PYRAZOLE DERIVATIVES

Abstract

The present invention relates to nitro-vinyl-pyrazole compounds of formula (B)

##STR00001##

wherein ring A, R.sup.B2 and R.sup.B3 are as defined in claim 1, as well as the manufacture of such compounds and their subsequent use in the production of agrochemicals and/or pharmaceuticals.

Claims

1. A process for the manufacture of a compound of formula (G) ##STR00048## wherein ring A as is a di-substituted pyrazole, substituted on a ring nitrogen by R.sup.B2 and substituted on a ring carbon by R.sup.B3; R.sup.B2 is C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.3fluoroalkyl; R.sup.B3 is halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.3fluoroalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3fluoroalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, or C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkyl; R.sup.2 is an aryl or heteroaryl ring optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R.sup.25; and each R.sup.25 is independently halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkylthio, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkylsulphinyl, or C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkylsulphonyl; said process comprising: (i) reacting a compound of formula (A) ##STR00049## wherein ring A, R.sup.B2 and R.sup.B3 are as defined previously, and Hal is iodo, bromo or chloro, with 1-dimethylamino-2-nitroethylene to form a compound of formula (B) ##STR00050## (ii) reacting the compound of formula (B) from step (i) with a malonate in solvent, under enantioselective nickel catalysis to give a compound of formula (C) ##STR00051## (iii) reacting the compound of formula (C) from step (ii) with a reducing agent in the presence of a catalyst to give a compound of formula (D) ##STR00052## (iv) hydrolysing the compound of formula (D) from step (iii) in an aqueous hydroxide/ethanol mixture to give the compound of formula (E) ##STR00053## (v) methylating the lactam nitrogen of the compound of formula (E) formed in step (iv) using excess base in solvent, to form a compound of formula (F) ##STR00054## (vi) coupling the compound of formula (F) from step (v) with a aniline of formula R.sup.2—NH.sub.2 wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above under standard amide coupling conditions, to yield a compound of formula (G) ##STR00055##

2. The process of claim 1, wherein ring A is wherein ring A is A1, A2, A3, A4 or A5, ##STR00056## wherein R.sup.B3SN is an R.sup.B3 substituent located on a carbon atom immediately adjacent the nitrogen atom substituted with R.sup.B2, and the jagged line denotes the point of attachment.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein R.sup.B2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoroethyl, difluoroethyl and trifluoroethyl.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein R.sup.B3 is selected from the group consisting of chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, diluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkyl.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein Hal is iodo.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein Hal is bromo.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein Hal is chloro.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein ring A is wherein ring A is A1, A2, A3, A4 or A5, ##STR00057## wherein R.sup.B3SN is an R.sup.B3 substituent located on a carbon atom immediately adjacent the nitrogen atom substituted with R.sup.B2, and the jagged line denotes the point of attachment; and wherein R.sup.B2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoroethyl, difluoroethyl and trifluoroethyl.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein R.sup.B3SN is selected from the group consisting of chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, diluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkyl.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein ring A is wherein ring A is A1, A2, A3, A4 or A5, ##STR00058## wherein R.sup.B3SN is an R.sup.B3 substituent located on a carbon atom immediately adjacent the nitrogen atom substituted with R.sup.B2, and the jagged line denotes the point of attachment; and wherein RB3SN is selected from the group consisting of chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, diluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkyl.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein R.sup.B2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoroethyl, difluoroethyl and trifluoroethyl; and R.sup.B3 is selected from the group consisting of chloro, fluoro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, diluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkyl.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein R.sup.B3 is selected from the group consisting of fluoro, chloro and trifluoromethyl.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein R.sup.B2 is methyl.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, —C.sub.ralkoxyC.sub.salkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl, -C.sub.ralkoxyC.sub.shaloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkynyl, and —(CR.sup.21R.sup.22).sub.tR.sup.20; wherein r is an integer of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, s is an integer of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and the sum of r+s is less than or equal to 6; each R.sup.20 is independently —C(O)OR.sup.23, —OC(O)R.sup.23, —C.sub.3-C.sub.6cycloalkyl, or a ring system selected from an -aryl, -aryloxy, -heteroaryl, -heteroaryloxy and -heterocyclyl ring system, and said ring system is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 independent R.sup.25; each R.sup.21 is independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.2 alkyl; each R.sup.22 is independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.2 alkyl; t is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; and R.sup.23 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein R2 is an aryl or heteroaryl ring system optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R.sup.25.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the aryl or heteroaryl ring system is selected from a phenyl, pyridinyl or thienyl ring system.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein each R.sup.25 is independently halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3 haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, or C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy; even more preferably chloro, fluoro, bromo, C.sub.1-C.sub.2haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.2haloalkoxy, or C.sub.1-C.sub.2alkoxy.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein each R.sup.25 is independently halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3 haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.3alkoxy, or C.sub.1-C.sub.3haloalkoxy; even more preferably chloro, fluoro, bromo, C.sub.1-C.sub.2haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.2haloalkoxy, or C.sub.1-C.sub.2alkoxy.

19. The process of claim 14, wherein R.sup.2 is a phenyl, pyridinyl or thienyl ring system, substituted by 1 or 2 R.sup.25, wherein each R.sup.25 is borne on a ring carbon atom and is independently selected from the group consisting of fluoro, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoroethyl, methoxy, difluoromethoxy, and trifluoromethoxy.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Preparation of the Herbicidal Compound (3S,4R)—N-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide

[0033] ##STR00047##

[0034] The Nickel catalyst used in step 3, which catalyses the asymmetric malonate addition to the nitro olefin, can be prepared as in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 9958-9959.

Step 1 3-iodo-1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole

[0035] The compound 1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-amine (5.00 g, 30.3 mmol) was stirred in 9M sulfuric acid (818 mmol, 91 mL) in a 500 mL beaker, using an overhead stirrer at 0° C. (ice bath) until a homogenous mixture resulted. Sodium nitrite (60.6 mmol, 4.18 g), in 10 mL of water, was then added dropwise over 5 minutes, resulting in a colourless solution and the reaction was stirred at 0° C. for a further 20 minutes. Potassium iodide (75.7 mmol, 12.6 g), in 20 mL of water, was added dropwise to the reaction and the mixture was then stirred for a further 4 hours. The reaction was quenched with saturated sodium thiosulfate until the mixture became clear. The mixture was then diluted with dichloromethane and the phases were separated. The aqueous was further extracted with dichloromethane and the combined organic extracts were washed with water, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated under vacuum to afford a pale yellow oil. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (EtOAc/hexanes gradient elution) to afford 3-iodo-1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole as a colourless oil, 3.9 g, (47%). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ=6.76 (s, 1H) 4.01 (d, J=0.61 Hz, 3H).

Step 2 1-Methyl-3-[(E)-2-nitrovinyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole

[0036] Isopropylmagnesium chloride-Lithium chloride in THE (23.55 mmol, 1.3 mol/L) was added dropwise to 3-iodo-1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole (5.0 g, 18.12 mmol) in THE (90 mL) at −20° C. and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours. 1-Dimethylamino-2-nitroethylene (27.17 mmol, 3.321 g) was added and the reaction was slowly warmed to RT over 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then carefully quenched with 2 M HCl, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, concentrated and purified by chromatography (EtOAc/cyclohexane gradient elution) to afford 1-methyl-3-[(E)-2-nitrovinyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole (74.6%) as a yellow oil, 2.99 g (74.6%).

[0037] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ=7.89 (d, J=13.7 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=13.7 Hz, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 4.05 (d, J=0.6 Hz, 3H).

Step 3 Diethyl 2-[(1S)-1-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-nitro-ethyl]propanedioate

[0038] To a solution of 1-methyl-3-[(E)-2-nitrovinyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole (0.650 g, 2.94 mmol) in toluene (19.5 mL) was added diethyl malonate (0.676 mL, 4.41 mmol) followed by Nickel(II)Bis[(1R,2R)—N1,N2-bis(phenylmethyl)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N1,N2]dibromide (0.0588 mmol, 0.0472 g), and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 20 hours.

[0039] The reaction mixture was washed with water (2×10 mL) and the organic phase separated, concentrated and purified by chromatography (EtOAc/cyclohexane gradient elution) to afford diethyl 2-[(1 S)-1-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-nitro-ethyl]propanedioate as pale yellow oil, 1.07 g (95%).

[0040] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ=6.53 (s, 1H), 5.01 (dd, 1H), 4.88 (dd, J=4.3, 13.9 Hz, 1H), 4.35 (ddd, J=4.4, 7.7, 9.0 Hz, 1H), 4.22 (q, 2H), 4.16 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 3.89 (d, 1H), 1.26 (t, 3H), 1.20 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 4 Ethyl (3R,4R)-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylate

[0041] To a solution of diethyl 2-[(1R)-1-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-nitro-ethyl]propanedioate (1.07 g, 2.81 mmol) in ethanol (42.1 mL) cooled to 0-5° C. (ice bath) under nitrogen, was added dichloronickel hexahydrate (2.95 mmol, 0.700 g). Sodium borohydride (8.42 mmol, 0.325 g) was then added portionwise to the pale greenish-blue solution. After 30 minutes the cooling was removed and the reaction mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After stirring for 5 hours, at ambient temperature, the reaction mixture was cooled to 5-10° C., in an ice-water bath, and slowly quenched with ammonium chloride solution, and the mixture stirred for a further 20 minutes. The mixture was then diluted with EtOAc (20 mL), and filtered through a bed of celite, washing through with portions of water and EtOAc. The collected two-phase mixture was concentrated to remove the bulk of solvent and the residue transferred to a separating funnel, diluted with EtOAc (20 mL) and the organic phase separated. The aqueous phase was further extracted with EtOAc (2×25 mL) and all organic extracts combined, passed through a phase separation concentrated and purified by chromatography (EtOAc/hexanes gradient elution) to afford a pale yellow oil, 0.61 g (77%) which crystallised on standing.

[0042] 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ=6.91 (br s, 1H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 4.28 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 4.14 (q, 1H), 3.94 (d, 3H), 3.80 (dt, J=1.0, 9.0 Hz, 1H), 3.63 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 3.52 (dd, J=8.2, 9.5 Hz, 1H), 1.32 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 5 (3R,4R)-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid

[0043] To a solution of ethyl (3R,4R)-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (0.61 g, 2.0 mmol) in ethanol (6.0 mL) and water (2.0 mL) at 0° C. (ice bath) was added 2M sodium hydroxide (3 mL, 6.0 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes and then diluted with water (15 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (25 mL). The organic extracts were washed with water (10 mL), and the aqueous extracts combined and acidified to pH 2 with dilute HCl. The acidified aqueous extracts were then re-extracted with EtOAc (3×20 mL) and these organic extracts were run through a phase separation cartridge and concentrated affording a pale yellow oil, 0.54 g (quantitative) which crystallised on standing.

[0044] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ=6.59 (s, 1H), 4.09 (q, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.85-3.77 (m, 1H), 3.72 (d, J=10.0 Hz, 1H), 3.66-3.58 (m, 1H).

Step 6 (3R,4R)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid

[0045] To a stirred solution of (3R,4R)-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (0.57 g, 2.1 mmol, 0.57 g) in tetrahydrofuran (16 mL), at room temperature, under a nitrogen atmosphere was added potassium tertiary butoxide (1.0M in THF) (4.5 mL, 4.5 mmol) giving a pale yellow fine suspension. To this suspension was added iodomethane (0.19 mL, 3.1 mmol), and stirring at room temp was continued for 20 h. The stirred reaction mixture was acidified to pH2 with dilute HCl and the mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3×30 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (15 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate concentrated giving a transparent amber gum, 0.63 g ((quantitative).

[0046] .sup.1H NMR: (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ=6.68 (s, 1H), 3.97 (q, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.76-3.68 (m, 3H), 2.99 (s, 3H).

Step 7 (3S,4R)—N-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide

[0047] To a solution of (3R,4R)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (0.61 g, 2.1 mmol) in dichloromethane (15 mL) was added 2,3-difluoroaniline (0.21 mL, 2.1 mmol). Propylphosphonic anhydride (50 mass %) in ethyl acetate (2.3 g, 3.6 mmol, 2.1 mL) was then added, and the reaction mixture was then immersed in a room temp water bath. N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (1.1 mL, 6.3 mmol) was added drop-wise, and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hour. The reaction mixture was quenched by the addition of water (15 mL) and transferred to a phase sep cartridge. The aqueous was further extracted with DCM (2×10 mL) and the combined organic extracts were concentrated and purified by chromatography (EtOAc/hexanes gradient elution) to afford a pink oil. Trituration with iso-hexane afforded a pale pink solid 398 mg (47%).

[0048] 1H NMR: (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ=10.16 (br s, 1H), 8.08-8.01 (m, 1H), 7.02 (ddt, J=2.1, 5.9, 8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.93-6.84 (m, 1H), 6.69 (s, 1H), 4.09 (q, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.78 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 3.76-3.65 (m, 2H), 2.98 (s, 3H).

[0049] Chiral HPLC analysis, by the methods stated above, confirmed an enantiomeric ratio of 97:3.

Example 2 Preparation of (3S,4S)—N-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide

[0050] The herbicidal compound (3S,4S)—N-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide was made in a directly analogous manner to that described above for (3S,4R)—N-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide in Example 1 above. NMR data for the single enantiomer is as follows:

[0051] 1HNMR (CDCl.sub.3) δ=10.05 (br s, 1H), 8.04-7.97 (m, 1H), 7.46 (s, 1H), 7.01 (ddt, J=2.1, 5.9, 8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.93-6.84 (m, 1H), 4.21 (q, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 3.75 (t, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 3.64 (d, J=9.4 Hz, 1H), 3.27 (dd, J=8.1, 9.9 Hz, 1H), 2.97 (s, 3H).