Organometallic biocides

Voulvoulis, N., Scrimshaw, M.D., Lester, J.N. Review-alternative antifouling biocides. Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 13 (1999), 135-143... 

During the past few decades, the use of organotins has increased dramatically, most likely due to their diverse biocidal properties. In fact, organotins have a higher commercial usage than any other organometallic system. In turn, this has led to an increased concern about the fate of the compounds and their degradation... 

The applications of organometallic agents in technology show every promise of increasing. The traditional use of tetraethyllead in motor fuels may eventurlly be replaced by some other type. Tin alkyls have gained some recent prominence both for the biocidal properties of certain trialkyl-tin derivatives and for the ultraviolet-discoloration protection offered vinyl plastics by dibutyltin dilaurate. Also attention should be drawn to the possi-... 

Industrial consumption of organotins, for example, rose from about 5000 tons in 1965 to about 35,000 tons in 1985. The uses of nontoxic organotin compounds (R2SnX2 and RSnXs types) account for about 67% of the total world production, although use of RsSnX types as selective biocides has increased disproportionately. Tin now has more of its organometallic derivatives in commercial use than any other element. 

The first symposium on Organometallic Polymers, held at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in September 1977> attracted a large number of scientists interested in this field, both established investigators and newcomers. Subsequent symposia in 1977, 1979, 1983, and 1987 have seen the field mature. Hundreds of papers and patents have been published. Applications of these materials as semiconductors and one-dimensional conductors, as radiation shields or as photo-resists, as catalysts, as controlled release agents for drugs and biocides and a wide variety of applications have been studied (see Chapter 1). 

This short list, still remarkable for its simplicity, led inevitably to the organometallic compounds and polyhalogenated phenol derivatives — active ingredients which are both highly effective and highly persistent and which may indeed be termed biocides , since they are harmful not only to micro-organisms, but also to plants, insects, snails, fish and other organisms — in short, to all forms of life. 

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