Changling Liu

Design, synthesis and biological activities of new strobilurin derivatives containing substituted pyrazoles

BACKGROUND Strobilurins are one of the most important classes of agricultural fungicides. To discover new strobilurin analogues with high activity, a series of new strobilurin derivatives containing substituted pyrazoles in the side chain were synthesised and bioassayed. RESULTS The compounds were identified by (1)H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Preliminary bioassays indicated that some title compounds exhibited excellent fungicidal activities against Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Burk. & Curt.) Rostovsev and Erysiphe graminis DC f. sp. tritici Marchal, protecting cucumber and wheat at 6.25 and 1.56 mg L(-1) respectively, and showed a moderately high acaricidal activity against Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) at 20 mg L(-1). The relationship between structure and biological activity is discussed in terms of effects of the substituent of the pyrazole ring. CONCLUSION The present work demonstrates that strobilurin analogues with substituted phenylpyrazolylmethoxymethyl side chains can be used as possible lead compounds for further developing novel fungicides and acaricides.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of New (E)-α-(Methoxyimino)benzeneacetate Derivatives Containing a Substituted Pyrazole Ring†

Strobilurins are one of the most important classes of agricultural fungicides. To discover new strobilurin analogues with high activity, a series of new strobilurin derivatives containing a substituted pyrazole in the side chain were synthesized and their biological activities were tested. The compounds were identified by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and elemental analysis. The test results indicated that the compounds exhibited strong fungicidal activities against Pyricularia oryzae , Phytophthora infestans , Pseudoperonospora cubensis , and Erysiphe graminis . The relationship between structure and biological activity is discussed in terms of the effects of the substituents on the pyrazole ring. The present work demonstrates that strobilurin analogues with a 3-(substituted phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-oxy side chain can be used as possible lead compounds for the development of potential agrochemicals.

Discovery of pyridine-based agrochemicals by using Intermediate Derivatization Methods

Pyridine-based compounds have been playing a crucial role as agrochemicals or pesticides including fungicides, insecticides/acaricides and herbicides, etc. Since most of the agrochemicals listed in the Pesticide Manual were discovered through screening programs that relied on trial-and-error testing and new agrochemical discovery is not benefiting as much from the in silico new chemical compound identification/discovery techniques used in pharmaceutical research, it has become more important to find new methods to enhance the efficiency of discovering novel lead compounds in the agrochemical field to shorten the time of research phases in order to meet changing market requirements. In this review, we selected 18 representative known agrochemicals containing a pyridine moiety and extrapolate their discovery from the perspective of Intermediate Derivatization Methods in the hope that this approach will have greater appeal to researchers engaged in the discovery of agrochemicals and/or pharmaceuticals.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship of novel coumarin derivatives

BACKGROUND The lead coumarin derivative (E)-methyl 3-methoxy-2-[2-(4-methylcoumarin-7-yloxymethyl)phenyl]acrylate was discovered by using an intermediate derivatisation method. To discover new coumarin derivatives with improved activity, a series of substituted coumarins were synthesised and bioassayed. RESULTS The compounds were identified by ¹H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Bioassays demonstrated that some of the title compounds exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against cucumber downy mildew at 25 mg L⁻¹. The relationship between structure and fungicidal activity is reported. CONCLUSION The present work demonstrates that coumarin derivatives containing methoxyacrylate moieties can be used as possible lead compounds for developing novel fungicides.

Design, Synthesis, and Herbicidal Activity of Novel Substituted 3-(Pyridin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide Derivatives

A series of novel substituted 3-(pyridin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives were designed and synthesized using 2-phenylpridines as the lead compound by intermediate derivatization methods in an attempt to obtain novel compound candidates for weed control. The herbicidal activity assay in glasshouse tests showed several compounds (II6, II7, II8, II9, II10, II11, III2, III3, III4, and III5) could efficiently control velvet leaf, youth-and-old age, barnyard grass, and foxtail at the 37.5 g/ha active substance. Especially, the activities of II6, II7, III2, and III4 were proved roughly equivalent to the saflufenacil and better than 95% sulcotrione at the same concentration. The result of the herbicidal activity assay in field tests demonstrated that II7 at 60 g/ha active substance could give the same effect as bentazon at 1440 g/ha active substance to control dayflower and nightshade, meanwhile II7 showed better activity than oxyfluorfen to control arrowhead and security to rice. The present work indicates that II7 may be a novel compound candidate for potential herbicide.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of novel aniline derivatives of chlorothalonil.

Chlorothalonil with both low cost and low toxicity is a popularly used fungicide in the agrochemical field. The presence of nucleophilic groups on this compound allows further chemical modifications to obtain novel chlorothalonil derivatives. Fluazinam, another commercially available agent with a broad fungicidal spectrum, has a scaffold of diaryl amine structure. To mimic this backbone structure, a variety of (un)substituted phenyl amines was used as nucleophilic agents to react with chlorothalonil to obtain compounds with a diphenyl amine structure. Via an elegant design, two leads, 2,4,5-trichloro-6-(2,4-dichlorophenylamino)isophthalonitrile (7) and 2,4,5-trichloro-6-(2,4,6-trichlorophenylamino)isophthalonitrile (11), with potential fungicidal activity were discovered after a preliminary bioassay screen. These two leads were further modified to obtain final products by replacing the chlorine groups in the phenyl ring in phenyl amine with other functional groups. These functional groups with various electronic properties and spatial characteristics were considered to explore the relationship between structure and fungicidal activity. The results indicate that the electron-withdrawing group NO2 on the 4 position on the right phenyl ring plays a unique role on enhancing the fungicidal activity. The compounds were identified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis. Bioassays demonstrated that some of the title compounds exhibited excellent fungicidal activities against cucumber downy mildew at 25 mg/L. Compound 20 has been shown as the optimal structure with 85% control against cucumber downy mildew at 6.25 mg/L concentration. The relationship between structure and fungicidal activity is reported. The present work demonstrates that chlorothalonil derivatives can be used as possible lead compounds for developing novel fungicides.

Design, synthesis and structure–activity relationship of novel insecticidal dichloro-allyloxy-phenol derivatives containing substituted pyrazol-3-ols

BACKGROUND Pyridalyl, consisting of dicholoro-allyoxy-phenol moiety, is a novel class of insecticide showing extraordinary activities against various lepidopterous and thysanopterous pests on cotton and vegetables. To discover further novel insecticides, a series of new dichloro-allyloxy-phenol derivatives containing substituted pyrazol-3-ol moieties were designed and synthesised via the intermediate derivatisation method. RESULTS The target compounds were characterised by (1) H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Bioassays indicated that some of these compounds exhibited good insecticidal activities against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) at 6.25 mg L(-1) . The structure-activity relationship is discussed. CONCLUSION The present work demonstrates that dichloro-allyloxy-phenol derivatives with substituted phenylpyrazole moieties can be used as lead compounds to develop further novel insecticides.

The discovery of SYP-10913 and SYP-11277: novel strobilurin acaricides

BACKGROUND As previously reported, methyl (E)-2-[2-(2-phenylamino-6-trifluoromethylpyrimidin-4-yloxymethyl)phenyl]-3-methoxyacrylate has proven to be a new lead with highly acaricidal activity. Following on from this, in an effort to discover new strobilurin analogues with improved activity, a series of substituted pyrimidines were synthesised and bioassayed. RESULTS All compounds were characterised by (1) H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Preliminary bioassays demonstrated that some of the title compounds exhibited notable control of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) at 1.25 mg L(-1) . The relationship between structure and acaricidal activity is discussed. CONCLUSION Two compounds of particular interest, 6j (SYP-10913) and 6k (SYP-11277), exhibited potent acaricidal activity. The acaricidal potencies of these analogues are higher than that of fluacrypyrim in greenhouse applications, and are comparable with those of commercial acaricides such as spirodiclofen and propargite in field trials.

Synthesis and evaluation of substituted 3-(pyridin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives as potent herbicidal agents.

In an attempt to obtain novel candidate compound for weed control, a series of newly substituted 3-(pyridin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives 2 were designed and synthesized using compound II7 as a lead compound by Intermediate Derivatization Methods and their herbicidal activities were evaluated. The herbicidal activity assay in greenhouse tests showed several compounds (2g, 2i, 2j, 2k, 2l, 2m, 2n and 2o) exhibited significant herbicidal activity for controlling velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti medic.) and youth-and-old age (Zinnia elegans jacq.) at 37.5ga.i./ha. In particular, 2h was found to be the most potential candidate herbicide and was proved higher activity than the lead compound II7. The result of the weed controlling spectrum test showed that 2h could effectively control dayflower (Commelina tuberosa), bur beggarticks (Bidens tripartita linn.), youth-and-old age, cassia tora (Cassiaobtusifolia L.), velvet leaf, purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and false daisy (Eclipta prostrata L.). In addition, the mixture of compound 2h and propanil could produce a synergistic effect and enhance herbicidal activity. The result of the herbicidal activity assay in field test demonstrated that 2h could effectively control dayflower and nightshade (Disambiguation) with long-lasting persistence. The present work indicates that 2h may be a novel compound candidate as a potential herbicide.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship of novel oxime ether strobilurin derivatives containing substituted benzofurans.

BACKGROUND Strobilurins are one of the most important classes of agricultural fungicides. To discover new strobilurin analogues with broad spectrum and high activity, a series of novel oxime ether strobilurin derivatives containing substituted benzofurans in the side chain were synthesised and bioassayed. RESULTS The synthesised compounds were characterised by (1) H NMR, (13) C NMR, MS and HRMS. Bioassays demonstrated that most target compounds possessed good or excellent fungicidal activities, especially against Erysiphe graminis and Pyricularia oryzae. Furthermore, methyl 3-methoxypropenoate oxime ethers exhibited remarkably higher activities against E. graminis, Colletotrichum lagenarium and Puccinia sorghi Schw. Notably, (E,E)-methyl 3-methoxy-2-{2-[({[5-fluoro-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]phenyl}propenoate (BSF2) and (E,E)-methyl 3-methoxy-2-{2-[({[5-chloro-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]phenyl}propenoate (BSF3) were identified as the most promising candidates for further study. CONCLUSION The present work demonstrates that oxime ether strobilurin derivatives containing benzofurans can be used as possible lead compounds for developing novel fungicides.