PYRIDAZINONE MANUFACTURE

Abstract: An improved method for the manufacture of plan regulant pyridazine-4-one carboxylic acids, which comprises the step of cyclising a glyoxylic acid halide phenylhydrazone with a 3-pyrrolidinyl-2-alkenoic acid ester.

Description: This invention relates to pyridazinone manufacture, and more particularly to the manufacture of 4-pyridazinone carboxylic acids of formula (I) : where: R¹ is lower alkyl, R² is H or alkyl, R³ is a phenyl group optionally substituted with halogen or lower alkyl groups. Compounds of formula (I) are useful as plant growth regulating compounds, and in particular as chemical hybridising agents. They have found use as male sterilants for cereal crops, for example wheat and barley, and are useful for making hybrids in such crops. It is known from European Patent Application No. 89137 to manufacture compounds of the above formula by hydrolysis of a phenylhydrazone of a dihydropyrantricne. It is known from European Patent Application No. 49971 to manufacture compounds of the above formula according to the following reaction scheme. Stage 1 - Diazo-coupling Stage 2 : Ring Closure The compound (III) so obtained may then be hydrolysed either partially to the mono ester or completely to the dicarboxylic acid; and if desired, the resulting dicarboxylic acid may be partially de-carboxylated. This generally gives a mixture of the two possible monocarboxylic acids, from which the desired product may be recovered. A problem with the above process is a tendency for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to be produced in Stage 1 (diazo-coupling). This is most undesirable, as PCBs are toxic and persist in the environment: accordingly considerable care and expense must be undertaken to recover them from the reaction mixture and dispose of them safely. The present invention provides a novel method of producing 4-pyridazinone carboxylic acids which uses a novel cyclisation step, and which avoids Stage 1 of the scheme set out above, in which PCBs are produced in undesirable quantities. According to the present invention we provide a process for the production of a cyclic chemical intermediate which comprises condensing a phenylhydrazone of glyoxylic acid halide with a 3-pyrrolidinyl-2-alkenoic acid ester. The present invention enables the production of plant growth regulant 4-pyridazinone carboxylic acids according to the following scheme: The ester (VI) so obtained may readily be hydrolysed with strong alkali to the corresponding sodium or potassium salt, a convenient form for use as a plant growth regulatory or chemical hybridising agent. The compound (V) in Step 3 of the above scheme (in which R¹ is preferable lower alkyl, e.g. methyl or ethyl, and R² may be optionally substituted alkyl,) is readily obtained by reaction of pyrrolidine with an appropriate 3- oxoalkanoic acid ester. The cyclisation of the invention may be carried out at moderate temperatures and normal pressures. It is preferred to carry out the reaction at between 0 and 25°C. It is convenient to carry out the reaction in an inert organic solvent, e.g. methylene dichloride. The phenyl group of the phenylhydrazone is optionally substituted, for example with halogen or lower alkyl groups. The reaction scheme of which the invention forms part is useful for making compounds of formula (I), as the starting materials are readily available and inexpensive, and each step (apart from Step 3) consistently gives an excellent yield. Yields in excess of 80% are obtainable in Step 3. The following Example illustrates the invention. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 1- p -chlorophenyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-6-ethyl-5-carboxylic acid. A. Preparation of Methyl Ester of 3-Pyrrolidinyl-2-Pentenoic Acid A mixture of pyrrolidine (192g), methyl propionyl acetate (87.8g), and benzene (500ml) in a 1-litre round-bottomed flask equipped with magnetic stirrer, Dean-Stark trap and reflux condenser was heated at reflux until all of the water was removed in the azeotrope ( about 4-5 hours). Excesss pyrrolidine and benzene were distilled off a 60°C and 20 mm pressure. The residue of methyl-3-pyrrolidinyl-2-pentenoate was 99% pure by G.C. analysis and weighed 125.7g. Further purification was accomplished by distillation at 1.7 mm pressure when the material was found to boil at 125-131°C and to be 100% pure by G.C. analysis. B. Preparation of p-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone of Glyoxylic Acid (III) Purified p -chlorophenyl hydrazine hydrochloride (1 equivalent) dissolved in a convenient volume of de-ionised water was added dropwise to a solution of glyoxylic acid (1 equivalent) and sodium acetate (1.5 equivalent) in a convenient volume of de-ionised water with adequate agitation and ice cooling. The resulting precipitate was vacuum filtered and washed with water. The solid was dried thoroughly in vacuum at 60°C. Yield of yellow solid was near quantitative, mp 145°C with decomposition. C. Preparation of p-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone of Glyoxylic Acid Chloride (IV) The dried p-chlorophenyl hydrazone of glyoxylic acid (III) was slurried in a flame dried 200 ml round-bottomed flask in 50 ml of dry methylene dichloride (over 4A-molecular sieves), and five drops of dry DMF then added. Thionyl chloride (10% excess of 1 equivalent) was added and the mixture warmed to a gentle reflux until evolution of acidic vapours was complete and a dark coloured solution formed (time required was 40 minutes). The solution was degassed under 20-25 mm reduced pressure whereupon copious yellow crystals separated from the now cool reaction mixture. D. Preparation of Methyl-1-(4-chlorophenyl) 1,4-dihydro-6-ethyl-4-oxo-pyridazine-5-carboxylate (VI) Methyl 3-pyrrolidino-2-pentenoate (V) (1 equivalent: this may be prepared as in A above) was dissolved in a 500 ml round-bottomed flame dried flask in 50 ml of dry methylene dichloride. The solution was stirred magnetically and cooled in an ice bath as the acid chloride was added dropwise from a pressure equalizing addition funnel. Additional methylene dichloride as required was used to rinse in the crystalline portion of the acid chloride. The wine-coloured reaction solution was stirred for an additional 30 minutes with ice cooling and then overnight at room temperature. Finally, a gentle reflux period of two hours was employed to ensure complete reaction. TLC showed the desired product had been obtained. E. Product Isolation The reaction solution was cooled and washed with a 100 ml portion of water, two 100 ml portions of 5% aqueous NaOH, and again with a 100 ml portion of water. After drying over anhydrous sodium sulphate, the methylene dichloride was distilled off leaving a brown solid residue. F. Purification Three options are available for purification of the product : 1) Trituration at the ester (VI) stage with anhydrous diethyl ether renders (VI) as an insoluble near white crystalline solid with purity = 98% (TLC). Some product remains in the ether portion, the amount depending upon the volume of ether employed. 2) Wet column chromatography using a solvent gradient system hexane to ethyl acetate on silica gel gives quantitative recovery of 100% pure ester (VI). 3) Saponification of the crude ester (VI) using excess aqueous NaOH, methylene chloride extraction of the aqueous alkaline solution, and precipitation with mineral acid produces the free acid pyridazinone in quantitative yield with 98% purity (TLC).

Claims: Process for the production of a chemical intermediate of Formula (VI) below, characterised by condensing a compound of Formula (IV) below, with a compound of Formula (V) below, where R¹ is lower alkyl, R² is H or alkyl, R³ is a phenyl group optionally substituted with halogen or lower alkyl groups, and R⁴ is a halo group. Process as claimed in claim 1 which is conducted at a temperature between 0 and 25°C. Process as claimed in claims 1 or 2 which is carried out in an inert organic solvent.

Inventors: MCLAUGHLIN, THOMAS A.
Applicants: IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C07D237
IPC codes: C07D237