Title of Invention

"PREPARATION OF 4,6-DICHLORO-5-FLUOROPYRIMIDINE"

Abstract A process for preparing compound 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine, the compound of formula (I) comprising reacting 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine of formula (II) or an alkali metal salt thereof with phosgene in the presence of nitrobenzene as solvent, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, and optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.
Full Text Preparation of 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine
The invention relates to a novel process for preparing 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoro-pyrimidine.
4,6-Dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine is an intermediate which can be used, for example, for the preparation of crop protection agents (cf. EP-A-0 882 043).
A process for preparing 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine has already been described in EP-A-1077 210.
In this process, 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine or its alkali metal salt is reacted with phosphorus oxychloride. The resulting reaction mixture 1 is reacted with chlorine in the presence of phosphorus trichloride. The product 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine is removed from phosphorus oxychloride in the resulting reaction mixture. A disadvantage of this process is the recycling of phosphorus oxychloride by a complicated distillation and also the long reaction time.
The prior art discloses processes for chlorinating hydroxypyrimidines. In these processes, unsubstituted or substituted hydroxypyrimidines are reacted with chlorine and phosphorus trichloride or phosphorus oxychloride to give the corresponding chlorine-substituted pyrimidines (cf, for example, DE-A1-196 42533, DE-A1-195 242 83).
In contrast, the use of phosgene as a chlorinating reagent for preparing chlorine-substituted pyrimidines from hydroxy-substituted pyrimidines is unusual.
A process for preparing 4,6-dichloropyrimidine which is unsubstituted in the 5-position is described in WO 95/29166. In this process, 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine is
reacted with phosgene in the presence of a base and optionally in the presence of a solvent.
A further process for preparing unsubstituted 4,6-dichloropyrimidine is described in WO 02/00628. In this process, 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine is reacted with phosgene in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium salt as a catalyst.
WO 00/46212 discloses a process for preparing 4-chloropyrimidine substituted in the 2-position. In this process, a 4-hydroxypyrimidine substituted in the 2-position is reacted with phosgene in the presence of a phosphine or phosphine oxide as a catalyst and optionally of a phase transfer catalyst.
In this process, the starting compounds used are hydroxypyrimidines which are either unsubstituted or substituted in the 2-position.
Only FR-A-1310810 discloses a process which enables the chlorination using phosgene of hydroxypyrimidines which are substituted in the 5-position by aryl or alkyl. As an example, the conversion of 5-phenyl-4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine to 5-phenyl-4,6-dichloropyrimidine in o-dichlorobenzene as a solvent and dimethyl-formamide as a catalyst is described. A disadvantage of this process is that phosgene forms a carcinogenic intermediate with dimethylformamide.
No process is known which allows the chlorination with phosgene of hydroxypyrimidines substituted in the 5-position by halogen.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine which enables preparation on the industrial scale in better yields, higher purity and shorter reaction times. In particular, a process should be found which avoids a complicated distillation and the recycling or disposal of phosphorus oxychloride.
It has now been found that, surprisingly, the 5-fiuoro-substituted 4,6-dichloropyrimidine of the formula
(Formula Removed)
is obtained when
4,6-dihydroxy-5-fiuoropyrimidine of the formula (II) or its alkali metal salt
(Formula Removed)
is reacted with phosgene in the presence of a solvent, optionally in the presence of a catalyst and optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.
The reaction can, for example, be carried out in chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, aceto-nitrile or dichloroethane as a solvent.
It is particularly surprising that when the process according to the invention is carried out in nitrobenzene as a solvent, 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine can be obtained even without the addition of a catalyst or catalyst/phase transfer catalyst. In a preferred variant, the reaction is therefore carried out in nitrobenzene as a solvent.
In a particularly preferred variant, the reaction is carried out in the presence of nitrobenzene as a solvent and in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as the sole catalyst.
A distinct advantage of the process according to the invention is that 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine is obtained in substantially higher yields compared to the only existing preparative process (cf. EP-A-1 077 210).
A further advantage is that the proportion of by-products is very low.
In the product isolation, a distinct advantage is that when carrying out the process in nitrobenzene as a solvent and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as a catalyst, the 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine as the first component of the reaction mixture can be distilled off and the distillation residue composed of nitrobenzene, DMAP and any secondary components present can be reused for a further reaction.
4,6-Dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine of the formula (II) is known and can be prepared by simple processes (cf. EP-A-1 079 210).
All other starting compounds are common trade products or can be prepared from them by simple processes.
Phosgene can be used in gaseous or in dissolved form.
Useful diluents for carrying out the process according to the invention include, in addition to nitrobenzene, halogenated hydrocarbons, for example chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane or trichloroethane; nitriles, for example acetonitrile, propionitrile, n-butyronitrile, i-butyronitrile or benzonitrile. Preference is given to chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, acetonitrile or dichloroethane as solvents. Particular preference is given to using nitrobenzene.
Useful catalysts of the process according to the invention include triarylphosphine oxides, for example triphenylphosphine oxide; trialkylphosphine oxides, for example tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tri-n-butylphosphine oxide; triarylphosphines, for example triphenylphosphine; trialkylphosphines, for example tri-n-octylphosphine; substituted ureas, for example tetrabutylurea, tetramethylurea; N,N-dimethyl-formamide; or amines, for example 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or piperidine. Preference is given to using DMAP.
The process according to the invention is carried out optionally in the presence of a suitable phase transfer catalyst. These include, for example and with preference, quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts, crown ethers, for example dibenzo-18-crown-6, guanidinium salts, for example hexaalkylguanidium chloride, and also polyethylene glycol derivatives.
Examples of preferred quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium catalysts include compounds of the formula (ffl)
(Formula Removed)
where
R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently branched or linear C1-C16-alkyl, or benzyl, capryl, phenyl or trityl, each of which is optionally substituted by nitro, methyl, ethyl, n- or i-propyl, n-, i-, s- or t-butyl, methoxy, ethoxy, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, allyl or propargyl,
M is P or N, and
X2 is halide, hydrogen sulphate, tetrafluoroborate, trifluoromethanesulphonate, acetate, perchlorate, dihydrogen phosphate or nitrate.
C1-C16-Alkyl is generally representative of saturated, straight-chain or branched C1-C16-hydrocarbon chains, although preference is given, unless otherwise stated, to hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and l-ethyl-2-methylpropyl.
These include, for example, tetrabutylammonium bromide, chloride, hydrogen sulphate or sulphate, methyltrioctylammonium bromide or chloride, hydrogen sulphate or sulphate, or 4-dimethylamino-N-(2-ethylhexyl)pyridinium bromide or chloride, hydrogen sulphate or sulphate, quaternary phosphonium salts, for example tributyltetradecylphosphonium bromide or chloride, tetraphenylphosphonium bromide or chloride.
Particularly preferred phase transfer catalysts are tetrabutylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, tetraoctylammonium chloride and tricaprylmethyl-ammonium chloride (ALIQUAT 336).
The reaction temperatures when carrying out the process according to the invention can be varied within a relatively wide range. In general, operation is effected within a temperature range from 40°C to the reflux temperature of the particular mixture, preferably within a temperature range of from 60 to 120°C.
The process according to the invention is carried out at atmospheric pressure or at elevated pressure, in particular at pressures of from 1 to 4 bar, preferably at pressures of from atmospheric pressure to 3 bar.
To carry out the process according to the invention for preparing the compounds of the formula (I), generally from 2 to 20 mol, preferably from 2 to l0mol, more preferably from 2 to 6 mol, of phosgene are used per mole of the compound of the formula (II).
To carry out the process according to the invention for preparing the compound of the formula (I), generally from 0 to 30 mol%, preferably from 0 to 10 mol%, more preferably from 0 to 5 mol%, of the catalyst are used per mole of the compound of the formula (II).
To carry out the process according to the invention for preparing the compound of the formula (I), generally 0-30 mol%, preferably 0-10 mol%, more preferably 0-5 mol%, of the phase transfer catalyst are used per mole of the compound of the formula (II).
To carry out the process according to the invention, the procedure is generally as follows:
The compound of the formula (II) is initially charged in a solvent, optionally with a catalyst. Phosgene is introduced or optionally added in liquid form and the reaction mixture is heated for between one and 24 hours. There then follows a distillative workup.
The process according to the invention is used to prepare 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoro-pyrimidine (I) which is an important intermediate for the preparation of pesticides. The process according to the invention provides 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine in
constant high purities and very good yields. The novel process therefore eases the preparation of existing and novel pesticides.
The examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the examples.
Examples
Examples 1 to 38
General procedure 1 for the preparation of 4,6-dichIoro-5-fluoropyrimidine from4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine
(Formula Removed)
In a three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, internal thermometer and also a reflux condenser cooled to -30°C and having a fitted gas outlet cap and connection to a scrubbing tower, 1.30 g (l0mmol) of 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine are initially charged and optionally admixed with catalyst (type and equivalents: see table). After adding 40 g of a 15% solution of phosgene in a solvent (= 6 eq. of phosgene, solvent: see table), the mixture is heated at a bath temperature of 95°C (chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene) or 75°C (acetonitrile) and stirred under phosgene reflux for 20 hours. The yield is determined by weighing and purity determinations of the reaction mixture against a standard (pure substance, GC-MS silylated).
Table: (Table Removed)
General procedure 2 for the preparation of 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine from4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine
(Formula Removed)
In a three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, internal thermometer and also a reflux condenser cooled to -30°C and having a fitted gas outlet cap and connection to a scrubbing tower, 6.5 g (50 mmol) of 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine are initially charged and admixed with catalyst (type and equivalents: see table). After adding 175 ml of 1,2-dichloroethane, 4 eq. of phosgene are introduced at approx. 70-80°C and the mixture is stirred under phosgene reflux for 6 hours and subsequently without phosgene reflux (condenser switched off) for approx. 14 hours. The yield is determined by weighing and purity determinations of the reaction mixture against standard (pure substance, GC-MS silylated).
Table 2: (Table Removed)
Example 47 for the preparation of 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine from 4,6-dihvdroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine
(Formula Removed)
In a three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, internal thermometer and a reflux condenser cooled to -30°C and having a fitted gas outlet cap and connection to a scrubbing tower, 26 g (200 mmol) of 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine in 234 g of nitrobenzene are initially charged and admixed with 2.4 g of 4-dimethylamino-pyridine as the catalyst. Subsequently, 5 eq. of phosgene are introduced at approx. 85-70°C over 3 hours and the mixture is stirred under phosgene reflux at 70°C for 19 hours. Before the workup, excess phosgene is very substantially discharged with the condenser switched off (scrubbing tower). The product is obtained by distillation under reduced pressure. The yield is determined by weighing and purity determinations of the distillate against standard (pure substance, GC-MS silylated) and is 91% of theory.





WE CLAIM:
1. A process for preparing compound 4,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine, the compound of
formula (I)
(Formula Removed)
comprising reacting 4,6-dihydroxy-5-fluoropyrimidine of formula (II) or an alkali metal salt thereof
(Formula Removed)
with phosgene in the presence of nitrobenzene as solvent, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, and optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the catalyst is 4-dimethylaminopyridine.
3. The process as claimed in claim 1 carried out without a catalyst and without a phase transfer catalyst.
4. The process as claimed in claim 1 carried out using 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst but without a phase transfer catalyst.
5. The process as claimed in claim 1 carried out at temperatures from 40° C up to the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein from 2 to 20 mol of phosgene are used per
mole of the compound of formula (II).
7. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein from 0 to 30 mol% of the catalyst are used per mole of the compound of formula (II).

Documents:

3870-delnp-2004-Abstract (28-11-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Abstract-(04-05-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-abstract.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Claims (28-11-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Claims-(04-05-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-claims.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Correspondence Others-(04-05-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Correspondence Others-(12-04-2012).pdf

3870-DELNP-2004-Correspondence Others-(23-11-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Correspondence-others (28-11-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-correspondence-others.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-form-1.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-form-18.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-form-2.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Form-3-(04-05-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Form-3-(12-04-2012).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-form-3.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-form-5.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-GPA-(04-05-2011).pdf

3870-DELNP-2004-GPA-(23-11-2011).pdf

3870-delnp-2004-gpa.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-pct-210.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-pct-409.pdf

3870-delnp-2004-Petition-137-(04-05-2011).pdf


Patent Number 255370
Indian Patent Application Number 3870/DELNP/2004
PG Journal Number 08/2013
Publication Date 22-Feb-2013
Grant Date 15-Feb-2013
Date of Filing 07-Dec-2004
Name of Patentee BAYER CROPSCIENCE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Applicant Address ALFRED-NOBEL-STR. 50, D-40789 MONHEIM, GERMANY
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 THOMAS GELLER MUTZBROICHER STR. 2, D-51519 ODENTHAL, GERMANY
2 HOLGER WEINTRITT LLTISUEG 9, D-40764 LANGENFELD, GERMANY
PCT International Classification Number C07D 239/30
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2003/005778
PCT International Filing date 2003-06-03
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 102 26 220.9 2002-06-13 Germany