Arylheterocycles with herbicidal activity

Abstract: Arylheterocycles having the general formula (I): and process for preparing them. The arylheterocycles having the general formula (I) display high herbicidal activity.

Description: The present invention relates to novel arylheterocycles. More particularly, the present invention relates to arylheterocycles having high herbicidal activity, to a process for preparing them and to their use as herbicidal agents for controlling weeds in crops. Arylheterocycles displaying herbicidal activity are disclosed in, among other references, U.S. patent Nos. 3,835,862; 4,431,822; 4,536,209; 4,736,068; 4,881,967 and 4,948,418. However, such products proved to be poorly selective because they are generally harmful also to most crops. This present Applicant has found now new arylheterocycles which, besides displaying a high herbicidal activity against a large number of weeds, simultaneously display a low phytotoxicity for one or more from most interesting crops from the agricultural viewpoint and are consequently suitable for use as selective herbicides. Therefore, the subject-matter of the present invention are arylheterocycles having the general formula (I): wherein: Y represents a hydrogen atom; a chlorine, fluorine, or bromine atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl or haloalkyl radical, a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or haloalkoxy; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkylthio or haloalkylthio; Z represents an oxygen atom; Q represents one of the following radicals (as represented by the following general formula): wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 1 , R 3 and R 4 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; R 2 is hydrogen; R 5 and R 6 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl radical or, together, they represent a C 2 -C 5 alkylene chain, or a C 2 -C 5 oxyalkylene chain; X 1 represents hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy radical; X 2 , X 3 and X 4 each represent a hydrogen atom; Z 1 represents an oxygen atom; p represents 0; E represents the following heterocyclic radical represented by the following general formula: wherein: R 7 represents a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 8 represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or haloalkoxy radical; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkylthio or haloalkylthio radical; X 5 represents a hydrogen atom; or a halogen atom as a chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine atom. The arylheterocycles having the general formula (I) display a high herbicidal activity. A further subject-matter of the present invention are the processes for preparing the compounds having the general formula (I). The compounds having the general formula (I), in which Z represents an oxygen atom can be obtained by means of a process comprising reacting a phenol having the general formula (II): in which Z, Y and E have the same meaning as disclosed above, with a compound having the general formula (III): X'-Q in which Q has the same meanings as disclosed above and X' represents a halogen atom,preferably chlorine and bromine, or an R'SO 2 O moiety in which R' respresents a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl or haloalkyl radical, or a phenyl radical, which may also be possibly substituted by linear or branched C 1 -C 3 alkyl radicals, nitro groups, halogen atoms as chlorine, fluorine, or bromine. The above process can be advantageously carried out in the presence of an inert organic solvent and in the presence of an either inorganic or organic base, at a temperature comprised within the range of from -10°C to the boiling temperature of the solvent used, preferably comprised within the range of from 0°C to 100°C. Inert organic solvents useful for the intended purpose are, for example, benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, ethyl acetate, dimethoxyethane, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide. Inorganic bases useful for the intended purpose are, for example, sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxides and carbonates. Useful organic bases are, for example, triethylamine, pyridine, 4-dimethylamino pyridine, diazabicyclooctane (DABCO), diazabicycloundecene (DBU). The above process can also be advantageously carried out in a two-phase system under phase transfer conditions as described, for example, by Dehmlow and Dehmlow in "Phase Transfer Catalysis" (1983), Verlag Chemie Publisher. The phenols having the general formula (II) and the compounds having the general formula (III), are available on the market or they can be easily prepared according to known methods of organic chemistry. In same cases, the compounds having the general formula (I) can be obtained as two or more optical and/or geometric isomers. Therefore, it falls within the spirit of the present invention taking into consideration both compounds having the general formula (I) which are isomerically pure, and mixture thereof, possibly obtained during the preparation of the compounds having the general formula (I), or deriving from an incomplete separation of said isomers, in any proportions. The compounds having the general formula (I) according to the present invention displayed a high herbicidal activity which makes them suitable for use in agricultural field for protecting crops from weeds. In particular, the compounds having the general formula (I) are effective for controlling, both pre-emergency and post-emergency, a large number of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. Said compounds display simultaneously compatibility or absence or toxic effects towards useful crops, both in pre-emergency and post-emergency treatments. Examples of weeds which can be effectively controlled by using the compounds having the general formula (I) of this present invention are: Sorghum halepense , Echinocloa crusgalli , Avena fatua , Amni maius , Abutilon theofrasti , Stellaria media , Convolvulus sepium , Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album , Galium aparine , Senecio vulgaris , Alopecurus myosuroides , Cyperus spp ., and so forth. At the application doses useful for agrarian application, the above compounds did not display toxic effects towards important crops, as rice ( Oryza sativa ), wheat( Triticum spp .), corn ( Zea mais ), soy bean ( Glycine max ), and so forth. A further object of this present invention is a method for controlling weeds in cultivated areas, by means of the application of the compounds having the general formula (I). The amount of compound to be applied in order to achieve the desired effect can vary as a function of several factors, such as, e.g., the used compound, the crop to be protected, the weed to be killed, the infestation level, the weather conditions, the characteristics of soil, the application method, and so forth. Compound doses comprised between the range of from 1 g to 1000 g per hectare generally allow a sufficient control to be obtained. For practical uses in agriculture, it is often advantageous using composition displaying herbicidal activity containing, as their active substance, one or more compounds having general formula (I), possibly also as a mixture of isomers. Compositions can be used which are in the forms of dry powders, wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, pastes, pellets, solutions, suspensions, and so forth; the choice of the type of composition will depend on the specific use envisaged. The compositions are prepared according to known methods, for example by diluting or dissolving the active substances with a solvent means and/or a solid extender, possibly in the presence of surfactants. As inert solid extenders or carriers, China clay, alumina, silica, talc, bentonite, plaster, quartz, dolomite, actalpulgite, montmorillonite, diatomaceous earth, cellulose, starch, and so forth, can be used. As inert liquid extenders, or diluents, of course besides water, organic solvent can be used, as aromatic hydrocarbons (xylenes, mixtures of alkylbenzenes, and so forth), aliphatic hydrocarbons (hexane, cyclohexane, and so forth), halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (chlorobenzene, and so forth), alcohols (methanol, propanol, butanol, octanol, and so forth), esters (isobutyl acetate, and so forth), ketones (acetone, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, isophorone, ethyl amyl ketone, and so forth), or vegetable or mineral oils, or mixture thereof, and so forth. As surfactants, there can be used wetting agents and emulsifiers of nonionic (polyethoxylated alkyl phenols, polyethoxylated fatty alcohols and so forth), anionic (alkylbenzene sulfonates, and alkylsulfonates, and so forth), cationic types (quaternary alkylammonium salts, and so forth). Furthermore, dispersants (for example, lignin and its salts, cellulose derivatives, alginates, and so forth), stabilisers (for example, antioxidants, UV absorbers, and so forth) can be added. In order to extend the range of action of the above said compositions, still other active ingredients can be added to them such as, e.g., other herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or acaricides, as well as fertilisers. The active substance concentration in the above said compositions can vary within a wide range, according to the active compound, the applications they are intended for, the environmental conditions and the type of formulation adopted. In general, the active substance concentration in comprised within the range of from 1% to 90%, preferably of from 5% to 50%. The examples reported in the following are supplied for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without limiting it. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 4-chloro-3-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5(4-methoxybut-2-ynyloxy)phenyl]-5-difluoro-methoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazole (Compound No.1) To a solution of 1,1 g (3,38 mmol) of 4-chloro-3-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-hydroxyphenyl]-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazole in 10 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide, 470 mg (3.39 mmol) of potassium carbonate are added. The reaction mixture is kept under stirring, at room temperature, during 30 minutes. Thereafter, a solution of 630 mg (3.54 mmol) of 4-methoxy-2-butynyl methanesulfonate in 5 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide is added dropwise and the mixture is heated at 60° C for 4 hours. The resulting mixture is poured into water (150 ml) and is then extracted with ethyl ether (3x50 ml). The organic phase is washed until neutral with a saturated solution of sodium chloride, then is thoroughly dried with sodium sulfate and is concentrated on rotary evaporator. The so obtained raw material is purified by chromatography on silica gel, eluting with 65:35 hexane: ethyl acetate. A yield of 650 mg of a solid material with melting point 62-64°C, corresponding to Compound No.1, is obtained. EXAMPLE 2 By operating in a similar way to what disclosed in Example 1 the following compounds were obtained by alkylating 5-heterocyclyl-2-chloro-4-fluorophenols with the corresponding halides or mesylates: methyl 4-[2-chloro-5-(4-chloro-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazol-3-yl-4-fluorophenoxy]-3-methoxybut-(E)-2-enoate (Compound No. 2) methyl 4-[2-chloro-5-(4-chloro-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazol-3-yl-4-fluorophenoxy]-pent-2-enoate (Compound No. 3).

Claims: Arylheterocycles having the general formula wherein: y represents a hydrogen atom, a chlorine, fluorine, or bromine atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl or haloalkyl radical, a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or haloalkoxy; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkylthio or haloalkylthio; Z represents an oxygen atom; Q represents one of the following radicals (as represented by the following general formula): wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 1 , R 3 and R 4 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; R 2 is hydrogen; R 5 and R 6 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl radical or, together, they represent a C 2 -C 5 alkylene chain, or a C 2 -C 5 oxyalkylene chain; X 1 represents hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy radical; X 2 , X 3 and X 4 each represent a hydrogen atom; Z 1 represents an oxygen atom; p represents 0; E represents the following heterocyclic radical represented by the following general formula: wherein: R 7 represents a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 8 represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or haloalkoxy radical; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkylthio or haloalkylthio radical; X 5 represents a hydrogen atom; or a halogen atom as a chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine atom. Herbicides constituted by arylheterocycles having the general formula I: wherein: y represents a hydrogen atom, a chlorine, fluorine, or bromine atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl or haloalkyl radical, a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or haloalkoxy; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkylthio or haloalkylthio; Z represents an oxygen atom; Q represents one of the following radicals (as represented by the following general formula): wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 1 , R 3 and R 4 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; R 2 is hydrogen; R 5 and R 6 , each independently, represent a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl radical or, together, they represent a C 2 -C 5 alkylene chain, or a C 2 -C 5 oxyalkylene chain; X 1 represents hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy radical; X 2 , X 3 and X 4 each represent a hydrogen atom; Z 1 represents an oxygen atom; p represents 0; E represents the following heterocyclic radical represented by the following general formula: wherein: R 7 represents a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl or haloalkyl radical; R 8 represents a hydrogen atom; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or haloalkoxy radical; a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkylthio or haloalkylthio radical; X 5 represents a hydrogen atom; or a halogen atom as a chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine atom. Herbicide according to claim 2, consisting of methyl 4-[2-chloro-5-(4-chloro-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazol-3-yl-4-fluorophenoxy]-3-methoxybut-(E)-2-enoate. Herbicide according to claim 2, consisting of methyl 4-[2-chloro-5-(4-chloro-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazol-3-yl-4-fluorophenoxy]-pent-2-enoate. Herbicide according to claim 2, consisting of 4-chloro-3-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5(4-methoxybut-2-ynyloxy)phenyl]-5-difluoro-methoxy-1-methyl-(1H)-pyrazole. Process for preparing the arylheterocycles having the general formula (I) according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises reacting a phenol having the general formula (II): in which Z, Y and E have the same meaning as disclosed above with a compound having the general formula (III): X'-Q in which Q has the same meanings as disclosed above and X' represents a halogen atom or a R'SO 2 O moiety in which R' represents a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl or haloalkyl radical, or a phenyl radical, which may also be possibly substituted by linear or branched C 1 -C 3 alkyl radicals, nitro groups, halogen atoms, in the presence of an inert organic solvent and in the presence of an either inorganic or organic base, at a temperature comprised within the range of from -10°C to the boiling temperature of the solvent used. Process according to claim 6, in which the temperature is comprised within the range of from 0° to 100°C. Process according to claim 6, in which the inert organic solvent is selected from benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, ethyl acetate, dimethoxyethane, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide. Process according to claim 6, in which the inorganic base is selected from sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxes and carbonates. Process according to claim 6, in which the organic base is selected from triethylamine, pyridine, 4-dimethylamino pyridine, diazabicyclooctane (DABCO), diazabicycloundecene (DBU). Compositions having herbicidal activity containing one ore more arylheterocycles according to any of claims 2-5, either alone, or in the presence of solid carriers, liquid diluents, surfactants or other active substances. Compositions having herbicidal activity according to claim 11, in which the concentration of the active substance is comprised within the range of from 1% to 90%. Method for controlling weeds in crop areas, consisting in applying to said crop area the compositions according to claims 11 and 12.

Inventors: BETTARINI FRANCO, LA PORTA PIERO, MEAZZA GIOVANNI, PORTOSO DOMENICO, SIGNORINI ERNESTO, ZANARDI GIAMPAOLO, BETTARINI, FRANCO, LA PORTA, PIERO, MEAZZA, GIOVANNI, PORTOSO, DOMENICO, SIGNORINI, ERNESTO, ZANARDI, GIAMPAOLO
Applicants: ISAGRO RICERCA SRL, ISAGRO RICERCA S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C07D209
IPC codes: C07D209, C07D513, C07D295, C07D231, C07D263, C07D401, C07D487, A01N43, C07D271, C07D285