Process for producing methoxyminoacetamide compounds

Abstract: A process for producing a compound of the formula [I]: wherein X is hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy or halogen; and ∼ is any configuration of E-isomer, Z-isomer or a mixture thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula [V]: wherein X and ∼ are as defined above and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, with a compound of the formula [IV]: CH₃-L [IV] wherein L is halogen or -OSO₂OCH₃.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for producing methoxyiminoacetamide compounds of the formula: wherein X is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or halogen; and ∼ is any configuration of E-isomer, Z-isomer or a mixture thereof, which are useful as agricultural fungicides, and intermediates for use in the production of the compounds of the formula [I]. The compounds of the formula [I] are compounds which have been disclosed for the first time in EP-A-398 692 in the name of the present assignee, and they are considered to be remarkably useful compounds as agricultural fungicides having excellent fungicidal activities against microorganisms such as Piricularia oryzae , Pellicularia sasakii , Pseudoperonospora cubensis and the like. In the above application, the compounds of the formula [I] are produced by several routes. However, at this time, the present inventors have found other novel synthetic routes for producing the compounds of the formula [I] which are more economical with minimum by-products. The present invention provides a novel process for producing the methoxyiminoacetamide compounds of the formula [I] which are useful for agricultural fungicides. In other aspects the invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising at least one compound of the formula [I] when produced by the process of the invention together with one or more diluents, excipients or carriers, as well as a method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi which comprises applying as an active ingredient at least one compound of formula [I] when produced by a process of the invention to a locus where phytopathogenic fungi may propagate or are propagating. According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing a compound of the formula [I]: wherein X is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl,C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or halogen; and ∼ is any configuration of E-isomer, Z-isomer or a mixture thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula [V]: wherein X and ∼ are as defined above and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, with a compound of the formula [IV}: CH 3 -L wherein L is halogen or -OSO 2 OCH 3 . In each compound disclosed in the present specification, examples of alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl and t-butyl. Examples of alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy and t-butoxy. Examples of "halogen" include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Examples of the C 1 -C 6 alkyl represented by R include the same groups as those described with respect to the above X. Examples of the alkali metal include potassium and sodium. Examples of "halogen" represented by L include the same halogen atoms as those described with respect to the above X. Preferably the reaction of [V] with the compound [IV] is conducted in a solvent in the presence of a base at -20 to 120°C for 15 minutes to 5 hours. Of the C 1 -C 4 alkyl groups which may be present in the compound of formula [I] methyl is preferred. The invention also includes a process for making a fungicidal composition especially for treating micro-organisms such as Piricularia oryzae, Pellicularia sasakii and Pseudoperonospora cubensis wherein a compound of formula [I] is prepared by a process in accordance with this present invention and thereafter the resulting compound is formulated into a fungicidal composition by admixing therewith one or more diluents, excipients or carriers. The compound [I] is directly obtained by methylating the compound of the formula [V] with the compound [IV]. This methylation can be conducted according to the manner described below and the compound of the formula [I] can be obtained in a good yield without purification such as that by column chromatography. For example, the methylation can be conducted in a solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, benzene, toluene, acetone, tetrahydrofuran or a mixed solvent thereof at -20 to 120°C for 15 minutes to 5 hours in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydride, potassium t-butoxide, sodium methylate, sodium ethylate or the like. Optionally, the compound of the formula [I] thus obtained wherein X is hydrogen can be converted into a corresponding compound of the formula [I] wherein X is lower alkyl or halogen by a known method such as alkylation or halogenation. The compound of formula [I] is present as E-isomer or Z-isomer, or a mixture thereof. Regarding the compound of the formula [I], its E-isomer and Z-isomer can be represented by the following formulas: wherein X is as defined above, and W is Further, the compounds of the formula [IV] are known as methylating agents. The compound of the formula [I] thus obtained can be purified, if necessary, according to a conventional method, for example, column chromatography and can be used as an agricultural fungicide according to a known method. As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a novel process for producing methoxyiminoacetamide compouonds which are useful as agricultural fungicides and the process of the present invention is economical with minimum by-products. Reference may be made to the parent of this application, EP-B-0 468 775 and to the co-pending divisonal application, EP-A-0 606 924 for information on procedural chemistry relevant to the present process. The following Examples and Reference Examples further illustrate the present invention in detail but are not be construed to limit the scope thereof. Example 1 Production of E-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide To E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide (10.00 g, 0.037 mole) were added acetone (200 ml), potassium carbonate (15.34 g, 0.111 moles) and.dimethylsulfate (9.33 g, 0.074 moles) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 9 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was filtered, washed with acetone and concentrated under reduced pressure. The oil thus obtained was dissolved in toluene (50 ml) and to this was added an aqueous 1N sodium hydroxide solution (50 ml), followed by stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes. The mixture was extracted with toluene, washed with water and concentrated, and then the resulting residue was recrystallized (methanol/water) to obtain E-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide (9.93 g, yield: 94.4%) as colorless crystals (melting point: 81.5-83°C). 1 HNMR (CDCl 3 ) δ ppm: 2.87 (d, 3H, J=5.0Hz), 3.91 (s, 3H), 6.65 (br, s, 1H), 6.87-7.38 (m, 9H) Example 2 Production of E-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl]acetamide E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl]acetamide (1.00 g, 0.0035 mole) was dissolved in dried acetone (7 ml), and potassium carbonate (0.63 g, 0.0046 mole) and dimethylsulfate (0.53 g, 0.0042 mole) were added to the mixture, which was reacted at room temperature for 22 hours. After completion of the reaction, water was added to the reaction mixture, which was extracted twice with methylene chloride, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (ethyl acetate/n-hexane) to obtain E-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl]-acetamide as colorless crystals (0.96 g, yield: 92.3%). 1 HNMR (CDCl 3 ) δ ppm: 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.81 (d, 3H, J=4.9Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H), 6.71 (br, s, 1H), 6.82 (d, 1H, J=8.1Hz), 6.89-6.92 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.10 (m, 3H), 7.23-7.31 (m, 2H) Reference Example 1 Production of E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide To crude E-α-hydroxyimino-2-phenoxyphenylacetic acid methyl ester (39.6 g, 0.0747 mole, purity: 51.2%) were added methanol (100 ml) and 40% aqueous solution of methylamine (15.45 g, 0.199 mole) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 hours. Then, 40% aqueous solution of methylamine (7.73 g, 0.0995 mole) was added to the mixture which was stirred in an oil bath at 70°C for 6 hours. After completion of the reaction, water (200 ml) and toluene (100 ml) were added to the reaction mixture, which was stirred with ice cooling for one hour. The precipitated crystals were filtered off and recrystallized (methanol/toluene) to obtain E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide (12.31 g, yield: 60.1%) as colorless crystals (melting point: 183-184.5°C). 1 HNMR (d 6 -DMSO 4 ) δ ppm: 2.65 (d, 3H, J=4.5Hz), 6.30-7.47 (m, 9H), 7.92 (q, 1H, J=4.5Hz) Reference Example 2 Production of E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl]acetamide E-α-hydroxyimino-2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenylacetic acid methyl ester (1.00 g, 0.0035 mole) was dissolved in methanol (7 ml) and 40% methylamine solution in methanol (0.54 g, 0.007 mole) was added to the mixture, which was refluxed for 70 minutes. A 40% methylamine solution in methanol (1.36 g, 0.0175 mole) was further added to the mixture, which was refluxed for 3 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to give E-2-hydroxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl]acetamide (1.00 g, yield: 100.0 %) as an amorphous. 1 HNMR (CDCl 3 ) δ ppm: 2.31 (s, 3H), 2.86 (d, 3H, J=5.9Hz),6.60 (br, s, 1H), 6.84-7.36 (m, 8H), 7.93 (br, s, 1H).

Claims: A process for producing a compound of the formula [I]: wherein X is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or halogen; and ~ is any configuration of E-isomer, Z-isomer or a mixture thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula [V]: wherein X and ~ are as defined above and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, with a compound of the formula [IV]: CH 3 -L wherein L is halogen or -OSO 2 OCH 3 . A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction of the compound [V] with the compound [IV] is conducted in a solvent in the presence of a base at -20 to 120°C for 15 minutes to 5 hours. A process as claimed in claim or claim 2, wherein is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl. A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein X is methyl. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein X is C 1 -C 4 alkoxy. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein X is hydrogen. A process for making a fungicidal composition wherein a compound of formula (I) is prepared by a process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and thereafter the resulting compound is formulated into a fungicidal composition with one or more diluents, excipients or carriers.

Inventors: KAI HIROYUKI, NAGAI MASAHIKO, NISHIDA KUNIYOSHI, SHINOMOTO SHOJI, TAKASE AKIRA, KAI, HIROYUKI, NAGAI, MASAHIKO, NISHIDA, KUNIYOSHI, SHINOMOTO, SHOJI, TAKASE, AKIRA
Applicants: SHIONOGI & CO, SHIONOGI SEIYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA TRADING UNDER THE NAME OF SHIONOGI & CO. LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C07C249
IPC codes: C07C255, C07C251, C07C249