Triazole compounds, and their production

Abstract: A triazole compound of the formula wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom, which can be produced by subjecting an aromatic aldehyde of the formula wherein X is as defined above, an alpha-halopinacolone of the formula wherein Hal is a chlorine atom or a bromien atom and 1,2,4-­ triazole to condensation in the presence of an alkali, is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of anti-microbial triazole-alcohols with high purity and high yield.

Description: This invention relates to triazole compounds, and their production. More particularly, it relates to novel triazole compounds useful as intermediates in the synthesis of anti-microbial agents, and their production. The triazole compounds of the invention are represented by the formula: wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom, which covers specifically the following two compounds: 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-pentan-3-one (I: X = H) and 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-pentan-3-one (I: X = Cl). It is known that triazole-alcohols of the formula: wherein X is as defined above are important anti-microbial agents (Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 41875/1979). As described in this literature, the triazole-alcohols (II) are produced by reacting 1-(1,2,4-triazol-1yl)-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone (hereinafter referred to as "triazolylpinacolone") with 2-chlorobenzaldehyde or 2,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde and reducing the resultant triazole-ketone of the formula: wherein X is as defined above. However, the starting triazolylpinacolone can be hardly obtained in a pure state, and its purification requires an expensive distillation apparatus. When the triazolylpinacolone is used in a crude state, the triazole-ketone (III) and the triazole-alcohol (II) as produced are naturally crude. For the necessary purification of the triazole-ketone (III) or the triazole-alcohol (II), such purifying operations as crystallization are needed. However, purification through crystallization is economically disadvantageous, because the yield of the triazole-alcohol (II) as the objective product is lowered through such operation. As the result of an extensive study, it has been found that the triazole compounds (I) are readily obtainable in a highly pure state due to their easy crystallizability. Fortunately, the triazole compounds (I) can be dehydrated and reduced with ease to give the corresponding triazole-alcohols (II) with high purity and high yield. This invention is based on the above finding. Accordingly, it is a main object of this invention to provide an improved process for production of the triazole-alcohols (II) with high purity and high yield. It is another object of the invention to provide the triazole compounds (I) useful as intermediates in such improved process. In this connection, it may be noted that certain triazole compounds are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 18734/78 but not those of the present invention. In fact, no process which can practically and successfully afford the triazole compounds (I) has been disclosed in said literature. Therefore, said triazole compounds (I) are novel. According to the process of this invention, the triazole compound (I) is produced by subjecting an aromatic aldehyde of the formula: wherein X is as defined above, an alpha-halopinacolone of the formula: wherein Hal is a chlorine atom or a bromine atom and 1,2,4-triazole to condensation in the presence of an alkali. Each of said three starting materials, i.e. the aromatic aldehyde (IV), the alpha-halopinacolone (V) and the 1,2,4-triazole, is not necessarily required to be highly pure and may have such a purity as indicated by ordinary industrial materials. As the aromatic aldehyde (IV), there may be used 4-chlorobenzaldehyde or 2,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde. As the alpha-halopinacolone (V), alpha-chloropinacolone or alpha-bromopinacolone may be used. The amounts of the aromatic aldehyde (IV) and of the 1,2,4-triazole to be used for condensation may be each usually from about 0.7 to 1.5 equivalents, preferably from about 0.8 to 1.2 equivalents, to the alpha-halopinacolone (V). Normally, said three starting materials are used in an equivalent ratio. As to the kind of the alkali, any particular limitation is not present. Examples of the alkali are alkali metal hydroxides (e.g. sodium hydroxide), alkali metal carbonates (e.g. sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate), alkaline earth metal hydroxide (e.g. calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide) or alkaline earth metal carbonate (e.g. calcium carbonate). These alkalis are usually employed in the form of aqueous solutions. The amount of the alkali to be used may be not less than about 0.5 mole, preferably from about 1 to 3 moles, to one mole of the alpha-halopinacolone. The condensation can proceed in the absence of any solvent. For smooth proceeding of the reaction and easy collection of the final product, however, the use of any solvent is preferred. As the solvent, there may be used any one inert to the reaction such as an aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. benzene, toluene), a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. monochlorobenzene) or a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon (e.g. chloroform, dichloroethane). These may be used solely or in combination. When a non-polar solvent (e.g. benzene, monochlorobenzene) is used as the solvent, a phase transfer catalyst (e.g. tetra-n-butylammonium bromide) may be additionally incorporated therein so as to accelerate the reaction. The amount of the solvent may be optionally decided and is usally not less than about 0.3 parts by weight, preferably from about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, to one part by weight of the combination of all the starting materials. The temperature of the reaction is usually from about -10 to 100°C, preferably from about 0 to 50°C. With the progress of the reaction, the objective triazole compound (I) is crystallized out. When desired, seed crystals may be added to the reaction system so that crystallization is promoted. When water is used in a small amount or not used as the solvent, by-produced inorganic salts may be separated out, but such inorganic salts can be readily eliminated by subsequent washing with water. Recovery of the crystallized triazole compound (I) may be accomplished by per se conventional separation procedure such as filtration, centrifugation or decantation. As explained above, the triazole compounds (I) are obtainable in high purity and high yield. Since the produced triazole compounds (I) are so highly pure, the triazole-alcohols (II) produced by their dehydration and reduction are also obtainable in high purity. Practical and presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the following Examples. Example 1 1,2,4-Triazole (69 g), alpha-bromopinacolone (162.2 g), 2.4-dichlorobenzaldehyde (121.5 g), tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (3 g) and monochlorobenzene (300 g) were charged in a flask and cooled to a temperature below 5°C. To the resultant mixture, a 50 % aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (108 g) was dropwise added at a temperature of 0 to 5°C while stirring. After completion of the addition, stirring was further continued at 25 to 30°C for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the collected powdery substance was washed with water and dried under reduced pressure to give 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-pentan-3-one (content, 97.6 %; yield, 98.5 %). m.p., 139 - 141°C. Example 2 1,2,4-Triazole (6.9 g), alpha-bromopinacolone (179.1 g), tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (0.3 g) and 4-chlorobenzaldehyde (11.3 g) and monochlorobenzene (30 g) were charged in a flask and cooled to a temperature below 5°C. To the resultant mixture, a 50 % aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (10.8 g) was dropwise added at a temperature of 0 to 5°C while stirring. After completion of the addition, stirred was further continued at the same temperature for 10 hours and at a temperature of 20 to 25°C for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the collected powdery substance was washed with water and dried under reduced pressure to give 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-pentan-3-one (content, 97.4 %; yield, 88.3 %). m.p., 86 - 87.5°C. Reference Example 1 To 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-hydroxy-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-pentan-3-one (1,230 g; content, 98.0 %) produced as in Example 1, monochlorobenzene (689 g) was added, and propionic acid (13.4 g) and piperidine (15.3 g) were added thereto. The resultant mixture was distilled at a temperature of 90 to 100°C under reduced pressure for 8 hours to eliminate water azeotropically. The reaction mixture was cooled and washed with 20 % sulfuric acid and water in order. The benzene layer was separated and concentrated to give 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (1,089 g) (content, 93.7 %; yield, 89.2 %; E/Z ratio, 42.8/57.2). To the above prepared 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (1,089 g), monochlorobenzene (3,687 g), bromine (15 g) and 98 % sulfuric acid (315 g) were added, and the resultant mixture was stirred at 85°C for 5 hours. The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and washed with monochlorobenzene twice. To the thus washed crystals, monochlorobenzene (4,027 g) and water (735 g) were added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 50°C for 1 hour. The monochlorobenzene layer was separated and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the E isomer of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (991 g) (content, 98.4 %; yield, 95.6 %). To d-norephedrine hydrochloride (832 g) and monochlorobenzene (2,343 g), a dimethylformamide solution of sodium borohydride (166 g) was added, and the resultant mixture was stirred at a temperature of 20 to 30°C for 1 hour. A monochlorobenzene solution of the E isomer of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (991 g) was added thereto, followed by stirring at the same temperature as above for 10 hours. The reaction mixture was treated with dilute nitric acid. The monochlorobenzene layer was separated and concentrated to give the E isomer of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-ol (1,000 g) (content, 97.0 %; yield, 97.0 %).

Claims: A triazole compound of the formula I: wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom. A process for preparing a triazole compound of the formula I: wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom, which comprises subjecting an aromatic aldehyde of the formula IV: wherein X is as defined above, an alpha-halopinacolone of the formula V: wherein Hal is a chlorine atom or a bromine atom and 1,2,4-triazole to condensation in the presence of an alkali. The process according to claim 2, wherein the aromatic aldehyde and the 1,2,4-triazole, respectively, are used in amounts of 0.7 to 1.5 equivalents to the alpha-halopinacolone. The process according to claim 2, wherein the alkali is a hydroxide or carbonate of an alkali metal. The process according to claim 2, wherein the alkali is a hydroxide or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal. The process according to claim 2, wherein the alkali is used in an amount of 0.5 to 3 mol to 1 mol of the alpha-halopinacolone. The process according to claim 2, wherein the alkali is used in the form of an aqueous solution. The process according to claim 2, wherein the condensation is carried out in the presence of a solvent. The process according to claim 8, wherein the solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon or a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon. The process according to claim 8, wherein the condensation is carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. The process according to claim 10, wherein the phase transfer catalyst is tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide. The process according to claim 2, wherein the condensation is carried out at a temperature of -10 to 100°C. The process according to claim 12, wherein the condensation is carried out at a temperature of 0 to 50°C. Use of the triazole compounds of claim 12 for the preparation of anti-microbial triazole alcohols II wherein X is as defined in claim 1, by dehydration and reduction in a per se known manner.

Inventors: IKEDA TAKAHARU, TADA KAZUHIRO, IKEDA, TAKAHARU, TADA, KAZUHIRO
Applicants: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL CO, SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07D249
IPC codes: C07D521, C07D249