Givaudan Corporation

Albert I Rachlin

Milton Manowitz

Alyce Brandman

Userful as antimicrobial agents in aqeuous systems are .alpha.-halo.beta.-(substituted)thioacrylonitriles of the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents Cl, Br or I and R represents a lower alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclo, or a thiocarbonyl group. The configuration about the double bond may be E or Z or a mixture thereof. These compounds provide effective control of microbial growth. The derivatives of formula I are economically prepared from acrylonitrile via a three-step process involving (a) halogenation, (b) dehydrohalogenation and (c) nucleophilic-type displacement. Except for those compounds wherein X is bromo and R is methyl or phenyl, the compounds of formula I are not mentioned in the prior art.

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Verona, NJ, United States of America

Albert I Rachlin