| abstract |
Novel compounds are provided which exhibit activity as fungicides. The compounds are of the formula n<CHEM>n wherein:n Z is phenyl or naphthyl each optionally substituted with up to 3 of the same or different defined substituents,n R is H, (C1-C10)alkyl, (C3-C8)alkenyl, (C3-C8)alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl(C1-C4)alkyl, naphthyl(C1-C4)alkyl or each of the last four groups containing up to 3 of the same or different defined ring substituents,n n is zero or an integer of 1-5, and Azo is 1-imidazolyl, (1,-(1,2,4-triazolyl) or 4-(1,2,4-triazolyl). n<??>Also provided are acid addition salts and metal salt complexes of compounds of Formula II above together with a process for making intermediates for the preparation of the Formula II Compounds. The intermediates are of the formula n<CHEM>n and the process comprises (1) reacting an arylacetonitrile of the formulan Z-CH2CNn with an epoxide of the formula n<CHEM>n under basic conditions and (2) hydrolyzing the resulting gamma-iminobutyrolactone produced thereby to yield the desired compound, wherein Z and R in the above formulae are as defined above. |