Process for preparing substituted 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones

1. A process for preparing a compound of formula (I):

in which

R 1a to R 1d independently of one another are selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and trifluoromethyl;

(C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, the alkyl radical being unsubstituted or being substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy and (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl;

(C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl, the cycloalkyl radical being unsubstituted or being substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl, (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl, and (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy;

(C 1 -C 6 )-alkoxy, the alkoxy radical being branched or unbranched and being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy and (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl;

(C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkoxy, the cycloalkoxy radical being unsubstituted or being substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl and (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy;

(C 1 -C 6 )-alkylthio, the alkylthio radical being branched or unbranched and being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl and (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy;

(C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkylthio, the cycloalkylthio radical being unsubstituted or being substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl and (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy; and

phenyl or 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl or a five- or six-membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 to 2 heteroatoms, the heteroatoms being selected independently of one another from the group consisting of O or N, and the aryl or heteroaryl radical being unsubstituted or being substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 4 )-alkyl, (C 1 -C 4 )-alkoxy, (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl, and (C 1 -C 4 )-alkylthio;

starting from a compound of formula (II):

in which:

R 1a to R 1d are defined as in formula (I); and

R 2 is an unsubstituted or substituted (C 1 -C 14 )-alkyl, (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl, benzyl or a CH 2 —C(O)O—(C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl;

which comprises:

a) dissolving or suspending a compound of the formula (II) in a polar solvent;

b) adding a sulfur-containing salt to the solution or suspension; and

c) heating the reaction mixture under reflux at a temperature which corresponds at most to the boiling temperature of the polar solvent.

2. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein R 1a to R 1d independently of one another are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkoxy, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and trifluoromethyl.

3. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 2 ;

wherein R 1a to R 1d independently of one another are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methoxy, fluorin, and chlorine.

4. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein R 2 is an unsubstituted or substituted (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl, benzyl, or CH 2 —C(O)O—(C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, the substituents being selected independently of one another from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl and (C 3 -C 7 )-cycloalkyl.

5. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the polar solvent is water, a (C 1 -C 4 ) alcohol, or a mixture of water and a (C 1 -C 4 ) alcohol.

6. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the sulfur-containing salt is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfite, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bisulfate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal thionite, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal dithionite, or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal thiosulfate.

7. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 6 ;

wherein the sulfur-containing salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfate, sodium sulfite, sodium thionite, sodium dithionite, and sodium thiosulfate.

8. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 7 ;

wherein the sulfur-containing salt is sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, or a mixture of both.

9. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 6 ;

wherein 2 to 3 equivalents of the sulfur-containing salt are added to the reaction mixture.

10. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 9 ;

wherein 2 to 2.5 equivalents of the sulfur-containing salt are added to the reaction mixture.

11. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the reaction mixture is heated to a temperature which lies between 40° C. and the reflux temperature of the respective solvent.

12. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 11 ;

wherein the reaction temperature corresponds to the reflux temperature of the solvent respectively used.

13. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein the heating of the reaction mixture takes place with stirring for a duration of 1 to 48 hours.

14. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 13 ;

wherein the heating of the reaction mixture takes place with stirring for a duration of 1 to 24 hours.

15. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein a defoamer or a mixture of different defoamers is added to the reaction mixture.

16. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 ;

wherein, prior to isolation of the reaction product of the formula (I) by filtration, a precipitant is added to the reaction mixture, the precipitant being selected from the group of polar solvents consisting of water, a (C 1 -C 4 ) alcohol, and a mixture of water and a (C 1 -C 4 ) alcohol.

17. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims;

wherein the reaction product is isolated by filtration after the reaction is completed.

18. A method of preparing chemicals and active ingredients with pharmaceutical or with herbicidal activity, comprising:

utilizing a compound of the formula (I):

in which:

R 1a R 1d are as defined in claim 1 , and prepared as claimed in claim 1 .

19. The process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 14 ;

wherein the heating of the reaction mixture takes place with stirring for a duration of 2 to 12 hours.