Abstract:
An oxazolinone derivative compound, represented by the general formula I, shows superior herbicidal activity against, especially, dicotyledonous vegetables. It is effective upon applying both before and after the sprouting of vegetables. It is prepared by condensating an α-amino acid represented by the general formula II with an acid chloride represented by the general formula III, to give an acyl α-amino acid represented by the following formula IV: reacting the acyl α-amino acid with acetic anhydride; and dehydrating the resulting adduct: ##STR1## wherein, R represents a lower alkyl group or a phenyl group containing halogen, lower alkyl or trifluoromethyl group; X represents halogen atom, carbomethoxy group, nitro group, or halogen or trifluoromethyl-substituted phenoxy group, being the same or different from one another; A represents nitrogen or carbon atom; and n is an integer of 1 to 3.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to novel oxazolinone derivatives, process for preparing the same, and use as a herbicide. 
     It is known that there exist no herbicides with the structure of oxazolinone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides oxazolinone derivatives represented by the following general formula I: ##STR2## wherein, R represents a lower alkyl group or a phenyl group containing halogen, lower alkyl or trifluoromethyl group; X represents halogen atom, carbomethoxy group, nitro group, or halogen or trifluoromethyl-substituted phenoxy group, being the same or different from one another; A represents nitrogen or carbon atom; and n is an integer of 1 to 3. 
     The present invention also provides a process for preparing the novel oxazolinone derivatives. In the process, important is an α-amino acid derivative which is substituted at the α position. Such derivative may be prepared by various procedures including the hydrolysis (as the case may be) of the hydantoins derived from ketones for which a synthesis is described in J. Org. Chem., 1960, 25, p 1920, by Goodson et al, as shown in the following Reaction Chart. ##STR3## R: a lower alkyl or substituted phenyl. 
     Accordingly, the present process for preparing the novel oxazolinone derivatives represented by the formula I comprises the steps of condensating an α-amino acid represented by the following general formula II: ##STR4## wherein R represents a lower alkyl group or a phenyl group containing halogen, lower alkyl or trifluoromethyl group, with an acid chloride represented by the following formula III: ##STR5## wherein X represents halogen atom, carbomethoxy group, nitro group, or halogen or trifluoromethyl-substituted phenoxy group, being the same or different from one another, to give an acyl α-amino acid represented by the following formula IV: ##STR6## wherein, R is as defined above, A represents nitrogen or carbon atom, and n is an integer of 1 to 3; reacting the acyl α-amino acid with acetic anhydride; and dehydrating the resulting adduct. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The novel oxazolinone derivatives of the present invention exhibit very useful herbicidity. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a herbicide containing the oxazolinone derivative as the effective ingredient. 
     Even when the herbicide is applied to crops after as well as before the sprouting, it is effective to them. 
     In most cases, pre-sprouting herbicides, if the crops are not sprouted, are scattered over the cultivated fields whenever prior to, during or subsequent to the sowing of the seeds of the crops, with the aim of treating of the soil. On the other hand, post-sprouting herbicides are applied during the growth periods of crops after the crops are sprouted. As mentioned previously, the herbicide of the present invention shows herbicidal effect for the crops irrespective of the application time. That is, it is effective whether the present herbicide is applied in the cultivated fields prior to or subsequent to the sprouting of the crops. 
     In more detail, the herbicide of the present invention shows better prevention of the breeding and extermination of wide-leaf weeds than Gramineae weeds, in dry fields. More particularly, it exhibits superior herbicidal activity against black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon avicennae Gaertn) when it is applied to after the sprouting of crops while maintaining relative stability to Gramineae crops, especially, corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestirum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L). In rice paddy fields, it is preventive of the breeding and extermination of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli P.BEZUV. var. oryzicola OHWI) and monochoria (Monochoria vaginalis PRESL.) and is little harmful to rice (Oryza sativa L). Therefore, the oxazolinone derivatives of the present invention are sufficiently useful as herbicidal ingredient. 
     A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained in light of following examples which are set forth to illustrate, but are not to be construed to limit, the present invention. 
     EXAMPLE I 
     Synthesis of Ethyl 2-(m-chlorobenzamido)-2-(p-tolyl)propionate 
     4.2 g (0.02M) of ethyl 2-amino-2-p-tolyl propionate and 3 g (0.03M) of triethylamine were dissolved in 40 ml of methylene dichloride. To this, 3.5 g (0.02M) of meta chlorobenzoyl chloride in 5 ml of methylene dichloride was slowly dropwise added. After being stirred for 1 hr at room temperature the resulting solution was washed with water and dried and removed the solvent, to give 6.5 g of the titled compound: 95 % Yield. 
     EXAMPLE II 
     Synthesis of 2-(m-chlorobenzamido)-2-(p-tolyl)propionic acid 
     1.2 g (0.02M) of potassium hydroxide was dissolved in a mixed solution of 30 ml of ethanol and 5 ml of H 2  O. To this solution, 3.5 g (0.01M) of ethyl 2-(m-chlorobenzamido)-2-(p-tolyl)propionate obtained in Example I was added. The resulting solution was heated for 1 hr with reflux, cooled and distilled in vacuo to remove ethanol. The remainder was adjusted into pH 2 with 2 N HCl solution and extracted with methylene dichloride. Thereafter, the extract was distilled in vacuo, to give 2.9 g of the titled compound: 92 % Yield. 
     EXAMPLE III 
     Synthesis of 2-(m-chlorophenyl)-4-methyl-4-(p-tolyl)-oxazolin-5-one 
     3.17 g (0.01M) of 2-(m-chlorobenzamido)-2-(p-tolyl)propionic acid was dissolved in 30 ml of acetic anhydride and the resulting solution was heated for 1 hr with reflux. The reaction solution was cooled and distilled out acetic anhydride in vacuo. The residue was subjected to chromatography, to give 2.4 g of the object compound, pure oily compound: 80 % Yield. 
     NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ1.83 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 7.13-8.13 (m, 8 H) 
     Using the starting material and acid chloride as indicated in the following Table 1, 2 and 3, the compounds represented in the Table 1, 2 and 3 were obtained in the same manners as those of Examples I, II and III. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR7##Cpd.No. X    Y  Z R     NMR Data (CDCl.sub.3)                             Yield__________________________________________________________________________1   Cl   H  H p-Chloro-               1.79(s, 3H) 7.27-7.99(m, 8H)                             72%         phenyl2   H    Cl H p-Chloro-               1.80(s, 3H) 7.29-8.15(m, 8H)                             81%         phenyl3   H    Cl H m-Tolyl               1.77(s, 3H) 2.33(s, 3H)                             79%               7.01-7.99(m, 8H)4   H    H  Cl         m-Tolyl               1.77(s, 3H) 2.32(s, 3H)                             77%               7.04-8.03(m, 8H)5   H    H  Cl         p-Chloro-               1.83(s, 3H) 7.24-8.10(m, 8H)                             83%         phenyl6   Cl   H  Cl         p-Chloro-               1.85(s, 3H) 7.30-7.97(m, 7H)                             85%         phenyl7   H    Cl H p-Tolyl               1.83(s, 3H) 2.32(s, 3H)                             85%               7.13-8.13(m, 8H)8   H    H  Cl         p-Tolyl               1.80(s, 3H) 2.21(s, 3H)                             75%               7.11-8.10(m, 8H)9   COOCH.sub.3    H  H isopropyl               1.01(d, 3H) 1.11(d, 3H)                             71%               1.52(s, 3H), 2.03(dq, 1H)               3.88(s, 3H), 7.47-7.89(m, 4H)10  COOCH.sub.3    H  H m-Trifluoro               1.86(s, 3H) 3.08(s, 3H)                             70%tolyl    7.46-7.91(m, 4H)11  COOCH.sub.3    H  H CH.sub.3               1.53(9, 6H) 3.86(s, 3H)                             72%               7.47-7.92(m, 4H)12  CCOCH.sub.3    H  H m-Chloro-               1.85(s, 3H) 3.82(s, 3H)                             80%         phenyl               7.18-7.88(m, 8H)13  COOCH.sub.3    H  H m-Tolyl               1.90(s, 3H) 2.39(s, 3H)                             83%               3.87(s, 3H) 7.26-8.04__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR8##Cpd.No.   X  Y  Z   R     NMR Data (CDCl.sub.3)                            Yield__________________________________________________________________________14 Cl H  Cl  m-Tolyl              1.88(s, 3H) 2.35(s, 3H)                            72%              7.05-8.15(m, 10H)15 Cl H  Cl  m-Chloro-              1.89(s, 3H) 7.05-8.12(m, 10H)                            81%        phenyl16 Cl H  Cl  p-Chloro-              1.87(s, 3H) 7.04-8.15(m, 10H)                            79%        phenyl17 H  CF.sub.3    H   m-Tolyl              1.77(s, 3H) 2.32(s, 3H)                            77%              7.03-8.17(m, 11H)18 H  CF.sup.2    H   m-Chloro-              1.83(s, 3H) 7.05-8.18(m, 11H)                            83%        phenyl19 H  CF.sub.3    H   p-Tolyl              1.85(s, 3H) 2.33(s, 3H)                            85%              7.05-8.16(m, 11H)20 H  CF.sub.3    H   p-Chloro-              1.84(s, 3H) 7.06-8.19(m, 11H)                            85%        phenyl21 Cl H  CF.sub.3        isopropyl              0.98(d, 3H) 1.13(d, 3H)                            71%              1.49(s, 3H) 2.15(m, 1H)              7.01-8.16(m, 6H)22 Cl H  CF.sub.3        m-Trifluoro              1.89(s, 3H) 6.98-8.17(m, 10H)tolyl23 Cl H  CF.sub.3        m-Tolyl              1.87(s, 3H) 2.37(s, 3H)                            70%              7.03-8.18(m, 10H)24 Cl H  CF.sub.3        m-Chloro-              1.87(s, 3H) 7.01-8.17(m, 10H)                            72%        phenyl25 Cl H  CF.sub.3        p-Chloro-              1.87(s, 3H) 7.02-8.16(m, 10H)                            80%        phenyl26 Cl H  CF.sub.3        p-Tolyl              1.85(s, 3H) 2.32(s, 3H)                            83%              7.00-8.14(m, 10H)__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE III______________________________________ ##STR9##Cpd.No.   X      R        NMR DATA (CDCl.sub.3)                                   Yield______________________________________27    CF.sub.3        m-Tolyl  1.88(s, 3H) 2.36(s, 3H)                                   82%                 7.09-7.66(m, 9H) 8.32-8.44(m, 2H)28    CF.sub.3        m-Chloro-                 1.88(s, 3H) 7.16-7.71(m, 9H)                                   79%        phenyl   8.36-8.48(m, 2H)29    CF.sub.3        p-Tolly  1.85(s, 3H) 2.33(s, 3H)                                   85%                 7.12-7.62(m, 9H) 8.33-8.45(m, 2H)30    CF.sub.3        p-Chloro-                 1.86(s, 3H) 7.09-7.71(m, 9H)                                   90%        phenyl   8.33-8.45(m, 2H)31    Cl     m-Tolyl  1.89(s, 3H) 2.37(s, 3H)                                   77%                 7.14-7.62(m, 9H) 8.39-8.50(m, 2H)32    Cl     m-Chloro-                 1.88(s, 3H) 7.12-7.69(m, 9H)                                   83%        phenyl   8.37-8.46(m, 2H)33    Cl     p-Tolyl  1.86(s, 3H) 2.35(s, 3H)                                   85%                 7.11-7.65(m, 9H) 8.33-8.45(m, 2H)34    Cl     p-Chloro-                 1.86(s, 3H) 7.09-7.77(m, 9H)                                   82%        phenyl   8.32-8.47(m, 2H)______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE IV 
     Herbicidal Activity Assay 
     Sterilized sandy soil mixed with a proper amount of manure was put into test pots (348 cm 2 ). After holes were formed, test weed or crop seeds (common sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench), Branyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli P. Beauv), Japanese bromegrass (Thunb. ex Murr.), large crabgrass (Digitaria sangunalis (L.) Scop.), fall pandicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.), bindweed (Calystegia japonica Choisy), cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon avicennae Gaetn), Indian jointvetch (Aeschynomene indica L.), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), cotton (Gossypium hirsumm L.), wheat (Triticum aestirum L.) rice (Oryza sativa L.) were sown in the holes. Subsequently, the seeds were covered with fine soils and the test pots were put in a greenhouse. 
     After being weighed, each of the test compounds (Compound Nos. 14 and 15 in Table 1) was diluted with water containing a nonionic surfactant (Tween-20), to a ratio of 1:1. The diluted solutions were sprayed at 14 ml per pot. The herbicide formulations were sprayed one day after the sowing, for the pre-sprouting soil treatment and 8-12 days after the sowing, for the post-sprouting light leaf treatment. 
     Since then, the crops were further grown for 2-3 weeks. Based on morphological and physiological observation, the herbicidal effects on the vegetation were examined. In this test, the herbicidal activity was graded into 11 levels from 0 of no protection to 100 of perfect protection. The grades of not less than 70 were in practice regarded as to be effective to the vegetables. The results are given as shown in the following Table 4. 
     
                                           TABLE IV-1__________________________________________________________________________Herbicidity TestCpd.No.   Type kg/ha      ZEAMX           GLXMA                GOSHI                    TRZAW                         ORYSA                             SORBI                                 ECHCG__________________________________________________________________________14 Pre- 2  0    0    20  0    0   0   0   Sprouting   .5 0    0    0   0    0   0   0   Treatment   .125      0    0    0   0    0   0   0   .03      0    0    0   0    0   0   0   Post-   2  15   40   100 30   10  20  20   Sprouting   .5 10   20   80  20   0   10  10   Treatment   .125      0    20   50  10   0   0   0   .03      0    10   30  0    0   0   015 Pre- 2  0    0    30  0    0   0   0   Sprouting   .5 0    0    0   0    0   0   0   Treatment   .125      0    0    0   0    0   0   0   .03      0    0    0   0    0   0   0   Post-   2  20   40   100 40   10  20  20   Sprouting   .5 10   30   80  20   0   10  10   .125      10   25   60  10   0   10  0   .03      0    20   40  10   0   0   0__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE IV-2__________________________________________________________________________Herbicidity TestCpd.No.   Type kg/ha      BROJA          DIGSA              PANDI                  SOLNI                      AESIN                          ABUTH                               XANSI                                   CACHE__________________________________________________________________________14 Pre- 2  0   0   0   100 80  30   10  60   Sprouting   .5 0   0   0   0   0   20   0   0   Treatment   .125      0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   .03      0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   Post-   2  20  20  50  100 90  100  X   50   Sprouting   .5 0   0   20  100 90  100  X   50   Treatment   .125      0   0   0   80  80  100  X   20   .03      0   0   0   70  65  30   X   1015 Pre- 2  0   0   0   100 100 70   20  65   Sprouting   .5 0   0   0   60  10  20   0   30   Treatment   .125      0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   .03      0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   Post-   2  10  20  60  100 100 100  X   100   Sprouting   .5 10  0   40  100 100 100  X   100   Treatment   .125      0   0   0   100 100 100  X   40   .03      0   0   0   70  50  30   X   30__________________________________________________________________________ X: untested. 
    
     As apparent from Table IV, the oxazolinone derivatives of the present invention are very effective in removing the vegetables even at small amounts, showing better herbicidal effects upon application after than before the sprouting. In addition, the data shows that the herbicidal effect on the monocotyledonous vegetables (corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, rice, common sorghum and branyardgrass) is larger than that on the dicotyledonous vegetables (fall panicum, black nightshade, Indian jointvetch, velvetleaf, and bindweed). 
     Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein will be readily apparent to those exercising ordinary skill after reading the foregoing disclosures. In this regard, while specific embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, variations and modifications of these embodiments can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and claimed.