A compound according to Formula IA and IB, reversibly convertible under photochromic and electrochromic conditions between a ring-open isomer A and a ring-closed isomer B is provided. For substitutent groups, Z is N, O or S; each R.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, or halo; each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, a polymer backbone, alkyl or aryl; or, when both R.sub.2 together form —CH═CH— and form part of a polymer backbone; each R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl or aryl; each R.sub.4 is aryl; and each R.sub.5 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl or aryl. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and to their use in treating or preventing an inflammatory disease or a disease associated with an undesirable immune response:

##STR00001## wherein A, L, R.sup.A1, R.sup.A2, R.sup.C and R.sup.D are as defined herein.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and to their use in treating or preventing an inflammatory disease or a disease associated with an undesirable immune response:

##STR00001## wherein A, L, R.sup.A1, R.sup.A2, R.sup.C and R.sup.D are as defined herein.

An object is to provide a method for producing a compound which is useful as a synthetic intermediate for an active pharmaceutical ingredient of an antidiabetic drug or the like in an industrially inexpensive and efficient manner, and the present invention can achieve the object by reducing a compound (2) represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1, Ar, n and X are as mentioned herein in the presence of a titanium compound by using a reducing agent to produce a compound (1) represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00002## wherein R.sub.1, Ar and n are the same as defined above.

An object is to provide a method for producing a compound which is useful as a synthetic intermediate for an active pharmaceutical ingredient of an antidiabetic drug or the like in an industrially inexpensive and efficient manner, and the present invention can achieve the object by reducing a compound (2) represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1, Ar, n and X are as mentioned herein in the presence of a titanium compound by using a reducing agent to produce a compound (1) represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00002## wherein R.sub.1, Ar and n are the same as defined above.

The invention discloses a method for preparation of alkylated, fluoro alkylated, chloro alkylated and fluorochloro alkylated compounds by a heterogeneous Co-catalysed alkylation or fluoro, chloro and fluorochloro alkylation with alkyl halides, fluoro alkyl halides, chloro alkyl halides or fluorochloro alkyl halides respectively.

The invention discloses a method for preparation of alkylated, fluoro alkylated, chloro alkylated and fluorochloro alkylated compounds by a heterogeneous Co-catalysed alkylation or fluoro, chloro and fluorochloro alkylation with alkyl halides, fluoro alkyl halides, chloro alkyl halides or fluorochloro alkyl halides respectively.

The present invention relates to a method for synthesizing a 2-benzylidene tetrahydrothiophene derivative, which comprises the step of reacting a (cyclopropylethynyl) aromatic cyclic compound of Formula (I) with a sulfur source in an organic solvent as a reaction medium in air atmosphere at 100-200 C. to obtain a 2-benzylidene tetrahydrothiophene derivative of Formula (III). The reaction route is as follows:

##STR00001## where Ar is selected from phenyl ring, a substituted phenyl ring, biphenylyl, thiophenyl ring or naphthyl ring, in which the substituent on the substituted phenyl ring is selected from the group consisting of halo, trifluoromethyl, cyano, a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and any combination thereof; and R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group. The method of the present invention has the advantages of simple reaction conditions, convenient post-treatment, environmental friendliness, and requiring no transition metal catalysis.

The present invention relates to a method for synthesizing a 2-benzylidene tetrahydrothiophene derivative, which comprises the step of reacting a (cyclopropylethynyl) aromatic cyclic compound of Formula (I) with a sulfur source in an organic solvent as a reaction medium in air atmosphere at 100-200 C. to obtain a 2-benzylidene tetrahydrothiophene derivative of Formula (III). The reaction route is as follows: ##STR00001## where Ar is selected from phenyl ring, a substituted phenyl ring, biphenylyl, thiophenyl ring or naphthyl ring, in which the substituent on the substituted phenyl ring is selected from the group consisting of halo, trifluoromethyl, cyano, a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and any combination thereof; and R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen or a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group. The method of the present invention has the advantages of simple reaction conditions, convenient post-treatment, environmental friendliness, and requiring no transition metal catalysis.

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the subsitiuents are as defined in claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to agrochemical compositions which comprise compounds of formula (I), to preparation of these compositions, and to the use of the compounds or compositions in agriculture or horticulture for combating, preventing or controlling infestation of plants, harvested food crops, seeds or non-living materials by phytopathogenic microorganisms, in particular fungi.