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Title:
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ARYLACETIC ESTER DERIVATIVES VIA PALLADIUM-CATALYZED CROSS COUPLING REACTION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1995/020569
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of 2-methoxyimino-2-arylacetic esters of formula (I) in which R is C1-C12alkyl, which comprises reacting an appropriately substituted boronic acid of general formula (II) or the trimeric form (III) herein, which is in equilibrium with it, in the presence of a Pd catalyst, with a methoxyiminoacetic ester of formula (IV) in which R is C1-C12alkyl and X is a leaving group. According to a further process variant, in principle the groups which split off the two reactants may change places. The process can be applied not only to phenyl derivatives but also to larger ring systems (naphthyl, pyridyl, heterocycles).

Inventors:
ZIEGLER HUGO (CH)
NEFF DENIS (CH)
STUTZ WOLFGANG (CH)
Application Number:
PCT/EP1995/000146
Publication Date:
August 03, 1995
Filing Date:
January 16, 1995
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
CIBA GEIGY AG (CH)
ZIEGLER HUGO (CH)
NEFF DENIS (CH)
STUTZ WOLFGANG (CH)
International Classes:
B01J23/44; C07B61/00; C07C249/12; C07C251/38; C07C251/48; C07C251/60; C07C253/30; C07C255/62; C07C255/64; C07C323/46; C07D213/53; C07D213/55; C07D307/52; C07D307/81; C07D317/46; C07D311/58; C07D311/74; C07D317/56; C07D317/58; C07D319/18; C07D319/20; C07D333/22; C07F5/02; (IPC1-7): C07C249/12; C07C251/48; C07C251/60; C07F5/02; C07C259/02; C07D333/22; C07D213/53; C07D307/38; C07C255/64; C07D307/81; C07D317/58; C07D319/18; C07D317/46; C07D319/16
Foreign References:
GB2029223A1980-03-19
EP0254426A21988-01-27
EP0460575A11991-12-11
Other References:
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 55, no. 20, 2 October 1961, Columbus, Ohio, US; abstract no. 19839e, R. L. LETSINGER ET AL.
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 55, no. 4, 20 February 1961, Columbus, Ohio, US; abstract no. 3484b, E. L. MUETTERTIES
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 78, no. 9, 5 March 1973, Columbus, Ohio, US; abstract no. 58494, R. VAN VEEN, F. BICKELHAPUT page 530;
T. ISHIYAMA ET AL.: "Stereoselective Synthesis of Conjugated 1-Phenylthio-1,3-alkadienes and 1,3,5-Alkatrienes through Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction of (E)- or (Z)-1-Alkenylboronates with (E)- or (Z)-2-Bromo-1-phenylthio-1-alkenes", CHEMISTRY LETTERS, no. 1, 1987, TOKYO JP, pages 25 - 28
N. MIYAURA ET AL.: "Stereo- and Regiospecific Synthesis to provide conjugated (E,Z)- and (Z,Z)-Alkadienes, and Arylated (Z)-Alkenes in Excellent Yields via the Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of (Z)-Alkenylboronates with 1-Bromoalkenes and Aryl Iodides", TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, vol. 27, no. 32, 1986, OXFORD GB, pages 3745 - 3748
M. J. SHARP ET AL.: "Synthetic Connections to the Aromatic Directed Metalation. Functionalized Aryl Boronic Acid by Ipso Borodesilylation. General Syntheses of Unsymmetrical Biphenyls and m-Terphenyls", TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, vol. 28, no. 43, 1987, OXFORD GB, pages 5093 - 5096
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Claims:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I in which in the aromatic ring present one CH group may be replaced by N (pyridyl) and in which two of the four valencies of the ring, which are intended to mark possible substituents, may in adjacent position represent a fusedon, unsubstituted or substituted five or sixmembered ring which may contain one to three identical or different heteroatoms selected from N, S and O, and in which R is CrC12alkyl, A) by reaction of an appropriately structured boronic acid of the general formula II or of the trimeric form El which is in equilibrium with it, in the presence of a palladium catalyst, with a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the general formula IV H,C N COOR \ / ^ IV in which R is CrC12alkyl and X is a leaving group, or vice versa B) by reaction of a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the formula X in which R and R8 are CrC12alkyl or B(OR8)2 is preferably the radical in the presence of a Pd catalyst, with a halophenyl compound of the general formula XI which is substituted as desired and in which Y is Br or I and the four valencies in the phenyl ring represent the possible substituents mentioned for I.
2. A process according to claim 1 for the preparation of a compound of the formula la which comprises employing for the reaction an appropriately structured boronic acid Ila in which R is CrC12alkyl and U, V, W and Z are as defined below: is halogen, nitro, cyano, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxy alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylazo, unsubstituted or substituted acylamino, OR12, SR13, SOR14, SO2R15, COOR16, CONR]7R18, COR19, CR20=NR21, N=CR22R23, CR24=NOR25, CR25R26ON=CR27R28, CH2OCOR39 or NR37R38, in which the groups R12 to R28 and R38 and R39 are identical or different and are hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted CrC6alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted CrC6aikenyl, unsubstituted or substituted CrC6alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted C3C6cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubsututed or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkyl and R37 is hydrogen or CrC alkyl, and in which U, V and W are identical or different and are hydrogen or have one of the definitions specified for Z, or in which two of the groups Z, U, V and W in adjacent positions of the phenyl ring, together with the carbon atoms in these positions, form an unsubstituted or substituted five or sixmembered aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring which is fused onto the aryl ring and which may or may not contain one to three heteroatoms (N, S, O).
3. A process according to claim 1, in which the Pd catalyst is selected from Pd(π)(OAc)2, (03P)2Pd<π>(OAc)2, (03P)2Pd>Cl2, (03P)4Pd<°>, bis[l,2bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane]palladium<0), dichloro[l,l'bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]palladium(II), dichloro[l,3bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)Pd(π), dichloro[l,4bis(diphenylphosphino) butane]Pd(II), dichloro[l,2bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]Pd(π) and dichlorobis(triphenyl phosphine)Pd(π).
4. A process according to claim 3 in which the Pd catalyst is tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)Pdrø).
5. A process according to claim 1, in which the leaving group is a halogen or a sulfonate.
6. A process according to claim 1 , which is carried out in the presence of a solvent or solvent mixture.
7. A process according to claim 1, in which the reaction is carried out in the presence of a base.
8. A process according to claim 7, in which the base is an amine.
9. A process according to claim 7, in which the base is Na carbonate or K carbonate or Na hydrogen carbonate or K hydrogen carbonate.
10. A process according to claim 6, in which the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 0°C to the boiling temperature of the solvent.
11. A process according to claim 2, in which A adjacent to the aryl group is oxygen or a group C≡C, CR30=CR31, CHR31CHR30, CHR31O, OCHR31, COO, CONR30, CHR31S, CR31=N, CHR31OCO, CHR31ON=CR30, CR31=NO, N=CR30, N=N or CHR30 and Rj is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkyl or heteroarylthioalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and R30 and R31 are identical or different and are straightchain or branched CrC alkyl or hydrogen.
12. A process according to claim 11, in which A is the group O, CH2O, OCH2, CH2ON=CR2, CH2, CH2CH2, CH=CH or C≡C and Rj is unsubstituted or substituted aryl br unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and R2 is hydrogen, CrC4alkyl, C3C6cycloalkyl, CF3, CrC4alkoxy, CrC4alkylthio or CrC4alkoxyCrC2alkyl, or RΪ and R2, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form an unsubstituted or substituted four to sevenmembered carbocyclic ring which may or may not contain an oxygen or sulfur atom and which may also have an unsubstituted or substituted fusedon benzene ring.
13. A boronic acid of the formula lib lib in which Z is 2tolyloxymethyl, benzyl, phenethyl, CH=CHC6H5, C≡CC6H5, phenoxy, phenoxymethyl, benzyloxy, 2,5dimethylphenoxymethyl or 4[6(2cyano phenoxy )pyrimidinyloxy] .
14. A boronic acid of the formula He » m which Rj is an up to trisubstituted phenyl ring and R2 is CH3, C2H5, CF3, cyclopropyl, CH3O or CH3S.
15. The use of a boronic acid Ea mentioned in claim 2 as an intermediate for the preparation of a compound of the formula la according to claim 2.
16. The use of a boronic acid Eb according to claim 13 as an intermediate for the preparation of a compound of the formula VE.
17. The use of a boronic acid Ec according to claim 14 as an intermediate for the preparation of a compound of the formula VEI.
18. A compound of the formula IV in which R is a C C^alkyl group and X is a leaving group.
19. A compound according to claim 18 of the formula H3Cs Λ\ .COOCH3 O " .
20. A compound of the formula I prepared by a process according to claim 1.
21. A compound of the formula la prepared by a process according to claim 1.
22. A compound of the formula VII prepared by a process according to claim 1.
23. A compound of the formula VEI prepared by a process according to claim 1.
Description:
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ARYLΛCETIC ESTER DERIVATIVES VIA PALLADIUM- CATALYZED CROSS COUPLING REACTION

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of an unsubstituted or ring-substituted 2-methoxyimino-2-arylacetic ester of the formula I

in which in the aromatic ring present one CH group may be replaced by N (pyridyl) and in which two of the four valencies of the ring, which are intended to mark possible substituents, may in adjacent position represent a fused-on, unsubstituted or substituted five- or six-membered ring which may contain one to three identical or different heteroatoms selected from N, S and O, and in which

R is C r C 12 alkyl,

A) by reaction of an appropriately structured boronic acid of the general formula II

or of the trimeric form III

which is in equilibrium with it, in the presence of a palladium catalyst, with a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the general formula IV

in which R is C r C 12 alkyl and

X is a leaving group, or vice versa

B) by reaction of a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the formula X

in which R and R g are C r C 12 alkyl or -B(OR 8 ) 2 is preferably the radical

in the presence of a Pd catalyst, with a halophenyl compound of the general formula XI

which is substituted as desired and in which

Y is Br or I and the four valencies in the phenyl ring represent the possible substituents mentioned for I.

The term leaving group refers to a nucleofugic radical. Examples are, for instance, halogen (e.g. chlorine, bromine or iodine) or sulfonates [-O-SO 2 alkyl(C r C 4 ), -O-SO 2 -C 6 H 5 , -O-SO 2 -C 6 H 4 -CH 3 , -O-SO 2 -CF 3 , etc.].

The palladium catalyst can in principle be chosen as desired. Metallic Pd or Pd/C can be

used. Preferred examples are the following compounds: Pd (II) (OAc) 2 , (0 3 P) 2 Pd (π) (OAc) 2 , (0 3 P) 2 Pd (π) Cl 2 , (0 3 P) 4 Pd (0) , bis[l,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]palladium ( ° ) , dichloro[l, -bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]palladium (π) , dichloro[l,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane]Pd (π) , dichloro[l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)- butane]Pd (II) , dichloro[l,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]Pd (π) , dichlorobis(triphenyl- phosphine)Pd (π) . This list of Pd catalysts is not limiting. Particular preference is given to compounds of the formula IN and X in which R = CH 3 . [0 denotes phenyl].

More precisely, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a microbicidally/insecticidally active compound of the formula la

from an appropriately structured boronic acid Ila

in which

R is C r C 12 alkyl and

U, V, W and Z are as defined below:

Z is halogen, nitro, cyano, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted

heteroarylalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylazo, unsubstituted or substituted acylamino, -OR 12 , -SR 13 , -SOR 14 , -SO 2 R 15 , -COOR 16 , -CONR 17 R 18 , -COR 19 , -CR 20 =NR 21 , -N=CR 22 R 23 , -CR 24 =N-OR 25 , -CR 25 R 26 -O-N=CR 27 R 28 , -CH 2 -OCOR 39 or -NR 37 R 38 , in which the groups R 12 to R 28 and R 38 and R 39 are identical or different and are hydrogen, unsubsututed or substituted C r C 6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C r C 6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted C r C 6 alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkyl and R 37 is hydrogen or C j -C 4 alkyl, and in which U, V and W are identical or different and are hydrogen or have one of the definitions specified for Z, or in which two of the groups Z, U, V and W in adjacent positions of the phenyl ring, together with the carbon atoms in these positions, form an unsubstituted or substituted five- or six-membered aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring which is fused onto the aryl ring and which may or may not contain one to three heteroatoms (N, S, O).

It is preferred to prepare compounds of the formula la in which

Z is -A-R t and

-A- adjacent to the aryl group is oxygen or is the group -C≡C-, -CR 30 =CR 31 -,

-CHR 31 -CHR 30 -, -CHR 31 O-, -OCHR 31 -, -CO-O-, -CONR 30 -, -CHR 31 S-, -CR 31 =N-,

-CHR 31 -OCO-, -CHR 31 ON=CR 30 -, -CR 31 =N-O-, -N=CR 30 -, -N=N- or -CHR 30 - and

R 1 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkyl or heteroarylthioalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and

R 30 and R 31 are identical or different and are straight-chain or branched C r C 4 alkyl or

hydrogen.

Particularly preferred compounds in the context of formula la which are prepared are those in which

-A- is the group -O-, -CH 2 -O-, -O-CH 2 -, -CH 2 ON=CR 2 -, -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -CH 2 -, -CH=CH- or

-C≡C- and

R j is unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and

R 2 is hydrogen, C r C 4 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, CF 3 , C r C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 alkylthio or

Cj-C 4 alkoxy-C r C 2 alkyl, or

Ri and R 2 , together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form an unsubstituted or substituted four- to seven-membered carbocyclic ring which may or may not contain an oxygen or sulfur atom and which may also have an unsubstituted or substituted fused-on benzene ring.

The reaction is carried out in an inert solvent or solvent mixture (e.g. a hydrocarbon such as hexane, benzene, toluene or xylene, an ether such as diethyl ether, dimethoxyethane or tetrahydrofuran, a nitrile such as acetonitrile, an amide such as dimethylformamide, or a halogenated hydrocarbon such as carbon tetrachloride, etc.) in the presence of a base, for example alkali metal compounds or alkaline earth metal compounds such as the hydroxides, oxides or carbonates of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and barium in their solid form or as aqueous solution, and also oxides such as ZnO, Al 2 O 3 , Ag 2 O, etc., in their solid form or as aqueous solution. Examples of further bases are amines such as triethylamine, pyridine, piperidine and 4-dimethylaminopyridine.

The reaction temperatures are preferably in the range from 0°C up to the boiling temperature of the solvent.

In many cases it is preferred to use (0 3 P) 4 Pd (0) as catalyst, to use toluene, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran or dimethylformamide as solvent, to use triethylamine, sodium hydroxide solution or potassium hydroxide solution, aqueous sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate or potassium hydrogen carbonate as base, and to employ a reaction temperature of from 60°C to the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture.

The novel synthesis according to the invention is distinguished by a simple procedure which leads in high yield to compounds of the formula I and/or la, which are obtained in highly pure form, and represents a considerable preparative advantage in relation to

previously disclosed processes for obtaining compounds of the formula I.

As is evident, the effect of the other substituents on the aryl reactant II or XI is of minor significance in the course of the reaction. The critical factor is the ready tendency of the substituents -B(OH) 2 or -B(OR 8 ) and -X or Y to split off from the particular reactant in the presence of Pd and/or a Pd salt.

The preparation of the compounds of the general formula π or, respectively, HI is carried out by methods which are known per se (cf. R. Kόster, in Houben-Weyl, Volume 13/3a, pp. 616-652). Compounds of the formula XI having a leaving group Y which can be split off readily are known from the literature and described in abundance.

Processes for the preparation of methoxyiminophenylacetic ester derivatives of the formula I are described in EP-A-253 123, EP-B-254426, EP-299 694, EP-336 211, EP-354 571, EP-363 818, EP-A-525 516, EP-A-460 575, EP-A-463 488, EP-A-554767 and further publications.

The methoximinoacetic esters of the general formula IV and of the formula X are novel and part of the invention. They are prepared

a) by reacting a methoxy amide of the general formula V

with a halogenating agent such as phosphorus oxytrichloride, phosphorus oxytribromide, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus pentabromide, thionyl chloride, thionyl bromide, phosgene, triphenylphosphine/carbon tetrachloride, and triphenylphosphine/carbon tetrabromide.

Preferred reagents are phosphorus oxytrichloride and phosphorus oxytribromide.

The reaction can be carried out in an inert solvent such as, for example, toluene, dimethoxyethane, dimethylformamide, 1,2-dichloroethane, etc., in a temperature range between room temperature and the boiling temperature of the solvent. The halogenating agent is preferably used in excess as solvent, and the reaction temperature preferably

chosen is its boiling temperature.

Otherwise, the preparation of the compounds of the formula IV is carried out in analogy to that of imino halides from amides (cf. Bonnett in Patai's "The Chemistry of the Carbon-Nitrogen Double Bond", pp. 597-662 (Interscience Publishers, New York, 1970)).

The compounds of the formula IV in which X is iodine are advantageously prepared by halogen exchange with sodium iodide in acetone or sodium iodide in an apolar solvent in the presence of a catalytic quantity of iron(LII) chloride from the corresponding compounds of the formula IV in which

X is chlorine or bromine (cf. Miller and Nunn; Tetrahedron Lett. 2691 (1974)). The preparation of the compounds of the formula TV in which

X is a sulfonyl radical is carried out by reaction of a compound V with a corresponding sulfonyl halide. The compounds of the formula IV can also be prepared

b) by reacting a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the general formula VI

H,C N COOR

3 V vι

with a halogenating agent such as, for example, chlorine or bromine.

The reaction is carried out in a diluent (e.g. water, alcohol, ether, (halogenated) hydrocarbon, etc.) in the temperature range from 0°C to the boiling temperature of the diluent, preferably at from 0°C to 30°C. The compounds of the formula V are already known (EP 465 986) or can be obtained by already known methods.

Sulfonates as leaving group Y in compounds of the formula XI can be obtained by reaction of the corresponding phenol (Y = OH) with a sulfonyl halide, especially sulfonyl chloride, and especially when activating groups are present in the phenyl ring.

The compounds of the formula VI are either already known (DE 3 405 327 (1985)) or can be prepared analogously.

The novel process according to the invention is furthermore distinguished by

a) the use of boronic acid derivatives, for example arylboronic acid derivatives, as

components which are simple and are readily accessible, and also by

b) the ready accessibility (high yields!) of α-bromo-o-tolueneboronic acid (Torssell, Ark.

Kemi JO, 507, 509 (1957); Snyder et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 835 and 3611 (1958)), which may be used as intermediate for the preparation of the compounds of the general formula Ila in which

Z is, for example, substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthioalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryloxyalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylthioalkyl, -CR 25 R 26 -ON=CR 27 R 28 or -CH 2 OCOR 39 , and

U, V and W are as defined above.

Preparation Examples

Example 1 :

A mixture of 0.8 g of 2-(o-tolyloxymefhyl)benzeneboronic acid, 0.8 g of methyl bromomethoxyiminoacetate, 0.38 g of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, 5 ml of a 1 -molar sodium carbonate solution and 15 ml of toluene is maintained at reflux with vigorous stirring under an inert gas atmosphere for 6 hours. After the mixture has cooled, 17 ml of water are added and the mixture is extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts are dried over sodium sulfate, the solution is concentrated in vacuo and the residue is purified by chromatography on silica gel using a diethyl ether/hexane mixture (1:2 % by volume) as eluent. In this way 0.4 g of α-methoxyimino-2-(o-tolyloxymethyl)phenylacetate is obtained as white crystals with the melting point 99-100°C.

Example 2 (preparation of an intermediate)

20 ml of a 1.6 molar solution of n-butyllithium in hexane are added dropwise, under a nitrogen atmosphere and with stirring, to a solution, cooled to -75 °C, of 8.0 g of l-bromo-2-(o-tolyloxymethyl)benzene in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran at a rate such that the temperature does not exceed -70°C. After a further hour 5.4 ml of triethyl borate are added dropwise at -75°C. After stirring for 3 hours more, 5 ml of saturated ammonium chloride solution are added and the cooling bath is removed. At room temperature, 100 ml of 1 N HC1 solution are added and the oil which separates out is extracted twice with diethyl ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. The white solid which remains after the solvent has been removed by distillation is purified by dissolving it in 2 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the solution is extracted twice with diethyl ether, and the extracts are then acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid solution. The precipitate is filtered off and dried to give 4.1 g of 2-(o-tolyloxymethyl)benzeneboronic acid as a white powder with a melting point 170-171°C.

Example 3: (preparation of an intermediate)

A mixture of 4.9 g of α-bromotolueneboronic acid, 2.16 g of o-cresol, 6.4 g of potassium carbonate, 0.1 g of potassium iodide, 2.5 ml of water and 25 ml of acetonitrile is stirred under reflux for 16 hours. The mixture is cooled and filtered, and the filtrate is concentrated in vacuo, acidified with 1 N hydrochloric acid and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined and dried extracts are concentrated in vacuo and the residue is purified by chromatography on silica gel using a 50:50 % by volume mixture of diethyl

ether and hexane. In this way 1 g of 2-(o-tolyloxymethyl)benzeneboronic acid is obtained whose Η-NMR spectrum is identical to that of the boronic acid from Example 2.

Example 4: (preparation of an intermediate)

A mixture of 26.6 g of methyl N-methoxyoxamate and 0.5 g of dimethylformamide in 100 ml of phosphorus oxytrichloride is maintained under reflux for 18 hours. After the removal of the excess phosphorus oxytrichloride by distillation the residue is poured into ice-water and the yellow oil which separates out is extracted twice with diethyl ether. The combined extracts are washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent is removed by distillation. In this way 24.6 g of methyl chloromethoxyiminoacetate are obtained as pale yellow crystals with the melting point 43-44 °C.

Methyl bromomethoxyiminoacetate (pale yellow crystals with the melting point 49-51 °C) is prepared analogously using phosphorus oxytribromide.

Example 5: (preparation of an intermediate)

Chlorine gas is passed at a temperature of 10-15 °C for one hour into a mixture of 2.9 g of methyl methoxyiminoacetate and 20 ml of water. The mixture is then stirred at 25-30°C for 5 hours and subjected to extraction with dichloromethane. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate. After the removal of the solvent by distillation, 2.4 g of methyl chloromethoxyiminoacetate remain as pale yellow crystals with the melting point 43-44°C.

Example 6: Preparation of

1.58 g of phenylboronic acid and 1.52 g of methyl 2-chloro-2-methoximinoacetate are dissolved in a mixture of 15 ml of toluene and 4 ml of ethanol, and 0.27 g of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride and 7.5 ml of 1 molar Na 2 CO 3 solution are added with stirring, the initially yellow suspension developing a red colour. The mixture is stirred for half an hour at room temperature, then for one hour at 45°C and a further hour at 50°C. After the mixture has been cooled to room temperature, 20 ml of water are added and the toluene phase is separated off. The aqueous phase is extracted with twice 40 ml of ethyl acetate, and the combined organic extracts are filtered over Hyflo. The filtrate is washed with 20 ml of water, dried over Na 2 SO 4 and concentrated by evaporation. 1.7 g are obtained of a red-brown oil which is purified on a silica gel column using ethyl ether/hexane (1:4) as eluent. Yield: 0.65 g (43.9 % of theory).

The oxime ethers VII can be prepared analogously to the aforegoing examples from a boronic acid lib and the methyl chloro- or bromomethoxyiminoacetate in the presence of a Pd catalyst.

Table 1 : Intermediates of the formula lib

H 3 C χ / CH 3

lib VII

No. Z Phys. data

1 2-Tolyloxymethyl m.p. 170-171°C

2 Benzyl

3 Phenethyl

4 -CH=CH-C 6 H 5

5 -C≡C-C 6 H 5

6 Phenoxy

7 Phenoxymethyl

8 Benzyloxy

9 2,5-Dimethylphenoxymethyl

10 4- [6- (2-Cyanophenoxy )pyrimidinyloxy]

The above intermediates of the formula lib of Table 1 are a further subject of the present invention.

Table 2:

The oxime ethers VIE can be prepared in analogy to Example 1 from the boronic acid lie and a methoxyiminoacetic ester of the formula IV in the presence of a Pd catalyst, the oxime ethers VHI being characterized by their melting point and/or MS (M + (intensity in ); base peak):

Example R 2 R, Phys. data

11 CH 3 β-Naphthyl m.p. 97-98°C

12 CH 3 α,α,α-Trifluoro-m-tolyl 408(<0.5); 186

13 CH 3 3 ,4-Dichlorophenyl m.p. 103-105°C

14 CH 3 2-Thienyl 346(2);116

15 CH 3 2-Pyridyl m.p. 82-84°C

16 CH 3 3-Cyclopropylmethoxyphenyl 410(8); 116

17 CH 3 4-Chlorophenyl 343(2); 116

18 n-Propyl Phenyl 368(<0.5); 116

19 CH 3 4-Methoxyphenyl 370(10); 116

20 CH 3 3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl 430(49); 116

21 CH 3 2-Furyl m.p. 95-97°C

22 CH 3 3-Bromophenyl 389(0.5); 116

23 CH 3 3-Cyanophenyl m.p. 103-104°C

24 CH 3 3-Trifluoromethylbenzyl 422(4); 116

25 CH 3 4-Nitrophenyl 354(1); 116

26 CH 3 3-Nitrophenyl 354(0.5); 116

27 CF 3 Phenyl 222(4); 116

28 CH 3 CH 2 - Phenyl 323(2); 116

29 i-Propyl Phenyl 368(1); 116

30 CF 3 3-Bromophenyl 252(2); 116

Example R 2 R, Phys. Data

31 CF 3 4-Tolyl 222(6); 116 32 CH 3 2-Benzofuryl m.p.110-112°C 33 CH 3 3,5-Di(trifluoromethyl)- m.p.76-78°C phenyl

34 CH 3 4-Fluorophenyl m.p.89-90°C 35 CH 3 O-CH 2 - β-Naphthyl 420(4); 45 36 Cyclopropyl Phenyl 355(3); 116 37 CH 3 1-Phenoxyethyl 291(63); 116 38 CH 3 3 ,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl 384(12); 116 39 CF 3 3-Trifluoromethylphenyl 240(3); 116 40 CH 3 3-Fluorophenyl m.p.84-85°C 41 Cyclopropyl 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl m.p.69-72°C 42 CH 3 4-Bromophenyl m.p.78°C 43 CH 3 6-(l ,4-Benzodioxanyl) m.p.103-106°C 44 Cyclopropyl 6-(l,4-Benzodioxanyl) 424(20); 116 45 CH 3 3,4-(Difluoromethylenedioxy) m.p.88-89°C phenyl

46 CH 3 3-Methoxyphenyl m.p.96-97°C 47 CH 3 3-Propargyloxyphenyl 394(2); 116 48 CH 3 4-Cyanophenyl m.p.80-81°C 49 CH 3 4-Methoxy-3-(methylthio- m.p.74-78°C methyl)phenyl

52 CH 3 Phenyl m.p.69-71°C 53 CH 3 3,5-Dichlorophenyl m.p.90-93°C 54 CH 3 3-Trifluoromethoxyphenyl 425(1); 116 55 Cyclopropyl 4-Chlorophenyl m.p.78-84°C

Example R 2 Ri Phys. Data

56 Cyclopropyl 3-Chlorophenyl 400(2); 116

57 Cyclopropyl 4-Fluorophenyl m.p. 64-65°C

58 Cyclopropyl 3-Fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl 414(17); 116

59 Cyclopropyl 3-Trifluoromethylphenyl 434(2); 116

60 Cyclopropyl 4-Bromophenyl m.p. 93°C

61 CH 3 3-Chlorophenyl m.p. 79-81 °C

62 CH 3 3-Allyloxyphenyl m.p. 54-55°C

63 CH 3 S 3 ,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl 416(53); 116

64 CH 3 2-Chlorophenyl 343(3): M-OCH 3 ; 116

65 CH 3 3-(Chlorodifluoromethoxy)- 440(<1); 116 phenyl

66 CH 3 3-Tolyl m.p. 99-101°C

67 CH 3 4-Methoxy-2,3,5,6-tetra- m.p. 88-91 °C fluorophenyl

68 CH 3 4-Methylthio-2,3,5,6-tetra- m.p.84-87°C fluorophenyl

69 CH 3 CH 3,4-Difluoromethylenedioxy- m.p. 52-55°C phenyl

70 CH 3 2-(5-Chlorothienyl) 382(10); 116

71 n-Propyl 3,4-Difluoromethylenedioxy- m.p. 102-105°C phenyl

72 CH 3 4-Ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl m.p. 110-111°C

73 H Phenyl m.p. 82-83°C

74 H 4-Chlorophenyl m.p. 158-159°C

75 CH 3 S Phenyl 372(4); 116

76 CH 3 O Phenyl 356(2,5); 116

77 CH 3 4-Cyclopropylmethoxyphenyl m.p. 98-99°C

78 CH 3 CH 2 3-Nitrophenyl m.p. 95-96°C

79 CH 3 0 4-Chlorophenyl 390(2); 116

80 CH 3 S 4-Chlorophenyl 406(2); 116

81 CH 3 S 3-Trifluoromethylphenyl 440(1); 116

82 CH 3 0 3-Trifluoromethylphenyl 424(0.6); 116

83 CH 3 4-Fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl- m.p. 60-63°C

Example R 2 Ri Phys. Data

phenyl

84 CH 3 4-Difluoromethoxyphenyl m.p.82-83°C 85 CH 3 CH 2 2-Thienyl m.p.80-84°C 86 CH 3 6-Methoxy-2-naphthyl m.p.118-119°C 87 CH 3 4-Trifluoromethylphenyl m.p.71°C 88 CH 3 3 ,4-Propylenedioxypheny 1 m.p.97-100°C

90 CH 3 3-Difluoromethoxyphenyl m.p.68-69°C

Example R 2 R, Phys. Data

The above intermediates in the formula lie of Table 2 are a further subject of the present invention, especially those in which

R j is an up to trisubstituted phenyl ring and

R 2 is alternatively methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, cyclopropyl, methoxy or methylthio.