PROCESS FOR PREPARING E-ISOMER OF TRIAZOLYL STYRYL KETONE DERIVATIVE

Abstract: A novel process for preparing E-isomer of triazolyl styryl ketone derivative of the formula (I): which comprises treating Z-isomer of the said derivative which may contain E-isomer of the said derivative with an acid and an isomerization catalyst in an organic solvent, precipitating and separating the resulting salt of E-isomer from the solution, and decomposing the resulting precipitate to obtain E-isomer of the said derivative free from the acid. Said E-isomer is useful for preparing E-isomer of triazolyl styryl carbinol of the formula (II): which is useful as an antimicrobial, a herbicide, a plant growth regulator, or the like.

Description: The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing E-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (hereinafter referred to as "triazolyl styryl ketone derivative") of the formula (I): Prior Art It is known that the triazolyl styryl ketone derivative (I) itself is useful as an antimicrobial [cf. Japanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 130661/1978], and that triazolyl styryl carbinol of the formula (II): which is obtained by reduction of the above derivative (I) is more useful as an antimicrobial, a herbicide, a plant growth regulator, or the like, and it is also known that the effect of E-isomer thereof is particularly superior to that of Z-isomer [cf. Japanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 41875/1979, 124771/1980 and 25105/1981]. Accordingly, it is required to provide a process for efficiently preparing E-isomer of the triazolyl styryl ketone dirivative of the above formula (I) which is a starting material for preparing E-isomer of the above compound of the formula (II) (hereinafter E-isomer, Z-isomer and a mixture of E-isomer and Z-isomer of the triazolyl styryl ketone derivative (I) are simply referred to as "E-isomer ", "Z-isomer" and "E/Z-isomer", respectively, unless specified otherwise). As a process for satisfying such requirement, for example, the following processes have been proposed. (1) A process of isomerizing Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer into E-isomer with a light [cf. Japanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 147265/1980]. (2) A process of isomerizing Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer with a compound such as an aromatic mercaptan [cf. Japanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 147265/1980]. (3) A process of separating E/Z-isomer with a chromatography [cf. Jpanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 147265/1980]. (4) A process of separating E-isomer from E/Z-isomer, which comprises treating E/Z-isomer with sulfuric acid, precipitating and separating the sulfuric acid salt of E-isomer, and decomposing the salt to obtain E-isomer [cf. Japanese Patent First Publication (Kokai) No. 140081/1983]. However, these processes have problems of, for example, the necessity or a special reaction apparatus or the necessity of an additional treatment for separating E- and Z-isomers from the reaction products because of an insufficient isomerization rate. Moreover, in case of the process for merely separating E-isomer from E/Z-isomer such as the process (4), the yield of E-isomer is dependent on the E-isomer content contained in the starting E/Z-isomer and the treatment of the residual Z-isomer is also necessary. JP-A-58-210070 describes the isomerization of E/Z isomer into highly pure E form by reaction with sulfuric acid (0.8 to 5 times the molar quantity of the E form) within a solvent and at a temperature between 0 and 80 o C: the obtained sulphate of the E form is precipitated as crystal, separated and decomposed. Furthermore, the catalyzed acid cis-trans-isomerization is also disclosed, for example CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 99, No.3, 18th July, 1983, page 552, column 2, abstract No. 21704s which relates to the Y.H. Chen et al publication "Isomerization of maleic acid to fumaric acid catalyzed by bromate ion and bromine", J. Chem. Soc. (Taipei) 1983, 30(1), pages 45-54. In view of the above circumstances, the present inventors have intensively investigated as to a process which is free from the above problems and can give easily and effectively the desired E-isomer from Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer on an industrial scale and in a good yield, and have found a process which can perform simultaneously the isomerization of Z-isomer on E/Z-isomer and the separation of E-isomer and can satisfy the above-mentioned requirements. The present invention is concerned with producing an improved process of isomerization which provides high rates when using specified acids and isomerization catalysts. According to the present invention there is provided a process for preparing E-isomer of triazolyl styryl ketone derivative of the formula (I): which comprises treating Z-isomer of the said derivative which may contain E-isomer of the said derivative with an acid and an isomerization catalyst in an organic solvent, precipitating and separating the resulting salt of E-isomer from the solution, and decomposing the resulting precipitate to obtain E-isomer of the said derivative free from the acid, wherein the acid is a member selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, a sulfonic acid, a hydrohalogenic acid and an aliphatic carboxylic acid and wherein the isomerization catalyst is a compound capable of forming a halonium ion with the said Z-isomer of the triazolyl styryl ketone under conditions such that the halonium ion during or after isomerization releases halogen from the halonium ion to provide the desired E-isomer. The starting material used in the present invention may be either Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer, i.e. a mixture of E-isomer and Z-isomer wherein the E-isomer content is not limited. The acids used in the present invention are sulfuric acid, sulfonic acids (e.g. methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, etc.), hydrohalogenic acids (hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, etc.), or aliphatic carboxylic acids (e.g. acetic acid, propionic acid, etc.) Among these acids, preferable one is sulfuric acid or methanesulfonic acid. Although the amount of the acid varies depending on the kind of the acid, it is usually used in an amount of 0.5 to 3 moles, preferably 0.8 to 1.2 moles, per 1 mole of the starting Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer. An appropriate amount of water may optionally be added when the acid is used. The isomerization catalyst is a compound which can form a halonium ion, and includes, for example, halogens (e.g. chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc.), mixed halogens (e.g. iodine monobromide, etc.), cyanogen halogenides (e.g. cyanogen bromide, etc.), halogenated amides or halogenated imides (e.g. N-bromosuccinimide, N-bromoacetamide, N-bromocaprolactam, N-bromophthalimide, etc.), hypohalogenous acids (e.g. trifluoroacetyl hypobromite, etc.), complexes of a halogen with an organic compound (e.g. triphenylphosphine dibromide, etc.), and the like. The isomerization catalyst is usually used in an amount of 0.0001 to 1.0 mole, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 mole, per 1 mole of the starting Z-isomer or Z-isomer contained in E/Z-isomer. The solvent used in the present invention is not limited and includes, preferably, aprotic organic solvents, for example, aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene, xylene, toluene, etc.), halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g. dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane, trichlene, perchlene, monochlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, etc.), esters (e.g. ethyl acetate, ethyl formate, etc.), ethers (e.g. diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, etc.), aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons (e.g. hexane, heptane, octane, petroleum ether, cyclohexane, etc.), and a mixture thereof. Although the amount of the solvent varies largely depending on, for example, the kind of the solvent, the kind of the isomerization catalyst, and the like, it is usually used in an amount of 0.5 to 20-fold by weight of the starting Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer. The reaction is usually carried out at a temperature of from 0° to 200°C, preferably from 30° to 150°C, for 0.5 to 48 hours. The isomerization of Z-isomer into E-isomer proceeds by treating Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer with an acid and an isomerization catalyst, by which a salt of E-isomer is produced. After the reaction, the reaction mixture is cooled to precipitate the salt of E-isomer from the mixture. In general, the salt of E-isomer precipitates spontaneously, as a crystal, from the reaction mixture with the progress of the reaction, or by cooling the reaction mixture, while a seed crystal may be used to ensure the precipitation of the salt. The separation of the precipitated salt of E-isomer from the reaction mixture is carried out by a conventional method such as filtration, centrifugation, decantation, or the like. The recovery of E-isomer from the salt of E-isomer is carried out by salt-decomposition or neutralization of the resulting salt. For example, the salt of E-isomer can be decomposed by mixing the salt with an excess of water and a solvent which is immiscible with water and can dissolve E-isomer (e.g. toluene, monochlorobenzene, etc.), to obtain a high purity of E-isomer from the organic layer. The decomposition of the salt of E-isomer may also be carried out by using a protic solvent except water (e.g. methanol, acetic acid, etc.). Alternatively, E-isomer can be obtained by neutralizing the salt thereof with an aqueous solution of a base such as sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or the like. According to the present invention, Z-isomer can easily be isomerized into E-isomer in a good yield on an industrial scale, without using a special apparatus. Moreover, a high purity of E-isomer which does substantially not contain any by-product can be obtained. The present invention is illustrated by the following Examples, but should not be construed to be limited thereto. In the Examples, "%" and "ratio" mean "% by weight" and "ratio by weight", respectively, unless specified otherwise. Example 1 Z-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (2.5 g) was dissolved in carbon tetrachloride (10g), and thereto were added dropwise conc. sulfuric acid (0.845 g ; sulfuric acid content : 97%) and then bromine (0.041 g) at 20°C. After reacting the mixture at a temperature of from 40°C to 50°C for 20 days, the mixture was cooled to 20°C, and the resulting crystals were separated by filtration. The crystals were washed with chloroform (10 g), and thereto were added 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate (2 g), chloroform (20 g) and water (10 g). After stirring the mixture at room temperature till the crystals disappeared, the aqueous layer was removed from the mixture, and the chloroform layer was washed twice with water and then concentrated to obtain E-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one. The yield of E-isomer to the starting Z-isomer was 79.8%, and the ratio of E-isomer to Z-isomer (hereinafter referred to as "E/Z ratio", unless specified otherwise) was 98.6/1.4. Examples 2 and 3 Using the same kind and amount of Z-isomer as used in Example 1, Example 1 was repeated to obtain E-isomer, except that a kind of solvents and an amount thereof, a reaction temperature and a reaction time as shown in Table 1 were employed. The results are shown in Table 1. Example 4 A crude mixture of E-isomer and Z-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (5.0 g; E/Z ratio : 21.2/78.8) was dissolved in monochlorobenzene (20 g), and thereto were added dropwise conc. sulfuric acid (1.69 g; sulfuric acid content : 97%) and then bromine (0.082 g) at 20°C. After reacting the mixture at a temperature of from 40° to 45°C for 4 days, the mixture was cooled to 20°C, and the resulting crystals were separated by filtration. The crystals were washed with chloroform (20 g), and thereto were then added 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate (4 g), water (20 g) and chloroform (40 g), and the mixture was stirred at room temperature till the crystals disappeared. The aqueous layer was then removed from the mixture, and the chloroform layer was washed twice with water and concentrated to obtain E-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one. The yield of E-isomer to the starting E/Z-isomer was 51.6%, and the E/Z ratio was 97.4/2.6. Example 5 An E-isomer/Z-isomer mixture of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one (28.98 g; E/Z ratio : 30.5/69.5) was dissolved in monochlorobenzene (115.92 g), and thereto were added dropwise methanesulfonic acid (9.61 g) and then bromine (0.48 g) at 30°C. After reacting the mixture at 40°C for 30 hours, the mixture was cooled to 25°C, and the resulting crystals were separated by filtration. The crystals were washed with monochlorobenzene (60 g), and thereto were added water (20 g) and monochlorobenzene (150 g), and the mixture was stirred at 60°C till the crystals disappeared. The aqueous layer was then removed from the mixture, and the monochlorobenzene layer was washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and water, and concentrated to obtain E-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one. The yield of E-isomer to the starting E/Z-isomer was 92.1%, and the E/Z ratio was 99.8/0.2. Example 6 A mixture of E-isomer and Z-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one) (14.49 g; E/Z ratio : 30.5/69.5) was dissolved in monochlorobenzene (57.95g), and thereto were added dropwise methanesulfonic acid (4.81g) and then N-bromosuccinimide (0.44 g) at 30°C. After reacting the mixture at 80°C for 2 hours, the mixture was cooled to 25°C over about 4 hours, and the resulting crystals were separated by filtration. The crystals were washed with monochlorobenzene (30g), and thereto were added water (10g) and monochlorobenzene (75g), and the mixture was stirred at 60°C till the crystals disappeared. The aqueous layer was removed from the mixture, and the monochlorobenzene layer was washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and water, and concentrated to obtain E-isomer of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-1-penten-3-one. The yield of E-isomer to the starting E/Z-isomer was 95.9 %, and the E/Z ratio was 99.0/1.0.

Claims: A process for preparing E-isomer of triazolyl styryl ketone derivative of the formula (I): which comprises treating Z-isomer of the said derivative which may contain E-isomer of the said derivative with an acid and an isomerization catalyst in an organic solvent, precipitating and separating the resulting salt of E-isomer from the solution, and decomposing the resulting precipitate to obtain E-isomer of the said derivative free from the acid, wherein the acid is a member selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, a sulfonic acid, a hydrohalogenic acid and an aliphatic carboxylic acid and wherein the isomerization catalyst is a compound capable of forming a halonium ion with the said Z-isomer of the triazolyl styryl ketone under conditions such that the halonium ion during or after isomerization releases halogen from the halonium ion to provide the desired E-isomer. The process according to claim 1, wherein the acid is sulfuric acid or methanesulfonic acid. The process according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the acid is used in an amount of 0.5 to 3 moles per 1 mole of the starting Z-isomer or E/Z-isomer. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the halonium is bromonium ion. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the isomerization catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a halogen, a mixed halogen, a cyanogen halogenide, a halogenated amide, a halogenated imide, a hypohalogenous acid and a halogen complex. The process according to claim 5, wherein the isomerization catalyst is bromine or N-bromosuccinimide. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the isomerization catalyst is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 1.0 mole per 1 mole of the starting Z-isomer or Z-isomer contained in E/Z-isomer. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 30 o C to 150 o C. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the precipitated and separated salt of E-isomer is decomposed by mixing the said salt with a mixture of water and a solvent which is immiscible with water and can dissolve E-isomer. The process according to claim 9, wherein the salt of E-isomer is neutralized and decomposed by further adding an alkali. A process for preparing E-isomer of triazolyl styryl carbinol of the formula (II): wherein the triazolyl styryl ketone derivative produced by the process claimed in any one of the preceding claims is reduced to convert the ketone group into a carbinol group.

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