Synthesis and bioactivity of novel (3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl containing acrylate and acrylonitrile derivatives

Fifteen novel (3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl containing Baylis-Hillman adduct derivatives were designed and synthesized. Evaluation of their biological activities showed that methyl 2-((3-(3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)phenoxy)(phenyl)methyl)acrylate (2g) exhibited efficient broad-spectrum fungicidal activity, with 100% control of wheat powdery mildew and cucumber downy mildew and 98% control of cucumber anthracnose at 400 g ai/ha. Some of the other title compounds 2, 3 and two Baylis-Hillman bromide intermediates (11a, 11b) had moderate to good fungicidal activity.