Patent Description:
More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of <NUM>-chloro pyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid amide of formula
<CHM>.

This invention also relates to a process for the preparation of <NUM>-chloro pyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid and its salts of formula II
<CHM>.

The term "C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl" as used herein refers to a saturated straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical attached via any of the carbon atoms having <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, for example, any one of the radicals methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl.

Haloalkyl groups preferably have a chain length of from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. C<NUM>-C<NUM>haloalkyl is, for example, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trifluoroethyl, <NUM>-fluoroethyl, <NUM>-chloroethyl, <NUM>,<NUM>-difluoroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, <NUM>,<NUM>-difluoro-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trichloroethyl, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetrafluoroethyl and <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trichloroethyl.

Hydroxyalkyl groups preferably have a chain length of <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. C<NUM>-C<NUM>hydroxyalkyl is, for example, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, n-propoxymethyl, n-propoxyethyl, isopropoxymethyl or isopropoxyethyl.

As used herein, the term "aryl" refers to an aromatic ring system consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms which may be mono-, bi- or tricyclic. Examples of such ring systems include phenyl, naphthalenyl, anthracenyl, indenyl or phenanthrenyl; preferably phenyl.

As used herein, the term "heteroaryl" generally refers to a <NUM>- or <NUM>-membered monocyclic aromatic ring radical which comprises <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> heteroatoms individually selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The heteroaryl radical is bonded to the rest of the molecule via a carbon atom. Examples of heteroaryl may include pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, furyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, triazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, pyranyl; preferably pyridyl.

In one embodiment, heteroaryl is optionally substituted with, for example, <NUM> or <NUM> substituents selected from amino, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkylamino (preferably methylamino), and C<NUM>-C<NUM>haloalkyl (preferably trifluoromethyl).

The term "C<NUM>-C<NUM>cycloalkyl" as used herein refers to <NUM>-<NUM> membered cycloylkyl groups such as cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane and cycloheptane.

Known synthesis of <NUM>-halo-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acids and carboxylates with <NUM>-alkylsulfanyl substituents involve many reaction steps. For example, two routes to access the <NUM>-bromo derivatives have been reported (route A: <CIT>; route B: <CIT> or <NPL>) and are shown in Scheme <NUM> (R<NUM> is H, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl, or an alkali metal ion)
<CHM>.

Access to the corresponding <NUM>- iodo derivative has been reported in <CIT> from commercially available <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloronicotinic acid in seven steps as shown in Scheme <NUM>. <CHM>
Carboxylates of formula (II) or amides of formula (II) containing a <NUM>-chloro substituent have not been previously reported, however in principle could be prepared similarly as described above using methods well known to a person skilled in the art. Nevertheless, such long and laborious syntheses are not suitable for preparing large amount of material due to low overall yields and large amount of waste generated.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have available a more efficient and economical route to these useful intermediates.

Amides of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid are convenient starting materials as they are easily prepared either from the commercially available <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid and its esters by standard methods or from <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trichloropyridine via aminocarbonylation. <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide could also be prepared by semi hydrolysis of a commercially available <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carbonitrile using standard methods. A selective displacement of chlorine in a <NUM>-position would then yield a compound of formula (I) wherein R<NUM> and R<NUM> are defined as previously. Compounds of structure (I) could, if desired, be hydrolyzed using standard methods to yield compounds of formula (II) wherein R<NUM> is H, Li, Na or K (Scheme <NUM>).

An ortho selective displacement of a halogen in a phenyl series has been reported in Synth. <NUM>, <NUM> (Scheme <NUM>) there as an analogous transformation in picolinic acid series is unknown.

However, a direct application of reported conditions for the transformation of compounds of formula (III) to compounds of formula (I) led to very low selectivity or outright formation of the undesired isomer as the major product.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of compound of formula I:
<CHM>
wherein R<NUM> is hydrogen, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>hydroxyalkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>cycloalkyl, aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; preferably R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl or hydrogen, more preferably R<NUM> is hydrogen; and R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl; preferably R<NUM> is ethyl; which process comprises:
reacting a compound of formula (III)
<CHM>.

In one embodiment, R<NUM> is hydrogen, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>hydroxyalkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>cycloalkyl, aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl and R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl; preferably R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl or hydrogen and R<NUM> is ethyl; more preferably R<NUM> is hydrogen and R<NUM> is ethyl.

In another embodiment, R<NUM> is hydrogen, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>hydroxyalkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>cycloalkyl, phenyl, pyridyl, or pyridyl which can be mono- or di-substituted by amino, methylamino or trifluoromethyl and R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl; preferably R<NUM> is methyl or hydrogen and R<NUM> is ethyl.

In a further embodiment, R<NUM> is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, pyridyl or <NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl and R<NUM> is ethyl; preferably R<NUM> is hydrogen, ethyl, phenyl, cyclopentyl, hydroxyethyl or <NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl and R<NUM> is ethyl.

This process is demonstrated to be of great usefulness as it allows the synthesis of key building blocks for the preparation of agrochemicals in higher yields and with more favorable conditions with respect to previously described routes.

Surprisingly, it was found that high ortho selectivity forthiolation of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropicolinic acid amides was observed in both non-protic and protic apolar solvents. In particular, it was found that the selectivity is remarkably influenced by the nature of the solvent: in solvents with high relative permittivity (i.e. DMF [dielectric constant of <NUM>]), high selectivity for the "para" isomer (V) is observed, whereas in solvents with low relative permittivity (i.e. THF, pyridine, anisole. [dielectric constants of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>]), selective formation of "ortho" isomer (a compound of formula (I) represented by a compound of formula IV) is observed. In addition, the use of low permittivity solvents greatly minimized formation of compounds of formula (VI). This concept in shown in Scheme <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a compound of formula I represented by a compound of formula IV, or an agrochemically acceptable salt of a compound of IV where R<NUM> is as defined for a compound of formula I, is provided:
<CHM>
wherein
R<NUM> is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, pyridyl or <NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl; preferably R<NUM> is hydrogen, ethyl, phenyl, cyclopentyl, hydroxyethyl or <NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a process for the preparation of a compound of formula II represented by a compound of formula IIa is provided:
<CHM>
where R<NUM> is hydrogen, sodium, potassium or lithium; preferably R<NUM> is hydrogen.

Certain aspects of the process according to the invention for making compounds of formula (I) are further detailed and explained by reference to scheme <NUM>. It will be appreciated that a compound of formula I is represented in scheme <NUM> by a compound of formula IV.

In the process according to the invention for making compounds of formula (I) (scheme <NUM>), examples of suitable bases are alkali metal hydroxides or alkali metal carbonates. Examples which may be mentioned are sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and potassium carbonate; preferably an alkali metal carbonate, more preferably sodium or potassium carbonate.

In the process according to the invention of making compounds of formula (I) (scheme <NUM>), appropriate solvents (or diluents) are dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, <NUM>-methyltetrahydrofuran, toluene, anisole, pyridine, methyl isobutyl ketone, and t-butanol; more preferably unpolar organic solvents chosen from dioxane, <NUM>-methyltetrahydrofuran or tetrahydrofuran;.

In one embodiment, in the process according to the invention of making compounds of formula (I) (scheme <NUM>), the reaction is advantageously carried out in a temperature range from approximately <NUM> to approximately +<NUM>, preferably from approximately <NUM> to approximately +<NUM>, in many cases in the range between ambient temperature and approximately +<NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction is carried out at ambient temperature.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides highly selective thiolation reactions of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropicolinic amide compounds of formula (III) wherein R<NUM> is as defined in formula I under scalable conditions using sodium ethanethiolate or ethanethiol and a base in a selected protic or non-protic apolar solvent as defined above, producing (e.g. alkyl or other moiety corresponding to R<NUM>) <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide intermediates of formula (IV). <CHM>
wherein R<NUM>, including any of the preferred embodiments of R<NUM>, is as defined above.

Purity of starting materials and products was determined with quantitative <NUM>H NMR using <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethoxy benzene as an internal standard.

<NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) and EtSNa (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) were suspended in MeTHF (<NUM>) and the light brown suspension was stirred at ambient temperature. Extra amount of EtSNa (<NUM> x <NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) was added after <NUM> and <NUM> of reaction time. After a total reaction time of <NUM> the reaction solution was extracted with water (<NUM>), aqueous phase was extracted with EtOAc (2x50 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure. Drying under high vacuum provided <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as a white powder.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, DMSO-d6) δ ppm <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

A <NUM> double jacketed glass reactor with an overhead stirrer was charged with <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM> mol) and Me-THF (<NUM>). The solids dissolved upon stirring to afford a homogenous colorless solution. Solid NaOH (<NUM>, <NUM> mol) was added in a single portion. To this suspension ethanethiol (<NUM>, <NUM> mol) was added dropwise over <NUM>, as addition is exothermic cooling was applied to maintain Ti = <NUM>. After full addition, mixture was stirred at Ti = <NUM> for <NUM> and then heated to Ti = <NUM> for <NUM>. After this period full completion was attained, water (<NUM>) was added and the biphasic mixture stirred for <NUM> at Ti = <NUM>. Phases were separated and organic layer was washed with water (<NUM> x <NUM>) at Ti = <NUM>. Organic phase was partially concentrated by distilling off <NUM> of solvent. Antisolvent methylcyclohexane (<NUM>) was added at Ti = <NUM> and the homogenous mixture was cooled to Ti = <NUM> over <NUM>. During the cooling product started to crystallize from the solution.

Solids were filtered, washed with <NUM> x <NUM> of methylcyclohexane and dried under reduced pressure to afford <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% yield) as a white solid.

<NUM>,<NUM>-dichloropyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>-<NUM>) and NaSEt (<NUM> eq) were suspended/dissolved in a given solvent and stirred for <NUM> at ambient temperature. The reaction mixture was then diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine, organic layer dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure. The resulting crude mixture was analyzed by <NUM>H NMR giving the product ratios shown in the table below.

<NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) was suspended in aqueous <NUM> NaOH (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) and the resulting mixture was heated at <NUM> for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and acidified to ca pH <NUM> with <NUM> HCl. The resulting precipitate was filtered off, washed on filter with cold water and dried under high vacuum to yield <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as a slightly pink powder.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, DMSO-d6) δ ppm <NUM> (s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

To a solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloro-N-ethyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in THF (<NUM>) was added NaSEt (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) and the resulting suspension was stirred at rt for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield <NUM>-chloro-N-ethyl-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as an off-white powder. About <NUM>% of undesired isomer was also detected in addition to ca <NUM>% unreacted starting material.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, CDCl<NUM>) δ ppm <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

To a solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloro-N-phenyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in THF (<NUM>) was added NaSEt (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) and the resulting suspension was stirred at rt for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-N-phenyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as an orange solid. About <NUM>% of unreacted starting material, but none of the undesired isomers, were also detected.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, CDCl<NUM>) δ ppm <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

To a solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloro-N-cyclopentyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM> mmol) in THF (<NUM>) was added NaSEt (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) and the resulting suspension was stirred at rt for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield <NUM>-chloro-N-cyclopentyl-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as an orange solid. About <NUM>% of unreacted starting material, but none of the undesired isomers, were also detected.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, CDCl<NUM>) δ ppm <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

To a solution of <NUM>,<NUM>-dichloro-N-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) in THF (<NUM>) was added NaSEt (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) and the resulting suspension was stirred at rt for <NUM>. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous MgSO<NUM> and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-N-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM>% yield) as an orange solid. About <NUM>% of undesired isomer was also detected in addition to <NUM>% unreacted starting material.

<NUM>H NMR (<NUM>, CDCl<NUM>) δ ppm <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (d, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM>-<NUM> (m, <NUM>), <NUM> (q, J = <NUM>, <NUM>), <NUM> (br s, <NUM>), <NUM> (t, J = <NUM>, <NUM>).

<NUM>,<NUM>-dichloro-N-[<NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl]pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) was dissolved in THF (<NUM>) and EtSNa (<NUM>, <NUM>% purity, <NUM> mmol) was added to the mixture. The reaction was stirred 1h15min at <NUM> (brownish solution), then at room temperature overnight. It was then quenched with water (<NUM>), diluted with EtOAc (<NUM>), the phases were separated, and the aqueous phase was extracted twice with EtOAc (2x20 ml). The combined organic layers were then washed with brine (2x20 ml), dried over solid Na<NUM>SO<NUM>, filtered and the solvents were evaporated yielding a crude product (<NUM>, purity <NUM>%, chemical yield <NUM>%). The crude was then purified by column chromatography, yielding <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-ethylsulfanyl-N-[<NUM>-(methylamino)-<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)-<NUM>-pyridyl]pyridine-<NUM>-carboxamide (<NUM> purity <NUM>%, isolated yield <NUM>%) as a yellow solid.

Claim 1:
A process for the preparation of a <NUM>-chloro pyridine-<NUM>-carboxylic acid amide of formula I:
<CHM>
wherein R<NUM> is hydrogen, C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>hydroxyalkyl, C<NUM>-C<NUM>cycloalkyl, aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; and R<NUM> is C<NUM>-C<NUM>alkyl; or an agrochemically acceptable salt of a compound of formula (I);
which process comprises:
reacting a compound of formula (III)
<CHM>
with a thiol compound R<NUM>-S-R<NUM> wherein R<NUM> is as defined in formula I and R<NUM> is H or an alkali metal ion; in the presence of a suitable base, in an appropriate solvent (or diluent) selected from dioxane, THF, methyltetrahydrofuran, toluene, anisole, pyridine, methylisobutyl ketone, and tBuOH;
to produce a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof and, optionally,
hydrolyzing the compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof under either basic or acidic conditions; to selectively produce the compound of formula (II)
<CHM>
where R<NUM> is as defined in formula I and R<NUM> is hydrogen, sodium, potassium or lithium.