Acrylic acid derivatives and fungicides which contain these compounds

Abstract

Acrylic acid derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each alkyl, X is hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano or nitro, Y is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aryloxy, halogen, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain which is fused to the benzene radical, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, NO.sub.2, alkylthio, thiocyanato, cyano, ##STR2## R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or cycloalkyl or are each unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, and n is from 1 to 4, and fungicides containing these compounds.

Description

The present invention relates to novel acrylic acid derivatives and fungicides which contain these compounds.

It is known that N-trichloromethylthiotetrahydrophthalimide can be used as a fungicide in agriculture, fruit cultivation and horticulture (Chem. Week, June 21, 1972, page 46). However, the known agent can only be used prior to infection and, at low application rates, its action does not meet the requirements set in practice.

We have found that novel acrylic acid derivatives of the formula ##STR3## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, X is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano or nitro, Y is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aryloxy, halogen, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain which is fused to the benzene radical, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, NO.sub.2, alkylthio, thiocyanato, cyano, ##STR4## R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or cycloalkyl or are each phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, halogen or alkoxy, and n is from 1 to 4, have an excellent fungicidal action.

The radicals mentioned in the general formula may have, for example, the following meanings: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl (eg. methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, .alpha.-ethyl-n-hexyl or n-octyl), X is hydrogen, halogen (eg. fluorine, chlorine or bromine), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy (eg. methoxy or n-butoxy), trifluoromethyl, cyano or NO.sub.2, Y is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl (eg. methyl, ethyl, tertbutyl or dodecyl), halo-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl (eg. trifluoromethyl), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl (eg. methoxymethyl), C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl (eg. cyclohexyl), aralkyl (eg. benzyl), aryl (eg. phenyl), aryloxy (eg. phenoxy), halogen (eg. fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine), and unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain which is fused to the benzene ring to form an unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl ring, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy (eg. isopropoxy or hexyloxy), halo-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy (eg. 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio (eg. methylthio), thiocyanato, cyano, NO.sub.2 ##STR5## and R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl (eg. methyl or ethyl), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy (eg. methoxy or tert-butoxy), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio (eg. methylthio) or C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl (eg. cyclohexyl) or are each phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy (eg. phenyl, 3-chlorophenyl 4-methylphenyl or 3-methoxyphenyl).

The novel compounds can be prepared, for example by the following process:

2-methylphenylacetates of the general formula ##STR6## are reacted by the Wislicenus method (Liebigs Annalen 424 (1921), 215 and Ibid. 413 (1917), 206) with methyl formate and sodium hydride in an inert solvent. The resulting compounds of the general formula ##STR7## are reacted with an alkylating agent in the presence of a base in a solvent (eg. acetone) to give .alpha.-(2-methylphenyl)-.beta.-alkoxyacrylates ##STR8## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and X have the above meanings.

Bromination of this compound with N-bromosuccinimide (Horner and Winkelmann, Angew. Chem. 71 (1959), 349) Leads to .alpha.-(2-bromomethylphenyl)-.beta.-alkoxyacrylates, which react with trialkyl phosphites to give phosphonates of the general formula ##STR9## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and X have the above meanings and R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl (Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie 12/1, 433 et seq. (1963)).

The above phosphonates are reacted with unsubstituted or substituted benzaldehydes to give stilbene derivatives: ##STR10## (cf. Wadsworth and Emmons, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 83 (1961), 1732)

The resulting stilbene derivatives can be reduced catalytically and selectively with hydrogen (cf. Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie v/2b, 264-267 (1981) or with diimine (cf. Ibid. IV/1c, 580 and E. E. van Tamelen, R. S. Dewey, M. F. Lease and W. H. Pirkle, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 83 (1961), 4302) to give the novel acrylic acid derivatives: ##STR11##

The methods below illustrate the synthesis of the starting compounds.

Method A

Methyl .alpha.-(2-methylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate

16.5 g of methyl 2-methylphenyl acetate are dissolved in 10 ml of methyl formate, and the solution is slowly added dropwise to a suspension of 3 g of sodium hydride in 150 ml of absolute ether. The mixture is refluxed for 4 hours, after which it is acidified with dilute HCl, and the organic phase is separated off, washed with water, dried over MgSO.sub.4 and evaporated down to give 13.8 g of a pure yellow oil (methyl .alpha.-formyl-(2-methylphenyl)-acetate), which is refluxed with 5.8 ml of dimethylsulphate, 10.9 g of potassium carbonate and 70 ml of acetone for 1 hour. The mixture is filtered, the filtrate is evaporated down, the residue is taken up in ether, and the solution is then washed with dilute aqueous ammonia and several times with water. After the ether has been stripped off, 11.3 g of crude methyl .alpha.-(2-methyl-phenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate (Bp. 102.degree.-108.degree. C./0.05) are obtained.

______________________________________NMR in CDCl.sub.3 : 7.53 s 1H 7.16-7.36 broad s 4H 3.64 s 3H 3.73 s 3H 2.16 s 3H______________________________________

Method B

Methyl .alpha.-(2-bromomethylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate

20.6 g of the methyl .alpha.-(2-methylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate obtained as described in Method A, 17.65 g of bromosuccinimide, 0.2 g of azobisisobutyronitrile and 150 ml of CCl.sub.4 are slowly heated to 90.degree. C. and kept at this temperature until all the succinimide floats on the solvent. The mixture is filtered, the filtrate is evaporated down, the remaining oil is dissolved in about 5 ml of acetone and the solution is brought to crystallization with n-hexane. 27.5 g of colorless crystals of melting point 86.degree.-87.degree. C. are obtained.

Method C

Dimethyl 2-(.beta.-methoxy-.alpha.-methoxycarbonylvinyl)benzylphosphonate

28.5 g of methyl .alpha.-(2-bromomethylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate are refluxed with 11.8 ml of trimethyl phosphite and 6.5 ml of toluene for one hour. The reaction mixture is carefully evaporated down under reduced pressure, the remaining oil is dissolved in 5 ml of ether, and the solution is then brought to crystallization with n-hexane. 27.3 g of colorless crystals of melting point 94.degree. C. are obtained.

Method D

2-(.beta.-methoxy-.alpha.-methoxycarbonylvinyl)-stilbene

3.14 g of dimethyl 2-(.beta.-methoxy-.alpha.-methoxycarbonylvinyl)benzylphosphonate, dissolved in 7 ml of absolute tetrahydrofuran, are added dropwise, at 0.degree. C. to 0.3 g of sodium hydride in 5 ml of absolute tetrahydrofuran. After from 20 to 30 minutes, 1.1 ml of benzaldehyde are added and the mixture is allowed to warm up to 20.degree. C. and then refluxed for 5 hours. After cooling, it is evaporated down and 15 ml of water and 70 ml of ether are added. The organic phase is then extracted by shaking with 3.times.15 ml of 10% strength by weight aqueous NaHCO.sub.3 solution and then extracted 3 times by shaking with saturated NaCl solution. The organic phase is dried over MgSO.sub.4 and then evaporated down, and the residue is finally recrystallized from chloroform/hexane. 1.7 g of colorless crystals of 2-(.beta.-methoxy-.alpha.-methoxycarbonylvinyl)stilbene of melting point 107.degree.-109.degree. C. are obtained.

The Example which follows illustrates the preparation of the novel compounds.

EXAMPLE 1

Methyl .alpha.-(2-phenethylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate

6 g of 2-(.beta.-methoxy-.alpha.-methoxycarbonylvinyl)-stilbene in 150. ml of tetrahydrofuran are hydrogenated in the presence of 1 g of Pd/C (10% strength) under a hydrogen pressure of 1.05 bar and at 17.degree.-21.degree. C. After 0.4 l of hydrogen has been absorbed, the mixture is filtered and the filtrate is evaporated down. 5.3 g of white crystals of melting point 52.degree.-54.degree. C. are obtained (compound No. 1).

The following compounds may be obtained analogously:

__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR12##No. R.sup.1 R.sup.2 X (Y).sub.n Mp .degree.C./NMR__________________________________________________________________________ 1 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H H 52-54 2 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H H 3 i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 CH.sub.3 H H 4 nC.sub.6 H.sub.13 CH.sub.3 H H 5 n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 H H 6 n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 CH.sub.3 H H 7 s-C.sub.4 H.sub.9 CH.sub.3 H H 8 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H H 9 CH.sub.3 i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H H10 CH.sub.3 n-C.sub.6 H.sub.13 H H11 CH.sub.3 n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H H12 CH.sub.3 s-C.sub.4 H.sub.9 H H13 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H H14 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 3-Cl H15 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 4-Cl H16 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 5-Cl H17 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 6-Cl H18 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 5-OCH.sub.3 H19 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 5-CF.sub.3 H20 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 5-CN H21 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 5-NO.sub.2 4-CH.sub.322 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 6-NO.sub.2 H23 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-t-C.sub.4 H.sub.924 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-C.sub.2 H.sub.525 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-CH.sub.326 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-CH.sub.327 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-CH.sub.3 56-5828 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-Cl29 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-Cl 45-4830 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-Cl31 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,4-Cl.sub.232 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3,5-Cl.sub.233 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-F34 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-F35 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-F36 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-CF.sub.3 48-5037 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-CF.sub.3 83-8738 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-Br39 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-phenoxy oil40 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-phenoxy41 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-OCH.sub.3 72-7542 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-OCH.sub.3 26-3043 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-OCH.sub.344 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-O(t)-C.sub.4 H.sub.945 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-O(n)-C.sub.4 H.sub.946 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.347 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-I48 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H ##STR13## oil49 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H ##STR14## 92-9350 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-OCHF.sub.251 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-OCF.sub.2 CHF.sub.252 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-SCH.sub.353 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-CN54 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-CN55 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-SCN56 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-N(CH.sub.3).sub.257 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-NHCOCH.sub.358 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-NHCOOCH.sub.359 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-NHCON(CH.sub.3).sub.260 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-COOCH.sub.361 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-CONHCH.sub.362 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-SO.sub.2 CH.sub.363 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-phenylsulfonyl64 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-COCH.sub.365 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-OSO.sub.2 CH.sub.366 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-SO.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.267 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H ##STR15##68 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-benzoyl69 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-NO.sub.270 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-NO.sub.271 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-Cl-6F72 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,4,5(CH.sub.3).sub.373 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3,4,5(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 oil74 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,4(CH.sub.3).sub.275 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.776 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-phenyl77 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,3,4-Cl.sub.378 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,6-Cl.sub.279 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3,4-Cl.sub.280 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-NO.sub.2 4CH.sub.381 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.282 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,4,5(OCH.sub.3).sub.383 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3,5-(OCH.sub.3).sub.284 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-benzyloxy oil85 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2,4,6(OCH.sub.3).sub.386 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 4-O(n)C.sub.6 H.sub.1387 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-Cl5NO.sub.288 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3NO.sub.2 4Cl89 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-Cl6NO.sub.290 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 2-OCF.sub.2 CHF.sub.291 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 3-Br4OCH.sub.392 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 3-Cl93 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-Cl94 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 3,5Cl.sub.295 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-F96 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-Br97 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-CH.sub.398 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.299 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-OCH.sub.3100 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 3,4,5-(OCH.sub.3).sub.3101 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 3-CH.sub.3102 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 4-(t)C.sub.4 H.sub.9103 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 2CH.sub.3104 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 4-Cl105 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 4-F106 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 4-CH.sub.3107 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 4-OCH.sub.3108 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 4-NO.sub.2__________________________________________________________________________

In general terms, the novel compounds are very effective against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, in particular those from the class consisting of the Ascomycetes, Phycomycetes and Basidiomycetes. Some of them have a systemic action and can be used as foliar and soil fungicides.

The fungicidal compounds are of particular interest for controlling a large number of fungi in various crops or their seeds, in particular wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, corn, cotton, soybean, coffee, sugar cane, fruit and ornamentals in horticulture, in viticulture, and for vegetables, such as cucumbers, beans and Cucurbitaceae.

The novel compounds are particularly useful for controlling the following plant diseases:

Erysiphe graminis in cereals, Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea in Cucurbitaceae, Podosphaera leucotricha in apples, Uncinula necator in vines, Puccinia species in cereals, Rhizoctonia solani in cotton and lawns, Ustilago species in cerals and sugar cane, Venturia inaequalis (scab) in apples, Septoria nodorum in wheat, Pyrenophora teres in barley, Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) in strawberries and vines, Cercospora arachidicola in groundnuts, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides in wheat and barley, Pyricularia oryzae in rice, Phytophthora infestans in potatoes and tomatoes, Alternaria solani in potatoes and tomatoes, Plasmopara viticola in grapes, and Fusarium and Verticillium species in various plants.

The compounds are applied by spraying or dusting plants with the active ingredients, or treating the seeds of the plants with the active ingredients. They are applied before or after infection of the plants or seeds by the fungi.

The novel substances can be converted to the conventional formulations, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes and granules. The application forms depend entirely on the purposes for which they are intended; they should at all events ensure a fine and uniform distribution of the active substance. The formulations are produced in a known manner, for example by extending the active ingredient with solvents and/or carriers, with or without the use of emulsifiers and dispersants; if water is used as a diluent, it is also possible to employ other, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Suitable assistants for this purpose are essentially solvents, such as aromatics (eg. xylene or benzene), chlorinated aromatics (eg. chlorobenzenes), paraffins (eg. oil fractions), alcohols (eg. methanol or butanol), ketones (eg. cyclohexanone), amines (eg. ethanolamine or dimethylformamide) and water; carriers, such as ground natural minerals (kaolins, aluminas, talc or chalk) and ground synthetic minerals (eg. highly disperse silica or silicates); emulsifiers, such as nonionic and anionic emulsifiers (eg. polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, alkylsulfonates and arylsulfonates) and dispersants, such as lignin, sulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

The fungicides generally contain from 0.1 to 95, preferably from 0.5 to 90, % by weight of active ingredient. The application rates are from 0.05 to 3 kg or more of active ingredient per ha, depending on the type of effect desired.

The novel compounds may also be employed in material protection, inter alia for controlling wood-destroying fungi, such as Coniophora puteana and Polystictus versicolor. The novel active ingredients can also be used as fungicidal components of oily wood preservatives for protecting wood against wood-discoloring fungi. They are used by treating, for example impregnating or painting, the wood with these agents.

Some of the novel compounds are extremely effective against human-pathogenic fungi, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. The agents and the ready-to-use formulations prepared from them, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, dusts, pastes or granules, are applied in a conventional manner, for example by spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, dressing or watering.

Examples of such formulations are:

I. 90 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is mixed with 10 parts by weight of N-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidone. A mixture is obtained which is suitable for application in the form of very fine drops.

II. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 80 parts by weight of xylene, 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 8 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of oleic acid-N-monoethanolamide, 5 parts by weight of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and 5 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into water and uniformly distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained.

III. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 40 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 30 parts by weight of isobutanol, 20 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into water and finely distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained:

IV. 20 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is dissolved in a mixture consisting of 25 parts by weight of cyclohexanol, 65 parts by weight of a mineral oil fraction having a boiling point between 210.degree. and 280.degree. C., and 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of castor oil. By pouring the solution into water and uniformly distributing it therein, an aqueous dispersion is obtained.

V. 80 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is well mixed with 3 parts by weight of the sodium salt of diisobutylnaphthalene-alpha-sulfonic acid, 10 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a lignin-sulfonic acid obtained from a sulfite waste liquor, and 7 parts by weight of powdered silica gel, and triturated in a hammer mill. By uniformly distributing the mixture in water, a spray liquor is obtained.

VI. 3 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is intimately mixed with 97 parts by weight of particulate kaolin. A dust is obtained containing 3% by weight of the active ingredient.

VII. 30 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is intimately mixed with a mixture consisting of 92 parts by weight of powdered silica gel and 8 parts by weight of paraffin oil which has been sprayed onto the surface of this silica gel. A formulation of the active ingredient is obtained having good adherence.

VIII. 40 parts by weight of compound no. 1 is intimately mixed with 10 parts of the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid-urea-formaldehyde condensate, 2 parts of silica gel and 48 parts of water to give a stable aqueous dispersion. Dilution in water gives an aqueous dispersion.

IX. 20 parts of compound no. 1 is intimately mixed with 2 parts of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 8 parts of a fatty alcohol polyglycol ether, 2 parts of the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid-urea-formaldehyde condensate and 68 parts of a paraffinic mineral oil. A stable oily dispersion is obtained.

In these application forms, the agents according to the invention may also be present together with other active ingredients, for example herbicides, insecticides, growth regulators and fungicides, or may furthermore be mixed with fertilizers and applied together with these. Mixing with fungicides frequently results in a greater fungicidal action spectrum.

The following list of fungicides with which the novel compounds may be combined is intended to illustrate possible combinations but not to impose any restrictions.

Examples of fungicides which may be combined with the novel compounds are:

sulfur dithiocarbamates and their derivatives, such as ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, manganese zinc ethylenediaminebisdithiocarbamate, tetramethylthiuram disulfides, ammonia complex of zinc N,N'-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, ammonia complex of zinc N,N'-propylenebisdithiocarbamate, zinc N,N'-propylenebisdithiocarbamate and N,N'-polypropylenebis (thiocarbamyl disulfide; nitro derivatives, such as dinitro(1-methylheptyl)-phenyl crotonate, 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate, 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl isopropylcarbonate and diisopropyl 5-nitroisophthalate; heterocyclic substances, such as 2-heptadecylimidazol-2-yl acetate, 2,4-dichloro-6-(o-chloroanilino)-s-triazine, 0,0-diethyl phthalimidophosphonothioate, 5-amino-1-[bis-(dimethylamino)-phosphinyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole, 2,3-dicyano-1,4-dithiaanthraquinone, 2-thio-1,3-dithio[4,5-b]quinoxaline, methyl 1-(butylcarbamyl)-2-benzimidazolecarbamate, 2-methoxycarbonylaminobenzimidazole, 2-(fur-2-yl)-benzimidazole, 2-(thiazol-4-yl)benzimidazole, N-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylthio)-tetrahydrophthalimide, N-trichloromethylthiotetrahydrophthalimide, N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide, N-dichlorofluoromethylthio-N',N'-dimethyl-N-phenylsulfuric acid diamide, 5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole, 2-thiocyanatomethylthiobenzothiazole, 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, 4-(2-chlorophenylhydrazono)-3-methyl-5-isoxazolone, 2-thiopyridine 1-oxide, 8-hydroxyquinoline and its copper salt, 2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiin, 2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiin 4,4-dioxide, 2-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyran-3-carboxanilide, 2-methylfuran-3-carboxanilide, 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide, 2,4,5-trimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide, 2,5-dimethyl-N-cyclohexylfuran-3-carboxamide, N-cyclohexyl-N-methoxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxamide, 2-methylbenzanilide, 2-iodobenzanilide, N-formyl-N-morpholine-2,2,2-trichloroethylacetal, piperazine-1,4-diylbis-(1-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)-formamide), 1-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-1-formylamino-2,2,2-trichloroethane, 2,6-dimethyl-N-tridecylmorpholine and its salts, 2,6-dimethyl-N-cyclododecylmorpholine and its salts, N-[3-(p-tert. -butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-cis-2,6-di-methylmorpholine, N-[3-(p-tert.-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-piperidine, 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-ethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl -4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole, N-(n-propyl)-N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyethyl)-N'-imidazolylurea, 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-one, 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol, 1-(4-phenylphenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanol, .alpha.-(2-chlorophenyl)-.alpha.(4-chlorophenyl -5-pyrimidinemethanol, 5-butyl-2-dimethylamino-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine, bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinemethanol, 1,2-bis-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)-benzene, 1,2-bis-(3-methoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)-benzene and various fungicides, such as dodecylguanidine acetate, 3-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-2-oxycyclohexyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-glutaramide, hexachlorobenzene, DL-methyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-fur-2-yl alanate, methyl DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(2'-methoxyacetyl)alanate, N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-chloroacetyl-DL-2-aminobutyrolactone, methyl DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(phenylacetyl)-alanate, 5-methyl-5-vinyl-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxo-1,3-oxazolidine, 3-[3,5-dichlorophenyl]-5-methyl-5-methoxymethyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione, 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-isopropylcarbamylhydantoin, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboximide, 2-cyano-[N-(ethylaminocarbonyl)-2-methoximino]-acetamide, 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-pentyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole, 2,4-difluoro-.alpha.-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-benzhydryl alcohol, N-(3-chloro-2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-3-chloro-2-aminopyridine, and 1-((bis-(4-fluorophenyl)-methylsilyl)-methyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

For the following experiments, the prior art active ingredient N-trichloromethylthiotetrahydrophthalimide (A) was used for comparison purposes.

USE EXAMPLE 1

Action on Phytophthora infestans in tomatoes

Leaves of potted tomatoes of the "Grosse Fleisch-tomate" variety were sprayed with aqueous liquors containing (dry basis) 80% of active ingredient and 20% of emulsifier. After the sprayed-on layer had dried, the leaves were infected with a zoospore suspension of Phytophthora infestans. The plants were then placed for 5 days in a water vapor-saturated chamber kept at 16.degree. to 18.degree. C. After this period, the disease had spread on the untreated control plants to such an extent that the fungicidal action of the compounds was able to be assessed.

The results of this experiment show that compound 1, applied as a 0.025 and 0.006% spray liquor, had a better fungicidal action (97%) than prior art active ingredient A (80%).

USE EXAMPLE 2

Action on Plasmopara viticola

Leaves of potted vines of the Muller-Thurgau variety were sprayed with aqueous suspensions containing (dry basis) 80% of active ingredient and 20% of emulsifier. To assess the duration of action, the plants were set up, after the sprayed-on layer had dried, for 10 days in the greenhouse. Then the leaves were infected with a zoospore suspension of Plasmopara viticola. The plants were first placed for 16 hours in a water vapor-saturated chamber at 24.degree. C. and then in a greenhouse for 8 days at from 20.degree. to 30.degree. C. To accelerate and intensify the sporangiophore discharge, the plants were then again placed in the moist chamber for 16 hours. The extent of fungus attack was then assessed on the undersides of the leaves.

The results of the experiment show that active ingredient 1, when applied as a 0.05 and 0.0125% spray liquor, had a good fungicidal action (100%).

USE EXAMPLE 3

Action on powdery mildew of wheat

Leaves of pot-grown wheat seedlings of the Fruhgold variety were sprayed with aqueous spray liquor containing (dry basis) 80% of active ingredient and 20% of emulsifier, and, 24 hours after the spray coating had dried on, the leaves were dusted with oidia (spores) of powdery mildew of wheat (Erysiphe graminis var. tritici). The test plants were then placed in a greenhouse at from 20.degree. to 22.degree. C. and from 75 to 80% relative humidity. After 7 days, the extent of powdery mildew spread was determined.

The results show that, when used as a liquor containing the active ingredient in a concentration of 0.025, 0.006 and 0.0015%, compound 1 had a good fungicidal action (100%).

USE EXAMPLE 4

Action on Pyrenophora teres

Leaves of barley seedlings of the Asse variety, in the two-leaf stage, were sprayed to runoff with an aqueous spray liquor containing (dry basis) 80% of active ingredient and 20% of emulsifier. After 24 hours the plants were inoculated with a spore suspension of Pyrenophora teres, and cultivated further for 48 hours in a cabinet at 18.degree. C. and a high relative humidity. The plants were then kept for a further 5 days in the greenhouse at 20.degree. to 22.degree. C. and 70% relative humidity. The spread of the symptoms was then assessed.

The results show that, when used as a liquor containing the active ingredient in a concentration of 0.05%, for example compound 1 had a good fungicidal action (100%).

Claims

1. An acrylic acid derivative of the formula: ##STR16## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl; X is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano or nitro; y is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aryloxy, halogen, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain which is fused to the benzene radical, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, nitro, alkylthio, thiocyanato, cyano, or a group of the formula: ##STR17## wherein R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or cycloalkyl or are each phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, halogen or alkoxy, and n is from 1 to 4.

2. The acrylic acid derivative of claim 1, wherein Y is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, halo-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl, phenoxy, halogen, an unsubstituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain which is fused to the benzene radical to form naphthyl ring, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, halo-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio, thiocyanato, cyano or a group of the formula: ##STR18## and wherein R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio or C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl or are each phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy.

3. A fungicidal composition, comprising an effective amount of one or more compounds as set forth in claim 1 and a carrier.

4. A process for combating fungi, which comprises treating fungi, plants, seeds or soil or a combination thereof by adding thereto a fungicidally effective amount of one or more compounds as set forth in claim 1.

5. A process for combating fungi, which comprises treating fungi, plants, seeds or soil or a combination thereof by adding thereto a fungicidally effective amount of the composition of claim 3.

6. The compound, methyl .alpha.-(2-phenethylphenyl)-.beta.-methoxyacrylate.

7. A fungicidal composition, comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 6 and a carrier.

8. The fungicidal composition according to claim 3, wherein said composition comprises from 0.5 to 90% by weight of said acrylic acid fungicidal compound.

9. The process according to claim 4, wherein said fungicidally effective amount is from about 0.05 up to 3 kg or more of acrylic acid fungicidal compound per ha.