AZOLYL-DERIVATIVATES HAVING FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY

Abstract: There are disclosed compounds having the general formu­ la: wherein: m = 1.2; q = 1.2; Y is a haloethylene or haloethenyl group; X is oxygen or sulfur; A = N, CH; R is H, CH₃, F; R₁ is selected from the group comprising chlorine, bromine, fluorine, CF₃, a phenyl, C₁-C₂ alkoxy, C₁-C₂ haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio radical, wherein halogen is C1, Br, F; R₂ is selected from the group comprising: H, chlorine, bromine, fluorine; R f is a C₁-C₅ polyfluoroalkyl or C₂-C₄ polyfluoroalkenyl radical containing at least 3 fluorine atoms and option­ ally other halogen atoms selected from the group com­ prising Cl and Br.

Description: The present invention relates to azolyl-derivatives, more particularly to substituted azolyldioxanes and azolyldioxolanes, having high fungicidal activity; it also relates to the process concerning the preparation of said compounds and to the corresponding use of same in agricultural applications. From US patent 4,338,327 are known substituted triazolyldioxolanes having general formula: wherein: R¹, R², R³ are, independently, H, an alkyl or alkoxy radical, a halogen atom, NO₂, CN, CF₃; n = 0 or 1; X = O, S; R⁴ is an alkyl, mono-, di- and tri-haloalkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, mono-, di- and tri-halo-alkyloxyalkyl, lower alkenyl, 2-propynyl, 3-halo-2-propynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or arylalkenyl radical. A class of azolyl-dioxanes and azolyl-dioxolanes has now been developed, characterized by a fluorinated substituent in the dioxanic or dioxolanic ring, and presenting a higher fungicidal activity. Therefore, an object of the present invention consists in compounds having the general formula: wherein: m = 1 or 2; q = 1 or 2; Y is a haloethylene or haloethenyl group; X is oxygen or sulfur; A = N, CH; R is H, CH₃, F; R₁ is selected from the group comprising chlorine, bromine, fluorine, CF₃, a phenyl, C₁-C₂ alkoxy, C₁-C₂ haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio radical, wherein halogen is C₁, Br, F; R₂ is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, fluorine; R f is selected from the group comprising polyfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms or polyfluoroalkenyl radicals having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, containing at least 3 fluorine atoms and optionally other halogen atoms selected from the group comprising Cl and Br. The compounds of the present invention contain at least 2 kyral centers. These compounds are generally obtained in the form of diastereoisomer mixtures. These mixtures may be separated into single diastereoisomers by physical methods such as, for instance, column chromatography. Within each couple of diastereoisomers the single enantiomers may be separated by methods known in the prior art. Both diastereoisomers obtained by chromatographic separation and single enantiomers form are objects of the present invention. The object of the present invention also includes: the salts of the compounds having the general formula (I) issued from an inorganic acid such as a hydrohalogenic acid, for instance hydriodic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric acid; sulfuric, nitric, thiocyanic or phosphoric acid; or from an organic acid such as acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, 2-hydroxypropanoic, 2-oxopropanoic, ethanedioic, propanedioic, butanedioic, benzoic, methanesulfonic, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid and so on; the metal complexes obtained by reaction for complex formation between the derivatives of type (I) and an organic or inorganic metal salt such as halogenide, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate of, for instance, copper, manganese, zinc or iron. Examples of compounds having the general formula (I), according to the present invention, are recorded in Table 1. The compounds having the formula (I) may be obtained according to different processes. A process for the preparation of the compounds having the formula (I) consists in subjecting to a transketalization reaction the ketales having the formula: with an α-bromoketone having the formula: wherein R, R¹, R² have the above meaning; in the presence of an acid catalyst such as sulfuric or paratoluenesulfonic acid, at a temperature ranging from 60° to 140°C and in condensing the obtained intermediate having the formula: with an alkaline salt of an azole having the formula: wherein: M is an alkaline metal; and A has the herein-before specified meaning, in an aprotic dipolar solvent such as, for instance, dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide, at a temperature comprised between 20° and the reflux temperature of the reagents. The α-bromoketones having the formula (III) are known compounds [Lutz and al., J. Org. Chem. 12 (1947) 617; Ham, Reid, Jamieson, J.A.C.S. 52 (1930) 818; Brown, Mann, J.C.S. (1948) 847, Cowper, Davidson, Org. Synth. Coll. Vol. II (1943) 380]. Another process for preparing compounds having the formula (I) consists in subjecting to hydrolysis with aqueous mineral acids such as, for instance, HCl or H₂SO₄, at a temperature ranging between 20° and the boiling temperature, the ketales having the formula (II) and in allowing the thus obtained diol of formula: to react with an α-azolylketone having the formula: The acetalization reaction between compounds (VI) and (VII) may be carried out according to techniques similar to those described in the prior art, for instance for preparing 2,4-diphenyl-1,3-dioxolane (Synthesis, 1974 (I) 23). A suitable method for carrying out the reaction consists in reflux heating the reagents over many hours, by azeotropically removing the water in a suitable solvent, such as toluene or xylene, preferably in the presence of an alcohol such as butanol and in the presence of a strong acid such as 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid. Alternatively, this reaction may be carried out, starting from simple, linear or cyclic ketales, issued from α-azolyl-ketones of type (VII), such as dimethyl or diethyl ketale or cyclopentylidene or cyclohexylydene ketale, by reaction with an excess amount of diol of type (VI), under the same experimental conditions as mentioned hereinbefore. The intermediate compounds having the general formula (II); may be prepared according to different methods: (a) a process for preparing the compounds having the formula (II) when Y is a haloethylene group, consists in allowing a compound of the formula: to react with a polyfluorinated vinyl ether having the formula: CX₁F=CX₂-O-Rf (IX) wherein X₁ and X₂, which may be identical or different, are F, Cl, or Br and Rf has the above meaning, at a temperature comprised between 0°C and room temperature, to produce the compounds having the formula: The compounds having the formula (VIII) may be prepared by known methods (E. Fisher, Berichte 28, 1169; A.K.M. Anisuzzan, J. Chem. Soc. (c), 1021 (1967). The polyfluorinated vinylethers having the formula (IX) may be prepared by known methods described, for instance, in J. Org. Chem. 48, 242 (1983). (b) A further process for preparing the intermediate compounds having the formula II, when Y is a haloethenyl group, consists in subjecting the compounds having formula (IIa) to dehydrohalogenation, to produce unsaturated compounds having the formula: Moreover, the intermediates having formula (IV) may also be obtained by condensation of the compound having formula (VIII) with the α-bromoketone having formula (III) and by subsequent reaction of the product obtained having the formula: with a polyfluorinated vinylether having formula (IX), according to a reaction scheme similar to that indicated in method (a). Finally, alternatively, the compounds having general formula (I), may be obtained by adding the compound having formula: to a polyfluorinated vinylether having formula (IX) according to a reaction scheme, similar to that indicated in method (a). The compounds having general formula (I) are endowed with particularly high fungicidal activity against phytopathogeneous fungi, infesting the cultivation of cereals, cucurbitaceae, vine and fruit trees. Examples of plant diseases that can be fought by the compounds of the present invention are the following: Erysiphe graminis on cereals, Sphaeroteca fuliginea on cucurbitaceae (for instance, cucumber), Puccinia on cereals, Septoria on cereals, Helminthosporium on cereals, Rhynchosporium on cereals, Podosphaera leucotricha on apple-trees, Uncinula necator on vines, Venturia inaequalis on apple-trees, Piricularia oryzae on rice, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium on cereals, and other diseases. Furthermore, the compounds of formula I have other positive characteristics, such as a fungicidal activity with both a preventive and a curative character and a complete compatibility with the plants to be protected against the fungus infestation. Besides the high fungicidal activity by preventive and curative application, the compounds having the formula (I) are characterized by systemic properties. These properties allow the products to enter the vascular systems of the plants, and to act even in places (for instance leaves), that are very remote from those to which they are applied (for instance, roots). For practical use in agriculture it is often useful to have a fungicidal composition available, containing one or more compounds of the formula (I) as active substance. The application of these compositions can be made to any part of the plants, for instance on leaves, stalks, branches and roots, or on the seeds themselves, before sowing or even on the soil adjacent to the plant. Use may be made of compositions in the form of dry powders, wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, pastes, granulates, solutions, suspensions and so on: the choice of the composition type will depend on the specific use. The compositions are prepared according to a manner known per se, for instance by diluting or dissolving the active substance by means of a solvent medium and/or a solid diluent, optionally in the presence of surfactants. As solid diluents or carriers, use may be made of: silica, kaolin, bentonite, talc, diatomite, dolomite, calcium carbonate, magnesia, gypsum, clays, synthetic silicates, attapulgite, sepiolite. As liquid diluents, besides, of course, water, different kinds of solvents may be used, for instance aromatic solvents (benzenes, xilenes, or mixtures of alkylbenzenes), chloroaromatic solvents (chlorobenzene), paraffins (oil cuts), alcohols (methanol, propanol, butanol), amines, amides (dimethylformamide), ketones (cyclohexanone, acetophenone, isophorone, ethyl amyl ketone), esters (isobutyl acetate). As surfactants, the following may be used sodium or calcium salts or thriethanol amine of alkylsulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, polyethoxylated alkyl-phenols, fatty alcohols condensed with ethylene oxide, polyethoxylated fatty acids, polyethoxylated sorbitol esters, polyethoxylated fats, lignin sulfonates. The compositions may also contain special additives for particular purposes, for instance adhesive agents such as gum-arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone. If desired, other compatible active substances, such as fungicides, phytodrugs, phytogrowth regulators, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, may also be added to the compositions, objects of the present invention. The concentration of active substance in the above-mentioned compositions, may vary within a wide range, according to the active compound, cultivation, pathogen, environmental conditions and kind of formulation, that has been used. Usually the concentration of active substance ranges between 0.1 and 95, and preferably between 0.5 and 90% by weight. The following examples will illustrate the invention. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxy-ethoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane (compound n ° 1): Sodium hydride (0.6 g in an oily suspension at 55-60%) was added to 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane (4 g) dissolved in anhydrous DMF (25 ml) and anhydrous dioxane (25 ml), at 0°C, under nitrogen. Then, the temperature was allowed to rise to ambient value and the whole was stirred over 30 minutes. After having cooled the mixture to 0°C, the apparatus was set under vacuum; trifluoro methyl-trifluoro-ethenyl-ether was fed thereinto and the whole was kept under an atmosphere of this gas overnight, at ambient temperature. Then the reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted by means of methylene chloride. The extract was rinsed with water, dried on sodium sulfate and evaporated to obtain an oil, that was analysed by silica gel chromatography, by firstly eluting with n.hexaneethyl acetate in 9:1 ratio, then in 1:1 ratio. 2.3 g of an oil were isolated, that was characterized as compound n ° 1, according to the title of the present example. Such characterization was revealed by the following spectroscopic data: IR (cm⁻¹) 1510, 1280, 1210 1110. NMR ¹H (60 MHz) TMS in CCl₄.δ: 3.50-4.35 (m, 5H); 4.65 (s.broad, 2H); 6,00 (dt, 1H); 7.00-7.50 (m, 3H); 7.55 (s, 1H); 8.00 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxy-ethoxyethyl)-1,3-dioxolane (compound n ° 2): Sodium hydride (0.17 g in an oily suspension at 55-60%), was added to 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-hydroxyethyl-1,3-dioxolane (2.5 g) dissolved in anhydrous DMF (25 ml) and anhydrous THF (25 ml), under nitrogen, at 0°C. Then the temperature was allowed to rise to ambient value and the whole was stirred over 15 minutes. After having cooled the mixture to 0°, the apparatus was set under vacuum, trifluoromethyl-trifluoroethenyl-ether was fed thereinto and the whole was kept under an atmosphere of this gas overnight at ambient temperature. Then the reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted by means of methylene chloride. The extract was rinsed with water, dried on sodium sulfate and evaporated; the oil obtained was analysed by silica gel chromatography, by firstly eluting with 7:3 n.hexaneethyl acetate, then with ethyl acetate only. 1 g of a yellow oil was isolated, that was characterized as compound n ° 2, according to the title of the present example. Such characterization was revealed by the following spectroscopic data: IR (cm⁻¹) 1490, 1270, 1210, 1100. NMR ¹H (60 MHz) TMS in CCl₄.δ: 1.40-2.00 (m, 2H); 3.05-3.50 (m, 1H); 3.70-4.40 (m, 4H); 4.65 (s.broad, 2H); 5.75 (dt, 1H); 7.10-7.50 (m, 3H); 7.65 (s, 1H); 8.00 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxy-ethoxy-methyl)-1,3-dioxolane (compound n ° 3): Starting from 5 g of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, by operating as described in examples 1 and 2, 2.5 g of an oil were obtained, that was characterized as compound n ° 3, according to the title of the present example. Such characterization was revealed by the following spectroscopic data. NMR ¹H (60 MHz) TMS in CCl₄.δ: 3.25-4.10 (m, 5H); 4.90 (s.broad, 2H); 5.55 (dm, 1H); 7.10-7.50 (m, 4H); 7.80 (s, 1H); 8.05 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-perfluoroethoxy-ethoxy-methyl)-1,3-dioxolane (compound n ° 4). Starting from 3 g of 2-(2,4-dichlorophényl)-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-ilmethyl)-4-hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane in atmosphere of C₂F₅O-CF=CF₂, by operating as described in the preceding examples, 2.3 g of an oil were obtained, that was characterized as compound n ° 4, according to the title of the present example. Such characterization was revealed by the following spectroscopic data. IR (cm⁻¹): 1510, 1280, 1230, 1100. NMR ¹H (60 MHz) TMS in CCl₄.δ: 3.5-4.30 (m, 5H); 4.75 (s.broad, 2H); 5.65 (dt, 1H); 7.10-7.60 (m, 3H); 7.85 (s, 1H); 8.10 (s, 1H). EXAMPLE 5 Determination of the fungicidal activity against Cucumber oidium (Sphaerotheca fuliginea "Schlech" Salmon) Preventive activity: Cucumber plants cv. Marketer, grown in pots in a conditioned environment, were sprinkled on the lower leaf faces with the products being tested in a water-acetone solution containing 20% of acetone (vol./vol.). Then, the plants were kept in a conditioned environment over 1 day and thereafter sprinkled on the upper leaf faces with an aqueous suspension of conidia of Sphaerotheca fuliginea (200.000 conidia/ml). The plants were then carried back into a conditioned environment. At the end of the incubation period of the fungus (8 days), the infection degree was evaluated according to indice of a valuation scale ranging from 100 (= sound plant) to 0 (= wholly infected plant). Curative activity: Cucumber plants cv. Marketer, grown in pots in a conditioned environment, were sprinkled on the upper leaf faces with an aqueous suspension of conidia of Sphaerotheca fuliginea (200.000 conidia/ml). 24 hours after the infection the plants were treated with the products being tested in a water-acetone solution containing 20% of acetone (vol./vol.) by sprinkling both leaf faces. At the end of the incubation period of the fungus (8 days), during which time the plants were kept in a suitably conditioned environment, the infection degree was evaluated according to a valuation scale ranging from 100 (= sound plan) to 0 (wholly infected plant). The results are recorded in Table 2. EXAMPLE 6 Determination of the fungicidal activity against wheat oidium (Erysiphe Graminis D.C.). Preventive activity: Leaves of wheat cv. Irnerio, grown in pots in a conditioned environment, were sprayed on both leaf faces with the products being tested in a water-acetone solution containing 20% of acetone (vol./vol.). After maintaining 1 day in a conditioned environment at 20°C and 70% of relative humidity, the plants were sprayed on both leaf faces with an aqueous suspension of Erysiphe Graminis (200.000 conidia/cc). After maintaining 24 hours in an moisture-saturated environment at 21°C, the plants were kept in a conditioned environment for the fungus incubation. At the end of this period (12 days) the infection degree was evaluated at sight, according to a scale ranging from 100 (sound plant) to 0 (wholly infected plant). Curative activity: Leaves of wheat cv. Irnerio, grown in pots in a conditioned environment, were sprayed on both leaf faces with an aqueous suspension of Erysiphe Graminis (200.000 conidia/cc). After a stay time of 24 hours in an environment saturated with moisture, at 21°C, the leaves were treated with the products being tested in a water-acteone solution containing 20% of acetone (vol./vol.) by spraying both leaf faces. At the end of the incubation period (12 days), the infection degree was evaluated at sight according to a valuation scale ranging from 100 (= sound plant) to 0 (= wholly infected plant). The results are recorded in Table 2.

Claims: Compounds having the general formula: wherein: m = 1 or 2: q = 1 or 2: Y is a haloethylene or haloethenyl group; X is oxygen or sulfur; A = N, CH; R is H, CH₃, F; R₁ is selected from the group comprising chlorine, bromine, fluorine, CF₃, a phenyl, C₁-C₂ alkoxy, C₁-C₂ haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio radical, wherein halogen is C1, Br, F; R₂ is selected from the group comprising: H, chlorine, bromine, fluorine; R f is a C₁-C₅ polyfluoroalkyl or C₂-C₄ polyfluoroalkenyl radical containing at least 3 fluorine atoms and optionally other halogen atoms selected from the group comprising Cl and Br. Compound according to claim 1, i.e. 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxyethoxymethyl)1,3-dioxolane-2-il-methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole. A process for preparing compounds having the formula (I), according to claim 1, consisting in subjecting to transketalization reaction the ketales having the formula: with an α-bromo ketone having the formula: wherein R, R¹, R² have the meaning specified in claim 1, in the presence of an acid catalyst, at a temperature ranging from 60° to 140°C and in condensing the obtained intermediate having the formula: with an alkaline salt of an azole having the formula: wherein: M is an alkaline metal; and A has the herein-before specified meaning, in an aprotic dipolar solvent, at a temperature ranging from 20°C to the reflux temperature of the reagents. A process for preparing the compounds having the formula (I), according to claim 1, consisting subjecting to hydrolysis by means of aqueous mineral acids, at a temperature ranging from 20°C to boiling temperature, the ketales having the formula (II), according to claim 3, and in allowing the diol thus obtained of formula: to react with an α-azolylketone having the formula: in an organic solvent, optionally in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol, in the presence of a strong acid, at the reflux temperature of the mixture, by azeotropically removing the water formed during the reaction. Compounds having the formula: wherein m, n, q, X, Y and Rf have the meanings specified in claim 1. A process for preparing the compounds having the formula (II), according to claim 5, when Y is a haloethylene group, consisting in allowing a compound of formula: wherein m, q and X have the meanings specified in claim 1, react with a polyfluorinated vinylether having the formula: CX₁F = CX₂-O-RF (IX) wherein: X₁ and X₂, which may be identical or different, are F, Cl or Br; and Rf has the meaning specified in claim 1, at a temperature ranging from 0°C to ambient temperature, to produce compounds having the formula: A process for preparing compounds having the formula (II), according to claim 5, when Y is a haloethenyl group, consisting in subjecting to dehydrohalogenation the compounds having the formula (IIa), according to claim 6, to produce unsaturated compounds having the formula: A method of fighting fungus infections in useful plants consisting in distributing on the plant, on the seeds or on the surrounding soil, when fungus infestation is foreseen or is already in progress, an effective amount of a compound, according to claim 1, either as such or in the form of a suitable composition. A method of fighting fungus infections in useful plants consisting in distributing on the plant, on the seeds or on the surrounding soil, when fungus infection is foreseen or is already in progress, an effective amount of 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoro-methoxy-ethoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane-2-ilmethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole compound, according to claim 2, either as such or in the form of a suitable composition. Fungicidal compositions having as active ingredient one or more compounds, according to claim 1, together with a solid or liquid carrier and, optionally other additives. Fungicidal compositions having, as active ingredient, 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxyethoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane-2-ilmethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole compound, together with a solid or liquid carrier and, optionally, other additives.

Inventors: COLLE, ROBERTO, GARAVAGLIA, CARLO, MIRENNA, LUIGI, RATTI, GIUSEPPINA
Applicants: ISTITUTO GUIDO DONEGANI S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07D405
IPC codes: A01N43, C07D413, C07D521, A01N47, C07D417, C07D405, C07D317