Zeneca Limited

Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Syngenta Corporation

Alfred Glyn Williams

Nicholas Russell Foster

Paul A Worthington

Stephen Martin Brown

Martin Charles Bowden

David Rees Parry

Gordon Richard Munns

Roger Salmon

David Cartwright

Ian T Kay

Michael Drysdale Turnbull

Raymond Vincent Jones

Alan J Whittle

Trevor R Perrior

Michael Charles Standen

Steven Fitzjohn

Gwilym R Davies

Donn W Moseley

Prafula Govind Kholia

Nigel James Willetts

Harjindersingh Bansal

Maureen Smith

Nicola J Bettesworth

The present invention provides the novel chlorofluorohydrocarbon 1,1-difluoro-1,4-dichlorobutane, and a process for its preparation comprising reacting 1,1,1,4-tetrachlorobutane or 1,1,4-trichlorobut-1-ene with hydrogen fluoride in the liquid or vapour phase. The product has useful solvent properties and is also useful in synthetic chemistry for the introduction of fluorocarbon functionality.

Chlorofluorohydrocarbon and process thereto

Fluorination process

The present invention provides the novel chlorofluorohydrocarbon 1,1-difluoro-1,4-dichlorobutane, and a process for its preparation comprising reacting 1,1,1,4-tetrachlorobutane or 1,1,4-trichlorobut-1-ene with hydrogen fluoride in the liquid or vapor phase. The product has useful solvent properties and is also useful in synthetic chemistry for the introduction of fluorocarbon functionality.

A compound of the following formula ##STR1## wherein M is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal atom and a process for the preparation of the compound is provided.

Process for the preparation of 2-(pyrid-2-yloxymethyl)phenylacetates as

Process for preparing 3-isochromanone

A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I):

Difluorobutenes and difluorobutanes

Chemical process

The present invention provides the novel chlorofluorohydrocarbon 1,1-difluoro-1,4-dichlorobutane, and a process for its preparation by reacting 1,1,1,4-tetrachlorobutane with hydrogen fluoride in the liquid phase. The product has useful solvent properties and is also useful in synthetic chemistry for the introduction of fluorocarbon functionality.

Process

A process for the preparation of: ##STR1## the process comprising treating (2-chlorophenyl)acetic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide (for example, sodium hydroxide) in an organic solvent (for example, an inert hydrocarbon solvent), in the presence of a catalyst (for example a copper salt) at a temperature above 130.degree. C. (for example in the range 130.degree. C. to 300.degree. C.).

Preparation of 2-hydroxyphenyl-acetic acid

A phenyl substituted heterocyclic compound of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is optionally substituted pyridone, thiopyridone, pyrimidinthione, pyrimidinone, pyrazole, imidazole or triazole group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, halogen, haloalkyl, nitro or cyano; R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl; R.sup.4 is halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy or S(O).sub.n R.sup.6 where R.sup.6 is alkyl, haloalkyl or cycloalkyl and n is 0, 1 or 2; having insecticidal activity.

Pyrimidine

A process for the production of epoxides of the formula (I): ##STR1## in which the benzene ring A is substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms, which are the same or different, and optionally carries other substituents, and R.sup.1 is ##STR2## which is the same as or different from the other group ##STR3## or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, the process comprising electrolyzing the corresponding alkene of the formula (II): ##STR4## in a medium comprising a solvent for the alkene and an aqueous solution of a halogen salt, the solvent/water ratio by weight being greater than unity, the solvent being miscible with water at the solvent/water ratio used and being chemically inert to both the alkene and the free halogen produced from the halogen salt by the electrolysis. The epoxides are useful in the synthesis of fungicidal compounds and certain of the epoxides are novel compounds.

Preparation of selected epoxides

A method of preparing a diphenyl ether compound of the formula (II) ##STR1## wherein X is F, Cl or Br; Z is hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2 of CN; and W is methyl, cyano, CH.sub.3 CO--, or a group --C--OR, wherein R is --OH; --OM wherein M is a cation; OR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is an optionally substituted aliphatic radical; --NR.sup.2 R.sup.3 wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each hydrogen or an optionally substituted aliphatic radical; or --NHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting a 3-X-substituted-4,5-difluorobenzotrifluoride with a salt of a 3,4-W,Z-substituted phenol. The invention further comprises novel 3-X-4,5-difluorobenzotrifluorides for use in the process.

Preparation of fluorine-containing diphenyl ethers

Reductive dehydrohalogenation of an .alpha.-haloalcohol to form an alkene by subjecting the haloalcohol to electrolysis in the presence of a liquid diluent and a strong mineral acid. The electrolysis may be carried out in a diaphragm cell using a high hydrogen over voltage cathode.

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Binfield, United Kingdom

Alfred Glyn Williams