| abstract |
A process for making intermediates of the formulan wherein:n Z is phenyl or naphthyl each optionally substituted with up to 3 of the same or different defined substituents, and R is H, (C 1 -C 10 ) alkyl, (C 3 -C a )alkeny), (C 3 -C 8 )alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenyl (C I -C 4 ) alkyl, naphthyl (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl or each of the last four groups containing up to 3 of the same or different defined ring substituents, for the preparation of certain fungicidal imidazoles and triazoles comprises (1) reacting an arylacetonitrile of the formulan with an epoxide of the formulan 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. |