The present invention relates to fungicidal pyrimidine compounds, to their use and to methods for combating phytopathogenic fungi. The present invention also relates to seeds treated with at least one such compound. Furthermore the invention relates to processes for preparing compounds of formula I.

The present invention relates to fungicidal pyrimidine compounds, to their use and to methods for combating phytopathogenic fungi. The present invention also relates to seeds treated with at least one such compound. Furthermore the invention relates to processes for preparing compounds of formula I.

WO 2011007839 A1 describes 4-(3-butynyl)aminopyrimidine derivatives, which are pest controlling agents for agricultural and horticultural use.

The compounds according to the present invention differ from those described in the abovementioned publication in that the central phenyl ring is always substituted by a heteroaryloxy substituent and that the linker between said phenyl ring and the aminopyrimidine moiety is a butynyl derived group as described herein.

In many cases, in particular at low application rates, the fungicidal activity of known fungicidal compounds is unsatisfactory. Based on this, it was an object of the present invention to provide compounds having improved activity and/or a broader activity spectrum against phytopathogenic fungi. This objective is achieved by the use of substituted pyrimidine compounds of formula I having good fungicidal activity against phytopathogenic harmful fungi.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula I

The present invention furthermore relates to processes for preparing compounds of formula I. The present invention furthermore relates to intermediates such as compounds of formulae III, IIa and IIIa and to processes for preparing them. Accordingly a 4-halopyrimidine compound II, wherein Hal is halogen, preferably Cl or F, can be reacted with a suitable amine compound III, wherein X is —CR3R4—, to obtain a compound I according to the present invention, wherein X is —CR3R4—, as shown in scheme 1.

Generally, this reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 0 to 200° C., preferably from 50 to 170° C., preferably in an inert organic solvent and preferably in presence of a base or a catalyst or a combination of a base and a catalyst.

Suitable solvents are aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, o-, m- and p-xylene; halogenated hydro-carbons chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene; ethers such as dioxane, anisole and THF; nitriles such as acetonitrile and propionitrile; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone and tert.-butyl methyl ketone; alcohols such as ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol and tert.-butanol; and also DMSO, DMF, dimethyl acetamide, NMP, NEP and acetic acid ethyl ester, preferably THF, DMSO, DMF, dimethyl acetamide, NMP or NEP; even more preferably THF, DMF or NMP. It is also possible to use mixtures of the solvents mentioned.

Suitable bases are, in general, inorganic compounds, such as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxides such as lithium oxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide and calcium oxide; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal phosphates such as lithium phosphate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate and calcium phosphate; alkali metal amides such as lithium amide, sodium amide and potassium amide; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydrides lithium hydride, sodium hydride, potassium hydride and calcium hydride; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal carbonates such as lithium carbonate, potassium carbonate and calcium carbonate, caesium carbonate; moreover organic bases, for example tertiary amines such as trimethyl-amine (TMA), triethylamine (TEA), tributylamine (TBA), diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), pyridine, substituted pyridines such as collidine, lutidine and 4 dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and also bicyclic amines. Preference is given to sodium hydride, potassium hydride, lithium carbonate, potassium carbonate, caesium carbonate, TEA, TBA and DIPEA, in particular DIPEA. The bases are generally employed in equimolar amounts, in excess or, if appropriate, as solvent. The amount of base is typically 1.1 to 5.0 molar equivalents relative to 1 mole of compounds II.

The starting materials are generally reacted with one another in equimolar amounts. In terms of yields, it may be advantageous to employ an excess of compounds III, based on 1.1 to 2.5 equivalents, preferred 1.1 to 1.5 equivalents of compounds II.

The compounds II are known from the literature or are commercially available or they can be prepared for example in analogy to methods described in: Heterocycles (2009) 78(7), 1627-1665; New J. Chem. (1994) 18(6), 701-8; WO 2005/095357; Science of Synthesis (2004) 16, 379-572; WO 2008/156726; WO 2006/072831; Organic Reactions (Hoboken, N.J., United States) (2000), 56; or Targets in Heterocyclic Systems (2008) 12, 59-84.

The alkyne amine compounds III are known from the literature or are commercially available or they can be prepared for example in analogy to methods described in WO 2011007839. The compounds III can also be prepared for example in analogy to methods described in scheme 2, wherein PG in compound AD-2 stands for a suitable protection group for an amine, for example tert-butoxycarbonyl, benzyloxy carbonyl, benzyl, 4-methoxy benzyl, acetyl or trichloro acetyl.

According to scheme 2, butyne compounds can be synthesized via a palladium catalyzed crosscoupling of an aryl halide AD-1 with suitable alkynes AD-2 (US 20110105562 A1, Tetrahedron (1992), 48(15), 3239-50; WO 2004043458 A1); the heterocycle Het can be installed before or after the crosscoupling reaction.

Alkynes AD-2 are commercially available or they can be synthesized according to scheme 3.

Ring opening of a substituted aziridine AD-3 with a metal acetylide, wherein M can be, for example, lithium, directly leads to the formation of AD-2 (Angewandte Chemie, International Edition (2011), 50(9), 2144-2147; Journal of the American Chemical Society (2010), 132(13), 4542-4543; Organic Letters (2007), 9(24), 5127-5130; WO 2006044412 A1). Nucleophilic addition of a propargyl metal, wherein AD-5, wherein M can be, for example, lithium, to an imine AD-4 is another way to prepare the amine compound AD-2 (European Journal of Organic Chemistry (2010), (8), 1587-1592; Synlett (2008), (4), 578-582; Journal of Organic Chemistry (1999), 64(7), 2406-2410; Synthetic Communications (1997), 27(15), 2601-2614).

Alkohols AD-7 can be used to synthesize amines AD-2. Alcohols AD-7 are commercially available or methods for their preparation are described in the literature.

Conversion of AD-7 to an amine can be achieved in a three step reaction sequence comprising a) mesylation with methyanesulfonic acid chloride (MsCl)) in the presence of a base such as triethylamine, b) treatment of the intermediate methylsulfonate with sodium azide, and c), subsequent reduction of the alkylazide with a suitable reductant (e.g. SnCl2; as described in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2011), 54(20), 7363-7374; WO 2011098603 A1, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (2011), 19(10), 3274-3279) followed by protection of the amino group. It is also possible to synthesize such compounds under Mitsunobu conditions as described in Journal of Organic Chemistry (2011), 76(14), 5661-5669 or Chemistry-A European Journal (2011), 17(6), 1764-1767 or by way of a Gabriel synthesis as described in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2011), 46(8), 3227-3236, Chemistry-A European Journal (2010), 16(41), 12303-12306 or in WO 2010017047 A1.

Amide compounds AD-8 can be synthesized according to scheme 4. A suitably substituted acetamide can be formylated according to the synthesis described in Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan (1994), 67(9), 2514-21 or in Journal of Organic Chemistry (1983), 48(17), 2914-20.

An alternative way to prepare compounds AD-8 wherein PG is hydrogen is described in scheme 5. A propargyl halide is reacted with a metal cyanid, wherein the metal M can be, for example sodium or potassium, which is subsequently hydrolysed under basic aqueous conditions to give the alkyne.

A 4-halopyrimidine compound II, wherein Hal is halogen, preferably Cl or F, can also be reacted with a suitable amide compound III, wherein X is —C(═O)— to obtain a compound I wherein X is —C(═O)— as shown in scheme 1.

Generally, this reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 0 to 200° C., preferably from 50 to 170° C., in an inert organic solvent preferably in the presence of a base or a catalyst or a combination of a base and a catalyst in a solvent.

Suitable solvents are aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, o-, m- and p-xylene; halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene; ethers such as dioxane, anisole and THF; nitriles such as acetonitrile and propionitrile; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone and tert.-butyl methyl ketone; alcohols such as ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol and tert.-butanol; and also DMSO, DMF, dimethyl acetamide, NMP, NEP and acetic acid ethyl ester. Preferably THF, DMSO, DMF, dimethyl acetamide, NMP or NEP are used; even more preferably THF, DMF or NMP are used. It is also possible to use mixtures of the solvents mentioned.

Suitable bases and their amounts are as described for the reaction with a phenethyl amine compound III, wherein X is —CR3R4—, as described above. The starting materials are generally reacted with one another in equimolar amounts. In terms of yields, it may be advantageous to employ an excess of compounds III, based on 1.1 to 2.5 equivalents, preferred 1.1 to 1.5 equivalents of compounds II.

Alternatively, amide compounds I, wherein X is —C(═O)—, can be synthesized by reacting 4-amino-pyrimidine compounds IIa [available by reaction of a chloropyrimidine II with excess of ammonia in analogy to methods described in WO 2011/147066, WO 2006/135719, US 2005/0245530 A1, J. Chem. Soc. (1951), 3439-44; Helv. Chim. Act. (1951), 34, 835-40] with compounds of the formula IIIa in which Z is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, which are commercially available or which can be prepared as described above, preferably in the presence of Al(CH3)3(1 to 3 equivalents) as stoichiometric reagent preferably in an inert organic solvent such as toluene (in analogy to US 2010/0063063 A1; WO 2005/011601; WO 2006/074884) as outlined in scheme 10.

Compounds I, wherein X is —C(═NORD)—, can be prepared from compounds I, wherein X is —C(═O)—, in analogy to WO 2007/075598 or from compounds I, wherein X is —C(═S)—, according to WO 2008/039520 and O'zbekiston Kimyo Jurnali (2004) 4, 3-6.

Compounds I and intermediates, wherein R is hydrogen, can be converted by conventional processes such as alkylation. Examples of suitable alkylating agents include alkyl halides, such as alkyl chloride, alkyl bromide or alkyl iodide, examples being methyl chloride, methyl bromide or methyl iodide, or dialkyl sulfates such as dimethyl sulfate or diethyl sulfate. The reaction with the alkylating agent is carried out advantageously in the presence of a solvent. Solvents used for these reactions are—depending on temperature range—aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, cyclohexane, toluene, xylene, chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as DCM, chlorobenzene, open-chain dialkyl ethers such as diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, MTBE, cyclic ethers such as THF, 1,4-dioxane, glycol ethers such as dimethyl glycol ether, and also DMSO, DMF, dimethyl acetamide, NMP, NEP and acetic acid ethyl ester, preferably DMF, DMSO, NMP or NEP, or mixtures of these solvents.

Compounds II, wherein Ra5and Ra6in each case constitute together with two ring member carbon atoms of the pyrimidine ring one of the following heterocyclic groups as defined in line 1 to line 26 in table A.2, wherein #5 and #6 indicate the point of attachment to the pyrimidine ring, each respectively corresponding to the positions of either substituent Ra5or Ra6, can be prepared according to commonly known procedures such as those given below or in analogy to those cited references or are commercially available.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 1 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in EP 326329 A2, US 20050187231 A1, WO 2007071963 A2, Tetrahedron (2004), 60(25), 5373-5382, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2009), 19(6), 1715-1717 or in WO 2010025451 A2.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 3 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2011), 46(9), 3887-3899, WO 2011104183 A1 or in Organic Process Research & Development (2011), 15(4), 918-924.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 4 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in WO 2011131741 A1, WO 2010101949 A1 or in Journal of Organic Chemistry (1979), 44(3), 435-40.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 5 or 20 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in Organic Process Research & Development (2011), 15(4), 918-924; or in Tetrahedron (1998), 54(33), 9903-9910.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 6 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in WO 2010026262 A1 or in WO 2007092681 A2.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 8 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in WO 2010038060 A1, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2010), 20(7), 2330-2334, CN 101544642 A or in Journal of the American Chemical Society (1956), 78, 225-8.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 11 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in US 20110028496 A1.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 12 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in WO 2010014930, US 20110028496 A1 or in WO 2008057402 A2.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 14 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in Australian Journal of Chemistry (1990), 43(1), 47-53 or in WO 2009013545 A2.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 24 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in US 20090005359 A1 or in US 20070281949 A1.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 25 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in WO 2007013964 A1.

Compounds II wherein the meaning of Ra5and Ra6corresponds to line 26 of table A.2 can be prepared as described in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (1988), 31(2), 454-61 or in WO 2006046135 A2.

If individual compounds I cannot be obtained by the routes described above, they can be prepared by derivatization of other compounds I. The N-oxides may be prepared from the compounds I according to conventional oxidation methods, e.g. by treating compounds I with an organic peracid such as metachloroperbenzoic acid (cf. WO 03/64572 or J. Med. Chem. (1995), 38(11), 1892-1903,); or with inorganic oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide (cf. J. Heterocyc. Chem. (1981), 18 (7), 1305-1308) or oxone (cf. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2001), 123 (25), 5962-5973). The oxidation may lead to pure mono-N-oxides or to a mixture of different N-oxides, which can be separated by conventional methods such as chromatography.

If the synthesis yields mixtures of isomers, a separation is generally not necessarily required since in some cases the individual isomers can be interconverted during work-up for use or during application (e.g. under the action of light, acids or bases). Such conversions may also take place after use, e.g. in the treatment of plants in the treated plant, or in the harmful fungus to be controlled.

The reaction mixtures are worked up in a customary manner, for example by mixing with water, separating the phases and, if appropriate, chromatic purification of the crude products. In some cases, the intermediates and end products are obtained in the form of colorless or slightly viscous oils which can be freed from volatile components or purified under reduced pressure and at moderately elevated temperatures. If the intermediates and end products are obtained as solids, purification can also be carried out by recrystallization or digestion.

The compounds of the present invention are useful for combating harmful fungi. Therefore the present invention furthermore relates to a method for combating harmful fungi, which process comprises treating the fungi or the materials, plants, the soil or seeds to be protected against fungal attack, with an effective amount of at least one compound of formula I or of an N-oxide or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to seed comprising a compound of formula I, or an N-oxide or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, in an amount of from 0.1 g to 10 kg per 100 kg of seed.

Agriculturally useful salts of the compounds I encompass especially the salts of those cations or the acid addition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively, have no adverse effect on the fungicidal action of the compounds I. Suitable cations are thus in particular the ions of the alkali metals, preferably sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably calcium, magnesium and barium, of the transition metals, preferably manganese, copper, zinc and iron, and also the ammonium ion which, if desired, may carry one to four C1-C4-alkyl substituents and/or one phenyl or benzyl substituent, preferably diisopropylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, trimethylbenzylammonium, furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri(C1-C4-alkyl)sulfonium, and sulfoxonium ions, preferably tri(C1-C4-alkyl)sulfoxonium.

Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, hydrogensulfate, sulfate, dihydrogenphosphate, hydrogenphosphate, phosphate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate, hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate, and the anions of C1-C4-alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate. They can be formed by reacting a compound I with an acid of the corresponding anion, preferably of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or nitric acid.

Depending on the substitution pattern, the compounds of formula I and their N-oxides may have one or more centers of chirality, in which case they are present as pure enantiomers or pure diastereomers or as enantiomer or diastereomer mixtures. Both, the pure enantiomers or diastereomers and their mixtures are subject matter of the present invention.

Compounds I can be present in different crystal modifications whose biological activity may differ. They also form part of the subject matter of the present invention. The compounds of formula I can be present in atropisomers arising from restricted rotation about a single bond of asymmetric groups. They also form part of the subject matter of the present invention.

In respect of the variables, the embodiments of the intermediates correspond to the embodiments of the compounds of formula I. The term “compounds I” refers to compounds of formula I. Likewise, the term “compounds IIa” refers to compounds of formula IIa.

The compounds of formula I can be present in atropisomers arising from restricted rotation about a single bond of asymmetric groups. They also form part of the subject matter of the present invention.

In the definitions of the variables given above, collective terms are used which are generally representative for the substituents in question. The term “Cn-Cm” indicates the number of carbon atoms possible in each case in the substituent or substituent moiety in question.

The term “halogen” refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term “C1-C4-alkyl” refers to a straight-chained or branched saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, and 1,1-dimethylethyl. Likewise, the term “C1-C6-alkyl” refers to a straight-chained or branched saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “C1-C4-alkoxy” refers to a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above) which is bonded via an oxygen, at any position in the alkyl group, for example methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, butoxy, 1-methylpropoxy, 2-methylpropoxy or 1,1-dimethylethoxy. Likewise, the term “C1-C6-alkoxy” refers to a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl” refers to a straight-chained or branched alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above), wherein one hydrogen atom in these groups may be replaced by one hydroxy group, for example hydroxymethyl,

The term “C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl” refers to alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above), wherein one hydrogen atom of the alkyl radical is replaced by a C1-C4-alkoxy group (as defined above). Likewise, the term “C1-C6-alkoxy C1-C4-alkyl” refers to alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above), wherein one hydrogen atom of the alkyl radical is replaced by a C1-C6-alkoxy group (as defined above).

The term “C1-C4-haloalkoxy C1-C4-alkyl” refers to alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above), wherein one hydrogen atom of the alkyl radical is replaced by a C1-C4-haloalkoxy group (as defined above). Likewise, the term “C1-C6-haloalkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl” refers to alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above), wherein one hydrogen atom of the alkyl radical is replaced by a C1-C6-alkoxy group (as defined above).

The term “C1-C4-alkylthio” as used herein refers to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (as defined above) bonded via a sulfur atom, at any position in the alkyl group, for example methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, and n butylthio. Likewise, the term “C1-C6-alkylthio” as used herein refers to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above) bonded via a sulfur atom. Accordingly, the terms “C1-C4-haloalkylthio” and “C1-C6-haloalkylthio” as used herein refer to straight-chain or branched haloalkyl groups having 1 to 4 or 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above) bonded through a sulfur atom, at any position in the haloalkyl group.

The terms “C1-C4-alkylsulfinyl” or “C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl” refer to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 4 or 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above) bonded through a —S(═O)— moiety, at any position in the alkyl group, for example methylsulfinyl and ethylsulfinyl, and the like. Accordingly, the terms “C1-C4-haloalkylsulfinyl” and “C1-C6-haloalkylsulfinyl”, respectively, refer to straight-chain or branched haloalkyl groups having 1 to 4 and 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above), respectively, bonded through a —S(═O)— moiety, at any position in the haloalkyl group.

The terms “C1-C4-alkylsulfonyl” and “C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl”, respectively, refer to straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 4 and 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above), respectively, bonded through a —S(═O)2— moiety, at any position in the alkyl group, for example methylsulfonyl. Accordingly, the terms “C1-C4-haloalkylsulfonyl” and “C1-C6-haloalkylsulfonyl”, respectively, refer to straight-chain or branched haloalkyl groups having 1 to 4 and 1 to 6 carbon atoms (as defined above), respectively, bonded through a —S(═O)2— moiety, at any position in the haloalkyl group.

The term “C1-C4-alkylamino” refers to an amino radical carrying one C1-C4-alkyl group (as defined above) as substituent, for example methylamino, ethylamino, propylamino, 1-methylethylamino, butylamino, 1-methylpropylamino, 2-methylpropylamino, 1,1-di-methylethylamino and the like. Likewise, the term “C1-C6-alkylamino” refers to an amino radical carrying one C1-C6-alkyl group (as defined above) as substituent.

The term “di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino” refers to an amino radical carrying two identical or different C1-C4-alkyl groups (as defined above) as substituents, for example dimethylamino, diethylamino, di-n-propylamino, diisopropylamino, N-ethyl-N-methylamino, N-(n-propyl)-N-methylamino, N-(isopropyl)-N methylamino, N-(n-butyl)-N-methylamino, N-(n-pentyl)-N-methylamino, N-(2-butyl)-N methylamino, N-(isobutyl)-N-methylamino, and the like. Likewise, the term “di(C1-C6-alkyl)amino” refers to an amino radical carrying two identical or different C1-C6-alkyl groups (as defined above) as substituents.

The term “C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl” refers to a C1-C4-alkoxy radical (as defined above) which is attached via a carbonyl group.

The term “di(C1-C4-alkyl)aminocarbonyl” refers to a di(C1-C4)alkylamino radical as defined above which is attached via a carbonyl group.

The term “phenoxy” and refers to a phenyl radical which is attached via an oxygen atom. Likewise, the term “phenoxy C1-C4-alkyl” and refers to a phenoxy radical which is attached via a C1-C4-alkyl group (as defined above).

The term “C2-C4-alkenyl” refers to a straight-chain or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and a double bond in any position, such as ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl (allyl), 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl. Likewise, the term “C2-C6-alkenyl” refers to a straight-chain or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and a double bond in any position.

The term “C2-C4-alkynyl” refers to a straight-chain or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and containing at least one triple bond, such as ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl. Likewise, the term “C2-C6-alkynyl” refers to a straight-chain or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one triple bond.

The term “C3-C8-cycloalkyl” refers to monocyclic saturated hydrocarbon radicals having 3 to 8 carbon ring members, such as cyclopropyl(C3H5), cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl or cyclooctyl.

The term “C3-C8-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl” refers to a cycloalkyl radical having 3 to 8 carbon atoms (as defined above), which is bonded via a C1-C4-alkyl group (as defined above).

The term “C3-C8-cycloalkyloxy” refers to a cycloalkyl radical having 3 to 8 carbon atoms (as defined above), which is bonded via an oxygen.

The term “two radicals Rcthat are bound to adjacent ring member atoms form together with said ring member atoms a fused cycle” refers to a condensed bicyclic ring system, wherein 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl carries a fused-on 5-, 6- or 7-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring it being possible that these rings are saturated or partially saturated or aromatic.

The term “one or two CH2groups of the abovementioned cycles may be respectively replaced by one or two C(═O) or C(═S) groups” refers to an exchange of carbon atoms from a saturated or partially unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered carbocycle or a saturated or partially unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocycle, resulting in cycles such as cyclopropanone, cyclopentanone, cyclopropanethione, cyclopentanethione, 5-oxazolone, cyclohexane-1,4-dione, cyclohexane-1,4-dithione, cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-dione or cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-dithione.

As regards the fungicidal activity of the compounds I, preference is given to those compounds I wherein the substituents and variables (e.g. Ra2, Ra5, Ra6, R, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, Rb, Rc, R′, R″, R″′, RA, RB, n and Het) have independently of each other or more preferably in combination the following meanings and the groups mentioned herein for a substituent or for a combination of substituents are furthermore, independently of the combination in which they are mentioned, a particularly preferred embodiment of the substituent or of the combination of substituents in question:

One embodiment of the present invention relates to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, C1-C4-haloalkylthio, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkoxy, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyloxy, (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkoxy and (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl, and it being possible that one or two of Ra2, Ra5or Ra6can in addition be hydrogen.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are preferably selected from the group consisting of Cl, F, CH3, CH2CH3, OCH3, OCF3, CH2OCH3, CN, OCH2OCH3, CF3, CHFCH3, COOCH3and COOCH2CH3.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are hydrogen, Cl, CH3, OCH3, CN or COOCH3.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are Cl, CH3, OCH3, CN or COOCH3.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention Ra2is hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-haloalkoxy.

In a further preferred embodiment Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, OH, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl; or Ra5and R6together with two ring member carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a fused 5- or 6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic carbocycle or heterocycle, wherein the ring member atoms of the fused heterocycle include besides carbon atoms 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the group of N, O and S, and wherein the fused carbocycle or heterocycle is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals selected from halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl and C1-C4-haloalkoxy.

In still another preferred embodiment Ra5and Ra6independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, OH, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl; or Ra5and R6together with two ring member carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a fused 5- or 6-membered aromatic carbocycle or heterocycle, wherein the ring member atoms of the fused heterocycle include besides carbon atoms 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the group of N, O and S, and wherein the fused carbocycle or heterocycle is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals selected from halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl and C1-C4-haloalkoxy.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is Cl.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is F.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is OCH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is CO2CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra2is CO2CH2CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is Cl.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is F.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is OCH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is CO2CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra5is CO2CH2CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is Cl.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is F.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is OCH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is CO2CH3.

A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Ra6is CO2CH2CH3.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein Ra2, Ra5and Ra6in each case are one of the following combinations in line A.1-1 to line A.1-1190 in table A.1, wherein Me stands for CH3and Et stands for CH2CH3.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein Ra5and Ra6in each case constitute together with two ring member carbon atoms of the pyrimidine ring one of the following heterocyclic groups as defined in line A.2-1 to line A.2-26 in table A, wherein #5 and #6 indicate the point of attachment to the pyrimidine ring, each respectively corresponding to the positions of either substituent Ra5or Ra6.

In the compounds I according to the invention, RA, RBin radical Ra2preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, RA, RBin radical Ra5preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, RA, RBin radical Ra6preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R′ in radical Ra2preferably is hydrogen, NH2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R′ in radical Ra5preferably is hydrogen, NH2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R′ in radical Ra6preferably is hydrogen, NH2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″ in radical Ra2preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″ in radical Ra5preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″ in radical Ra6preferably is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″′ in radical Ra2preferably is hydrogen.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″′ in radical Ra5preferably is hydrogen.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R″′ in radical Ra6preferably is hydrogen.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, CN, CH2CN or CH2—O—C(═O)R′, wherein R′ is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy; more preferably R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl and C2-C4-alkynyl; in another preferred embodiment R is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl or C2-C4-alkynyl; most preferably R is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl; more preferably R is hydrogen; a more preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein R is CH3.

In the compounds I according to the invention, X is preferably a divalent group —CR3R4—, wherein R3and R4independently of each other are hydrogen, CN, C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl or C3-C8-cycloalkyl; in another preferred embodiment X is —CH2—, —CH(CH3), —CH(CH2CH3)—, —C(CH3)2—, —CHCN—, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —CH(C(═O)—C1-C4-alkoxy), —CH(C(═O)NH2)—, —C(═O)N(C1-C4-alkyl)2-, and —CH(C(═O)OH)—. Another preferred embodiment of the invention relates to compounds I, wherein X is —CH2—, —C(═O)—, —CH(CH3), —C(CH3)2—, —CHCN—, —CH(C(═O)—OCH3) or —CH(C(═O)—OCH2CH3); more preferably X is —CH2— or —CH(CH3)—, in particular —CH2—; more preferably X is —C(═O)—.

In the compounds I according to the invention, R1and R2independently of each other are preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; more preferably R1and R2independently of each other are hydrogen, CN, CH3, CH2CH3, F, Cl or OCH3; another more preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein R1and R2independently of each other are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl; another more preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein R1and R2independently of each other are hydrogen or CH3; more preferably R1and R2are hydrogen.

Further preferred embodiments relate to compounds I wherein R, X, R1and R2in each case are one of the following combinations B-1 to B-84 in table B:

In the compounds I according to the invention, Rbare independently selected from halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl and (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl; more preferably Rbare independently selected from halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl; in another preferred embodiment Rbare independently selected from halogen and C1-C4-alkoxy; most preferably Rbare independently selected from halogen, CN, CH3, CF3and OCH3. A particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Rbis F. Another particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Rbis CH3. A further particularly preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Rbis CF3. In yet another particularly preferred embodiment Rbis OCH3. In still a further embodiment Rbis attached to the phenyl ring adjacent (in ortho-position) to the alkyne group. A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Rbis attached in meta-position to the alkyne group.

In the compounds I according to the invention, n is preferably 0.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 1.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 0 or 1.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 2.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 0, 1 or 2.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 3.

A further embodiment relates to compounds I wherein n is preferably 0, 1, 2 or 3.

In a further preferred embodiment Het is a pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl ring, wherein the moiety O-Het is bound in para- or meta-position to the phenyl ring; and wherein the pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl are unsubstituted or carry 1 or 2 groups Rc; wherein Rcis halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl.

According to one embodiment Het is unsubstituted; a further preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Het is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 radical Rc; another preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Het is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected radicals Rc; yet another preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Het is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2 or 3 independently selected radicals Rc; another preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Het is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3, or 4 independently selected radicals Rc.

In the compounds I according to the invention, Rcare preferably independently selected from halogen, CN, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkoxy, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, C(═O)R′, C(═NOR″)R″′, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl and phenoxy. In another preferred embodiment Rcare independently selected from halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl. A further preferred embodiment relates to compounds I wherein Rcare independently selected from F, Cl, CN, CH3, OCH3, CF3, OCF3and COOCH3; most preferably Rcare independently selected from Cl, CN and CF3.

Preferred embodiments of the invention relate to compounds I, in which the group Het is one of the following radicals H-1 to H-38 in table H:

TABLE HNo.HetH-1H-2H-3H-4H-5H-6H-7H-8H-9H-10H-11H-12H-13H-14H-15H-16H-17H-18H-19H-20H-21H-22H-23H-24H-25H-26H-27H-28H-29H-30H-31H-32H-33H-34H-35H-36H-37H-38in which # indicates the point of attachment.

With respect to their use, particular preference is given to the compounds I.A or I.B.

A skilled person will readily understand that the preferences given in connection with compounds of formula I also apply for formulae I.A or I.B as defined herein.

According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula I wherein:Ra2is hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-haloalkoxy;Ra5, Ra6independently of each other are hydrogen, halogen, OH, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl; orRa5and R6together with two ring member carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a fused 5- or 6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic carbocycle or heterocycle, wherein the ring member atoms of the fused heterocycle include besides carbon atoms 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from the group of N, O and S, and wherein the fused carbocycle or heterocycle is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals selected from the group consisting of halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl and C1-C4-haloalkoxy;R is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl or C2-C4-alkynyl;X is a divalent group —CR3R4—, whereinR3and R4independently of each other are hydrogen, CN, C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl, C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl;R1, R2are independently selected from hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl;n is 0 or 1;Rbis halogen or C1-C4-alkoxy;Het is a pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl ring; wherein the moiety O-Het is bound in para- or meta-position to the phenyl ring; and wherein the pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl are unsubstituted or carry 1 or 2 groups Rc; whereinRcare independently selected from halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl;
and the N-oxides and the agriculturally acceptable salts of the compounds of formula I.

The compounds I and the compositions according to the invention, respectively, are suitable as fungicides. They are distinguished by an outstanding effectiveness against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, including soil-borne fungi, which derive especially from the classes of the Plasmodiophoromycetes, Peronosporomycetes (syn. Oomycetes), Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes (syn. Fungi imperfecti). Some are systemically effective and they can be used in crop protection as foliar fungicides, fungicides for seed dressing and soil fungicides. Moreover, they are suitable for controlling harmful fungi, which inter alia occur in wood or roots of plants.

The compounds I and the compositions according to the invention are particularly important in the control of a multitude of phytopathogenic fungi on various cultivated plants, such as cereals, e.g. wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats or rice; beet, e.g. sugar beet or fodder beet; fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e.g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits or paprika; lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy and raw material plants, such as corn, soybean, rape, sugar cane or oil palm; corn; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; vines (table grapes and grape juice grape vines); hop; turf; sweet leaf (also called Stevia); natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, such as flowers, shrubs, broad-leaved trees or evergreens, e.g. conifers; and on the plant propagation material, such as seeds, and the crop material of these plants. Preferably, compounds I and compositions thereof, respectively are used for controlling a multitude of fungi on field crops, such as potatoes sugar beets, tobacco, wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, rape, legumes, sunflowers, coffee or sugar cane; fruits; vines; ornamentals; or vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, beans or squashes.

The term “plant propagation material” is to be understood to denote all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers (e.g. potatoes), which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots, sprouts and other parts of plants, including seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil. These young plants may also be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion or pouring.

Preferably, treatment of plant propagation materials with compounds I and compositions thereof, respectively, is used for controlling a multitude of fungi on cereals, such as wheat, rye, barley and oats; rice, corn, cotton and soybeans.

The term “cultivated plants” is to be understood as including plants which have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering including but not limiting to agricultural biotech products on the market or in development (cf. http://cera-gmc.org/, see GM crop database therein). Genetically modified plants are plants, which genetic material has been so modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that under natural circumstances cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutations or natural recombination. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s), oligo- or polypeptides e.g. by glycosylation or polymer additions such as prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated moieties or PEG moieties. Plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering, e.g. have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such as auxin herbicides such as dicamba or 2,4-D; bleacher herbicides such as hydroxylphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonyl ureas or imidazolinones; enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, such as glyphosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate; protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or oxynil (i. e. bromoxynil or ioxynil) herbicides as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. Furthermore, plants have been made resistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple genetic modifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate or to both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALS inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxin herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors. These herbicide resistance technologies are e.g. described in Pest Managem. Sci. 61, 2005, 246; 61, 2005, 258; 61, 2005, 277; 61, 2005, 269; 61, 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Sci. 57, 2009, 108; Austral. J. Agricult. Res. 58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1185; and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis), e.g. Clearfield® summer rape (Canola, BASF SE, Germany) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, or ExpressSun® sunflowers (DuPont, USA) being tolerant to sulfonyl ureas, e.g. tribenuron. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render cultivated plants such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets and rape, tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate, some of which are commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady® (glyphosate-tolerant, Monsanto, U.S.A.), Cultivance® (imidazolinone tolerant, BASF SE, Germany) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate-tolerant, Bayer CropScience, Germany).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genusBacillus, particularly fromBacillus thuringiensis, such as δ-endotoxins, e.g. CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e.g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e.g.Photorhabdusspp. orXenorhabdusspp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilben synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a new combination of protein domains, (see, e.g. WO 02/015701). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e.g., in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/18810 und WO 03/52073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in the publications mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups of athropods, especially to beetles (Coeloptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins are, e.g., described in the publications mentioned above, and some of which are commercially available such as YieldGard® (corn cultivars producing the Cry1Ab toxin), YieldGard® Plus (corn cultivars producing Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 toxins), Starlink® (corn cultivars producing the Cry9c toxin), Herculex® RW (corn cultivars producing Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and the enzyme Phosphinothricin-N-Acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN® 33B (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard® I (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard® II (cotton cultivars producing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins); VIPCOT® (cotton cultivars producing a VIP-toxin); NewLeaf® (potato cultivars producing the Cry3A toxin); Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt11 (e.g. Agrisure® CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (corn cultivars producing the Cry1Ab toxin and PAT enzyme), MIR604 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France (corn cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry3A toxin, c.f. WO 03/018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), IPC 531 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (cotton cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry1Ac toxin) and 1507 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry1F toxin and PAT enzyme). Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins, see, e.g. EP-A 392 225), plant disease resistance genes (e.g. potato cultivars, which express resistance genes acting againstPhytophthora infestansderived from the mexican wild potatoSolanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lysozym (e.g. potato cultivars capable of synthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteria such asErwinia amylvora). The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in the publications mentioned above.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the productivity (e.g. bio mass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve human or animal nutrition, e.g. oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e.g. Nexera® rape, DOW Agro Sciences, Canada).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve raw material production, e.g. potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin (e.g. Amflora® potato, BASF SE, Germany).

The compounds I and compositions thereof, respectively, are particularly suitable for controlling the following plant diseases:

The term “plant health” is to be understood to denote a condition of the plant and/or its products which is determined by several indicators alone or in combination with each other such as yield (e.g. increased biomass and/or increased content of valuable ingredients), plant vigor (e.g. improved plant growth and/or greener leaves (“greening effect”)), quality (e.g. improved content or composition of certain ingredients) and tolerance to abiotic and/or biotic stress. The above identified indicators for the health condition of a plant may be interdependent or may result from each other.

The compounds of formula I can be present in different crystal modifications whose biological activity may differ. They are likewise subject matter of the present invention.

The compounds I are employed as such or in form of compositions by treating the fungi or the plants, plant propagation materials, such as seeds, soil, surfaces, materials or rooms to be protected from fungal attack with a fungicidally effective amount of the active substances. The application can be carried out both before and after the infection of the plants, plant propagation materials, such as seeds, soil, surfaces, materials or rooms by the fungi.

Plant propagation materials may be treated with compounds I as such or a composition comprising at least one compound I prophylactically either at or before planting or transplanting. The invention also relates to agrochemical compositions comprising an auxiliary and at least one compound I according to the invention.

An agrochemical composition comprises a fungicidally effective amount of a compound I. The term “effective amount” denotes an amount of the composition or of the compounds I, which is sufficient for controlling harmful fungi on cultivated plants or in the protection of materials and which does not result in a substantial damage to the treated plants. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as the fungal species to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant or material, the climatic conditions and the specific compound I used.

The compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001; or Knowles, New developments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005.

Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide.

Suitable polyelectrolytes are polyacids or polybases. Examples of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or polyethyleneamines.

Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin.

Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids.

Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and water-soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron hexacyanoferrate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants).

Examples for composition types and their preparation are:

10-60 wt % of a compound I and 5-15 wt % wetting agent (e.g. alcohol alkoxylates) are dissolved in water and/or in a water-soluble solvent (e.g. alcohols) ad 100 wt %. The active substance dissolves upon dilution with water.

5-25 wt % of a compound I and 1-10 wt % dispersant (e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone) are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. cyclohexanone) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives a dispersion.

15-70 wt % of a compound I and 5-10 wt % emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.

5-40 wt % of a compound I and 1-10 wt % emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in 20-40 wt % water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon). This mixture is introduced into water ad 100 wt % by means of an emulsifying machine and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.

In an agitated ball mill, 20-60 wt % of a compound I are comminuted with addition of 2-10 wt % dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate), 0.1-2 wt % thickener (e.g. xanthan gum) and water ad 100 wt % to give a fine active substance suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. For FS type composition up to 40 wt % binder (e.g. polyvinylalcohol) is added.

50-80 wt % of a compound I are ground finely with addition of dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate) ad 100 wt % and prepared as water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (e.g. extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.

50-80 wt % of a compound I are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 1-5 wt % dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1-3 wt % wetting agents (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate) and solid carrier (e.g. silica gel) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.

In an agitated ball mill, 5-25 wt % of a compound I are comminuted with addition of 3-10 wt % dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1-5 wt % thickener (e.g. carboxymethylcellulose) and water ad 100 wt % to give a fine suspension of the active substance. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance.

5-20 wt % of a compound I are added to 5-30 wt % organic solvent blend (e.g. fatty acid dimethylamide and cyclohexanone), 10-25 wt % surfactant blend (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate and arylphenol ethoxylate), and water ad 100%. This mixture is stirred for 1 h to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable microemulsion.

An oil phase comprising 5-50 wt % of a compound I, 0-40 wt % water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), 2-15 wt % acrylic monomers (e.g. methylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid and a di- or triacrylate) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). Radical polymerization initiated by a radical initiator results in the formation of poly(meth)acrylate microcapsules. Alternatively, an oil phase comprising 5-50 wt % of a compound I according to the invention, 0-40 wt % water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), and an isocyanate monomer (e.g. diphenylmethene-4,4′-diisocyanatae) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). The addition of a polyamine (e.g. hexamethylenediamine) results in the formation of polyurea microcapsules. The monomers amount to 1-10 wt %. The wt % relate to the total CS composition.

1-10 wt % of a compound I are ground finely and mixed intimately with solid carrier (e.g. finely divided kaolin) ad 100 wt %.

0.5-30 wt % of a compound I is ground finely and associated with solid carrier (e.g. silicate) ad 100 wt %. Granulation is achieved by extrusion, spray-drying or fluidized bed.

1-50 wt % of a compound I are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt %.

The agrochemical compositions generally comprise between 0.01 and 95%, preferably between 0.1 and 90%, and in particular between 0.5 and 75%, by weight of active substance. The active substances are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably from 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum).

Solutions for seed treatment (LS), Suspoemulsions (SE), flowable concentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and gels (GF) are usually employed for the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds. The compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active substance concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40%, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing. Methods for applying compound I and compositions thereof, respectively, on to plant propagation material, especially seeds include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrow application methods of the propagation material. Preferably, compound I or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propagation material by a method such that germination is not induced, e.g. by seed dressing, pelleting, coating and dusting.

When employed in plant protection, the amounts of active substances applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, and in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha.

In treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds, e.g. by dusting, coating or drenching seed, amounts of active substance of from 0.1 to 1000 g, preferably from 1 to 1000 g, more preferably from 1 to 100 g and most preferably from 5 to 100 g, per 100 kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seeds) are generally required.

When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active substance applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1 kg, of active substance per cubic meter of treated material.

Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e.g. herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners) may be added to the active substances or the compositions comprising them as premix or, if appropriate not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 100:1, preferably 1:10 to 10:1.

The user applies the composition according to the invention usually from a predosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemical composition is made up with water, buffer, and/or further auxiliaries to the desired application concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2000 liters, preferably 50 to 400 liters, of the ready-to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area.

According to one embodiment, individual components of the composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

Mixing the compounds I or the compositions comprising them in the use form as fungicides with other fungicides results in many cases in an expansion of the fungicidal spectrum of activity being obtained or in a prevention of fungicide resistance development. Furthermore, in many cases, synergistic effects are obtained.

The following list of active substances, in conjunction with which the compounds I can be used, is intended to illustrate the possible combinations but does not limit them:

The present invention furthermore relates to agrochemical compositions comprising a mixture of at least one compound I (component 1) and at least one further active substance useful for plant protection, e.g. selected from the groups A) to O) (component 2), in particular one further fungicide, e.g. one or more fungicide from the groups A) to L), as described above, and if desired one suitable solvent or solid carrier. Those mixtures are of particular interest, since many of them at the same application rate show higher efficiencies against harmful fungi. Furthermore, combating harmful fungi with a mixture of compounds I and at least one fungicide from groups A) to L), as described above, is more efficient than combating those fungi with individual compounds I or individual fungicides from groups A) to L). By applying compounds I together with at least one active substance from groups A) to O) a synergistic effect can be obtained, i.e. more then simple addition of the individual effects is obtained (synergistic mixtures).

This can be obtained by applying the compounds I and at least one further active substance simultaneously, either jointly (e.g. as tank-mix) or separately, or in succession, wherein the time interval between the individual applications is selected to ensure that the active substance applied first still occurs at the site of action in a sufficient amount at the time of application of the further active substance(s). The order of application is not essential for working of the present invention.

In binary mixtures, i.e. compositions according to the invention comprising one compound I (component 1) and one further active substance (component 2), e.g. one active substance from groups A) to O), the weight ratio of component 1 and component 2 generally depends from the properties of the active substances used, usually it is in the range of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to 20:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1 and in particular in the range of from 1:3 to 3:1. In ternary mixtures, i.e. compositions according to the invention comprising one compound I (component 1) and a first further active substance (component 2) and a second further active substance (component 3), e.g. two active substances from groups A) to O), the weight ratio of component 1 and component 2 depends from the properties of the active substances used, preferably it is in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1 and particularly in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1, and the weight ratio of component 1 and component 3 preferably is in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1 and particularly in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1.

Preference is given to mixtures comprising a compound of formula I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group C) (component 2) and particularly selected from metalaxyl, (metalaxyl-M) mefenoxam, ofurace.

Preference is given to mixtures comprising a compound of formula I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group D) (component 2) and particularly selected from benomyl, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, ethaboxam, fluopicolide, zoxamide, metrafenone, pyriofenone.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group E) (component 2) and particularly selected from cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group F) (component 2) and particularly selected from iprodione, fludioxonil, vinclozolin, quinoxyfen.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group G) (component 2) and particularly selected from dimethomorph, flumorph, iprovalicarb, benthiavalicarb, mandipropamid, propamocarb.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group H) (component 2) and particularly selected from copper acetate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, sulfur, mancozeb, metiram, propineb, thiram, captafol, folpet, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, dithianon.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group I) (component 2) and particularly selected from carpropamid and fenoxanil.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group J) (component 2) and particularly selected from acibenzolar-S-methyl, probenazole, tiadinil, fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminium, H3PO3and salts thereof.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group K) (component 2) and particularly selected from cymoxanil, proquinazid and N-methyl-2-{1-[(5-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-acetyl]-piperidin-4-yl}-N-[(1R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-4-thiazolecarboxamide.

Preference is also given to mixtures comprising a compound I (component 1) and at least one active substance selected from group L) (component 2) and particularly selected fromBacillus subtilisstrain NRRL No. B-21661,Bacillus pumilusstrain NRRL No. B-30087 andUlocladium oudemansii.

Accordingly, the present invention furthermore relates to compositions comprising one compound I (component 1) and one further active substance (component 2), which further active substance is selected from the column “Component 2” of the lines C-1 to C-381 of Table C.

A further embodiment relates to the compositions C-1 to C-381 listed in Table C, where a row of Table C corresponds in each case to a fungicidal composition comprising one of the in the present specification individualized compounds of formula I (component 1) and the respective further active substance from groups A) to O) (component 2) stated in the row in question. Preferably, the compositions described comprise the active substances in synergistically effective amounts.

The mixtures of active substances can be prepared as compositions comprising besides the active ingredients at least one inert ingredient by usual means, e.g. by the means given for the compositions of compounds I.

Concerning usual ingredients of such compositions reference is made to the explanations given for the compositions containing compounds I.

The mixtures of active substances according to the present invention are suitable as fungicides, as are the compounds of formula I. They are distinguished by an outstanding effectiveness against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, especially from the classes of the Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Peronosporomycetes (syn. Oomycetes). In addition, it is referred to the explanations regarding the fungicidal activity of the compounds and the compositions containing compounds I, respectively.

I. Synthesis Examples

With appropriate modification of the starting materials, the procedures given in the synthesis examples below were used to obtain further compounds I. The compounds produced in this manner are listed in Table I below including corresponding physical data. 4-Chloro-6-ethyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester was synthesized according to a procedure given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,911 A. 4-Chloro-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid methyl ester was prepared as described in EP 606011 A1.

Preparation of 2-(4-iodophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine

To a solution of 4-iodophenol (200 g, 910 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (1 L) was slowly added sodium hydride (47 g, 1.2 mol). The reaction was stirred for 30 min at room temperature, then 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylpyridine (165 g, 910 mmol) was added and the solution was stirred at 110° C. for 4 h and 12 h at room temperature. The reaction solution was poured into water and extracted with methyl tert-butylether (3×). The combined organic layers were washed successively with water, lithium chloride solution and 10% sodium hydroxide solution. The combined organic phases were then dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed in vacuo to afford 91% (303 g, 830 mmol) yield of 2-(4-iodophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine.

Preparation of 5-[4-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]pent-4-yn-2-amine

To a solution of 2-(4-iodophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (102 g, 279 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (500 mL) was added triethylamine (84 g, 838 mmol), copper(I) iodide (0.53 g, 3 mmol) and Pd(PPh3)2Cl2(2 g, 3 mmol), followed by pent-4-yn-2-ol (28 g, 335 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 h and was then filtered over celite, followed by rinsing with methyl tert-butylether. Water and methyl tert-butylether were then added to the filtrate. The organic layer was separated and concentrated in vacuo to provide 93 g of crude 5-[4-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]pent-4-yn-2-ol. This material was redissolved in dichloromethane (1 L) and triethylamine (58 g, 576 mmol). The reaction solution was cooled to 5° C. and methyanesulfonyl chloride (42 g, 288 mmol) was added. The solution was allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. The reaction solution was poured into water and extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was then removed in vacuo to afford 121 g of the crude mesylate. The crude product was redissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (600 mL) to which sodium azide was added (94 g, 1.4 mol). The reaction solution was heated to 80° C. for 2 h then cooled to room temperature. Water and methyl tert-butylether were added, the organic layers were combined and concentrated in vacuo to provide 91 g of the crude azide product. The azide was dissolved in methanol (700 mL) to which was added tin(II) chloride-H2O (118 g, 523 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and was then concentrated. To the residue was added 10% sodium hydroxide solution and the crude product was extracted with dichloromethane before it was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was filtered over a silica gel plug to provide 96% of the desired product.

Preparation of 6-chloro-5-methoxy-N-[1-methyl-4-[4-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]but-3-ynyl]pyrimidin-4-amine (I-27)

To a solution of 5-[4-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]pent-4-yn-2-amine (268 mg, 0.84 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) was added diisopropylethylamine (216 mg, 1.7 mmol). The solution was stirred for 5 min at room temperature at which time 4,6-dichloro-5-methoxypyrimidine (150 mg, 0.84 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. overnight, then allowed to cool to room temperature. It was concentrated in vacuo and filtered over a plug of silica gel to provide 215 mg (0.47 mmol, 55%) of the brown oily product.

The compounds listed in Table I have been prepared in an analogous manner.

II. Biological Examples for Fungicidal Activity

The fungicidal action of the compounds I was demonstrated by the following experiments:

A. Glass House Trials

The spray solutions were prepared in several steps: The stock solution were prepared: a mixture of acetone and/or dimethylsulfoxide and the wetting agent/emulsifier Wettol, which is based on ethoxylated alkylphenoles, in a relation (volume) solvent-emulsifier of 99 to 1 was added to 25 mg of the compound to give a total of 5 ml. Water was then added to total volume of 100 ml.

This stock solution was diluted with the described solvent-emulsifier-water mixture to the given concentration.

After the final cultivation period, the extent of fungal attack on the leaves was visually assessed as % diseased leaf area.

Use Example 1

Control of Late Blight on Tomatoes Caused byPhytophthora infestans

Young seedlings of tomato plants were grown in pots. These plants were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension, containing the concentration of active ingredient or their mixture mentioned in the table below. The next day, the treated plants were inoculated with an aqueous suspension of sporangia ofPhytophthora infestans. After inoculation, the trial plants were immediately transferred to a humid chamber. After 6 days at 18 to 20° C. and a relative humidity close to 100% the extent of fungal attack on the leaves was visually assessed as % diseased leaf area.

Use Example 2

Preventative Control of Leaf Blotch on Wheat Caused bySeptoria tritici

Leaves of pot-grown wheat seedling were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension of the active compound or their mixture, prepared as described. The plants were allowed to air-dry. At the following day the plants were inoculated with an aqueous spore suspension ofSeptoria triticiThen the trial plants were immediately transferred to a humid chamber at 18 to 22° C. and a relative humidity close to 100%. After 4 days the plants were transferred to a chamber with 18 to 22° C. and a relative humidity close to 70%. After 4 weeks the extent of fungal attack on the leaves was visually assessed as % diseased leaf area.

Use Example 3

Preventative Control of Brown Rust on Wheat Caused byPuccinia recondita

The first two developed leaves of pot-grown wheat seedling were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension, containing the concentration of active ingredient or their mixture as described below. The next day the plants were inoculated with spores ofPuccinia recondita. To ensure the success the artificial inoculation, the plants were transferred to a humid chamber without light and a relative humidity of 95 to 99% and 20 to 24° C. for 24 h. Then the trial plants were cultivated for 6 days in a greenhouse chamber at 20 to 24° C. and a relative humidity between 65 and 70%. The extent of fungal attack on the leaves was visually assessed as % diseased leaf area.

Use Example 4

Protective Control of Soy Bean Rust on Soy Beans Caused byPhakopsora pachyrhizi

Leaves of pot-grown soy bean seedlings were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension, containing the concentration of active ingredient or their mixture as described below. The plants were allowed to air-dry. The trial plants were cultivated for 1 day in a greenhouse chamber at 23 to 27° C. and a relative humidity between 60 and 80%. Then the plants were inoculated with spores ofPhakopsora pachyrhiziTo ensure the success the artificial inoculation, the plants were transferred to a humid chamber with a relative humidity of about 95% and 20 to 24° C. for 24 h. The trial plants were cultivated for fourteen days in a greenhouse chamber at 23 to 27° C. and a relative humidity between 60 and 80%. The extent of fungal attack on the leaves was visually assessed as % diseased leaf area.

Use Example 5

Preventative Fungicidal Control ofBotrytis cinereaon Leaves of Green Pepper

Young seedlings of green pepper were grown in pots to the 4 to 5 leaf stage. These plants were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension, containing the concentration of active ingredient or their mixture mentioned in the table below. The next day the plants were inoculated with a aqueous biomalt solution containing the spore suspension ofBotrytis cinerea. Then the plants were immediately transferred to a humid chamber and kept for 5 days at 22 to 24° C. and a relative humidity close to 100%.

In this test, the plants which had been treated with 250 ppm of the active compound I-2, I-18, I-22, I-27, I-29, I-33, I-35, I-36, I-39, I-41, I-42, I-43, I-60 or I-74 showed a diseased leaf area of at most 15%, whereas the untreated plants showed 95% diseased leaf area.

Use Example 6

Control of Late Blight on Tomatoes Caused byPhytophthora infestans

Young seedlings of tomato plants were grown in pots. These plants were sprayed to run-off with an aqueous suspension, containing the concentration of active ingredient or their mixture mentioned in the table below. After seven days the treated plants were inoculated with an aqueous suspension of sporangia ofPhytophthora infestans. After inoculation, the trial plants were immediately transferred to a humid chamber and kept for 6 days at 18 to 20° C. and a relative humidity close to 100%.

In this test, the plants which had been treated with 250 ppm of the active compound I-27, I-29, I-35, I-37, I-44, I-45, I-47, I-48, I-49, I-50, I-56, I-59, I-65, I-66, I-67, I-70 or I-78 showed a diseased leaf area of at most 20%, whereas the untreated plants showed 67% diseased leaf area.