The invention relates to a process for preparing such ΪT-phenyl-N-methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine- -methylester derivatives, where the phenyl group may contain subs ituents in places 2, 4 and/or 6. Each substituent can be hydrogen atom or C . straight or branch chained alkyl group.

A known representative of tf-phenyl-3J-methoxy- acetyl-DL-alanine-methylester derivatives is N-(2,6- di-methylphenyl)-3J-methosyacetyl-DL-alanine-methyl- ester (commercial name: META1AXY ), a systemic fungicide,

introduced by Ciba-Geigy AG in 1973.

The fungicidal characteristics thereof were described first by F. J. Schwin and al. (Mitt. Biol. Bundesanst. Land-Forstswirtsch. Berlin-Dahle , 178, 145 /1977/). As fungicidal composition it is used against peronosporales delivered by air and soil. In case of subtropic and tropic culture plants it is used on the leaves in foim of spray in a wide tempera¬ ture range. It is recommended against Pseudoperonospora humili in &op, Phytophthora infestans in potato, Peronospora tabacina in tobacco and Plasmopara viticola damaging in grape plants. METALAXYL is also used against pathogenics living in the soil, causing rotting of the lower parts of the roots and stems by avocado and cytrus-type plants. It is used against rust in case of corn, pea, sorghum and sunflower, too.

METALAXYL contains asymmetric carbon atom so there exist two optical antipodes thereof. These are not separated from each other in the practice, so the active ingredient is the mixture of the two enantiomers (D and L). Though D-enantiomer has a stronger fungicidal activity as the L-form or DL-mixture, the industrial resolving is not economical.

On the basis of the known processes there are two different reaction methods for preparing METALAXYL.

According to the CH-PS 607.888 and DE-PS 2,515.091 2,6-dimethyl-aniline is reacted with DL-cξ-bromo-pro- pionic acid methylester in presence of sodium-hydrogen- carbonate. The reaction results N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)- -DL-alanine-methyiester. Acylation with methoxy-acetyl- chloride is then carried out and the end-product, METALAXY is thus obtained according to reaction scheme A.

According to the other reaction route des¬ cribed in DE-PS 2,305.495 2,6-dimethyl-aniline is reac¬ ted with pyruvic acid-methylester. The obtained Schiff- base is hydro enized catalytically and the obtained al- kyl-derivative is acylated in a manner described above, when the end-product is formed according to reaction scheme B.

According to DE-PS 2,350.944 2,6-dimethyl- alanine is reacted with DL-o-bromo-propionic acid-methyl¬ ester for 18 hours at a temperature of 120-125°C. The used alkylating agent excess is 3 fold ₎ yield is of 79.6 % for this step.

In the processes described above acylation is carried out after the alkylation step. Acylation of the steric hindered secondary amine does not proceed so quickly as the acylation of the primary amine. Acid chloride should be used in great excess and the yield is moderate.

In US-PS 4,317.916 methoxyacetylchloride of a 10-fold molar excess is used. The excess acid chloride

is then distilled off in vacuum and regenerated. It is not necessary to emphasize the elaborateness and high costs of this process.

The common feature of the processes mentioned is that the end product is prepared by the following steps in the following sequence:

1. alkylation

2. acylation

The invention relates to a process for pre¬ paring U-phenyl-N-methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine-methylester derivatives of the general formula (I) - wherein

R stands for a hydrogen atom or C-Λ Λ alkyl- group - in a way that an optionally substituted aniline of the general formula (II) - wherein R has the meaning as defined above - is acylated at first with the mix¬ ture of methoxyacetic acid used in excess of 5-20% and phosphorus trichloride in a solvent medium, then the obtained N-methoxyacetyl-aniline-derivative of the ge¬ neral formula (III) - wherein R has the same meaning as defined above - is alkylated immediately or after iso¬ lation with alkyl-haloide of an excess of 1.2 - 2.0 M in the presence of an alkali metal, alkali metal alko- holate, alkali metal amide or a complex metal hydride at a temperature of 100-140°C.

The process of the invention is based on the recognition that it is more advantageous to subject the aromatic primary amines at first to acylation and

then to alkylation. In this case the procedures men¬ tioned take place easier than according to the known processes - by alkylation at first and then by acyl¬ ation.

Acylation takes place easier because primary amino group can be acylated easier than a steric hindered secondary amine. Alkylation is much quicker in this case for the mechanism of the procedure is completely different. Namely it was recognized that the acidic hydrogen atom on the nitrogen atom of methoxy-acet- anilides substituted in positions 2, 4 and/or 6 can be replaced by alkali metals. The replacement can be carried out by alkali metals, alkali metal-alkoholates, alkali metal amides or complex metal hydrides. Salt-like compounds are thus obtained reacting easily with alkyl- halogenides, as with DL -C^-bromo-propionic acid-methyl- ester according to reaction scheme C.

Advantages of the process compared to the known methods are as follows:

The aniline substituted in the aromatic nucleus is acylated by using methoxy acetic acid + phosphorus trichloride.

In this case methoxy-acetyl-chloride is formed in situ then reacts with aniline. So one step, namely the preparation of methoxyacetylchloride is saved. For acylation of methoxyacetic acid with phosphorus-trichlori¬ de no reference has been found in the literature. Acylati

is carried out in a solvent medium by using prefer¬ ably aromatic solvents, toluene, chloro-benzene or xylene. Acylation takes place within 0.5 - 1.0 hour.

Alkylation is carried out with alkyl- halogenide, preferably with halogen-carbox lic acid ester, so with DL-o -bromo-propionic acid-methylester. The reaction temperature can be varied between 100-140°C, preferably between 115-125°C If alkylation is carried out in the presence of alkali metal alkohola¬ te the alkohol setting free can be removed preferably continuously from the reaction mixture.

By using the instant method - effecting alkylating after acylation - the addition of reactants requires 1 hour, the post reaction requires 30 minutes, the reaction proceeds completely and the product can be obtained with a yield of 90 %. The used DL-c -bromo- propionic acid-methylester excess is only 2-fold.

Compared to the known methods the advantages of the process according to the invention can be summarized as follows:

1) A new synthesis method is described for preparing N-phenyl-N-methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine-methyl- ester derivatives - e.g. the known fungicide "METALAXYL" according to which aromatic primary amine is at first acylated then alkylated. Thus both procedures take place more quickly and with a better yield than if alkylating is carried out at first and then acylating. Acylation

takes place easier because primary amine can be acylated more easily than secondary amine, and the alkylation is also easier because the sodium salt of acylated amine is reacted with alkylhalogenide.

2) For acylation a methoxy-acetic acid + phosphoroustrichlorid mixture is used instead of methoxyacetyl-chloride. Thus the preparation, isola¬ tion and regeneration of methoxyacetylchloride is saved.

3) By the instant acylation method the acylating agent is used in an excess of 10% compared to US-PS 4,317.916, where methoxyacetylchloride should be used in a 10-fold excess to achieve an appropriate yield.

4) According to DE-PS 2,350.944 DL- o^-bromo- propionic acid ethylester is used in a 3-fold excess. In the process according to the invention the alkylat¬ ing agent is used only in a 2-fold excess, the reaction time is 90 minutes compared to the 18 hours, and the yield obtained is by 10% higher.

5) According to the instant process acylation and alkylation can be carried out without isolating the intermediate - moreover this is more advantageous. Ths is also an important feature, because in the known processes the intermediate must be isolated and also purified.

6) The instant process protects the en¬ vironment. As side product only poliphosphorous acid and sodium bromide are obtained which can preferably be used in other procedures as they are slightly con¬ taminated. The xylene mother liquor obtained at the end oϊ the procedure is of negligible quantity and can be burned. Sewage water will not be formed during the process.

Example 1

Preparation of N-methoxyacet l-2,6-dimethyl aniline

Into a flask of 1 dπr equipped with a stirrer, dropping funnel, thermometer and reflux condenser 500 cπr of toluene, 121.19 g (1.0 M) of 2,6-dimethyl-aniline and 99.0 g (1.1 M) of methoxyacetic acid were measured. 50.6 g (0.37 M) of phosphorous trichloride dissolved in 100 CE of toluene was added dropwise within 1 hour under stirring. The system was then kept under reflux for 90 minutes while hydrochloric acid gas removed from the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and washed with water. Toluene was distilled off and the traces of the solvent were removed in vacuo. The residue was light yellow crystalline product.

Mp.: 64°C. Yield: 183 g (94.6 %)

Example 2

Preparation of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxy- acetyl) -DL-alanine

Into a flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux, descending coaler, thermometer and feeding funnel 9.66 g (0.05 M) of N-methoxyacet 1-2,6-di¬ methyl-aniline prepared according to Example 1, 60 cπr of xylene and 16.7 g (0.1 M) of DL-o -bromo- propionic acid methylester were added. The mixture was heated to 120°C and 20 cm^ of a 30 m% of sodium methylate was added drop-wise during 1 hour while distilling the methanol continuously from the reaction mixture. The temperature of the mixture must be not lower than 110°C. The reaction mixture was then stirred for further 30 minutes then cooled to room temperature.

It was mixed with 100 cπr of water, separated and the aqueous phase extracted with 3 x 20 cπr of xylene.

The xylene fractions were combined dried on sodium sulphate and the xylene was evaporated. The cooled residue solidifies into a crystalline substance.

Mp.: 73.5°C Yield: 12.5-13.0 g (89.5-93.0%)

Example 3

Preparation of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(meth- oxy-acetyl)-DL-alanine-methylester from 2,6-dimethyl- aniline without isolating the intermediate.

6.06 g (0.05 M) of 2,6-dime h l-aniline and 4.95 g (0.055 M) of methoxyacetic acid were dissolved in 30 cm ³ of xylene and 2.6 g (0.019 M) of phosphorous trichloride dissolved in 10 cπr of xylene were added

dropwise under stirring. After addition the mixture is keptSunder reflux for 30 minutes then cooled to room temperature. The xylene solution was separated from the polyphosphorous acid and 16.7 g (0.1 M) of DL-c.-bromo-propionic acid methylester were added. Descending cooler equipped with a reflux condenser was fixed to the flask. The mixture was heated to 120°C and 20 cπr of 30vαL%of sodium methylate were added dropwise during 1 hour while distilling off continuously the methanol from the reaction mixture. The temperature of the reaction mixture must not be lower than 110°C ! Thereafter the reaction mixture is stirred for further 30 minutes, then cooled to room temperature. The sodium bromide formed was filtered out from the solution and washed with 2 x 10 cπr of xylene. The- xylene parts were combined and the solution was evaporated to a volume of 20 cm , then cooled to 0°C. The substance crystalled out was filtered. M.p.: 73-74°C Yield: 13.0 g (93.0 %) Further product can be recovered from the ob¬ tained mother liquor.

Example 4

Preparation of N-raethoxyacetyl-2,4,6-trimethyl- aniline

The process described in Example 1 was followed with the difference that 135.21 g of 2,4,6-trimethyl-

aniline was used in the reaction. M.p.: 88-89°C. Yield: 188.85 g (92.0 %)

Example 5

Preparation of N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-N- -methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine eth lester

The process described in Example 2 was followed with the difference that 10.26 g of N-methoxyacetyl- -2 _r 4,6-trimethyl-aniline was used in the reaction. The end-product is a thick oil. Yield: 12.9 g (88.0 %)

Example 6

Preparation of N-(2-ethyl-phenyl)-N-methoxy- acetyl-DL-alanine-methylester

The process according to Example 3 was followed with the difference that 2-ethyl-aniline was used instead of 2,6-dimethyl-aniline.

The end-product was a thick oil.

Yield: 13.3 g (94.5 %).

Example 7

Preparation of N-(4-isopropyl-phenyl)-N- -methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine-methylester

The process described in Example 3 was followed with the difference that 4-isopropyl-aniline was used instead of 2,6-dimethyl-aniline.

The end-product was a thick oil.

Yield: 13.35 g (91.0 %).

Example 8 (comparative)

Preparation of N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-N- -methoxyacetyl-DL-alanine-methylester according to CH-PS 607,888 (Ciba-Geig ).

Calculated to the starting 2,6-dimethyl-aniline the process can be carried out with a yield of 42 %.