TETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDE DERIVATIVES, THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE

Abstract: The invention relates to tetrahydrophthalimide N-phenylamino acid esters of the formula V wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, R² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R⁴ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. The compounds of formula V can be used for the preparation of herbicidal active compounds.

Description: This invention relates to tetrahydrophthalimide derivatives and their production and use. More particularly, it relates to tetrahydrophthalimide N-phenylamino acid esters of the formula V wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, R² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R⁴ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. The compounds of formula V are intermediates for the preparation of compounds of formula II wherein X is as defined above and A is a group of the formula: in which R² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and the nitrogen atom is bonded to the benzene ring. The compounds of formula II are used for the preparation of tetrahydrophthalimides of the formula I: wherein R¹ is a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, a C₃-C₅ alkenyl group, a C₃-C₅ alkynyl group or a C₁-C₃ alkoxymethyl group and X and A are as defined above. The tetrahydrophthalimides (I) show a high herbicidal activity against a wide variety of weeds. The tetrahydrophthalimides of formula (I), their production and their use is described in EP-A-0 177 032. The N-phenylamino acid esters of the formula V of the invention are obtainable by the reaction of the N-nitrophenylphthalimide of the formula IV: wherein X is as defined above, with an amino acid ester of the formula VIII: wherein R², R³ and R⁴ are each as defined above in an amount of 2.5 to 4 equivalents to one equivalent of the N-nitrophenylphthalimide (IV) in a solvent (e.g. dioxane, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide) at a temperature of 50 to 200°C to give the N-phenylamino acid ester (V). The use of the N-phenylamino acid esters of the formula V for the preparation of compounds of formula II is summarized in the following scheme: wherein X, R², R³ and R⁴ are each as defined above. The N-phenylamino acid ester (V) is subjected to reductive cyclization with an appropriate reducing agent, for instance, iron in an acid (e.g. acetic acid) to give the dihydroquinoxalinone (IIa). More specifically, the N-phenylamino acid ester (V) is treated with 3 to 10 equivalent amounts of powdery iron such as electrolytic iron or reduced iron in a solvent (e.g. water, alcohol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate) in the presence of an excessive amount of an acid (e.g. acetic acid, hydrochloric acid) at a temperature of 50 to 200°C. The quinoxalinone (IIb) is obtainable by oxidizing the dihydroquinoxalinone (IIa) in an excessive amount of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The quinoxaline (II) as well as the N-phenylamino acid ester (V) are novel, while the N-nitrophenylphthalimide (IV) is per se known and obtainable by the method as described in EP-A-0 077 938A. Typical examples for production of the compounds (V) and (II) are illustratively shown in the following Examples. Example 1 2-(4-Fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3-dione (5.8 g) was added to a mixture of glycine methyl ester hydrochloride (7.5 g), triethylamine (6 g) and 1,4-dioxane (50 ml), and the resultant mixture was heated under reflux for 4 hours followed by addition of water and extraction with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water, dried and concentrated. The residue was crystallized from methanol to give 2-(4-methoxycarbonylmethylamino-3-nitrophenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3- dione (2.6 g). m.p. 220°C. In the same manner as above, the N-phenylamino acid esters (V) as shown in Table 1 were obtained: Example 2 2-(4-Methoxycarbonylmethylamino-3-nitrophenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3-dione (2.06 g) was dissolved in a mixture of acetic acid (20 ml) and ethyl acetate (20 ml), and the resultant solution was dropwise added to a mixture of 5 % aqueous acetic acid (10 ml) and iron powder (4 g) at 70 to 80°C, followed by stirring at the same temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with sodium bicarbonate solution, dried and concentrated to give 2-(3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinoxalinon-7-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3-dione (1.3 g). m.p. 208 - 209°C. In the same manner as above, the dihydroquinoxalinones (IIa) as shown in Table 2 were obtained. Example 3 2-(3,4-Dihydro-6-fluoro-2(1H)-quinoxalinon-7-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3-dione (0.43 g) was added to a mixture of sodium hydroxide (0.16 g), water (2.1 ml) and 30 % aqueous hydrogen peroxide (0.21 ml), and the resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. Ether was added thereto to separate an aqueous layer, which was adjusted to pH 4 with acetic acid. The precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and washed with water to give 2-(6-fluoro-2(1H)quinoxalinon-7-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole-1,3-dione (0.32 g). m.p. >300°C.

Claims: 1. A compound of the formula V: wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, R² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R⁴ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl group. 2. A process for preparing the compound according to claim 1 which comprises reacting a compound of formula IV wherein X is as defined in claim 1, with a compound of formula VIII wherein R², R³ and R⁴ are as defined in claim 1. 3. Use of the compound according to claim 1 for the preparation of a compound of formula II wherein X is as defined in claim 1 and A is a group of the formula: in which R² is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and the nitrogen atom is bonded to the benzene ring, which comprises subjecting a compound according to claim 1 to reductive cyclization to give the dihydroquinoxalinone of formula IIa wherein X, R² and R³ are as defined above, and optionally oxidizing the compound of formula IIa to give the compound of formula IIb wherein X and R² are as defined above.

Inventors: HAGA, TORU, MORITA, KOUICHI, NAGANO, EIKI, SATO, RYO
Applicants: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C07D209
IPC codes: C07D209, C07D403, A01N43