the development of green agriculture.