N-(1-alkyl-2-phenylethyl)-carboxamide derivatives and use thereof as fungicides

1. A compound of formula (I)

in which:

n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amino group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ 6 -sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a formyloxy group, a formylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a N-hydroxycarbamoyl group, a carbamate group, a (hydroxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, a C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylamino, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylamino, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfanyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, a C 2 -C 8 -halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -alkynyloxy, a C 3 -C 8 -halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, a C 3 -C 8 -halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbamoyl, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbamoyl, a N—C 1 -C 8 -alkyloxycarbamoyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbamoyl, a N—C 1 -C 8 -alkyl-C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbamoyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxycarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbonyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbonylamino, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonylamino having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyloxycarbonyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfenyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfenyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfinyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfinyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkoxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkenyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkynyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (benzyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a benzyloxy, a benzylsulfanyl, a benzylamino, a phenoxy, a phenylsulfanyl, and a phenylamino;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl-C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl;

provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is different from hydrogen;

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, and a C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl;

Y a is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ 6 -sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, a C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfanyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, a C 2 -C 8 -halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -alkynyloxy, a C 3 -C 8 -halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, and a C 3 -C 8 -halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and

Y 1 , Y 2 , and Y 3 are independently selected from the group consist of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl; a C 1 -C 6 -halogenoalkyl, an amino group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkylamino and a di-(C 1 -C 4 -alkyl)amino;

as well as any salt, N-oxide, or optically active isomer thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein n is 1, 2 or 3.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a (hydroxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkoxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkenyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, and a (C 1 -C 6 -alkynyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and C 1 -C 8 -alkyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein Y a is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein Y 1 , Y 2 , and Y 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl.

8. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I),

which comprises reacting a 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivative of general formula (II) or one of its salts

in which

n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amino group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ 6 -sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a formyloxy group, a formylamino group, a carbamoyl group, a N-hydroxycarbamoyl group, a carbamate group, a (hydroxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, a C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylamino, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylamino, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfanyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, a C 2 -C 8 halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -alkynyloxy, a C 3 -C 8 -halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, a C 3 -C 8 -halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbamoyl, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbamoyl, a N—C 1 -C 8 -alkyloxycarbamoyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbamoyl, a N—C 1 -C 8 -alkyl-C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbamoyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxycarbonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylcarbonyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 alkylcarbonylamino, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylcarbonylamino having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a di-C 1 -C 8 -alkylaminocarbonyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyloxycarbonyloxy, C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfenyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfenyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfinyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfinyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfonyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfonyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkoxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkenyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (C 1 -C 6 -alkynyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a (benzyloxyimino)-C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a benzyloxy, a benzylsulfanyl, a benzylamino, a phenoxy, a phenylsulfanyl, and a phenylamino,

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl-C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl; provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is different from hydrogen; and

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, and a C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl;

with a carboxylic acid derivative of the formula (III)

in which:

Het is a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocycle comprising one, two or three heteroatoms which may be the same or different; Het being linked by a carbon atom;

Ya is an ortho-substituent and is selected from the group consisting of halogen atom, a cyano group, a sulfanyl group, a pentafluoro-λ 6 -sulfanyl group, a formyl group, a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, a C 2 -C 8 -alkynyl, a C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkoxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkylsulfanyl, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkylsulfanyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 2 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, a C 2 -C 8 -halogenoalkenyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 1 -C 8 -alkynyloxy, a C 1 -C 8 -halogenoalkynyloxy having 1 to 5 halogen atoms, a C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, and a C 3 -C 8 -halogenocycloalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms,

each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 6 -halogenoalkyl, an amino group, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkylamino, and a di-(C 1 -C 4 -alkyl)amino;

p is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and

L 1 is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of

(A) a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, —OR 77 , and —OCOR 77 , wherein R 77 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1 -C 6 alkyl, a C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, a benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, and pentafluorophenyl, and

(B) a group of the formula

in the presence of a catalyst and, if L 1 is a hydroxyl group, in the presence of a condensing agent.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein R 5 is a hydrogen atom and that the process is completed by a further step according to the following reaction scheme:

in which

L 2 is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a 4-methyl phenylsulfonyloxy, and a methylsulfonyloxy; and

R 5a is a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group or a C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl;

comprising reacting a compound of general formula (Ib) with a compound of general formula (VI) to provide a compound of general formula (Ia).

10. A fungicide composition comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable support.

11. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of the composition of claim 10 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them.

12. The compound of claim 1 wherein

Y a is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

Y 1 and Y 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and

Y 3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

13. A compound of the formula

wherein:

X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , and X 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, provided that at least one of X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , and X 5 is halogen;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 6 alkyl, provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

R 5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl;

Y a is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms;

Y 1 and Y 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, and a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms; and

Y 2 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms.

14. The compound of claim 13 wherein X 1 , X 2 , X 4 , and X 5 are hydrogen and X 3 is halogen.

15. The compound of claim 14 wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 4 are hydrogen and R 3 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl.

16. The compound of claim 15 wherein Y a is a C 1 -C 4 -halogenoalkyl having 1 to 5 halogen atoms and Y 1 , Y 2 , and Y 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

17. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition comprising the compound of claim 16 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them.

18. The compound of claim 13 having the structural formula:

19. A method for combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition comprising the compound of claim 18 to the plant seeds or to the plant leaves and/or to the fruits of the plants or to the soil in which the plants are growing or in which it is desired to grow them.