Synthesis and herbicidal activity of optically active α-(substituted phenoxyacetoxy) (substituted phenyl) methylphosphonates.

α-(Substituted phenoxyacetoxy) alkylphosphonates containing one chiral carbon atom have been demonstrated to be PDHc inhibitor with good herbicidal activity and some of them could be used as potential herbicide. In order to determine any difference in herbicidal activities between (R) and (S) isomers, the synthetic method of optically active substituted phenylalkylphosphonates IB were explored. A highly practical, enantioselective hydrophosphonylation was developed to prepare optically active O,O-dimethyl α-hydroxyalkylphosphonates 3 as key intermediate by asymmetric addition reaction of dimethylphosphite 1 and several kinds of aldehydes 2 using tridentate Schiff base Al(III) complexes as catalysts. A series of novel O,O-dimethyl α-(substituted phenoxyacetoxy)(substituted phenyl)methylphosphonates IB including (R) and (S) enantiomers were further synthesized with excellent enantioselectivity (95-99% ee) by the condensation of optically active α-hydroxyl (substituted phenyl)methylphosphonates 3 and substituted phenoxyacetyl chlorides 4. The herbicidal activities of title compound IB including their racemates, (R) and (S) enantiomers were evaluated in greenhouse for post-emergence application. All compounds IB showed significant inhibitory activity against dicotyledonous plants. A difference in herbicidal effect among racemate, (R) and (S) enantiomers were observed. Especially IB7 and IB10 showed obvious chiral selectivity in inhibitory activity against chickweed. (S)-IB7 with ED50 of 22.8gai/ha was found to be most effective enantiomer against chickweed and its inhibitory activity was 8.17 times higher than (R)-IB7. (S)-IB7 as potential herbicide would be effective at lower rates than (R)-IB7 or (rac)-IB7.