Process for the preparation of thioalkylamine derivatives

1. A process for preparing compounds of formula (I)

in which

R 1 and R 2 independently of one another represent hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloakyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, or hyd roxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; represent unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, carboxyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy -C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylcarbonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, amino, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl-amino, and di(C 1 -C 4 -alkyl)amino in which the alkyl groups can be identical or different; represent phenyl that is substituted at two adjacent carbon atoms by C 3 -C 4 -alkylene or C 1 -C 2 -alkylenedioxy; or represent unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl;

R 3 and R 4 independently of one another represent hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl,

R 5 and R 6 independently of one another represent hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; represent unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl; or represent unsubstituted or mono- to penta-substituted phenyl-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl,

R represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl; represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysu bstituted C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl or C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy; represents unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy; represents unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; represents naphthyl; or represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted heteroaryl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, and unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl in which the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of halogen and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and

n represents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, with the proviso that the group C(R 1 )R 2 may be identical or different when n is greater than 1,

with the further proviso that when n represents 1,

R 1 and R 2 optionally together represent C 2 -C 5 -alkylene,

R 1 together with R 3 or R 5 optionally represent C 3 -C 5 -alkylene,

R 3 and R 4 optionally together represent C 4 -C 6 -alkylene,

R 3 and R 5 optionally together represent C 2 -C 4 -alkylene, and

R 5 and R 6 optionally together represent C 4 -C 6 -alkylene, comprising

(1) reacting in a first step an amino alcohol of formula (II)

 in which R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and n have the meanings given for formula (I),

with oleum to give a sulphuric acid ester of formula (III)

 in which R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and n have the meanings given for formula (I), and

(2) reacting in a second step the resultant sulphuric acid ester with a mercaptan of formula (IV)

RSM (IV)

or a salt thereof

in which

R has the meanings given for formula (I), and

M represents hydrogen, ammonium, or an alkali metal atom, in the presence of a base and optionally in the presence of a diluent.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein, for the compound of the formula (II),

R 1 and R 2 independently of one another represent hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl-C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, or hyd roxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; represent unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, carboxyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylcarbonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylcarbonyl, each halo-containing group having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms, phenylcarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, amino, C 1 -C 4 -alkylamino and di(C 1 -C 4 -alkyl)amino in which the alkyl groups can be identical or different; represents phenyl that is substituted at two adjacent carbon atoms by C 3 -C 4 -alkylene or C 1 -C 2 -alkylenedioxy; represent unsubstituted or mono- to penta-substituted phenyl-C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl-sulfonyl, each halo-containing group having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms;

R 3 and R 4 independently of one another represent hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl,

R 5 and R 6 independently of one another represent hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, each halo-containing group having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms; unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl-C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl, each halo-containing group having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms; and

n represents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, with the proviso that the group C(R 1 )R 2 may be identical or different when n is greater than 1,

with the further proviso that when n represents 1,

R 1 and R 2 optionally together represent C 2 -C 5 -alkylene,

R 1 together with R 3 or R 5 optionally represent C 3 -C 5 -alkylene,

R 3 and R 4 optionally together represent C 4 -C 6 -alkylene,

R 3 and R 5 optionally together represent C 2 -C 4 -alkylene, and

R 5 and R 6 optionally together represent C 4 -C 6 -alkylene.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein, for the compound of the formula (IV),

R represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydroxy, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms, C 1 -C 4 -alkylthio, C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfinyl, and C 1 -C 4 -alkylsulfonyl; represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl or C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl-C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy; represents unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, halo-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, each halo-containing group having 1 to 9 identical or different fluorine, chlorine, and/or bromine atoms; represents unsubstituted or mono- to penta-substituted phenyl-C 1 -C 2 -alkyl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; represents naphthyl; or represents unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted heteroaryl, where the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, and unsubstituted or mono- to pentasubstituted phenyl in which the substituents are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and

M represents hydrogen, ammonium, or an alkali metal atom.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein R represents mono- or polysubstituted furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, or triazinyl.

5. A process according to claim 3 wherein M represents sodium, potassium, lithium, or caesium.

6. A process according to claim 1 in which the oleum contains between 1% and 70% SO 3 .

7. A process according to claim 1 in which the first step is carried out at a temperature of between 50° C. and 200° C.

8. A process according to claim 1 in which in the first step the amount of oleum provides between 0.01 and 6 mol of SO 3 as a solution in sulphuric acid per mol of the amino alcohol of formula (II).

9. A process according to claim 1 in which the sulphuric acid ester of formula (III) is reacted without isolation in the second step.

10. A process according to claim 1 in which the base used in the second step is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide or an alkali metal carbonate or hydrogen carbonate.