Abstract: A hydroquinone diether having two 5,5-dichloro-4-pentenyl side chains and possessing improved acaricidal and juvenile hormonal activity is disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing aliphatic compounds containing two conjugated double bonds cis-cis or cis-trans, characterized in that a compound of the general formula ##STR1## (in which R is H, alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, or OY in which Y is a protective group selected from the class consisting of tetrahydropyranyl and 1-ethoxyethyl; X is an ester function selected from the class consisting of the acetates) is reacted with an alkyl-magnesium halide of the general formula:Z--Mg--R.sup.1 (II)(in which Z is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group, or a group (CH.sub.2).sub.n OY in which Y has the same meaning as in formula (I), and n is a number from 3 to 10) in the presence of Li.sub.2 CuCl.sub.4, CuCl, CuBr, or CuI at temperatures ranging from about -30.degree. to +10.degree. C. in the presence of ethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran as solvent, to obtain an aliphatic compound of the general formula:R--CH.sub.2 --C.tbd.C--CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 R.sup.

Abstract: A new class of alkyl-aryl diethers having juvenile hormone activity (hereinafter designated JHA) and capable of retarding the metamorphosis of pupae or larvae into adult insects is disclosed. The new alkyl-aryl diethers are characterized in that one of the end groups is a phenyl group and the other end group is a halogenated group.

Abstract: There are disclosed ethers and thioethers having a benzyl or phenyl terminal group and another terminal group which is halogenated, and which ethers and thioethers exhibit juvenile hormone activity (i.e., function as inhibitors of the development of insects from their larval state to the adult state), as well as acaricide activity.Methods for preparing the ethers and thioethers are also disclosed.

Abstract: New halogenated esters of polycarboxylic acids are disclosed. The esters are useful, for instance, as particularly efficacious plasticizers for polymers and/or copolymers of vinyl chloride and/or vinylidene chloride. Compositions based on such polymeric materials and plasticized by means of the new halogenated esters of polycarboxylic acids are also disclosed.