WO2013050301A1

WO2013050301A1 - Enantionselective processes to insecticidal 3-aryl-3-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrrolidines

Info

Publication number: WO2013050301A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/069171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tomas Smejkal; Helmars Smits; Sebastian Volker Wendeborn; Guillaume Berthon; Jérôme Yves CASSAYRE; Myriem El Qacemi
Original assignee: Syngenta Participations Ag
Priority date: 2011-10-03
Filing date: 2012-09-28
Publication date: 2013-04-11
Also published as: CN105017125B; CN103857656A; US20140296527A1; US9469633B2; CN103857656B; CN105017125A; BR112014007460A2; CN109438316A

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes for the enantio-selective preparation of spyrrolidine derivatives useful in the manufacture of pesticidally active compounds, as well as to intermedates in the processes. The processes include those comprising (a-i) reacting a compound of formula (Ia), formula (Ia), wherein P is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, wherein the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring carbon atom; R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; with a source of cyanide in the presence a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula IIa, formula (IIa), wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula (Ia); and (a-ii) oxidising the compound of formula IIa with a peroxy acid, or peroxide in the presence of an acid to give a compound of formula (VI), formula (VI), wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula (Ia).

Description

ENAN IONSELEC IVE PROCESSES TO INSECTICIDAL

3 -ARYL - 3 - TRIFLUOROMETHYL - SUBSTITUTED PYRROLIDINES

The present invention relates to the synthesis of intermediates useful for the preparation of substituted pyrrolidine derivatives, including those having pesticidal activity. The invention relates more particularly to the stereoselective syntheses of these intermediates

Certain pyrrolidine derivatives with insecticidal properties are disclosed in, for example

WO2008/128711, WO2010043315, WO2011/080211. Such pyrrolidine derivatives include at least one chiral centre at one of the ring members of the pyrrolidine moiety. The present invention provides a process for selectively synthesizing enantiomers of such compounds as well as intermediates that can be used in the synthesis of such compounds.

A route to enantio-enriched intermediates is desirable in view of the differential biological activity of the enantiomers. Use of enantio-enriched intermediates can therefore reduce the amount of active ingredient needed to control key pests, thereby reducing costs and impact on the environment.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(a-i) reacting a compound of formula la

wherein

P is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, wherein the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring carbon atom;

Pv¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a source of cyanide in the presence a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula Ila

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(a-ii) oxidising the compound of formula Ila with a peroxy acid, or peroxide in the presence of an acid, preferably a strong acid, to give a compound of formula VI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la. The ability to prepare compounds of formula VI from compounds of formula Ila via the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction was unexpected and provides an efficient route to enantio-enriched pyrrolidine derivatives, and can also be applied to reactions with racemic mixtures.

In one embodiment step (a-ii) comprises oxidising the compound of formula Ila with a peroxide in the presence of a strong acid to give a compound of formula VI.

In addition, the reaction optionally comprises

(a-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula VI with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la. and optionally

(a-iv-1) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII)

X -A' (XIII) wherein X is a leaving group such as halogen, and A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XVI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII: or the reaction optionally comprises

(a-iii-2) reacting the compound of formula VI with a compound of formula XIII to give a compound of formula XII

(XII) wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII: and optionally

(a-iv-2) reducing the compound of formula XII with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XVI.

In a further aspect the invention provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(a-1) reacting a compound of formula la

(la)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(a-2) oxidizing the compound of formula II a with a peroxide to give a compound of formula XVIII

° (XVIII)

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(a-3) reducing the compound of formula XVIII with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and and wherein the reaction optionally comprises

(a-4-1) reducing the compound of formula III with a suitable reducing agent

to give a compound of formula IX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and optionally

(a-5-1) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII) X^B-A' (XIII) wherein X^B is a leaving group such as halogen, and A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XVI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII; or the reaction optionally comprises

(a-4-2) reacting the compound of formula III with a compound of formula (XIII) to give a compound of formula XVII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII; and optionally

(a-5-2) reducing the compound of formula XVII with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XVI. In a further aspect the inventino provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(b-i) reacting a compound of formula lb

(ib) wherein

P is optionally substituted heteroaryl, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen or oxygen atom, wherein the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring carbon atom;

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a source of cyanide in the presence a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula lib

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula Ib; and

(b-ii-1) oxidatively cleaving the compound of formula lib to give a compound of formula XIX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula Ib; and

(b-ii-2) hydrolysing and dehydrating the compound of formula XIX to give a compound of formula VI

(VI) wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula lb;

wherein dehydration is performed in the presence of acid; or

(b-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula lib with a suitable reducing agent to give a

III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I.

(c-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula lib with a suitable reducing agent to give a

III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I;

(c-i) reacting a compound of formula I

wherein

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom,

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a source of cyanide in the presence a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula II

N

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula II with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula III

(III)

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or lysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula V

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-iii-2) cyclising the compound of formula V, e.g. by heating, to give a compound of formula VI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(c-iv-1) hydrolysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula VII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-iv-2) cyclising the compound of formula VII, e.g. by heating, to give a compound of formula VI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(c-v-1) reducing the compound of formula II with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula VIII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-v-2) treating the compound of formula VIII with a suitable activating agent to give a compound of

(IX)

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

-1) hydrolysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula X

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

-2) reacting the compound of formula X with a compound of formula XI H₂N-A' (XI) wherein A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XI; or (c-vii-1) reducing the compound of formula I with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-vii-2) reacting the compound of formula IV with a compound of formula XIII

X -A' (XIII) wherein A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII and X is a leaving group, e.g. halogen such as bromo, to give a compound of formula XIV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII; and

(c-vii-3) reducing the compound of formula XIV with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XV

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII; and (c-vii-4) treating the compound of formula XV with a suitable activating agent to give a compound of formula XVI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII: or

(c-viii-1) preparing a compound of formula XIV as described in a-vii-2;

(c-viii-2) cyclising the compound of formula XIV, e.g. by heating, to give a compound of formula XVII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII.

In a further asepct the invention provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(d-i) reacting a compound of formula II

wherein

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom,

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a nitromethane in the presence a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula XX.

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and (d-ii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(d-ii-2) cyclising the compound of formula IV, e.g. by heating, to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(d-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of

^0H (VIII)

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(d-iii-2) treating the compound of formula VIII with an activating agent to give a compound of formula IX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I.

In a further aspect the invntion provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(e-i) reacting a compound of formula XXI

O (XXI) wherein

R is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a compound of formula XXII

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom; and (e-ii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(e-ii-2) cyclising the compound of formula IV, e.g. by heating, to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(e-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula VIII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(e-iii-2) treating the compound of formula VIII with an activating agent, such as SOCI₂ to give a compound of formula IX wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I.

In a further aspect the invention provides a process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising -i) reacting a compound of formula XXI

(XXI)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a compound of formula XXIII

wherein R¹⁰⁰ is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

in the presence of a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula XXIV

wherein R¹, R² are as defined for the compound of formula XXI and R¹⁰⁰ is as defined for the compound of formula XXIII; and (f-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula XXIV with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XXV

wherein R¹, R² are as defined for the compound of formula XXI and R¹⁰⁰ is as defined for the compound of formula XXIII; and (f-iii) treating the compound of formula XXV with base followed by treatment with acid to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula XXI.

The processes of the invention may also comprise one or more of the following:

reducing a compound of formula III to a compound of formula IX with a suitable reducing agent; reducing a compound of formula IV to a compound of formula III with a suitable reducing agent; reducing a compound of formula IV to a compound of formula IX with a suitable reducing agent; reducing a compound of formula XII to a compound of formula XVII with a suitable reducing agent;

reducing a compound of formula XII to a compound of formula XVI with a suitable reducing agent;

reducing a compound of formula XVII to a compound of formula XVI with a suitable reducing agent.

Suitable reducing agents for the above processes will be aparent to the person skilled in the art, and are examples are described in more detail below. a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula lie

wherein

P is alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, or arylsulfinyl, each optionally substituted;

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula III

wherein

R is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. the invention provides a compound of formula IV

wherein

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom,

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula V

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula VI

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. invention provides a compound of formula VII

(VII)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula VIII

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. invention provides a compound of formula IX

wherein

R is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted. Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula X

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XII

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XIV

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XV

(XV)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl. Preferred substituent definitions are given below. e invention provides a compound of formula XVI

(XVI)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl. Preferred substituent definitions are given below. on provides a compound of formula XVII

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XVIII

° (XVIII)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of lie and a compound of formula IIcA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula lie.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula III and a compound of formula IIIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula III.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula IV and a

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula V and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substitutedwherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula V.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula VI and a compound of formula VIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; R is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VI.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula VII and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VII.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula VIII and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VIII.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula IX and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula IX.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula X and a

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula X.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XII and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XII.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XIV and a compound of formula XIVA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XIV.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XV and a

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XV.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XVI and a compound of formula XVIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVI.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XVII and a compound of formula XVIIA

(XVIIA) (XVII)

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVII.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below. In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XVIII and a compound of formula XVIIIA

O' (XVIIIA) (XVIII)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVIII.

Preferred substituent definitions are given below.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXIX.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXX.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXI.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXII.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXIII.

(XXIX) (XXX) (XXXI) (XXXII) (XXXIII)

In the above compounds R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula Ila. In a further aspect the invention provides a mixture comprising a compound of formula XXIX and a compound of formula XXIXA, wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XXIX. In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXX and a compound of formula XXXA wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XXX.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXI and a compound of formula XXXIA wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XXXI. In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXII and a compound of formula XXXIIA wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XXXII.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXIII and a compound of formula XXXIIA wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XXXII.

The compound of formula XXIXA, XXXA, XXXIA, XXXIIA and XXXIIIA have the opposite stereochemistry to XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII and XXXIII at the carbon bonded to R¹ and R².

In a further aspect the invention provides a process for preparing pyrrolidine derivatives comprising (a-i) reacting a compound of formula la

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a source of cyanide to give a compound of formula Ila

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(a-ii) oxidising the compound of formula Ila with a peroxide in the presence of strong acid to give a compound of formula VI- 1

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la.

The cyanide addition can be done in presence of a base and /or a catalyst. Examples of bases include triethyl amine, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide. Examples of chiral catalysts include crown ethers and phase transfer catalysts such as tetrabutylammonium bromide.

In addition, the reaction optionally comprises

(a-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula VI- 1 with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IX -1

(a-iv- 1 ) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII) X^B-A' (XIII) wherein X^B is a leaving group such as halogen, and A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XVI- 1

(a-iii-2) reacting the compound of formula VI- 1 with a compound of formula XIII- 1 to give a compound of formula XII- 1

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII; and optionally (a-iv-2) reducing the compound of formula XII- 1 with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XVI- 1.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula VI- 1.

5 In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXIX- 1.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXX- 1.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXI- 1.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXII- 1.

In a further aspect the invention provides a compound of formula XXXIII- 1.

(XXIX-1 ) (XXX-1 ) (XXXI-1 ) (XXXII-1 ) (XXXIII-1 )

10

In the compounds above R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la.

In enantiomerically enriched mixtures of the invention, the molar proportion of the enriched compound in the mixture compared to the total amount of both enantiomers is for example greater than 15 50%, e.g. at least 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or at least 99%.

Alkyl groups (either alone or as part of a larger group, such as alkoxy-, alkylthio-, alkylsulfinyl-, alkylsulfonyl-, alkylcarbonyl- or alkoxycarbonyl-) can be in the form of a straight or branched chain and are, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, prop-2-yl, butyl, but-2-yl, 2 -methyl-prop -1 -yl or 2-methyl-prop-2- yl. The alkyl groups are, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably Ci-Ce, more preferably C₁-C4, most 0 preferably C₁-C3 alkyl groups.

Alkylene groups can be in the form of a straight or branched chain and are, for example, -CH₂- , -CH₂-CH₂-, -CH(CH₃)-, -CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-, -CH(CH₃)-CH₂-, or -CH(CH₂CH₃)-. The alkylene groups are, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably Ci-C₆, more preferably C_rC₃, more preferably C_rC₂, most preferably Q alkylene groups.

5 Alkenyl groups can be in the form of straight or branched chains, and can be, where appropriate, of either the (E)- or (Z) -configuration. Examples are vinyl and allyl. The alkenyl groups are, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably C₂-C₆, more preferably C₂-C₄, most preferably C₂-C₃ alkenyl groups.

Alkynyl groups can be in the form of straight or branched chains. Examples are ethynyl and propargyl. The alkynyl groups are, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably C₂-C₆, more preferably C₂- 30 C₄, most preferably C₂-C₃ alkynyl groups.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Haloalkyl groups (either alone or as part of a larger group, such as haloalkoxy-, haloalkylthio-, haloalkylsulfinyl-, haloalkylsulfonyl-, haloalkylcarbonyl- or haloalkoxycarbonyl-) are alkyl groups which are substituted by one or more of the same or different halogen atoms and are, for example, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl or 2,2,2-trifluoro-ethyl.

Haloalkenyl groups are alkenyl groups which are substituted by one or more of the same or different halogen atoms and are, for example, 2,2-difluoro-vinyl or 1 ,2-dichloro-2-fluoro-vinyl.

Haloalkynyl groups are alkynyl groups which are substituted by one or more of the same or different halogen atoms and are, for example, l-chloro-prop-2-ynyl.

Cycloalkyl groups can be in mono- or bi-cyclic form and are, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl and bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl. The cycloalkyl groups are, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably C₃-C₈, more preferably C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl groups.

Aryl groups are aromatic ring systems which can be in mono-, bi- or tricyclic form. Examples of such rings include phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, indenyl or phenanthrenyl. Preferred aryl groups are phenyl and naphthyl, phenyl being most preferred. Where an aryl moiety is said to be substituted, the aryl moiety is, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably substituted by one to four substituents, most preferably by one to three substituents.

Heteroaryl groups are aromatic ring system containing at least one heteroatom and consisting either of a single ring or of two or more fused rings. Preferably, single rings will contain up to three heteroatoms and bicyclic systems up to four heteroatoms which will preferably be chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of monocyclic groups include pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl and thiadiazolyl. Examples of bicyclic groups include quinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiazolyl and benzotriazolyl. Monocyclic heteroaryl groups are preferred, pyridyl being most preferred. Where a heteroaryl moiety is said to be substituted, the heteroaryl moiety is, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably substituted by one to four substituents, most preferably by one to three substituents.

Heterocyclyl groups are defined to include heteroaryl groups and in addition their unsaturated or partially unsaturated analogues. Examples of monocyclic groups include thietanyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydro furanyl, [l,3]dioxolanyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, [l,4]dioxanyl, and morpholinyl or their oxidised versions such as 1-oxo -thietanyl and 1,1-dioxo -thietanyl. Examples of bicyclic groups include 2,3-dihydro-benzofuranyl, benzo[l,3]dioxolanyl, and 2,3-dihydro-benzo[l,4]dioxinyl. Where a heterocyclyl moiety is said to be substituted, the heterocyclyl moiety is, unless indicated to the contrary, preferably substituted by one to four substituents, most preferably by one to three substituents.

Unless stated otherwise where gruops are optionally substituted they may be substituted e.g. by one to five groups, e.g. by one to three groups, preferably independently selected from nitro, cyano, hydroxy, halogen, mercapto, isocyano, cyanate, isothiocyanate, carboxy, carbamoyl, aminosulfonyl, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, N-alkylcarbonylamino, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, SF 5 , alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkenyloxy, alkoxy- carbonyl,

alkenyloxycarbonyl, alkynyloxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkenylcarbonyl,

alkynylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, alkenylthio, cycloalkenylthio, alkynylthio, alkylsulfenyl, alkylsulfinyl including isomers, alkylsulfonyl, monoalkylaminosulfonyl,

dialkylaminosulfonyl, alkylphosphinyl, alkylphosphonyl, alkylphosphinyl including isomers, alkylphosphonyl including isomers, N-alkyl-aminocarbonyl, -dialkyl-aminocarbonyl, N-alkylcarbonyl- aminocarbonyl, N-alkylcarbonyl-N-alkylaminocarbonyl, aryl, aryloxy, benzyl, benzyloxy, benzylthio, arylthio, arylamino, benzylamino, trialkylsilyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, alkylthioalkoxy,

alkoxyalkoxy, phenethyl, benzyloxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, haloalkylthio, haloalkylcarbonyl, haloalkoxycarbonyl, haloalkoxyalkoxy, haloalkoxyalkylthio, haloalkoxyalkylcarbonyl or

haloalkoxyalkyl, cycloalkylamino-carbonyl, alkylsulfinylimino, alkylsulfonylimino, alkoxyimino, and a heterocyclic group;

preferably nitro, cyano, hydroxy, mercapto, isocyano, cyanate, isothiocyanate, carboxy, carbamoyl, aminosulfonyl, mono-Ci-Ci₂alkylamino, di-C₂-C₂₄alkylamino, N-

Ci-Ci₂alkyl, C₂-Cealkenyl, C₂-Cealkynyl, C3-Cgcycloalkyl, C3-Cgcycloalkenyl, SF ₅, d-C^alkoxy, C₂- Cealkenyloxy, C₂-C₆alkynyloxy, C3-Cgcycloalkyloxy, C3-Cgcycloalkenyloxy,

C₂- Cealkenyloxycarbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynyloxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, d-C^alkylcarbonyl, C₂- Cealkenylcarbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, Ci-Cnalkylthio, C3-Cgcycloalkylthio, C₂- Cealkenylthio, C3-Cgcycloalkenylthio, C₂-C₆alkynylthio, CpC

including isomers, CpCnalkylsulfonyl,

di-C₂-C₂₄alkylaminosulfonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylphosphinyl,

including isomers, Cp

C^alkylphosphonyl including isomers, N-Ci-Ci₂alkyl-aminocarbonyl, -di-C₂-C₂₄alkyl-aminocarbonyl, N- Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl-aminocarbonyl, N-Ci-Cnalkylcarbonyl-N-Ci-C^alkylaminocarbonyl, aryl, aryloxy, benzyl, benzyloxy, benzylthio, arylthio, arylamino, benzylamino, trialkylsilyl,

Ci₂alkylthioalkyl, enethyl, ben

Ci-Ci₂haloalkoxy,

Cp Ci₂haloalkoxyalkoxy, Ci-C^haloalkoxyCi-C^alkylthio, Ci-C^haloalkoxyCi-Cnalkylcarbonyl or Cp Ci₂haloalkoxy-Ci-Ci₂alkyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkylamino-carbonyl,

Cp

Ci₂alkylsulfonylimino,

and a heterocyclic group, wherein aryl is phenyl and heterocyclic groups are heteroaryl groups as defined above. Preferred optional substituents are cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy.

Bearing in mind the stereocentre which is the subject of the invention, the invention otherwise includes all isomers of compounds of formula I, salts and N-oxides thereof, including enantiomers, diastereomers and tautomers. Tautomers of the compounds of formula I include the enamine form, for example. These are covered by the invention.

Preferred substituent values in compounds of formula I are as follows, which may be combined in any order. These preferred substituent values also apply to other compounds of the invention in which the same substituents are present.

Preferably R¹ is trifluoromethyl.

Preferably R² is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five Q¹, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five Q¹. Preferably R² is group A eferably R² is group Al

(A2)

ably R² is group A3 or A4

(A3) (A4)

B¹, B², B³, B⁴ are independently C-Q¹ or nitrogen.

Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, and Q⁵ are independently hydrogen , halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, d- Cghaloalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, hydroxy, Cp

Cgalkylamino, Q-Cgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, mercapto, Ci-C₈alkylthio, CpCghaloalkylthio, Q- Cgalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfonyl, Q-Cgalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclyl. Preferably, Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, and Q⁵ are each independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q- Cgalkoxy or Q-Cghaloalkoxy, more preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro, cyano, methyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy or trifluoromethoxy, preferably bromo, chloro or trifluoromethyl. Preferably at least two of Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, and Q⁵ are not hydrogen.

When P is defined as hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom, then P is preferably hydroxy,

d- Ci₂haloalkoxy phenyloxy, Ci-Ci₂sulfinyl, phneylsulfinyl or heteroaryl, wherein phenyl (including phenyloxy) and heteroaryl are optionally substituted by one to five groups independently selected from cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy, and heteroaryl is pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl and thiadiazolyl,quinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiazolyl or benzotriazolyl, more preferably P is hydroxyl, CpCealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl.

When P is defined as alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted (and e.g. wherein the heteroaryl is connected to at P via a ring carbon atom), then preferably P is

phenyl or heteroaryl, and heteroaryl is pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl and thiadiazolyl,quinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiazolyl or benzotriazolyl, e.g. wherein phenyl and heteroaryl are each optinally substituted by one to five groups independently selected from cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy.

When P is defined as optionally substituted heteroaryl, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen or oxygen atom, wherein the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring carbon atom, then preferably P is pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl and thiadiazolyl,quinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiazolyl or benzotriazolyl, each optinally substituted by ne to five groups independently selected from cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy.

When P is defined as P is alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, or arylsulfinyl, each optionally substituted, then preferably P is

Cp Ci₂haloalkoxy, phenyloxy,

phenylsulfinyl, wherein phenyl is optionally substituted by one to five groups independently selected from cyano, halogen, CrQalkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, CrQalkoxy, and Ci-C haloalkoxy.

Preferably A' is selected from PI to P6

(P4) (P5) P6

In one group of compounds A' is PI . In another group of compounds A' is P2. In another group of compounds A' is P3. In another group of compounds A' is P4. In another group of compounds A' is P5. In another group of compounds A' is P6. In another group of compounds A' is selected from P3 to P5. When

P1 1 P12 P13 P14

P15 P16 P17 P18

P19 P20 P21 P22

A¹, A² and A³ are independently of each other C-H, C-R⁵, or nitrogen. Preferably no more than

1 2 3 1 2 3 5

two of A , A and A are nitrogen. In one group of compounds A , A and A are each C-R . In one group of compounds A¹ is nitrogen and A² and A³ are both C-R⁵. In another group of compounds A² is nitrogen and A¹ and A³ are both C-R⁵. In another group of compounds A¹ and A² are both nitrogen and A³ is C- R⁵.In one group of compounds A¹, A² and A³ are each C-H. In one group of compounds A¹ is nitrogen and A² and A³ are both C-H. In another group of compounds A² is nitrogen and A¹ and A³ are both C-H.

1 2 3 1 2 3

In another group of compounds A and A are both nitrogen and A is C-H. Preferably A , A and A are each C-H.

A^1', A^2', A^3', A^4', A^5' and A^6' are independently of each other C-H, C-R⁵ or nitrogen provided that no more than two of A^1', A^2', A^3', A^4', A⁵ and A⁶ are nitrogen. Preferably A^1', A^2', A³ ,A⁴ , A⁵ and A⁶ are C-H.

The ring formed by A 1 , A2 , and A 3, or A 1*, A 2*, A 3*, A 4^T, A 5^T and A 6^T may, for example, be phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyridazine, naphthyl or quinoline.

Each R⁵ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C2-Cgalkenyl, C2- Cghaloalkenyl, C2-Cgalkynyl, C2-Cghaloalkynyl, C3-Ciocycloalkyl, CpCgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, Cp Cgalkylthio, CpCghaloalkylthio, Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl, CpCgalkylsulfonyl or d- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl. Preferably, each R⁵ is independently halogen, Ci-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl or C₂- Cgalkenyl. More preferably, each R⁵ is independently bromo, chloro, fluoro, methyl, trifluoromethyl or vinyl, most preferably each R⁵ is methyl.

Q is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, NH₂, cyano, C_rC₈alkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂- Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₃-C₈haloalkynyl, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl, Ci-C₈alkylthio, Ci-C₈haloalkylthio, Ci-C₈alkylsulfinyl, Ci-C₈haloalkylsulfinyl, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl, Ci-C₈haloalkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Ci-C₄alkyl and nitro, - N(R⁶)R^7b, -C(=W⁵)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸, -C(=W⁵)OR^7a, -C(=W⁵)R¹³, -OR¹⁴, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five Z¹, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five Z^l. Preferably, Q is cyano, halogen, nitro, NH₂, arylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Ci-C₄alkyl and nitro, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five Z¹, -OR¹⁴, - C(=0)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(=0)OR^7a, -C(=0)R¹³, or -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸. More preferably, Q is cyano, halogen, nitro, NH₂, phenylsulfonyl or phenylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected ffrroomm CCii--CC₄₄aallkkyyll aanndd nniittrroo,, --OORR¹¹⁴⁴,, --CC(=0)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(=0)OR^7a , -C(=0)R¹³, -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸, or a heterocycle selected from HI to H9

H4

H5 H6 H7 H8 H9

Even more preferably, Q is cyano, halogen, nitro, NH₂, Ci-C₈alkoxy, phenylsulfonyl or phenylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from C₁-C4 alkyl and

nitro, -C(=0)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(=0)OR^7a, -C(=0)R¹³, -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸, or a heterocycle selected from HI to H9.

k is 0, 1, or 2, preferably 0.

R⁶ is hydrogen, Q-Qalkyl, Q-Qalkoxy, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl, C₃- Ci₀cycloalkyl-Ci-C₄alkylene, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl. Preferably, R⁶ is hydrogen, Ci-C₈alkyl, Q-Qalkoxy, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl, or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl. More preferably, R⁶ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, methylcarbonyl or methoxycarbonyl, more preferably hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, most preferably hydrogen.

R⁷ is hydrogen, alkyl or alkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, alkenyl or alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, alkynyl or alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-Ciocycloalkyl or C₃-Ciocycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, C₃-Ciocycloalkyl-Ci-C₄alkylene or C₃-Ciocycloalkyl-Ci-C₄alkylene wherein the cycloalkyl moiety is substituted by one to five R⁹, Ci-C₈alkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-Ci-C₄alkylene, Ci-Cghaloalkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-Ci-C₄alkylene, C3-C₈cycloalkyl-aminocarbonyl-Ci-C₄alkylene, Ci-Cealkyl- 0-N=CH-,

aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl-Ci-C₆alkylene or heterocyclyl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the heterocyclyl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹², aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹². Preferably, R⁷ is hydrogen, Q-Qalkyl or Q-Qalkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl or C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl-Ci-Cealkylene or heterocyclyl-Ci-Cealkylene wherein the heterocyclyl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹², aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹², C_rC₈alkyl-N(R⁶)- C(=0)-Ci-C₄ alkylene, Ci-C₈haloalkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-Ci-C₄alkylene, C₃-C₈cycloalkylaminocarbonyl-C_r C₄alkylene, C C₆alkyl-0-N=CH-, or C C₆haloalkyl-0-N=CH-. More preferably, R⁷ is hydrogen, C_r C₈alkyl, Ci-C₈haloalkyl, phenyl-Ci-Cealkylene or phenyl-Q-Cealkylene wherein the phenyl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, pyridyl-Ci-C₆alkylene or pyridyl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the pyridyl moiety is substituted by one to four R¹⁰, thiazolyl-Ci-C₆alkylene or thiazolyl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the thiazolyl moiety is substituted by one or two R¹⁰, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four R¹⁰, thiazolyl or thiazolyl substituted by one or two R¹⁰, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl or C₃- C₆cycloalkyl wherein one ring atom is replaced by O or S,

Ci-C₄haloalkyl-0- =CH-, C_rC₄alkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-CH₂-, CrC₄haloalkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-CH₂-, or a group of formula (Y)

In one group of compounds R⁷ is not a group of formula (Y)

L is a single bond or d-Cealkylene;

Y¹, Y² and Y³ are independently of another O, CR²¹R²², C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² or SO=N-R¹², provided that at least one of Y¹, Y² or Y³ is not CR²¹R²², C=0 or C=N-OR¹². In the group of formula (Y), preferably two of Y¹, Y² and Y³ are CR²¹R²², and the other is O, N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² or SO=N-R¹², more preferably two of Y¹, Y² and Y³ are CH₂ and the other is S, SO or S0₂. When L is a bond Y¹ and Y³ are preferably CH₂ and Y² is S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² or SO=N-R¹². When L is alkylene, Y¹ is preferably S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² or SO=N-R¹² and Y² and Y³ are CH₂. R^7a is hydrogen, alkyl or alkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, alkenyl or alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, alkynyl or alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, aryl-alkylene or aryl-alkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heteroaryl-alkylene or heteroaryl-alkylene wherein the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰.

Preferably, R^7a is hydrogen,

substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl or C₂- Ci₅alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₅alkynyl or C₂-Ci₅alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃- Ciocycloalkyl or C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heteroaryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or heteroaryl-Ci- C₆alkylene wherein the heteroaryl moiety is is substituted by one to five R¹⁰ , or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰ _. More preferably R^7a is hydrogen, Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl C₂- Ci₅alkenyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkenyl, C₂-Ci₅alkynyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkynyl, phenyl-Ci-C₄alkylene or phenyl-Cr C₄alkylene wherein the phenyl moiety is substituted by one to five halogen, pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkyl or pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkyl wherein the pyridyl moiety is substituted by one to four halogen, pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four R¹⁰, most preferably R^7a is Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl, C₂- Ci₅haloalkenyl, pyridyl or benzyl.

R^7b is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, haloalkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, haloalkoxycarbonyl, or benzyl, more preferably R^7b is hydrogen, Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkenyl, C₂- Ci₅alkynyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkynyl, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl, Ci-Ci₅alkylcarbonyl or Ci-Ci₅alkoxycarbonyl; most preferably R^7b is Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl, C₂-Ci₅ alkenyl or C₂-Ci₅haloalkenyl.

Each R⁸ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, NH₂, mercapto, CpCgalkyl, Q- Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, Ci-C₈alkylthio, CpCghaloalkylthio, Ci-Cgalkylsulfmyl, C_r Cghaloalkylsulfinyl, CpCgalkylsulfonyl, CpCghaloalkylsulfonyl, CpCgalkylamino, C₂-C₈dialkylamino, C₃-Cgcycloalkylamino, Q-Cgalkylcarbonyl, CpCgalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkylaminocarbonyl, Cp Cgdialkylaminocarbonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Q- Cghaloalkylaminocarbonyl, Ci-Cghalodialkylaminocarbonyl. Preferably, each R⁸ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, Q-Cgalkoxy, Q-Cghaloalkoxy, CpCgalkylcarbonyl, C_r

Cgalkoxycarbonyl, mercapto, Ci-Cgalkylthio, CpCghaloalkylthio, Ci-Cgalkylsulfmyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl- sulfinyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl. More preferably, each R⁸ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, Ci-Cgalkoxy, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy, mercapto, CpCgalkylthio, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio, more preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro, methoxy, or methylthio, most preferably chloro, fluoro, or methoxy.

Each R⁹ is independently halogen or Ci-Cgalkyl. Preferably, each R⁹ is independently chloro, fluoro or methyl, most preferably each R⁹ methyl.

Each R¹⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂- Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, hydroxy, Q-Cgalkoxy, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy, mercapto, Cp Cgalkylthio, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio, Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, d- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl, Q-Cgalkylcarbonyl, CpCgalkoxycarbonyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹¹. Preferably each R¹⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Qalkyl, Q-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Qalkoxy, Q-Cghaloalkoxy, more preferably bromo, chloro, fiuoro, cyano, nitro, methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, difluoromethoxy, or trifluoromethoxy, most preferably bromo, chloro, fiuoro, cyano or methyl.

Each R⁴ and R¹¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Qalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Qalkoxy, Q-Qhaloalkoxy or Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl; more preferably each R⁴ and R¹¹ is independently bromo, chloro, fiuoro, cyano, nitro, methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, difluoromethoxy or

trifluoromethoxy, more preferably bromo, chloro, fiuoro, nitro or methyl, most preferably each R⁴ and R¹¹ is independently chloro, fiuoro or methyl.

Each R¹² is independently hydrogen, cyano, cyano-Q-Qalkyl, Q-Qalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q- Cgcycloalkyl, C3-Cgcycloalkyl where one carbon atom is replaced by O, S, S(O) or SO₂, or Q- Cgcycloalkyl-Ci-Cgalkylene, C3-Cgcycloalkyl-Ci-Cgalkylene where one carbon atom in the cycloalkyl group is replaced by O, S, S(O) or SO₂, or C3-Cgcycloalkyl-Ci-Cghaloalkylene, Ci-Cghydroxyalkyl, Q- Cgalkoxy-Ci-Cgalkylene, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to three R¹¹, Ci-Cgalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl, Q- Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, Q-Qhaloalkylsulfonyl, aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or aryl-Q- C₄alkylene where the aryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or

Ci-C₄alkyl-(Ci-C₄alkyl-0-N=)C-CH₂-. Preferably, each R¹² is independently hydrogen, cyano, Q- Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Qalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl, Q- Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, Q-Qhaloalkylsulfonyl, aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or aryl-Q- C₄alkylene where the aryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹. More preferably, each R¹² is independently hydrogen, cyano, Q-Qalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Qalkylcarbonyl, Q- Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, Q- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl, phenyl-Ci-C₄alkylene or phenyl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the phenyl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkylene or pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the pyridyl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹.

R¹³ is halogen or imidazole, preferably chloro, fiuoro or bromo.

Each R¹⁴ is independently hydrogen, Q-Cgalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₃-Ciocycloalkyl, Ci-C₆alkyl-C₃-Cgcycloalkyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl-Ci-C₆alkylene, Q-Qoalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl, Q-Qhaloalkylsulfonyl, or arylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Ci-C₄alkyl and nitro; more preferably each R¹⁴ is independently hydrogen, Q-Cgalkyl, phenylsulfonyl or phenylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Q-Qalkyl and nitro.

R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently hydrogen, Q-C^alkyl or Q-C^alkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl or Q-Qcycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, C₂-Ci₂alkenyl or Q-C^alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₂alkynyl or C₂-Ci₂alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, cyano, Q_ Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl or Ci_Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸,

or Ci-Ci₂alkoxythiocarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3 to 6-membered carbocyclic ring. Preferably, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently hydrogen,

Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl, C₃-Cghalocycloalkyl, C₂- Ci₂alkenyl or C₂-Ci₂haloalkenyl, C₂-Ci₂alkynyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkynyl cyano, Ci_Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl, Q. Ci₂haloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxythiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkoxythiocarbonyl, or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3 to 6-membered carbocyclic ring.

Preferably, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl or Ci-C₄haloalkyl.

R¹⁷ is hydrogen, NH₂, hydroxyl, C_rCi₂ alkoxy or Ci-Ci₂alkoxy substituted by one to five R⁸, C_r Ci₂alkylcarbonylamino or Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonylamino wherein the alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkylamino or Ci-Ci₂alkylamino wherein the alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkyl or Ci-Ci₂alkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C3-Cgcycloalkyl or C3-Cgcycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, cyano, C₂-Ci₂alkenyl or C₂-Ci₂alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₂alkynyl or C₂-Ci₂alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸ or is selected from CH₂-R²⁵, C(=0)R¹⁹ and C(=S)R¹⁹. Preferably, R¹⁷ is hydrogen, NH₂, hydroxyl, C Ci₂alkoxy, C Ci₂haloalkoxy, Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonylamino, Ci-Ci₂haloalkylcarbonylamino, Ci-Ci₂alkylamino, Ci-Ci₂haloalkylamino, Cp Ci₂alkyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl, C3-Cgcycloalkyl, C3-Cghalocycloalkyl, cyano, Ci-Ci₂alkenyl, d- Ci₂haloalkenyl, C₂-Ci₂alkynyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkynyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkylcarbonyl, Q- Cgalkoxycarbonyl, or Ci-Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl. More preferably, R¹⁷ is hydrogen, Q-Cgalkyl, Q- Cgalkoxy, CpCgalkylcarbonyl, or CpCgalkoxycarbonyl.

R¹⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl or C_rCi₂ alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkylthiocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkylthiocarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkylaminocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkylaminocarbonyl wherein the alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkylaminothiocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkylaminothiocarbonyl wherein the alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-C₂₄ (total carbon number) dialkylaminocarbonyl or C₂-C₂₄ (total carbon number) dialkylaminocarbonyl wherein one or both alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-C₂ (total carbon number) dialkylaminothiocarbonyl or C₂-C₂ (total carbon number) dialkylaminothiocarbonyl wherein one or both alkyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkoxyaminocarbonyl or Q- Ci₂alkoxyaminocarbonyl wherein the alkoxy is substituted by one to five R⁸, Cp

Ci₂alkoxyaminothiocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkoxyaminothiocarbonyl wherein the alkoxy is substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, d- Ci₂alkoxythiocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkoxythiocarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Cp

Ci₂thioalkoxycarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂thioalkoxycarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Cp

Ci₂thioalkoxythiocarbonyl or Ci-Ci₂thioalkoxythiocarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Cp

Ci₂alkylsulfonyl or Ci-Ci₂alkylsulfonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C3-Ci₂cycloalkylcarbonyl or C3- Ci₂cycloalkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁹, C₂-Ci₂alkenylcarbonyl or C₂-Ci₂alkenylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₂alkynylcarbonyl or C₂-Ci₂alkynylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C3-Ci₂cycloalkyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl or d-d₂cycloalkyl-d-d₂alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁹, Ci-Ci₂alkylsulfenyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C^alkylsulfenyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-C^alkylsulfinyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C^alkylsulfinyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₁-C₁₂

Ci₂alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl or C_r

Ci₂alkylcarbonyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C3-Ci₂cycloalkylaminocarbonyl or C3-Ci₂cycloalkylaminocarbonyl wherein the cycloalkyl is substituted by one to five R⁹, C₂- Ci₂alkenylaminocarbonyl or C₂-Ci₂alkenylaminocarbonyl wherein the alkenyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₂alkynylaminocarbonyl or C₂-Ci₂alkynylaminocarbonyl wherein the alkynyl is substituted by one to five R⁸, or is selected from C(=0)R¹⁹ and C(=S)R¹⁹. Preferably R¹⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl,

Cp C₂-C24 (total carbon number) dialkylaminocarbonyl, C₂-C24 (total carbon number) dialkylaminothiocarbonyl, Q- Ci₂alkoxyaminocarbonyl,

Q-

Ci₂thioalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂thioalkoxythiocarbonyl,

C3- Ci₂cycloalkylcarbonyl, C3-Ci₂halocycloalkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkenylcarbonyl, - Ci₂haloalkenylcarbonyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkynylcarbonyl, d-d₂cycloalkyl-d- C^alkylcarbonyl, C3-Ci₂halocycloalkyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkylsulfenyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkylsulfenyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylsulfinyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl, C_r

Ci₂haloalkylsulfinyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylsulfonyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl, C_r

Ci₂haloalkylsulfonyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl-Ci-Cnalkylcarbonyl, Q- Ci₂haloalkylcarbonyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₃-Ci₂cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, C₂-

Ci₂alkenylaminocarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkynylaminocarbonyl. More preferably, R¹⁸ is Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-C₆ cycloalkylcarbonyl or C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl wherein the cycloalkyl is substituted by one to five R⁹; even more Preferably, R¹⁸ is Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C₄haloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl or C3-C₆halocycloalkylcarbonyl.

R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound may form a 3 - to 6- membered heterocyclic ring which may be substituted by one to five R¹¹, or may be substituted with a keto, thioketo or nitroimino group.

R¹⁹ is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹¹, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹¹. The aryl is preferably phenyl and the heterocyclyl is preferably pyridyl.

R²⁰ is hydrogen or CpCgalkyl.

Each R²¹ and R²² is independently hydrogen, halogen, d-Cgalkyl or Ci-Cghaloalkyl.

Each Z¹ is independently halogen, d-Cgalkyl or d-C^alkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, nitro, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy C₁-C₁₂ alkylsulfonyl,

hydroxyl or thiol. Preferably each Z¹ is independently halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, or Ci-C₄haloalkoxy, more preferably each Z¹ is independently hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy or halomethoxy.

R²⁶ is hydrogen, azido, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl or -C0₂H, more preferably -N(R²⁸)(R²⁹), halogen, hydroxy, Q-Cgalkoxy, Q-Cghaloalkoxy, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl, Q-Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, or -C0₂H.

R²⁷ is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aloxycarbonyl, more preferably hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, hydrogen, Q-Qalkyl, Q-Qalkoxy, Q-Qhaloalkoxy, more preferably hydrogen, Q-Qalkyl, CpCgalkoxy, or Q-Cghaloalkoxy.

R²⁶ and R²⁷ may together be oxo, optionally substituted oxime, optionally substituted imine and optionally substituted hydrazone

R²⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, thioformyl, alkylcarbonyl, haloalkylcarbonyl, alkyl-thiocarbonyl, haloalkyl-thiocarbonyl, mono- or di-alkylaminocarbonyl, mono- or di-aikylamino-thiocarbonyl, alkoxyaminocarbonyl, alkoxyamino-thiocarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxyalkylcarbonyl, alkoxy- thiocarbonyl, alkylthio-carbonyl, alkylthio-thiocarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl,

cycloalkylcarbonyl, alkenylcarbonyl, alkynylcarbonyl, alkynylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkyl-alkylcarbonyl, alkylthioalkyl- carbonyl, alkylsulfinylalkylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonylalkylcarbonyl,

alkylcarbonylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, alkenylaminocarbonyl, alkynylaminocarbonyl, -

CH₂-R 30 , -C(0)R 30 or -C(S)R 30 , and each group from alkylcarbonyl to alkynylaminocarbonyl among the definitions of R⁸ may be substituted; preferably R²⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, thioformyl, Q- Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkyl-thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl-thiocarbonyl, mono-Ci-Ci₂or di-C₂-C₂₄alkyl-aminocarbonyl, mono-Ci-Ci₂or di-C₂-C₂₄alkylamino-thiocarbonyl, Cp Ci₂alkoxy-aminocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxyamino-thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy-carbonyl, Q-Q₂alkoxy-Q- Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy-thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylthio-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylthio-thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylsulfonyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl-carbonyl, Q- C₆alkynyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl- Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl- Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Q- Ci₂alkylthio- Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkyl- sulfinyl- Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylsulfonyl- Q- Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl- Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, C3-Cgcycloalkylamino-carbonyl, Q- Qalkenylamino-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynylamino-carbonyl, -CH₂-R¹⁰, -C(0)R¹⁰, or -C(S)R¹⁰, and each group from Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl to C₂-C₆alkynyl-amino-carbonyl, among the definitions of R⁸ may be optionally substituted; more preferably R²⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, Q-Qalkyl - carbonyl, Q-Qhaloalkyl-carbonyl, Q-Qalkyl-thiocarbonyl, Q-Qhaloalkyl-thiocarbonyl, mono-Ci-C6 or di-(C₂-Ci₂) alkyl-aminocarbonyl, mono-Ci-C6 or di-(C₂-Ci₂)alkylamino-thiocarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxy- aminocarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxyamino-thiocarbonyl, Q-Qalkoxy-carbonyl, Q-Qalkoxy- Q-Qalkyl- carbonyl, Q-Qalkoxy-thiocarbonyl, Q-Qalkylthio-carbonyl, Q-Qalkylthio-thiocarbonyl, Q- Cealkylsulfonyl, Ci-Cehaloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl-carbonyl, C₂- C alkynyl-carbonyl, C₂-C alkynyl-Ci-C₂alkyl -carbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkyl-Ci-C₂alkyl-carbonyl, Cp Cealkylthio- Ci-Cealkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl- Ci-Cealkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ce alkylsulfonyl- d- C₆alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-C₆alkylcarbonyl- Ci-C₆alkyl-carbonyl, C3-C₆cycloalkylamino-carbonyl, C₂-C₄ alkenylamino-carbonyl, Ci-C₆alkynylamino-carbonyl, -CH₂-R 30 ^", -C(0)R 30 or -C(S)R 30 and each group from Ci-C₆alkyl-carbonyl to Ci-C₆alkynylamino-carbonylamong the definitions of R²⁸ may be optionally substituted. In one group of compounds R⁸ is Ci-C₆alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-C₆haloalkyl-carbonyl, C₃- C₆cycloalkyl-Ci-C₂alkyl-carbonylor C3-C₆cycloalkyl-carbonyl.

R²⁹ is hydrogen, amino, hydroxy, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylimino, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonylamino, alkoxyalkyl, cyanoalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, -

30 30 30

CH₂-R , -C(0)R or -C(S)R , and each group from alkyl to alkylcarbonylamino among the definitions of R⁹ may be substituted;

preferably R²⁹ is hydrogen, amino, hydroxy, cyano, Ci-Ci₂alkyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl, C3-Cgcycloalkyl, C₂- Cealkenyl, C₂-Cealkynyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylimino, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy, Ci-Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkyl- carbonyiamino, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy-Ci-Ci₂alkyl, Ci-Ci₂cyanoalkyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl- Ci-Ci₂alkyl, -CH₂- R³⁰, -C(0)R³⁰, or -C(S)R³⁰ and each group from C Ci₂alkyl alkyl to C Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl- C Ci₂alkyl among the definitions of R²⁹ may be optionally substituted; preferably R²⁹ is hydrogen, amino, hydroxy, cyano, Ci-Cealkyl, Ci-Ci₂haloalkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C₂-C₄alkenyl, C₂-C₄alkynyl, Ci-Cealkylimino, d- Qalkoxy, d-Qalkyl-carbonyl, d-dalkyl-carbonylamino, d-dalkoxy-d-Qalkyl, C3-C₆cyanoalkyl, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl- C C₆alkyl, -CH₂-R³⁰, -C(0)R³⁰ or -C(S)R³⁰, and each group from C C₆alkyl to C Qalkoxycarbonyl- d-dalkyl, among the definitions of R²⁹ may be optionally substituted. In one group of compounds R⁹ is hydrogen, Ci-C₆alkoxy or benzyl.

R²⁸ and R²⁹, together with the N atom to which they are bound, may form a 3- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring which may be substituted and may further comprise N, O or S.

R³⁰ is phenyl which may be substituted, a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic group which may be substituted and comprises at least one of N, O and S, optionally substituted Ci-Ci₂alkyl, amino, mono- C₁-C₁₂ or di(C₂-C₂₄)alkylamino; preferably optionally substituted phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, or a group (HI) to (H9), or an optionally substituted Ci-C₆alkyl, amino, mono- Ci-C₆ or di(Ci-Ci₂)alkylamino group.

Preferably R¹⁰⁰ is C_rCi₂ alkyl, phenyl or heteroaryl as defined above, optionslly substituted with one to five groups independently selected from cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy, more preferably d-Qalkyl, most preferably ethyl.

In one group of compounds, group Al (applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R¹ and R²):

R¹ is trifluoromethyl.

R² is group A

B¹, B², B³, B⁴ are independently C-Q¹ or nitrogen;

each Q¹ is independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Q-Cgalkyl, Q-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy or Ci-Cghaloalkoxy.

In one group of compounds, group A2, (applicable to all compounds bearing the group A') A' is selected from PI to P6;

A¹, A², A³, and A⁴ are independently of each other C-H, C-R⁵, or nitrogen;

A^1', A^2', A^3', A^4', A^5' and A^6' are independently of each other C-H, C-R⁵ or nitrogen provided that no more than two of A¹ , A² , A³ , A⁴ , A⁵ and A⁶ are nitrogen;

each R⁵ is independently hydrogen, halogen, Q-Cgalkyl, Q-Cghaloalkyl or C₂-C₈alkenyl;

Q is cyano, halogen, nitro, NH₂, arylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Ci-C₄alkyl and nitro, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five Z¹, -OR¹⁴, -C(=0)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(=0)OR^7a, -C(=0)R¹³, or -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸;

k is 0, 1, or 2;

R⁶ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, methylcarbonyl or methoxycarbonyl;

R⁷ is hydrogen, Ci-Cgalkyl or Ci-Cgalkyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-Ciocycloalkyl or C₃-

Ciocycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, aryl-Ci-Cealkylene or aryl-Ci-Cealkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl-Ci-Cealkylene or heterocyclyl-Ci-Cealkylene wherein the heterocyclyl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹², aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹⁰ and wherein each heterocyclyl moiety contains one or more ring members independently selected from O, N, C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² and SO=N-R¹², C_r C₈alkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-C_rC₄ alkylene, C₁-C₈haloalkyl-N(R⁶)-C(=0)-C₁-C₄alkylene, C₃- C₈cycloalkylaminocarbonyl-Ci-C₄alkylene,

R^7a is hydrogen,

substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl or C₂-

Ci₅alkenyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₂-Ci₅alkynyl or C₂-Ci₅alkynyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃- Ciocycloalkyl or C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl substituted by one to five R⁹, aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or aryl-Ci-C₆alkylene wherein the aryl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, heteroaryl-Ci-C₆alkylene or heteroaryl-Cr Cealkylene wherein the heteroaryl moiety is is substituted by one to five R¹⁰ , or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R¹⁰;

R^7b is hydrogen, Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkenyl, C₂-Ci₅alkynyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkynyl, C3-Ciocycloalkyl, Ci-Ci₅alkylcarbonyl or Ci-Ci₅alkoxycarbonyl;

each R⁸ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, CpCgalkoxy, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy, d- Cgalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl, mercapto, Ci-Cgalkylthio, CpCghaloalkylthio, Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl;

each R⁹ is independently halogen or Ci-Cgalkyl. Preferably, each R⁹ is independently chloro, fluoro or methyl; each R is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, d-Cgalkoxy, Cp Cghaloalkoxy;

each R¹¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, C_r Cghaloalkoxy or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl;

each R¹² is independently hydrogen, cyano, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkylcarbonyl, Q-

Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, Q-Cgalkoxycarbonyl, CpCghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl, C_r

Cghaloalkylsulfonyl, aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the aryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹;

R¹³ is halo gen or imidazole:

each R¹⁴ is independently hydrogen, d-Cgalkyl, phenylsulfonyl or phenylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from Ci-C₄alkyl and nitro;

R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently hydrogen,

C3-Cgcycloalkyl, C3- Cghalocycloalkyl, C₂-Ci₂alkenyl or C₂-Ci₂haloalkenyl, C₂-Ci₂alkynyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkynyl cyano, Ci_

or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3 to 6-membered carbocyclic ring;

R¹⁷ is hydrogen, NH₂, hydroxyl,

Ci-Cnalkylcarbonylamino, d- Ci₂haloalkylcarbonylamino,

Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₃- Cgcycloalkyl, C₃-Cghalocycloalkyl, cyano,

C₂-Ci₂alkynyl, C₂- Ci₂haloalkynyl,

CpCgalkoxycarbonyl, or Cp

Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl;

R¹⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, ₂haloalkylcarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkylthiocarbonyl,

Q- Ci₂alkylaminothiocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ (total carbon number) dialkylaminocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ (total carbon number) dialkylaminothiocarbonyl,

Q- Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl,

Ci-Ci₂thioalkoxycarbonyl,

d-d₂alkylsulfonyl,

C₃-Ci₂cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-Ci₂halocycloalkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkenylcarbonyl, - Ci₂haloalkenylcarbonyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkynylcarbonyl, d-C^cycloalkyl-Cr C^alkylcarbonyl, C₃-Ci₂halocycloalkyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkylsulfenyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂haloalkylsulfenyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylsulfinyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl, d- Ci₂haloalkylsulfinyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylsulfonyl-Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl, d- Ci₂haloalkylsulfonyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C^alkylcarbonyl-Ci-Cnalkylcarbonyl, Q- Ci₂haloalkylcarbonyl-Ci-Ci₂alkylcarbonyl, C₃-Ci₂cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, d-

Ci₂alkenylaminocarbonyl, C₂-Ci₂alkynylaminocarbonyl. More preferably, R¹⁸ is Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-C6 cycloalkylcarbonyl or C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl wherein the cycloalkyl is substituted by one to five R⁹; even more Preferably, R¹⁸ is Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl, Ci-C₄haloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl or C3-C₆halocycloalkylcarbonyl;

R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound may form a 3 - to 6- membered heterocyclic ring which may be substituted by one to five R¹¹, or may be substituted with a keto, thioketo or nitroimino group;

R¹⁹ is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R¹¹, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R¹¹ wherein aryl is phenyl and the heterocyclyl is preferably pyridyl;

R²⁰ is hydrogen or Q-Cgalkyl;

each R²¹ and R²² is independently hydrogen, halogen, Q-Cgalkyl or Ci-Cghaloalkyl;

each Z¹ is independently halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, or C_r

C₄haloalkoxy;

R²⁶ is -N(R²⁸)(R²⁹), halogen, hydroxy, C C₈alkoxy, C C₈haloalkoxy, C C₈alkoxycarbonyl, C Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, or -CO₂H;

R²⁷ is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, hydrogen, d-Cgalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, more preferably hydrogen, d-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cgalkoxy, or Ci-Cghaloalkoxy;

R²⁶ and R²⁷ may together be oxo, optionally substituted oxime, optionally substituted imine and optionally substituted hydrazone;

R²⁸ is hydrogen, cyano, formyl, thioformyl,

d- Ci₂alkyl-thiocarbonyl,

mono-Ci-Ci₂or di-C₂-C₂₄alkyl-aminocarbonyl, mono-Ci-Ci₂or di-C₂-C₂₄alkylamino-thiocarbonyl,

thiocarbonyl, Ci-Ci₂alkoxy-carbonyl,

Q- Ci₂alkylthio-carbonyl,

C₃- Cgcycloalkyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkenyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynyl- Q-C^alkyl- carbonyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkyl-

sulfinyl-

C_r Ci₂alkyl-carbonyl, C₃-Cgcycloalkylamino-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkenylamino-carbonyl, C₂-C₆alkynylamino- carbonyl, -CH₂-R¹⁰, -C(0)R¹⁰, or -C(S)R¹⁰, and each group from C_rC₁₂alkyl-carbonyl to C₂-C₆alkynyl- amino-carbonyl, among the definitions of R⁸ may be optionally substituted;

R²⁹ is hydrogen, amino, hydroxy, cyano,

C3-Cgcycloalkyl, C₂- Cealkenyl, C₂-Cealkynyl,

carbonyiamino,

-CH₂- R³⁰, -C(0)R³⁰, or -C(S)R³⁰ and each group from C Ci₂alkyl alkyl to C Ci₂alkoxycarbonyl- C Ci₂alkyl among the definitions of R²⁹ may be optionally substituted;

R²⁸ and R²⁹, together with the N atom to which they are bound, may form a 3- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring which may be substituted and may further comprise N, O or S;

optionally substituted phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, or a group (HI) to (H9), or an optionally substituted CpCealkyl, amino, mono- C₁-C6 or di(Ci-Ci₂)alkylamino group; wherein unless otherwise stated optionaly substituents are independently selected from cyano, halogen, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, and Ci-C₄haloalkoxy.

In one group of compounds, group A3, (applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing group A') A' is PI or P2;

A¹, A² and A³ are C-H;

Q is cyano, halogen, nitro, NH₂, Q-Cgalkoxy, phenylsulfonyl or phenylsulfonyl substituted by one to five groups independently selected from C_rC₄ alkyl and nitro, -C(=0)N(R⁶)R⁷, -C(=0)OR^7a, - C(=0)R¹³, -C(R¹⁵)(R¹⁶)N(R¹⁷)R¹⁸, or a heterocycle selected from HI to H9;

k is 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0;

each R⁵ is independently halogen, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl or C₂-C₈alkenyl;

R⁶ is hydrogen;

R⁷ is hydrogen, d-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, phenyl-Ci-Cealkylene or phenyl-Ci-Cealkylene wherein the phenyl moiety is substituted by one to five R¹⁰, pyridyl-Q-Cealkylene or pyridyl-Cr Cealkylene wherein the pyridyl moiety is substituted by one to four R¹⁰, thiazolyl-Ci-Cealkylene or thiazolyl-Ci-Cealkylene wherein the thiazolyl moiety is substituted by one or two R¹⁰, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R¹⁰, pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four R¹⁰, thiazolyl or thiazolyl substituted by one or two R¹⁰, C3-C₆cycloalkyl or C3-C₆cycloalkyl wherein one ring atom is replaced by O or S,

C_rC₄haloalkyl- N(R⁶)-C(=0)-CH₂-, or a group of formula (Y)

L is a single bond or d-Cealkylene, preferably a bond;

Y¹, Y² and Y³ are independently of another O, CR²¹R²², C=0, C=N-OR¹², N-R¹², S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R¹² or SO=N-R¹², provided that at least one of Y¹, Y² or Y³ is not CR²¹R²², C=0 or C=N-OR¹², preferably two of Y¹, Y² and Y³ are CH₂ and the other is S, SO or SO;

R^7a is Ci-Ci₅alkyl, Ci-Ci₅haloalkyl, C₂-Ci₅alkenyl, C₂-Ci₅haloalkenyl, pyridyl or benzyl;

each R⁸ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, CpCgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, mercapto, Ci-Cgalkylthio, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio;

each R⁹ is independently halogen or Q-Cgalkyl;

each R¹⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, CpCghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, C_r Cghaloalkoxy;

each R¹¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, C_r Cghaloalkoxy or Q-Cgalkoxycarbonyl;

each R¹² is independently hydrogen, cyano, Q-Cgalkyl, Q-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkylcarbonyl, Q- Cghaloalkylcarbonyl, CpCgalkoxycarbonyl, CpCghaloalkoxycarbonyl, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl, C_r

Cghaloalkylsulfonyl, phenyl-CpQalkylene or phenyl-CpQalkylene where the phenyl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹, or pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkylene or pyridyl-Ci-C₄alkylene where the pyridyl moiety is substituted by one to three R¹¹;

R¹³ is halogen or imidazole, preferably chloro, fluoro or bromo;

R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl or Ci-C₄haloalkyl; R¹⁷ is hydrogen, Q-Cgalkyl, d-C₈alkoxy, CpCgalkylcarbonyl, or CpCgalkoxycarbonyl;

R¹⁸ is Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl or Ci-C₄alkylcarbonyl substituted by one to five R⁸, C₃-C₆

cycloalkylcarbonyl or C₃-C₆cycloalkylcarbonyl wherein the cycloalkyl is substituted by one to five R⁹;

R²⁰ is hydrogen or CpCgalkyl, preferably hydrogen;

each Z¹ is independently hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy or halomethoxy;

26 28 29

R is -N(R )(R ), halogen, hydroxy, Q-Cgalkoxy, CpCghaloalkoxy, Q-Cgalkoxycarbonyl, C_r Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl, or -CO₂H;

R²⁷ is hydrogen, Ci-Cgalkyl, d-Cgalkoxy, or Ci-Cghaloalkoxy.

R²⁸ is Ci-Cealkyl-carbonyl, Crdhaloalkyl-carbonyl, C3-C₆cycloalkyl-Ci-C₂alkyl-carbonylor C3- Cecycloalkyl-carbonyl;

R²⁹ is hydrogen, Crdalkoxy or benzyl.

In one group of compounds, group A4, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R¹, R² and A', R¹ and R² are as defined in group Al and A' is as defined in group A2.

In one group of compounds, group A5, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R¹, R² and A', R¹ and R² are as defined in group Al and A' is as defined in group A3.

In one group of compounds, group A6, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group P, P is Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2,4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, or C_r

C₆alkylsulfinyl.

In one group of compounds, group A7, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group P, optionally P is not Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2,4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl.

In one group of compounds, group A8, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², R² is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, preferably phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, more preferably phenyl substituted by one to three R⁷⁰, even more preferably R² is 3-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-phenyl-, 3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-4-fluoro-phenyl-, 3,4,5-trichloro-phenyl- or 3- trifluoromethyl-phenyl-, most preferably 3,5-dichloro-phenyl; each R⁷⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, hydroxy, CpCgalkoxy-, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy-, mercapto, Ci-Cgalkylthio-, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio-, Cp

Cgalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, d-

Cgalkylcarbonyl-, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R⁷¹; preferably halogen, cyano, Ci-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl or d- Cgalkoxy-, more preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro, cyano, methyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy or trifluoromethoxy, preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro or trifluoromethyl, most preferably bromo or chloro; each R⁷¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Ci-Cgalkoxy-, d- Cghaloalkoxy- or Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-, preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro, cyano, nitro, methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, difluoromethoxy or trifluoromethoxy, more preferably bromo, chloro, fluoro, nitro or methyl, most preferably chloro, fluoro or methyl.

In one group of compounds, group A9, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², optionally R² is not aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, each R⁷⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, C_r

Cghaloalkyl, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, hydroxy, Q-Cgalkoxy-, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy-, mercapto, Ci-C₈alkylthio-, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio-, Ci-C₈alkylsulfinyl-, Q- Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Q-Cgalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl-, C_r

Cgalkoxycarbonyl-, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R⁷¹; each R⁷¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q- Cgalkoxy-, Ci -Cghaloalkoxy- or Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A10, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², R² is phenyl substituted by one to three R⁷; each R⁷ is independently halogen, cyano, Cp Cgalkyl, Ci -Cghaloalkyl or Ci-Cgalkoxy-;

In one group of compounds, group Al 1, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R , optionally R is not phenyl substituted by one to three R ; each R is independently halogen, cyano, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl or Ci-Cgalkoxy-;

In one group of compounds, group A12, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², R² is 3 -chloro-5 -trifluoromethyl -phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-phenyl-, 3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)- phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-4-fluoro-phenyl-, 3,4,5-trichloro-phenyl- or 3 -trifluoromethyl -phenyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A13, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², optionally R² is not 3 -chloro-5 -trifluoromethyl -phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-phenyl-, 3,5-bis- (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl-, 3,5-dichloro-4-fluoro-phenyl-, 3,4,5-trichloro-phenyl- or 3-trifluoromethyl- phenyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A14, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², R² is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to

70 7 70

five R , preferably phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R ; each R is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-Cgalkynyl, C₂-

Cghaloalkynyl, hydroxy, Ci-Cgalkoxy-, Ci -Cghaloalkoxy-, mercapto, CpCgalkylthio-, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio- , Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, Q- Cgalkylcarbonyl-, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R⁷¹; each R⁷¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Ci-Cgalkoxy-, Ci -Cghaloalkoxy- or Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A15, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group R², optionally R² is not aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl

70 7 70 substituted by one to five R , preferably phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R ; each R is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-Cgalkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂- Cgalkynyl, C₂-C₈haloalkynyl, hydroxy, Q-Qalkoxy-, Q-Qhaloalkoxy-, mercapto, Ci-C₈alkylthio-, Q- Cghaloalkylthio-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl-, Q- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl-, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl-, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R⁷¹; each R⁷¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, C_rC₈alkyl, Q-Qhaloalkyl, Ci-C₈alkoxy-, Ci-C₈haloalkoxy- or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A16, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group A', A' may be group C

A^la, A^2a, A^3a and A^4a are independently of each other C-H, C-R^5a or nitrogen;

G^la is oxygen or sulfur;

R^la is hydrogen, Ci-C₈alkyl, Ci-C₈alkoxy-, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl-, Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl- or Q-

C₈haloalkoxycarbonyl-;

R^2a is a group of formula D

where

La is a single bond or Ci-C₆alkylene; and

Y^la, Y^2a and Y^3a are independently of another CR^8aR^9a, C=0, C=N-OR^10a, N-R^10a, S, SO, S0₂, S=N-R^10a or SO=N-R^10a, provided that at least one of Y^la, Y^2a or Y^3a is not CR^8aR^9a, C=0 or C=N-OR^10a, preferably thietan-3-yl-, l-oxo-thietan-3-yl-, l,l -dioxo-thietan-3-yl- or 3-methyl-thietan-3-yl-, more preferably thietan-3-yl-, l-oxo-thietan-3-yl-, or l,l-dioxo-thietan-3-yl-;

each R^5a is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Qalkyl, Ci-C₈haloalkyl, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂- Qhaloalkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₂-C₈haloalkynyl, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl, Ci-C₈alkoxy-, Q-Qhaloalkoxy-, Q- C₈alkylthio-, Ci-C₈haloalkylthio-, Ci-C₈alkylsulfinyl-, CrQhaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl- or C_r Qhaloalkylsulfonyl-, or

two R^5a on adjacent carbon atoms together form a -CH=CH-CH=CH- bridge;

R^6a is hydrogen, Ci-C₈haloalkyl or Ci-C₈alkyl;

each R^8a and R^9a is independently hydrogen, halogen, Ci-C₈alkyl or Ci-C₈haloalkyl;

each R^10a is independently hydrogen, cyano, Ci-C₈alkyl, Ci-C₈haloalkyl, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl-, Q- C₈haloalkylcarbonyl-, Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl-, Ci-C₈haloalkoxycarbonyl-, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl-, Q- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene- or aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene- where the aryl moiety is substituted by one to three R^12a, or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene- or heteroaryl-Ci-C₄alkylene- where the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to three R^12a;

each R^Ua and R^12a is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, CpCgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C_r C₈alkoxy-, CpCghaloalkoxy- or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A17, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group A', optionally A' is not A' as defined in group A16.

Examples of chiral catalysts include chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives, chiral thiourea derivatives, chiral urea derivatives, chiral aza-crown ether derivatives, chiral metal complexes, chiral amidine and guanidine derivatives, chiral pyrrolidine and imidazolidine derivatives, chiral scandium III complexes, chiral naphthyl phase transfer catalysts, chiral galodinium or strontium catalysts, chiral crown ether derivatives and chiral ligands for alkaline earth metals.

Chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives are preferred and include alkaloid derivatives of the quaternary ammonium salts, tertiary amine derivatives, urea derivatives, thiourea derivatives and squaramide derivatives.

The term "chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives" may overlap with the terms "chiral thiourea derivative" and "chiral urea derivative". Accordingly, the term "Chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives" may in some embodiments exclude chiral thiourea derivatives and chiral urea derivatives. However, unless explicitly indicated the term "Chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives" will include the relevant chiral thiourea derivatives and chiral urea derivatives.

In one embodiment the chiral catalysts are thiourea derivatives and chiral urea derivatives, in particular those that contain in the molecule a basic nitrogen atom in addition to the two nitrogen atoms of the urea or thiourea moiety, e.g. a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Examples include chiral cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives, chiral cinchona alkaloid urea derivatives, thiourea derivatives of cyclohexanediamine and urea derivatives of cyclohexanediamine. Chiral cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives and thiourea derivatives of cyclohexanediamine are preferred.

For the nitromethane addition the preferred chiral catalysts are cinchona alkaloid derivatives, chiral thiourea derivatives and chiral metal complexes. These catalysts include those from groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 11 below. Particularly preferred catalysts for are chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives, particularly cinchona alkaloid derivatives of quaternary ammonium salts, cinchona alkaloid urea derivatives, cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives, and cinchona alkaloid squaramide derivatives. Even more preferred are cinchona alkaloid urea derivatives, cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives, most preferred being cinchona alkaloid thiourea derivatives.

For the cyanide addition the preferred catalysts are cinchona alkaloid derivatives, chiral ruthenium catalysts as well as gadolinium and strontium catalysts. These catalysts include those from groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 13. Most preferred catalysts are derivatives of cinchona alkaloid quaternary ammonium salts. Examples of cinchona alkaloid quaternary ammonium salt derivatives include compounds of formula 1 (group 1)

wherein

W¹ is ethyl or vinyl; R³⁰ is hydrogen or Ci-C₄alkoxy; R³¹ is hydroxyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, C₂- C₄alkenyloxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy or optionally substituted benzyloxy; R is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; X is an anion.

Preferably W is vinyl.

Preferably R³⁰ is methoxy.

Preferably R³¹ is hydroxyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, C2-C₄alkenyloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy or benzyloxy, more preferably hydroxyl, optionally substituted pyrimidinyloxy or benzyloxy, most preferably hydroxyl.

Preferably X is a halogen, more preferably chloride or bromide. Preferably R³² is phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R³³, naphthyl or naphthyl substituted by one to five R³³, anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five R³³, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to four R³³; more preferably R³² is phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R³³, naphthyl or naphthyl substituted by one to five R³³, anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five R³³, pyrimidinyl or pyrimidinyl substituted by one to three R³³, or pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four R³³; more preferably phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R³³, naphthyl or naphthyl substituted by one to five R³³, anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five R³³, or pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four

33 32 33

R ; more preferably R is phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R , anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five R³³, or pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four R³³; even more preferably R³² is phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl and methoxy, anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl and methoxy, pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four halogen atoms, or group B

(B)

or group B substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl and methoxy, even more preferably phenyl substituted by one to five substituents independently selected from halogen methyl and methoxy, anthracenyl or anthracenyl substituted by one to five substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl and methoxy or pyridyl or pyridyl substituted by one to four halogen atoms, even more preferably phenyl substituted by one to five substituents independently selected from halogen methyl and methoxy or anthracenyl. Each R³³ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-C₈alkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Q-Cgalkoxy, Q-Cghaloalkoxy, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five halogen, and wherein two R³³ substituents on adjacent carbon atoms may together form a partially saturated 5-7 membered ring containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, N(R³⁴) and S; and each R³⁴ is independently hydrogen or C₁-C4 alkyl. Preferably each R³³ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy,arylor Q- C₄haloalkoxy, and wherein any two R³³ substituents on adjacent carbon atoms may together form a partially saturated 5 membered ring containing one or two O atoms, more preferably each R³³ is independently halogen, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy, phenyl or halomethoxy, and wherein any two R³³ substituents on adjacent carbon atoms may together form a partially saturated 5 membered ring containing one or two O atoms, more preferably each R³³ is independently halogen, methyl, phenyl or methoxy, most preferably each R³³ is independently fluorine, methyl, phenyl or methoxy.

Examples include

51

wherein X is an anion, preferably halogen, more preferably chloride or bromide.

Examples of cinchona alkaloid quaternary ammonium salt derivatives are described for example in Arai et al., Tet. Lett. 1999, 4215; S. Colonna, H. Hiemstra, H. Wynberg, J. Chem. Soc. Chem.

Commun. 1978, 238; E. J. Corey, F. Y. Zhang, Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 4257; D. Y. Kim, S. C. Huh,

Tetrahedron 2001, 57, 8933; M. Hua, H. Cui, L. Wang, J. Nie, J. Ma, Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 2832; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010; and T. Ooi, K. Maruoka, Acc. Chem. Res. 2004, 37, 526; Provencher, B.A., Bartelson, K.J., Liu, Y., Foxman, B., Deng, L. Angew.Chem,.Int.Ed. 2011, 50,10565; Liu, Y.,

Provencher, B.A., Bartelson, K.J., Deng, L. Chem.Sci. 2011, 2, 1301

Examples of cinchona alkaloid tertiary amine derivatives include compounds of formula 2 (group

2)

W² is ethyl or vinyl; R³⁵ is hydrogen or Ci-C₄alkoxy; R³⁶ is hydroxyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, C₂-C₄alkenyloxy or optionally substituted benzyloxy.

Preferably W² is vinyl.

Preferably R³⁵ is methoxy.

Preferably R³⁶ is hydroxyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, C2-C₄alkenyloxy or benzyloxy, most preferably hydroxyl.

Examples include:

as described in A. Latvala, S. Stanchev, A. Linden, M. Hesse, Tet. Asym. 1993, 2, 173. Examples of cinchona alkaloid urea and thiourea derivatives include compounds of formula 3 (group 3)

Y is S or O, W is ethyl or vinyl; R is hydrogen or Ci-C₄alkoxy; R is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted C3-Ciocycloalkyl.

Preferably Y is S.

Preferably W³ is vinyl or ethyl.

Preferably R³⁷ is methoxy.

Preferably R³⁸ is phenyl optionally substituted by one to five R³⁹ or C₅-C₆cycloalkyl optionally substituted by R⁴⁰, more preferably phenyl optionally substituted by one to five R³⁹.

R³⁹ is halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, Ci-C₄haloalkoxy, preferably d- C₄ haloalkyl, more preferably Ci-C₄haloalkyl.

R⁴⁰ is NH₂, halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl, Ci-C₄haloalkyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, Ci-C₄haloalkoxy, preferably NH₂.

Examples include

as described in B. Vakulya, S. Varga, A. Csampai, T. Soos, Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 1967; B. Vakulya, S. Varga, T. Soos, J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 3475; P. Li, Y. Wang, X. Liang, J. Ye, Chem. Commun. 2008, 3302; and C. Oliva, A. Silva, F. Paz, J. Calvaleiro, Synlett, 2010, 7, 1123-1127.

Examples of squaramide catalysts include compound of formula 4 (group 4)

wherein W is ethyl or vinyl; R is hydrogen or Ci-C₄alkoxy; R is optionally substituted aryl.

Preferably W⁴ is vinyl

Preferably R⁵⁴ is methoxy.

Preferably R⁵⁵ is phenyl optionally substituted by one to five R⁵⁶ or C₅-C₆cycloalkyl optionally substituted by R⁴⁰.

R⁵⁶ is halogen, cyano, Ci-C₄alkyl,

Ci-C₄alkoxy, preferably d- C₄haloalkyl.

Examples include those wherein in the compound of formula X, R⁵⁴ is H or OMe and R⁵⁵ is 4- CF₃-C₆H₄ or 3,5-(CF₃)2-C₆H₃ as described in Yang, W.; Du, D. Org. Lett., 2010, 12 (23), 5450-5453.

Examples of thiourea derivatives of cyclohexanediamine or diamines (group 5) include the followin

Examples of thiourea derivatives of cyclohexanediamine are described in K. Mei, M. Jin, S. Zhang, P. Li, W. Liu, X. Chen, F. Xue, W. Duan, W. Wang, Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 2864, and

B. Vakulya, S. Varga, T. Soos, J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 3475.

Examples of thiourea derivatives of diamines are described in He, Tianxiong; Qian, Jing-Ying; Song. Hong-Liang; Wu, Xin-Yan Synlett 2009, 19, 3195-319 and Kokotos, C. G.; Kokotos, G., Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 2009, 351(9), 1355-1362 and Manzano, R.; Andres, J.M.; Alvarez, R.; Muruzabal, M.D.; de Lera, A.R.; Pedrosa, R. Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 5931.

Examples of aza-crown ethers (group 6) include compound of formula 5

R is hydrogen, Ci-Ci₀alkyl, Ci-Qohydroxyalkyl Ci-C₈alkoxy-Ci-C₈alkyl, Q-Qalkoxycarbonyl, C_r C₈alkyl optionally substituted aryl, aryl-Ci-C₄alkyl wherein the aryl is optionally substituted,

(aryl)₂P(0)Ci-C₄ alkyl wherein each aryl is optionally substituted.

Preferably R⁴¹ is hydrogen, Ci-Ci₀alkyl, Ci-Ci₀hydroxyalkyl, Ci-C₈alkoxy-Ci-C₈alkyl, C_r C₈alkoxycarbonyl-Ci-C₈alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-Ci-C₄ alkyl, (phenyl)₂P(0)Ci-C₄ alkyl.

Examples of aza crown ethers include those wherein R⁴¹is C₆H₅, CH₂C₆H₅, CH₃-(CH₂)3,

CH₃-(CH₂)₉, CH₂CH₂OH, C₆H_U, CH₂C0₂CH₃, hydrogen, CH₂CH₂OCH₃, (CH₂)₄P(0)Ph₂.

Examples of aza-crown ethers are described in P. Bako, A. Szollosy, P. Bombicz, L. Toke, Synlett 1997, 291 and T. Bako, P. Bako, A. Szollosy, M. Czugler, G. Keglevich, L. Toke, Tet. Asym. 2002, 203.

Examples of chiral metal complexes (group 7) include the following

as described in G. Sundararajan, N. Prabagaran, Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 389;

Ar = Ph, p-Tol

as described in Kurono, N.; Nii, N.; Sakaguchi, Y.; Uemura, M.; Ohkuma, T. Angew. Chem. Int.

201 1 , 50, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201 100939

as described in . Keller, N. Veldman, A. L. Spek, B. L. Feringa, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1997, 8, 3403; LaK₃tris((R)-binaphthoxide)) as described in K. Funabashi, Y. Saida, M. Kanai, T. Arai, H. Sasai, M. Shibasaki, Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 7557; and

(S,S)-(salen)Al

variations thereof include [(S,S)-(salen)Al]₂0, (S,S)-(salen)AlMe, (S,S)-(salen)AlCl and are described M. S. Taylor, D. N. Zalatan, A. M. Lerchner, E. N. Jacobsen, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 1313 ;

in combination with an achiral amine, e.g. 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, as described in K. Itoh, S. Kanemasa, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 13394.

Examples of chiral amidines and guanidines (group 8) include compounds of formula 6

wherein each R is C(H)Ph₂, or CH₂OR , wherein R is i-BuPh₂Si, H or benzyl, e.g. as described in A. P. Davis, K. J. Dempsey, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1995, 6, 2829;

as described in Zhang, G.; Kumamoto, T.; Heima, T.; Ishikawa, T. Tetrahedron Lett. 2010, 51, 3927.

Where X is a halogen or BF₄ of PF₆, most preferably chloride as described in Ma, T.; Fu, X.; Kee, C.W.; Zong, L.; Pan, Y.; Huang, K.; Tan, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 2828 and

wherein R⁴⁴ and R⁴⁵ are independently C₁-C4 alkyl, C₁-C4 alkoxy-Ci-C4 alkyl, TBDMS-C₁-C4 alkyl or TBDPS-C₁-C4 alkyl, preferably both R⁴⁴ and R⁴⁵ are either hydroxymethyl, TMDMS-methyl or TBDPS- methyl, and wherein X is an anion, preferably halogen or BF₄ ^", more preferably chloride or BF₄ ^", e.g. as described in M. T. Allingham, A. Howard- Jones, P. J. Murphy, D. A. Thomas, P. W. R. Caulkett, Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 8677. Examples of the pyrrolidine derivatives as chiral catalysts (group 9) include proline, e.g. in combination with trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine as described in S. Hanessian, V. Pham, Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 2975;

as described in C. E. T. Mitchell, S. E. Brenner and S. V. Ley, Chem. Commun. , 2005, 5346 and C. E. T. Mitchell, S. E. Brenner, J. Garcia-Fortanet and S. V. Ley, Org. Biomol. Chem. , 2006, 4, 2039;

as described in N. Halland, R. G. Hazell, K. A. Jorgensen, J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 8331 ;

as described in C. Oliva, A. Silva, F. Paz, J. Calvaleiro, Synlett, 2010, 7, 1123-1 127; and

as described in Xu, D.; Shi, S.; Wang, Y. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2009, (28), 4848-4853.

Examples of chiral imidazoline catalysts (group 10) include

as described in N. Halland, R. G. Hazell, K. A. Jorgensen, J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 8331 ; and

as described in A. Prieto, N. Halland, K. A. Jorgensen, Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 3897.

Examples of chiral Ν,Ν'-dioxide-scandium III complexes (group 11) include ligand-Sc(OTf)₃ complexes wherein the ligand is a compound of formula 7or 8

wherein R and R are phenyl optionally substituted by one to five halogen, C₁-C4 alkyl, C₁-C4 haloalkyl, C₁-C4 alkoxy, C₁-C4 haloalkoxy and wherein n is 1 or 2;

Examples include those wherein n is 1 and R⁴⁶ is 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃; n is 1 and R⁴⁶ is C₆H₅ : n is 1 and R⁴⁶ is 2- MeC₆H₄; n is 2 and R⁴⁶ is 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃; R⁴⁷ is 2,6-iPr₂-C₆H₃; as described in L. Wang, Q. Zhang, X. Zhou, X. Liu, L. Lin, B. Qin, X. Feng, Chemistry-A European Journal, 2010, 16, (26), 7696-7699,

Chiral binaphthyl phase transfer catalysts (group 12) include compounds of formula 11, 12, 13 and

14

(11) (12)

(13 (14)

wherein R⁴⁸, R²⁹, R⁵⁰ and R⁵² are each independently phenyl or naphthyl optionally substituted by one to five halogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C -C4 alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; each R⁵¹ is CpCg alkyl or d- Cg haloalkyl, R⁵³ is a bond or CpCg alkylene and X is an anion, e.g. a halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine. Examples include those wherein each R⁴⁸ is 3,5-(CF₃)2(C₆H₃); each R⁴⁸ is 3,4,5-F₃C₆H₂; each R⁴⁹ is 3,5-(CF₃)2(C₆H₃); each R⁴⁹ is 3,4,5- F₃C₆H₂; each R⁵⁰ is 3,5-(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃); each R⁵⁰ is 3,4,5-F₃C₆H₂; each R⁵¹ is n-butyl; each R⁵² is H and R⁵³

52 53 52 53 52 53 is a bond; each R is H and R is ethylene; each R is H and R is propylene; each R is phenyl and R

52 53 52 53 52 is a bond; each R is phenyl and R is ethylene; each R is phenyl and R is propylene; each R is 3,4,5-F₃C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is a bond; each R⁵² is 3,4,5-F₃C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is ethylene; each R⁵² is 3,4,5-F₃C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is propylene; each R⁵² is ,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is a bond; each R⁵² is ,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is ethylene; each R⁵² is 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₂ and R⁵³ is propylene; each R⁴⁸ is 2-naphthyl as described in M. Hua, H. Cui, L. Wang, J. Nie, J. Ma, Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 2832 and T. Ooi, K. Maruoka, Acc. Chem. Res. 2004, 37, 526.

Examples of ligands for galodinium or strontium catalysis (group 13) include compounds of formula 15 and 16

wherein R⁵ is CN or F, R is H or F; each R is phenyl or p-tolyl; R^6U is OH, OMe or Oz-Bu as described in Tanaka, Y.; Kanai, M.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 6072; Tanaka, Y.; Kanai, M.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 8862.

Examples of crown ether phase transfer catalysis (group 14) include compounds of formula XXI

wherein each R is is H or benzyl as described in Dehmlow, D.E.; Sauerbier, C. Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1989, 181-185.

Examples of ligands for alkaline earth metal catalysis (group 15) include

as described in Saito, S.; Tsubogo, T.; Kobayashi, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 5364; Tsubogo, T.; Saibo, S.; Seki, K.; Yamashita, Y.; Kobayashi, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 13321 ; Kobayashi, S.; Tsubogo, T.; Saito, S.; Yamashita, Y. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 807

It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that in order to prepare the compounds of the invention with the indicated stereochemistry, the stereochemistry of the compound of formula II must be matched with the corresponding stereochemistry of the catalyst. It is understood that the stereochemistry d above is appropriate for a compound of formula IA:

The following schemes describe the processes of the invention in more detail. In the schemes below the stereochemistry at * corresponds to the stereochemistry in the claims. The substituent definitions are as defined herein.

Scheme 1

1) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (II) can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (I) with a suitable cyanide source in the presence of a chiral catalyst. Suitable cyanide sources include, but are not limited to alkali metal cyanides, trimethylsilyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl cyanides, hydrogen cyanide, CNC0₂Et and acetone cyanohydrin. Depending from the catalyst used, suitable solvents include dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, t-butylmethyl ether, 1 ,2-dichloroethane, dimethoxyethane, xylenes and toluene. In certain cases additives such as cesium fluoride, cesium chloride, lithium phenolate or 2,6-dimethylphenol are often required. In most cases it is advantageous to conduct the reaction in a suitable solvent at dilution between 0.1 M to 1 M, preferably 0.3 M to 0.5 M. The reaction temperature could be from -40 °C to 100 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 50 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 6 hours and 24 hours. The amount of catalyst is usually between 0.02 and 0.2 molar equivalents, preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 molar equivalents. Certain catalysts require a presence of a Lewis acid, such as galodinium

trifluoromethansulfonate or strontium trifluoromethanesulfonate. If chiral phase transfer catalysts of group I are used the addition of small amounts of water (between one and four molar equivalents) is often beneficial. Conducting the reaction in a biphasic system (water/suitable organic solvent) is, however, usually detrimental to chemical reactivity. Suitable conditions for this asymmetric reaction are disclosed in the literature: (a) Sammis, G. M.; Jacobsen, E. N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 4442. (b) Sammis, G. M.; Danjo, H.; Jacobsen, E. N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 9928. (c) Mazet, C; Jacobsen, E. N.

Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 1762. (d) Madhavana, N.; Week, M. AdV. Synth. Catal. 2008, 350, 419. (e) Mita, T.; Sasaki, K.; Kanai, M.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 514. (f) Fujimori, I.; Mita, T.; Maki, K.; Shiro, M.; Sato, A.; Furusho, S.; Kanaia, M.; Shibasaki, M. Tetrahedron 2007, 63, 5 5820. (g) Tanaka, Y.; Kanai, M.; Shibasaki, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 6072. (h) Bernardi, L.; Fini, F.; Fochi, M.; Ricci, A. Synlett 2008, 1857. (i) Jun Wang, Wei Li, Yanling Liu, Yangyang Chu, Lili Lin, Xiaohua Liu, and Xiaoming Feng Organic Letters (2010), 12, (6), 1280-1283. (j) anaka, Yuta; Kanai, Motomu; Shibasaki, Masakatsu, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010, 132, (26), 8862-8863. (k) Brian A. Provencher, Keith J. Bartelson, Yan Liu, Bruce M. Foxman, Li Deng, Angewandte Chemie 10 International Edition.

Sch

2) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (V) can be prepared by cyclization of enantioenriched compounds of formula (IV) wherein P is hydroxyl, Q-Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-azolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-

15 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl under standard acidic or basic conditions.

3) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (IV) wherein P is e.g. hydroxyl, CpCealkoxy, N- pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl can be prepared by selective reduction of enantioenriched compounds of formula (Il)wherein P is e.g. hydroxyl, Q-Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl. Suitable reducing

20 agents include iron and zinc in the presence of a strong acid, Raney nickel under the atmosphere of

hydrogen, a mixture of titanium (IV) chloride with zinc or titanium (III) chloride and a mixture of cobalt (II) or nickel (II) chloride with sodium borohydride. A reduction with Raney nickel is performed in a suitable alcoholic solvents, such as methanol or ethanol at dilution between 0.1 M to 1 M and in most cases it is advantageous to conduct the reaction between 0.3 M to 0.5 M, at temperatures from 20 °C to

25 60 °C. Hydrogen pressure used is from 1 bar to 20 bars and the amount of catalyst used is between 5 and 20 weight percent. The reaction time is usually between 10 min and 6 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours. The extent of reduction could potentially be controlled by varying temperature and pressure of hydrogen. A reduction with zinc and acid is carried out in suitable polar solvents, such as

dimethylformamide, which are miscible with water. The pH of a solution is kept at 1 -2 and the amount of

30 zinc powder used is between 2 and 10 molar equivalents, preferably between 2 and 4 molar equivalents.

The reaction time is usually between 30 min and 4 hours, preferably between 30 min and 1 hour. The reduction with cobalt (II) chloride and sodium borohydride is carried out in a suitable alcoholic solvent and the amount of sodium borohydride used is between 2 and 10 molar equivalents, preferably between 2 and 4 molar equivalents, amount of cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate used is between 1 and 10 molar equivalents. The reaction time is usually between 30 min and 6 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours.

4) Alternatively enantioenriched compounds of formula (V) can be directly obtained by a reductive cyclization of enantioenriched compound of formula (II) under the conditions described above.

5) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VI) can be obtained by a cyclization of

enantioenriched compound of formula (V) wherein P is e.g. Q-Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N- 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, Ci-C₆alkylsulfmyl under basic conditions such as those described in Tetrahedron, 39(19), 3055-7; 1983.

6) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (V) can be obtained by a selective hydrolysis of the nitrile function in Enantioenriched compounds of formula (II) by acidic or basic hydrolysis.

7) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (VI) can be obtained by a cyclization of

enantioenriched compounds of formula (VII) by a dehydrating reaction such as those described in Chemistry-A European Journal, 9(14), 3270-3281 ; 2003.

8) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VII) can be obtained by complete hydrolysis of enantioenriched compound of formula (II) under basic aqueous conditions.

Scheme 5

(I I) (VI M) (IX)

9) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (IX) can be obtained by treating an enantioenriched compound of formula (II) with an activating agent under the conditions described in J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 312-315. Suitable activating agents include sulfonyl molecules e.g SOCl₂ and HC1,

trichlorophosphate, triphenylphosphine and diethylazodicarboxylate, lH-imidazole and bromine and triphenylphosphine, phosphoric acid or catalysts such as

dihydridotetrakis(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II).

10) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VIII) can be obtained by complete reduction of enantioenriched compounds of formula (II) wherein P is e.g. Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N- 5 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl for example with a metal hydride such as lithium aluminum hydride (L1AIH₄). For instance according to a method developed in the literature in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 51(22), 7144-7153; 2008. Alternatively, suitable conditions involve the treatment of Enantioenriched compounds of formula (II) under an atmosphere of hydrogen gas in the presence of a metal catalyst, such as those described in the literature in Bioorganic Chemistry, 36(5), 241 -251 ; 2008. 10

10) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XII) can be obtained by reacting a enantioenriched compound of formula (X) and an enantioenriched compound of formula (II) in the presence of a suitable dehydrating agent such as thionyl chloride (SOCl₂). For instance according to a method described in

15 Asian Journal of Chemistry, 19(6), 4939-4941 ; 2007.

11) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (X) can be obtained by hydrolysis of a enantioenriched compound of formula (II) wherein P is e.g. Q-Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N- 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl in the presence of aqueous mineral acid, such as aqueous sulphuric acid between 1% and 100% weight/weight, or hydrochloric acid between 1% and

20 100%) weight/weight between 0.1 M to 5 M. In most cases it is advantageous to conduct the reaction preferably 0.3 M to 0.5 M, at temperatures from 20 °C to 120 °C.

(IV) (XIV) (XV) (XVI)

12) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XVI) can be obtained by treating a enantioenriched

25 compound of formula (XV) with a suitable activating agent under the conditions described in the

literature, such as in J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 312-315. Suitable activating agents include sulfonyl molecules e.e.g SOCl₂, mesylate, tosylate, triflate etc

13) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XV) can be obtained by reducing an enantioenriched compound of formula (XIV) wherein P is e.g. Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl,

30 N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl with a suitable metal hydride such as Lithium aluminum hydride, for instance according to a method described in the literature in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 49(1), 399-406; 2006.

14) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XIV) can be obtained by reacting a enantioenriched compound of formula (IV) wherein P is e.g. Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N- 5 benzotriazolyl or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl and a compound of formula (XIII) in the presence of a metal catalyst and a base. Suitable conditions can be found in the literature in Organic Letters, 11(6), 1449-1452; 2009 and in Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(1), 413-426; 2010.

Scheme 8

(XIV) (XVII)

10 15) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XVII) can be obtained by cyclising an

enantioenriched compound of formula (XIV) wherein P is e.g. Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N- 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl under neutral conditions, such as those described in the literature in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 19(16), 4733-4739; 2009, or under basic conditions such as those described in Synlett, (4), 591 -594; 2006.

15 Scheme 9

(lla) (XVlll)

16) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XVIII) can be obtained by carrying out a Baeyer- Villiger reactions (M. B. Smith, J. March: March's advanced organic chemistry. Wiley, New York 2001.) on compounds (lla) wherein P is e.g. an optionally substituted aryl or an optionally substituted heteroaryl

20 or optionally substituted alkyl. Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to m-chloro peroxybenzoic acid and trifluoro peroxyacetic acid. The reaction can be conducted neat or in a suitable solvent such as dichloromethane, chloroform, 1 ,2-dichloroethane, acetic acid, acetonitrile, methanol, trifluoroacetic acid, 1 ,4-dioxane, benzene, tert-butyl alcohol, . The reaction temperature could be from - 50 °C to 150 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 100 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and

25 96 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 24 hours.

17) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (III) could be obtained by reductive cyclization of compounds of formula (XVIII) wherein P is as defined for compounds of formula (lla). Suitable reducing agents include iron a late transition metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ni and Co and a source of hydride such as hydrogen gas, a borohydride salt or borane. A reduction with Raney nickel is performed in suitable alcoholic solvents, such as methanol or ethanol, at temperatures from 20 °C to 60 °C. Hydrogen pressure used is from lbar to 20 bar and the amount of catalyst used is between 5 and 20 weight percent. The reaction time is usually between 10 min and 6 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours.

Alternatively, the reductive cyclization can be carried out in the presence of a borohydride salt, such as sodium borohydride, in the presence of a cobalt salt, such as cobalt(II) dichloride, in a suitable alcoholic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, according to the conditions described in the literature Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 20(2), 704-708; 2010

18) Alternatively the reductive cyclization can be carried out by reacting compounds of formula (XVIII) with borane complexed with a suitable acceptor such as dimethylsulfide or tetrahydrofuran.

Suitable solvents induce tetrahydrofuran and 1 ,4-dioxane and the reaction temperature can range between 25 C and 100 C. Appropriate conditions are described in the literature Journal of the American Chemical Society (1988),110(6), 1679-90.

19) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VI) can be obtained by carrying out a Baeyer- Villiger oxidation reaction on enantioenriched compounds of formula (lie) wherein P is e.g. an optionally substituted aryl or an optionally substituted heteroaryl. Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to m-chloro peroxybenzoic acid, trifluoro peroxyacetic acid and peroxy sulfuric acid.

Particularly preferred reagent is peroxysulfuric acid. Between 1 and 100 equivalents of the reagent is typically used (e.g. at least 1 equivalent, e.g. up to 100 equivalents).

Alternatively, a suitable reagent is peroxide in the presence of acid, preferably a strong acid. Peroxides include, but are not limited to hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate. Particularly preferred is hydrogen peroxide. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be between 5% and 90%, preferably between 20-40%> (e.g. at least 5%, at least 20%, e.g. up to 90%, up to 40%). (% refers to v/v.). Between 1 and 100 molar equivalents of the reagent is typically used (e.g. at least 1 molar equivalent, e.g. up to 100 molar equivalents).

Strong acids are e.g. any acid with pKa lower then acetic acid. Strong acids include, but are not limited to trifluoroacetic acid, nitrobenzoic acid, methanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p- toluenesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, Nafion-H. Particularly preferred is sulphuric acid. The concentration of acid, which is preferably sulphuric acid, can be between 10%> and 99%>, preferably between 50-97%> (e.g. at least 10%, at least 50%, e.g. up to 99%, up to 97%) (% refers to v/v.) Between 1 and 100 molar equivalents of the reagent is typically used (e.g. at least 1 molar equivalent, e.g. up to 100 molar equivalents).

The reaction can be conducted neat or in a suitable solvent. Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to dichloromethane, dichloroethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, acetic acid. The reaction temperature could be from -50 °C to 150 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 100 °C (e.g. at least -50 °C, at least -20 °C, e.g. up to 150 °C, up to 100° C). The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 24 hours (e.g. at least 1 hour, e.g. up to 96 hours, up to 24 hours).

20) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VI) can be obtained by hydrolysis of the nitrile function in Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XIX) by acidic or basic hydrolysis followed by a dehydration reaction.

21) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XIX) can be obtained by hydrolysis of

Enantioenriched compound of formula (II) under basic aqueous conditions.

(I) (XX) (IV) (I I I)

22) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (III) can be prepared by cyclization of a enantioenriched compound of formula (IV) under basic, acidic or neutral conditions.

23) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (IV) can be prepared by reducing a enantioenriched compound of formula (XX). Suitable reducing agents include iron and zinc in the presence of a strong acid, a mixture of titanium (IV) chloride with zinc or titanium (III) chloride, or a late transition metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ni and Co and a source of hydride such as hydrogen gas, a silane, formic acid, a formate salt, or a borohydride salt. A reduction with Raney nickel is performed in suitable alcoholic solvents, such as methanol or ethanol, at temperatures from 20 °C to 60 °C. Hydrogen pressure used is from lbar to 20 bar and the amount of catalyst used is between 5 and 20 weight percent. The reaction time is usually between 10 min and 6 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours. The extent of reduction could potentially be controlled by varying temperature and pressure of hydrogen. A reduction with zinc and acid is carried out in suitable polar solvents, such as dimethylformamide, which are miscible with water. The pH of a solution is kept at 1 -2 and the amount of zinc powder used is between 2 and 10 molar equivalents, preferably between 2 and 4 molar equivalents. The reaction time is usually between 30 min and 4 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours.

24) Alternatively, the reduction can be carried out in the presence of a silane, such as

triethylsilane, in the presence of a source of palladium, such as palladium supported on charcoal, in a suitable alcoholic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, according to the conditions described in the literature in Journal of Organic Chemistry, 72(17), 6599-6601 ; 2007.

25) Alternatively, the reduction can be carried out in the presence of formic acid or a formate salt, such as ammonium formate, in the presence of a source of palladium, such as palladium supported on charcoal, in a suitable alcoholic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, according to the conditions described in the literature in Synthesis (1986), (2), 133-5 and in Organic Letters, 3, 3153-3155; (2001).

26) Alternatively, the reduction can be carried out in the presence of a borohydride salt, such as sodium borohydride, in the presence of a nickel salt, such as nickel(II) dichloride hexahydrate, in a suitable alcoholic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, according to the conditions described in the literature in Organic Letters, 3, 1825-1827; (2001).

27) Alternatively, the reduction can be carried out in the presence of a borohydride salt, such as sodium borohydride, in the presence of a cobalt salt, such as cobalt(II) dichloride, in a suitable alcoholic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol, according to the conditions described in the literature in Journal of Organic Chemistry, 62(24), 8565-8568; 1997.

28) Alternatively enantioenriched compounds of formula (III) can be prepared by reducing and cyclizing enantioenriched compounds of formula (XX) under the reduction conditions described above.

29) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XX) can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (I) with nitromethane in an asymmetric fashion, in the presence of a chiral catalyst. Reaction with some chiral catalysts, notably bifunctional thiourea or urea catalysts, do not require any additives. The amount of catalyst is usually between 0.02 and 0.2 molar equivalents, preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 molar equivalents. In some instances an additional proton source such as 4-nitrophenol or t-butanol is needed or useful. Such methods have been described in the literature: (a) Benedek Vakulya, Szilard Varga and Tibor Soos, Journal of Organic Chemistry (2008), 73, (9), 3475-3480. (b) Tetrahedron Letters (2008), 49, (35), 5220-5223. (c) Roberto Ballini, Giovanna Bosica, Dennis Fiorini, Alessandro Palmieri, and Marino Petrini, Chem Rev 2005, 105, 933.

In most other cases, however, it is necessary or useful to add a base to the reaction media.

Suitable bases include amines, such as triethylamine, 2,5-dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylpiperidine, 4- dimethylamino pyridine, l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-7-ene, metal alkoxides, such as sodium t- butoxide, metal carbonates, such as potassium carbonate or metal fluorides, such as cesium fluoride or cesium chloride and tetrabutylammonium fluoride. In most cases it is advantageous to conduct the reaction using nitromethane as a solvent at dilution between 0.1 M to 1 M, preferably 0.3 M to 0.5 M. Alternatively suitable organic solvents could be used, for example toluene, 1 ,2-dichloroethane, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, methanol or ethyl acetate at a temperature from 0 °C to 100 °C, preferably between 40 and 100 °C, and at dilution of e.g. between 0.1 M to 1 M. The reaction time is usually between 12 and 96 hours, preferably between 24 and 72 hours. If a solvent other than

nitromethane is used, the amount of nitromethane added is between 1.5 and 20 molar equivalents, preferably between 1.5 and 5 molar equivalents.

Scheme 13

(XXI) (IV)

30) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (IV) can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula (XXI) with an acetophenone of formula (XXII) in the presence of a chiral catalyst. Compounds of formula (XXII) are known in the literature or can be prepared using methods known to a person skilled in the art (see for example Journal of the American Chemical Society (2008), 130(42), 13862-13863) and compounds of formula (XXI) are known in the literature or can be prepared using methods known to a person skilled in the art (see for example WO2009/080250). In most cases it is advantageous to conduct the reaction using suitable organic solvents, for example toluene, 1 ,2-dichloroethane, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, methanol or ethyl acetate. The temperature is usually between 0 °C and 100 °C, preferably between 40 and 100 °C. Where a solvent is used the reactants are usually at a dilution of e.g. between 0.1 M to 1 M. The reaction time is usually between 1 and 96 hours, preferably between 1 and 24 hours. The amount of catalyst is usually between 0.02 and 0.2 molar equivalents, preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 molar equivalents. Reaction with some chiral catalysts, notably bifunctional thiourea or urea catalysts, do not require any additives. In some cases, however, it is necessary or useful to add an acid to the reaction media. Suitable acids are benzoic acids. In some instances an additional proton source such as 4-nitrophenol, phenols, naphthalenol or t-butanol is needed or useful.

Scheme 14

(XXV)

31) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (III) can be prepared by reacting compounds of formula (XXV) with an aqueous base followed by acidification. Suitable bases include but are not limited to alkali metal hydroxides. The reaction temperature could be between 25 C and 100 C, preferably between 40 C and 80 C. Between 1 and 5 equivalents of alkali metal hydroxide are used. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to alcohols (such as ethanol), water and tetrahydrofuran. Suitable acids include sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid and p-toluene sulfonic acid. In some cases heating in a nonpolar solvent such as toluene is sufficient for decarboxylation.

32) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XXV) can be prepared by a reductive cyclization of compounds of formula (XXIV). Suitable reducing agents include iron and zinc in the presence of a strong acid, a mixture of titanium (IV) chloride with zinc or titanium (III) chloride, or a late transition metal selected from Pd, Pt, Ni and Co and a source of hydride such as hydrogen gas, a silane, formic acid, a formate salt, or a borohydride salt. A reduction with Raney nickel is performed in suitable alcoholic solvents, such as methanol or ethanol, at temperatures from 20 °C to 60 °C. Hydrogen pressure used is from lbar to 20 bar and the amount of catalyst used is between 5 and 20 weight percent. The reaction time is usually between 10 min and 6 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours. The extent of reduction could potentially be controlled by varying temperature and pressure of hydrogen. A reduction with zinc and acid is carried out in suitable polar solvents, such as dimethylformamide, which are miscible with water. The pH of a solution is kept at 1 -2 and the amount of zinc powder used is between 2 and 10 molar equivalents, preferably between 2 and 4 molar equivalents. The reaction time is usually between 30 min and 4 hours, preferably between 30 min and 2 hours. Suitable conditions for similar reductive cyclizations have been describe in the literature, for example: (a) Okino, Tomotaka; Hoashi, Yasutaka; Furukawa, Tomihiro; Xu, Xuenong; Takemoto, Yoshiji. J. Am. Chem.l Soc. (2005), 127(1), 119-125.; (b) Ji, Jianguo; Barnes, David M.; Zhang, Ji; King, Steven A.; Wittenberger, Steven J.; Morton, Howard E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1999), 121(43), 10215-10216

33) Enantioenriched compounds of formula XXIV can be prepared can be prepared by reacting compounds of formula XXI with compounds of formula XXII in the presence of a chiral catalyst.

5 Depending from the catalyst used, suitable solvents include dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, t-butylmethyl ether, 1 ,2-dichloromethan, xylenes and toluene. In most cases it is

advantageous to conduct the reaction in a suitable solvent at dilution between 0.1 M to 1 M, preferably 0.3 M to 0.5 M. The reaction temperature could be from -40 °C to 100 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 50 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 6 hours and 24 10 hours. The amount of catalyst is usually between 0.02 and 0.2 molar equivalents, preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 molar equivalents.

34) Suitable catalysts and conditions for this asymmetric step are well described in the literature. Representative examples include: (a) Ji, Jianguo; Barnes, David M.; Zhang, Ji; King, Steven A.;

Wittenberger, Steven J.; Morton, Howard E. Journal of the American Chemical Society (1999),

15 121(43), 10215-10216. (b) Cooey, S.H.; Conno, S.J. Angew.Chem.Int.Ed. 2005, 6367. (c) Ye, J.; Dixon, J.; Hynes, P. Chem. Comm. 2005, 448

(VI) (XII)

35) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XVI) can be prepared by reduction of

0 Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XVII) with a metal hydride, for instance according to a method developed in the literature: Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (1978), 67(7), 953-6.

36) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XVII) can be prepared by reaction of

Enantioenriched compound of formula (III) with a compound of formula (Va) wherein X^B is a leaving group, for example a halogen, such as bromo, as described above).

5 37) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (XVI) can be prepared by reduction of

enantioenriched compounds of formula (XII) with a metal hydride, for instance according to a method developed in the literature (ARKIVOC, 2003, 5, And US patent: US4524206).

Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to., metal hydride The reaction can be conducted neat or in a suitable solvent The reaction temperature could be from -50 °C to 150 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 100 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 24 hours. The reduction of such succinimides are known to proceed through one or several intermediates of formula (XXVI), (XXVII), and (XXVIII), which may be

(XXVI) (XVI I) (XVI I I)

(I I I) (XI)

38) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (XI), can be prepared by reaction of enantioenriched compound of formula (XIII) wherein X^B is a leaving group, for example a halogen, such as bromo, with a compound of formula (III) in the absence or the presence of a catalyst, such as palladium(II) acetate or bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride, optionally in the presence of a ligand, such as triphenylphosphine, and a base, such as sodium carbonate, pyridine, triethylamine, 4-(dimethylamino)- pyridine ("DMAP") or diisopropylethylamine (Hunig's base), in a solvent, such as water, NN- dimethylformamide or tetrahydrofuran. The reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 50°C to 200°C, preferably from 100°C to 150°C. The reaction is carried out at a pressure of from 50 to 200 bar, preferably from 100 to 150 bar.

(XX) (VI I I) (IX) 39) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (VIII) can be obtained by reduction of

Enantioenriched compound of formula (XX) wherein P is e.g. Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N- 1 ,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-C₆alkylsulfinyl using conditions described above. Scheme 18

40) Enantioenriched compounds of formula (IX) can be prepared by reduction of Enantioenriched compounds of formula (III) or (VI). Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to.metal hydride The reaction can be conducted neat or in a suitable solvent. The reaction temperature could be from -50 °C to 150 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 100 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 24 hours. The reduction of such succinimides are known to proceed through one or several intermediates of formula (XXIX), (XXX), (XXXI), (XXXIII) and ($$), which may be optionally isolated.

(XXIX) (XXX) (XXXI) (XXXI I) (XXXl l l)

Scheme 19

(Γ) (I")

41) Enantioenriched Compounds of formula (I") wherein P is hydroxyl, Ci-C₆alkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl or Ci-Cealkylsulfmylcan be obtained by carrying out a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction on enantioenriched compounds of formula (Γ) wherein P is an optionally substituted aryl or an optionally substituted heteroaryl. Suitable reagents for the reaction include, but are not limited to m-chloro peroxybenzoic acid, trifluoro peroxyacetic acid and peroxy sulfuric acid. The reaction can be conducted neat or in a suitable solvent. The reaction temperature could be from -50 °C to 150 °C, preferably between -20 °C and 100 °C. The reaction time is usually between 1 hour and 96 hours, preferably between 1 hour and 24 hours.

In the above schemes a leaving group may befor example a halogen, d-Cgalkoxy, d- Cgalkylsulfonyloxy, CpCghaloalkylsulfonyloxy, Ci-Cgarylsulfonyloxy, optionally substituted Cp Cgarylsulfonyloxy (aryl is preferably phenyl), diazonium salts (e.g. X^B is -N₂ ⁺ CI^", -N₂ ⁺ BF₄ ^", -N₂ ⁺ Br^", - N₂ ⁺ PF₆ ^_), phosphonate esters (e.g. -OP(0)(OR)2, wherein R is methyl or ethyl), preferably bromo, iodo, chloro, trifluoromethylsulfoxy, p-toluenesulfoxy, diazonium chloride.

In the above schemes, where a reaction condition, e.g. temperature, time, concentration, is given as a range, e.g. value X to value Y, the skilled person will understand that these values serve as guidelines and that it may be possible to perform the reactions outside the given values. In addition, where such ranges are given, in each case these include separate disclsoures of "at least X", and "Y or less". For example a range of 50 °C to 150 °C includes s disclosure of "at least 50 °C" and a dislcosure of "150 °C or less". The following tables A to M illustrate compounds relating to the invention. In the compounds disclosed in Tables A to M the stereocehmistry at * corresponds to that of formula II.

Comp Q2 B2 Q4

No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃ Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃

21 CF₃ N H

Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃ Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

21 CF₃ N H

Table D: Compounds of formula D

Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃

21 CF₃ N H

Table E: Compounds of formula E

Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃

21 CF₃ N H

Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃ Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃

21 CF₃ N H

Table G: Compounds of formula G

Comp Q2 B2 Q4 No.

1 CI C-Cl CI

2 CI C-H CI

3 CF₃ C-H CF₃

4 CI C-H CF₃

5 Br C-H CF₃

6 CI C-F H Comp Q2 B2 Q4

No.

7 F C-Cl H

8 CI C-Cl H

9 CI C-F CI

10 CI C-Br CI

11 CI C-I CI

12 F C-F F

13 CI C-H Br

14 CI C-H F

15 CI C-Cl CF₃

16 CF₃ C-Cl CF₃

17 CF₃ C-H H

18 CI N CI

19 CI N H

20 CF₃ N CF₃

21 CF₃ N H

Table H: Compounds of formula H

Table H discloses 630 compounds of formula H, wherein Q , B , Q and P have the values as defined in Table X.

Table J discloses 630 compounds of formula J, wherein Q , B , Q and P have the values as defined in Table X.

Table K discloses 630 compounds of formula K, wherein Q , B , Q and P have the values as defined in Table X.

Table L discloses 630 compounds of formula L, wherein Q , B , Q and P have the values as defined in

Table X.

Table M discloses 630 compounds of formula M, wherein Q , B , Q and P have the values as defined in Table X.

Table X

Q2 B2 Q4 P

X. l CI C-Cl CI PI

X.2 CI C-H CI PI

X.3 CF₃ C-H CF₃ PI

X.4 CI C-H CF₃ PI

X.5 Br C-H CF₃ PI

X.6 CI C-F H PI

X.7 F C-Cl H PI

X.8 CI C-Cl H PI

X.9 CI C-F CI PI

X.10 CI C-Br CI PI Q2 B2 Q4 P

X. l l CI C-I CI PI

X.12 F C-F F PI

X.13 CI C-H Br PI

X.14 CI C-H F PI

X.15 CI C-Cl CF3 PI

X.16 CF3 C-Cl CF3 PI

X.17 CF3 C-H H PI

X.18 CI C-Cl CI P2

X.19 CI C-H CI P2

X.20 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P2

X.21 CI C-H CF₃ P2

X.22 Br C-H CF₃ P2

X.23 CI C-F H P2

X.24 F C-Cl H P2

X.25 CI C-Cl H P2

X.26 CI C-F CI P2

X.27 CI C-Br CI P2

X.28 CI C-I CI P2

X.29 F C-F F P2

X.30 CI C-H Br P2

X.31 CI C-H F P2

X.32 CI C-Cl CF3 P2

X.33 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P2

X.34 CF3 C-H H P2

X.35 CI C-Cl CI P3

X.36 CI C-H CI P3

X.37 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P3

X.38 CI C-H CF₃ P3

X.39 Br C-H CF₃ P3

X.40 CI C-F H P3

X.41 F C-Cl H P3

X.42 CI C-Cl H P3

X.43 CI C-F CI P3

X.44 CI C-Br CI P3

X.45 CI C-I CI P3

X.46 F C-F F P3

X.47 CI C-H Br P3

X.48 CI C-H F P3

X.49 CI C-Cl CF3 P3

X.50 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P3

X.51 CF3 C-H H P3

X.52 CI C-Cl CI P4

X.53 CI C-H CI P4

X.54 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P4

X.55 CI C-H CF₃ P4

X.56 Br C-H CF₃ P4

X.57 CI C-F H P4

X.58 F C-Cl H P4

X.59 CI C-Cl H P4

X.60 CI C-F CI P4

X.61 CI C-Br CI P4

X.62 CI C-I CI P4

X.63 F C-F F P4

X.64 CI C-H Br P4 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.65 CI C-H F P4

X.66 CI C-Cl CF3 P4

X.67 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P4

X.68 CF3 C-H H P4

X.69 CI C-Cl CI P5

X.70 CI C-H CI P5

X.71 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P5

X.72 CI C-H CF₃ P5

X.73 Br C-H CF₃ P5

X.74 CI C-F H P5

X.75 F C-Cl H P5

X.76 CI C-Cl H P5

X.77 CI C-F CI P5

X.78 CI C-Br CI P5

X.79 CI C-I CI P5

X.80 F C-F F P5

X.81 CI C-H Br P5

X.82 CI C-H F P5

X.83 CI C-Cl CF3 P5

X.84 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P5

X.85 CF3 C-H H P5

X.86 CI C-Cl CI P6

X.87 CI C-H CI P6

X.88 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P6

X.89 CI C-H CF₃ P6

X.90 Br C-H CF₃ P6

X.91 CI C-F H P6

X.92 F C-Cl H P6

X.93 CI C-Cl H P6

X.94 CI C-F CI P6

X.95 CI C-Br CI P6

X.96 CI C-I CI P6

X.97 F C-F F P6

X.98 CI C-H Br P6

X.99 CI C-H F P6

X.100 CI C-Cl CF3 P6

X.101 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P6

X.102 CF3 C-H H P6

X.103 CI C-Cl CI P7

X.104 CI C-H CI P7

X.105 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P7

X.106 CI C-H CF₃ P7

X.107 Br C-H CF₃ P7

X.108 CI C-F H P7

X.109 F C-Cl H P7

X.1 10 CI C-Cl H P7

X.l l l CI C-F CI P7

X.1 12 CI C-Br CI P7

X.1 13 CI C-I CI P7

X.1 14 F C-F F P7

X.1 15 CI C-H Br P7

X.1 16 CI C-H F P7

X.1 17 CI C-Cl CF3 P7

X.1 18 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P7 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.1 19 CF3 C-H H P7

X.120 CI C-Cl CI P8

X.121 CI C-H CI P8

X.122 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P8

X.123 CI C-H CF₃ P8

X.124 Br C-H CF₃ P8

X.125 CI C-F H P8

X.126 F C-Cl H P8

X.127 CI C-Cl H P8

X.128 CI C-F CI P8

X.129 CI C-Br CI P8

X.130 CI C-I CI P8

X.131 F C-F F P8

X.132 CI C-H Br P8

X.133 CI C-H F P8

X.134 CI C-Cl CF3 P8

X.135 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P8

X.136 CF3 C-H H P8

X.137 CI C-Cl CI P9

X.138 CI C-H CI P9

X.139 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P9

X.140 CI C-H CF₃ P9

X.141 Br C-H CF₃ P9

X.142 CI C-F H P9

X.143 F C-Cl H P9

X.144 CI C-Cl H P9

X.145 CI C-F CI P9

X.146 CI C-Br CI P9

X.147 CI C-I CI P9

X.148 F C-F F P9

X.149 CI C-H Br P9

X.150 CI C-H F P9

X.151 CI C-Cl CF3 P9

X.152 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P9

X.153 CF3 C-H H P9

X.154 CI C-Cl CI P10

X.155 CI C-H CI P10

X.156 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P10

X.157 CI C-H CF₃ P10

X.158 Br C-H CF₃ P10

X.159 CI C-F H P10

X.160 F C-Cl H P10

X.161 CI C-Cl H P10

X.162 CI C-F CI P10

X.163 CI C-Br CI P10

X.164 CI C-I CI P10

X.165 F C-F F P10

X.166 CI C-H Br P10

X.167 CI C-H F P10

X.168 CI C-Cl CF3 P10

X.169 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P10

X.170 CF3 C-H H P10

X.171 CI C-Cl CI Pl l

X.172 CI C-H CI Pl l Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.173 CF₃ C-H CF₃ Pl l

X.174 CI C-H CF₃ Pl l

X.175 Br C-H CF₃ Pl l

X.176 CI C-F H Pl l

X.177 F C-Cl H Pl l

X.178 CI C-Cl H Pl l

X.179 CI C-F CI Pl l

X.180 CI C-Br CI Pl l

X.181 CI C-I CI Pl l

X.182 F C-F F Pl l

X.183 CI C-H Br Pl l

X.184 CI C-H F Pl l

X.185 CI C-Cl CF3 Pl l

X.186 CF3 C-Cl CF3 Pl l

X.187 CF3 C-H H Pl l

X.188 CI C-Cl CI P12

X.187 CI C-H CI P12

X.190 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P12

X.191 CI C-H CF₃ P12

X.192 Br C-H CF₃ P12

X.193 CI C-F H P12

X.194 F C-Cl H P12

X.195 CI C-Cl H P12

X.196 CI C-F CI P12

X.197 CI C-Br CI P12

X.198 CI C-I CI P12

X.199 F C-F F P12

X.200 CI C-H Br P12

X.201 CI C-H F P12

X.202 CI C-Cl CF3 P12

X.203 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P12

X.204 CF3 C-H H P12

X.205 CI C-Cl CI P13

X.206 CI C-H CI P13

X.207 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P13

X.208 CI C-H CF₃ P13

X.209 Br C-H CF₃ P13

X.210 CI C-F H P13

X.21 1 F C-Cl H P13

X.212 CI C-Cl H P13

X.213 CI C-F CI P13

X.214 CI C-Br CI P13

X.215 CI C-I CI P13

X.216 F C-F F P13

X.217 CI C-H Br P13

X.218 CI C-H F P13

X.219 CI C-Cl CF3 P13

X.220 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P13

X.221 CF3 C-H H P13

X.222 CI C-Cl CI P14

X.223 CI C-H CI P14

X.224 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P14

X.225 CI C-H CF₃ P14

X.226 Br C-H CF₃ P14 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.227 CI C-F H P14

X.228 F C-Cl H P14

X.229 CI C-Cl H P14

X.230 CI C-F CI P14

X.231 CI C-Br CI P14

X.232 CI C-I CI P14

X.233 F C-F F P14

X.234 CI C-H Br P14

X.235 CI C-H F P14

X.236 CI C-Cl CF3 P14

X.237 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P14

X.238 CF3 C-H H P14

X.239 CI C-Cl CI P15

X.240 CI C-H CI P15

X.241 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P15

X.242 CI C-H CF₃ P15

X.243 Br C-H CF₃ P15

X.244 CI C-F H P15

X.245 F C-Cl H P15

X.246 CI C-Cl H P15

X.247 CI C-F CI P15

X.248 CI C-Br CI P15

X.249 CI C-I CI P15

X.250 F C-F F P15

X.251 CI C-H Br P15

X.252 CI C-H F P15

X.253 CI C-Cl CF3 P15

X.254 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P15

X.255 CF3 C-H H P15

X.256 CI C-Cl CI P16

X.257 CI C-H CI P16

X.258 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P16

X.259 CI C-H CF₃ P16

X.260 Br C-H CF₃ P16

X.261 CI C-F H P16

X.262 F C-Cl H P16

X.263 CI C-Cl H P16

X.264 CI C-F CI P16

X.265 CI C-Br CI P16

X.266 CI C-I CI P16

X.267 F C-F F P16

X.268 CI C-H Br P16

X.269 CI C-H F P16

X.270 CI C-Cl CF3 P16

X.271 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P16

X.272 CF3 C-H H P16

X.273 CI C-Cl CI P17

X.274 CI C-H CI P17

X.275 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P17

X.276 CI C-H CF₃ P17

X.277 Br C-H CF₃ P17

X.278 CI C-F H P17

X.279 F C-Cl H P17

X.280 CI C-Cl H P17 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.281 CI C-F CI P17

X.282 CI C-Br CI P17

X.283 CI C-I CI P17

X.284 F C-F F P17

X.285 CI C-H Br P17

X.286 CI C-H F P17

X.287 CI C-Cl CF3 P17

X.288 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P17

X.289 CF3 C-H H P17

X.290 CI C-Cl CI P18

X.291 CI C-H CI P18

X.292 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P18

X.293 CI C-H CF₃ P18

X.294 Br C-H CF₃ P18

X.295 CI C-F H P18

X.296 F C-Cl H P18

X.297 CI C-Cl H P18

X.298 CI C-F CI P18

X.299 CI C-Br CI P18

X.300 CI C-I CI P18

X.301 F C-F F P18

X.302 CI C-H Br P18

X.303 CI C-H F P18

X.304 CI C-Cl CF3 P18

X.305 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P18

X.306 CF3 C-H H P18

X.307 CI C-Cl CI P19

X.308 CI C-H CI P19

X.309 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P19

X.310 CI C-H CF₃ P19

X.31 1 Br C-H CF₃ P19

X.312 CI C-F H P19

X.313 F C-Cl H P19

X.314 CI C-Cl H P19

X.315 CI C-F CI P19

X.316 CI C-Br CI P19

X.317 CI C-I CI P19

X.318 F C-F F P19

X.319 CI C-H Br P19

X.320 CI C-H F P19

X.321 CI C-Cl CF3 P19

X.322 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P19

X.323 CF3 C-H H P19

X.324 CI C-Cl CI P20

X.325 CI C-H CI P20

X.326 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P20

X.327 CI C-H CF₃ P20

X.328 Br C-H CF₃ P20

X.329 CI C-F H P20

X.330 F C-Cl H P20

X.331 CI C-Cl H P20

X.332 CI C-F CI P20

X.333 CI C-Br CI P20

X.334 CI C-I CI P20 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.335 F C-F F P20

X.336 CI C-H Br P20

X.337 CI C-H F P20

X.338 CI C-Cl CF3 P20

X.339 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P20

X.340 CF3 C-H H P20

X.341 CI C-Cl CI P21

X.342 CI C-H CI P21

X.343 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P21

X.344 CI C-H CF₃ P21

X.345 Br C-H CF₃ P21

X.346 CI C-F H P21

X.347 F C-Cl H P21

X.348 CI C-Cl H P21

X.349 CI C-F CI P21

X.350 CI C-Br CI P21

X.351 CI C-I CI P21

X.352 F C-F F P21

X.353 CI C-H Br P21

X.354 CI C-H F P21

X.355 CI C-Cl CF3 P21

X.356 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P21

X.357 CF3 C-H H P21

X.358 CI C-Cl CI P22

X.359 CI C-H CI P22

X.360 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P22

X.361 CI C-H CF₃ P22

X.362 Br C-H CF₃ P22

X.363 CI C-F H P22

X.364 F C-Cl H P22

X.365 CI C-Cl H P22

X.366 CI C-F CI P22

X.367 CI C-Br CI P22

X.368 CI C-I CI P22

X.369 F C-F F P22

X.370 CI C-H Br P22

X.371 CI C-H F P22

X.372 CI C-Cl CF3 P22

X.373 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P22

X.374 CF3 C-H H P22

X.375 CI C-Cl CI P23

X.376 CI C-H CI P23

X.377 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P23

X.378 CI C-H CF₃ P23

X.379 Br C-H CF₃ P23

X.380 CI C-F H P23

X.381 F C-Cl H P23

X.382 CI C-Cl H P23

X.383 CI C-F CI P23

X.384 CI C-Br CI P23

X.385 CI C-I CI P23

X.386 F C-F F P23

X.387 CI C-H Br P23

X.388 CI C-H F P23 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.389 CI C-Cl CF3 P23

X.390 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P23

X.391 CF3 C-H H P23

X.392 CI C-Cl CI P24

X.393 CI C-H CI P24

X.394 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P24

X.395 CI C-H CF₃ P24

X.396 Br C-H CF₃ P24

X.397 CI C-F H P24

X.398 F C-Cl H P24

X.399 CI C-Cl H P24

X.400 CI C-F CI P24

X.401 CI C-Br CI P24

X.402 CI C-I CI P24

X.403 F C-F F P24

X.404 CI C-H Br P24

X.405 CI C-H F P24

X.406 CI C-Cl CF3 P24

X.407 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P24

X.408 CF3 C-H H P24

X.409 CI C-Cl CI P25

X.410 CI C-H CI P25

X.41 1 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P25

X.412 CI C-H CF₃ P25

X.413 Br C-H CF₃ P25

X.414 CI C-F H P25

X.415 F C-Cl H P25

X.416 CI C-Cl H P25

X.417 CI C-F CI P25

X.418 CI C-Br CI P25

X.419 CI C-I CI P25

X.420 F C-F F P25

X.421 CI C-H Br P25

X.422 CI C-H F P25

X.423 CI C-Cl CF3 P25

X.424 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P25

X.425 CF3 C-H H P25

X.426 CI C-Cl CI P26

X.427 CI C-H CI P26

X.428 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P26

X.429 CI C-H CF₃ P26

X.430 Br C-H CF₃ P26

X.431 CI C-F H P26

X.432 F C-Cl H P26

X.433 CI C-Cl H P26

X.434 CI C-F CI P26

X.435 CI C-Br CI P26

X.436 CI C-I CI P26

X.437 F C-F F P26

X.438 CI C-H Br P26

X.439 CI C-H F P26

X.440 CI C-Cl CF3 P26

X.441 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P26

X.442 CF3 C-H H P26 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.443 CI C-Cl CI P27

X.444 CI C-H CI P27

X.445 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P27

X.446 CI C-H CF₃ P27

X.447 Br C-H CF₃ P27

X.448 CI C-F H P27

X.449 F C-Cl H P27

X.450 CI C-Cl H P27

X.451 CI C-F CI P27

X.452 CI C-Br CI P27

X.453 CI C-I CI P27

X.454 F C-F F P27

X.455 CI C-H Br P27

X.456 CI C-H F P27

X.457 CI C-Cl CF3 P27

X.458 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P27

X.459 CF3 C-H H P27

X.460 CI C-Cl CI P28

X.461 CI C-H CI P28

X.462 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P28

X.463 CI C-H CF₃ P28

X.464 Br C-H CF₃ P28

X.465 CI C-F H P28

X.466 F C-Cl H P28

X.467 CI C-Cl H P28

X.468 CI C-F CI P28

X.469 CI C-Br CI P28

X.470 CI C-I CI P28

X.471 F C-F F P28

X.472 CI C-H Br P28

X.473 CI C-H F P28

X.474 CI C-Cl CF3 P28

X.475 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P28

X.476 CF3 C-H H P28

X.477 CI C-Cl CI P29

X.478 CI C-H CI P29

X.479 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P29

X.480 CI C-H CF₃ P29

X.481 Br C-H CF₃ P29

X.482 CI C-F H P29

X.483 F C-Cl H P29

X.484 CI C-Cl H P29

X.485 CI C-F CI P29

X.486 CI C-Br CI P29

X.487 CI C-I CI P29

X.488 F C-F F P29

X.489 CI C-H Br P29

X.490 CI C-H F P29

X.491 CI C-Cl CF3 P29

X.492 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P29

X.493 CF3 C-H H P29

X.494 CI C-Cl CI P30

X.495 CI C-H CI P30

X.496 CF₃ C-H CF₃ P30 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.497 CI C-H CF₃ P30

X.498 Br C-H CF₃ P30

X.499 CI C-F H P30

X.500 F C-Cl H P30

X.501 CI C-Cl H P30

X.502 CI C-F CI P30

X.503 CI C-Br CI P30

X.504 CI C-I CI P30

X.505 F C-F F P30

X.506 CI C-H Br P30

X.507 CI C-H F P30

X.508 CI C-Cl CF3 P30

X.509 CF3 C-Cl CF3 P30

X.510 CF3 C-H H P30

X.51 1 CI N CI PI

X.512 CI N H PI

X.513 CF₃ N CF₃ PI

X.514 CF₃ N H PI

X.515 CI N CI P2

X.516 CI N H P2

X.517 CF3 N CF3 P2

X.518 CF3 N H P2

X.519 CI N CI P3

X.520 CI N H P3

X.521 CF3 N CF3 P3

X.522 CF3 N H P3

X.523 CI N CI P4

X.524 CI N H P4

X.525 CF3 N CF3 P4

X.526 CF3 N H P4

X.527 CI N CI P5

X.528 CI N H P5

X.529 CF3 N CF3 P5

X.530 CF3 N H P5

X.531 CI N CI P6

X.532 CI N H P6

X.533 CF3 N CF3 P6

X.534 CF3 N H P6

X.535 CI N CI P7

X.536 CI N H P7

X.537 CF3 N CF3 P7

X.538 CF3 N H P7

X.539 CI N CI P8

X.540 CI N H P8

X.541 CF3 N CF3 P8

X.542 CF3 N H P8

X.543 CI N CI P9

X.544 CI N H P9

X.545 CF3 N CF3 P9

X.546 CF3 N H P9

X.547 CI N CI P10

X.548 CI N H P10

X.549 CF3 N CF3 P10 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.550 CF3 N H P10

X.551 CI N CI Pl l

X.552 CI N H Pl l

X.553 CF3 N CF3 Pl l

X.554 CF3 N H Pl l

X.555 CI N CI P12

X.556 CI N H P12

X.557 CF3 N CF3 P12

X.558 CF3 N H P12

X.559 CI N CI P13

X.560 CI N H P13

X.561 CF3 N CF3 P13

X.562 CF3 N H P13

X.563 CI N CI P14

X.564 CI N H P14

X.565 CF3 N CF3 P14

X.566 CF3 N H P14

X.567 CI N CI P15

X.568 CI N H P15

X.569 CF3 N CF3 P15

X.570 CF3 N H P15

X.571 CI N CI P16

X.572 CI N H P16

X.573 CF3 N CF3 P16

X.574 CF3 N H P16

X.575 CI N CI P17

X.576 CI N H P17

X.577 CF3 N CF3 P17

X.578 CF3 N H P17

X.579 CI N CI P18

X.580 CI N H P18

X.581 CF3 N CF3 P18

X.582 CF3 N H P18

X.583 CI N CI P19

X.584 CI N H P19

X.585 CF3 N CF3 P19

X.586 CF3 N H P19

X.587 CI N CI P20

X.588 CI N H P20

X.589 CF3 N CF3 P20

X.590 CF3 N H P20

X.591 CI N CI P21

X.592 CI N H P21

X.593 CF3 N CF3 P21

X.594 CF3 N H P21

X.595 CI N CI P22

X.596 CI N H P22

X.597 CF3 N CF3 P22

X.598 CF3 N H P22

X.599 CI N CI P23

X.600 CI N H P23

X.601 CF3 N CF3 P23

X.602 CF3 N H P23 Q2 B2 Q4 P

X.603 CI N CI P24

X.604 CI N H P24

X.605 CF3 N CF3 P24

X.606 CF3 N H P24

X.607 CI N CI P25

X.608 CI N H P25

X.609 CF3 N CF3 P25

X.610 CF3 N H P25

X.61 1 CI N CI P26

X.612 CI N H P26

X.613 CF3 N CF3 P26

X.614 CF3 N H P26

X.615 CI N CI P27

X.616 CI N H P27

X.617 CF3 N CF3 P27

X.618 CF3 N H P27

X.619 CI N CI P28

X.620 CI N H P28

X.621 CF3 N CF3 P28

X.622 CF3 N H P28

X.623 CI N CI P29

X.624 CI N H P29

X.625 CF3 N CF3 P29

X.626 CF3 N H P29

X.627 CI N CI P30

X.628 CI N H P30

X.629 CF3 N CF3 P30

X.630 CF3 N H P30

The values of PI to P30 in Table X are shown in Table P.

Table P

PI -OCH₃

P2 -OCH₂CH₃

P3 -OtBu

P4 -NMe₂

P5

- \-

P6

P7

Preparation Examples

The following abbreviations were used in this section: s = singlet; bs = broad singlet; d = doublet; dd = double doublet; dt = double triplet; t = triplet, tt = triple triplet, q = quartet, sept = septet; m = multiplet; Me = methyl; Et = ethyl; Pr = propyl; Bu = butyl; M.p. = melting point; RT = retention time, [M+H]⁺ = molecular mass of the molecular cation, [M-H]^" = molecular mass of the molecular anion.

The following LC-MS methods were used to characterize the compounds:

Method C MS ZQ Mass Spectrometer from Waters (single quadrupole mass spectrometer), ionization method: electrospray, polarity: positive ionization, capillary (kV) 3.00, cone (V) 30.00, extractor (V) 3.00, source temperature (°C) 100, desolvation temperature (°C) 200, cone gas flow (L/Hr) 200, desolvation gas flow (L/Hr) 250, mass range: 150 to 800 Da.

LC 11 OOer Series HPLC from Agilent: quaternary pump, heated column compartment and diode-array detector.

Column: Waters Atlantis del 8, length (mm) 20, internal diameter (mm) 3, particle size (μιη) 3, temperature (°C) 40, DAD wavelength range (nm): 200 to 500, solvent gradient: A = 0.1% v/v formic acid in water and B = 0.1% v/v formic acid in acetonitrile.

Time (min) A% B% Flow (ml/min) 0.0 90 10 1.7

5.5 0.0 100 1.7

5.8 0.0 100 1.7

5.9 90 10 1.7

Method D

MS ZMD Mass Spectrometer from Waters (single quadrupole mass spectrometer),

ionization method: electrospray, polarity: positive ionization, capillary (kV) 3.00, cone (V) 30.00, extractor (V) 3.00, source temperature (°C) 150, desolvation temperature (°C) 320, cone gas flow (L/Hr) 50, desolvation gas flow (L/Hr) 400, mass range: 150 to 800 Da.

LC Alliance 2795 LC HPLC from Waters: quaternary pump, heated column compartment and diode-array detector.

Column: Waters Atlantis del 8, length (mm) 20, internal diameter (mm) 3, particle size (μιη) 3, temperature (°C) 40, DAD wavelength range (nm): 200 to 500, solvent gradient: A = 0.1 %> v/v formic acid in water and B = 0.1 %> v/v formic acid in acetonitrile.

Time (min) A% B% Flow (ml/min) 0.0 80 20 1.7

2.5 0.0 100 1.7

2.8 0.0 100 1.7

2.9 80 20 1.7 Method F

Example 1 : Preparation of enantioenritched 4-r(3R)-3-Cvano-3-(3,5-dichloro-phenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro- butyrvH-2-methyl-benzoic acid tert-butyl ester

Potassium cyanide (6.465g, 99.283 mmol) and acetone cyanohydrin (23.9ml, 261.272 mmol) were added to a solution of 4-[(E)-3-(3,5-Dichloro-phenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-but-2-enoyl]-2-methyl-benzoic acid tert- butyl ester (40.000g, 87.091 mmol) in toluene (600.0ml). To this vigorously stirred suspension was added 9-anthrylmethyl quininium chloride (7.200g, 13.064 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 60°C for 2 hours and at room temperature during 63 hours. At this time water was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (3x). The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (0%> to 5% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) to afford 4-[(R)-3-Cyano-3-(3,5-dichloro-phenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro- butyryl]-2-methyl-benzoic acid tert-butyl ester (35.80g, 67.6%>) as a white amorphous solid. Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack IB, Heptane:2-propanol = 98:2 lml/min): retention time 8.1 1 minutes (minor enantiomer, 5%), 9.95 minutes (major enantiomer, 95%)

lU NMR (400MHz, CDC1₃) δ 7.89 (d, 1H), 7.78-7.72 (m, 2H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 7.46-7.42 (m, 1H), 4.17 (d, 1H), 4.02 (d, 2H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 1.62 (s, 9H) Example 2: Preparation of 9-anthrylmethyl quinidinium chloride

A solution of 9-chloromethyl-anthracene (0.91 g, 1.3eq,0.40mmol ) and quinidine [CAS = 56-54-2] (1 g, 0.38) in toluene (10 ml) was heated at 90°C for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, washed with n-heptane. The solid was recrystallised from chloroform and n-heptane to afford the title product (1.69 g) as a yellow solid. Preparation of this compound is also reported in dissertation: contributions to the asymmetric catalysis of c-c couplings,and to the chemical induction of cardiomyogenesis from embryonic stem cells, bianca seelig, university koln 2009.

Example 3: Preparation of enantioenritched 4-[(3S)-3-Cyano-3-(3.5-dichloro-phenyl)-4.4.4-trifluoro-

Potassium cyanide (0.02 lg, 0.32 mmol) and acetone cyanohydrin (0.086mg,1.01 mmol,) were added to a solution tert-butyl 4-[(E)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-but-2-enoyl]-2-methyl-benzo (0.150mg, 0.326mmol) in toluene (1.0ml). To this vigorously stirred suspension was added 9-anthrylmethyl quinidinium chloride (0.054g, 0.098 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 45° C for 18 hours. At this time water was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with toluene (3x). The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (0% to 5% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) to afford tert-butyl 4- [(3S)-3-cyano-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butanoyl]-2-methyl-benzoate (0.080g, 50%) as a white foam. Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack IB, Heptane:2-propanol = 98:2 lml/min): retention time 7.64 minutes (major enantiomer, 78.5%), 9.53 minutes (minor enantiomer, 21.5%).¹H NMR (400MHz, CDC1₃) δ 7.89 (d, 1H), 7.78-7.72 (m, 2H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 7.46-7.42 (m, 1H), 4.17 (d, 1H), 4.02 (d, 2H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 1.62 (s, 9H) Example 4: Preparation of enantioenritched (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine-

2,5-dione

Hydrogen peroxide (aq. 30%, 2.0 niL) was added to sulfuric acid (96%, 15.0 niL) slowly at <0°C followed by teri-butyl 4-[(3R)-3 -cyano-3 -(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butanoyl] -2-methyl- benzoate (600 mg) in dichloromethane (6.0 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min. at 0°C. The reaction mixture was added on ice, treated with saturated aq. Na₂S03 and extracted with dichloromethane (3x). The combined organic phase were dried (Na₂S0₄), evaporated giving 1.03 g of yellowish foam. It was dissolved in methanol (8 mL) and treated with 8M sodium hydroxide (3 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 30 min at RT, acidified with cone. HC1 and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was washed with water, NaHC0₃ (aq., sat.), water. It was dried (Na₂S0₄) and evaporated giving the title compound as a white solid 450 mg (70%).

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 3.49 (d, J=18.5 Hz), 3.25(d, J=18.5 Hz), 7.47 (s, 1H), 7.57 (s, 2H), 8.53 (bs, 1H) ppm.

¹³C-NMR (101 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 39.0, 56.8 (q, J = 27 Hz), 123.7 (q, J = 284 Hz), 126.6), 130.14, 134.4, 136.0, 170.4, 171.6 ppm.

"F-NMR (377 MHz, CDC1₃): δ -71.6 ppm.

LC/MS (ES-): 310 (M-H)-, R_T = 1.72 min

GC/MS (CI): 312 (M+H)+, R_T = 6.25 min

m.p. = 138-14PC Example 5: Preparation of (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine

To a solution of 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (0.02 g) in dry THF (0.5ml) were added sequentially BF₃ etherate (0.109 g, 6 equiv.) and borane-THF complex 1M in THF (1.4 g, 24 equiv.) The reaction stirred at 40°C for 18h. After cooling to room temperature, HC1 (aq. 4M solution, 1ml) was added to the mixture and heated for additional 30 minutes at 40°C. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was washed with Et₂0. The aqueous phase was basified to pH~10 with NaOH and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined ethyl acetate extracts were dried (Na₂S0₄) and evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica, eluent: AcOEt with 1% Et₃N and 1% MeOH) giving 3.5 mg (19%) of the title compound as a colorless solid.

Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack IA, Heptane:2-propanol:diethylamine = 70:30:0.1, lml/min): retention time 5.15 minutes (minor enantiomer, <15%), 6.96 minutes (major enantiomer, >75%).

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ = 7.36(t, IH); 7.26(d, 2H, 0.73Hz); 3.76(d, IH, 12.8Hz); 3.32-3.21 (m, 2H); 3.10-3.01 (m, IH); 2.60-2.51(m, IH); 2.36-2.26 (m, IH) ppm.

LC/MS (ES-): 284 (M+H)+, R_t = 1.07 min Example 6: Preparation of enantioenritched (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-l-methyl-3-

(trifluoromethyl) yrrolidine-2,5-dione

In a dried flask, under argon, to a solution of (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine- 2,5-dione (99mg) in dry DMF, was added potassium carbonate (0.117 g, 0.84mmol), followed by iodomethane (0.1213 g,0.84mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours at rom temperature. Water was added to the reaction mixture and it was extracted with Et20. The organic phase was washed one time with HC1 solution(0.5N), dried over Na2S04 and evaporated in vacuum to give 62mg (60%) as a yellow oil

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 3.12(s, 3H); 3.22 (d, IH, J=18.3 Hz), 3.44(d, IH, J=18Hz), 7.45 (t, IH), 7.58 (s, 2H), ppm.

GC/MS: RT=5.72min; 326 (M+H)+

Example 7: Preparation of enantioenritched (3R)-3-(3.5-dichlorophenyl)-l-methyl-3-

(trifluoromethyl) yrrolidine

To a solution of (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-l -methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (0.05 g) in dry THF (1ml) were added sequentially BF₃ etherate (0.271 g, 0.975mmol, 6 equiv.) and borane-THF complex 1M in THF (3.4 g, 24 equiv.) The reaction stirred at 40°C for 18h. After cooling to room temperature, HC1 (aq. 4M solution, 1ml) was added to the mixture and heated for additional 30 minutes at 40°C. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was washed with Et₂0. The aqueous phase was basified to pH~10 with NaOH and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x). The combined ethyl acetate extracts were dried (Na₂S0₄) and evaporated giving the desired product lOmg (21%).

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 7.62(S, 2H); 7.39(t, 1H); 3.74-3.68 (m, 1H); 3.47-3.39 (m, 2H); 3.35-3.27 (m, 1H); 2.97(s, 3H);2.84-2.75 (m, 1H); 2.60-2.52(m, 1H);

LCVMS(ES-): 298 (M+H)+, R_t = 1.14 min

Example 8: Preparation of (E)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-l-(2-furyl)but-2-en-l-one

A flask was charged with starting material l-(2-furyl)ethanone (5.00 g), l-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,2,2- trifluoro-ethanone (12.39 g), potassium carbonate (7.00 g), triethylamine (0.46 g) and 1 ,2-dichloroethane (50 mL) .The reaction mixture was stirred and heated to reflux for 12 hours. Then potassium carbonate (6.00 g) was added and heating was continued for another 12 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with water (2x) and the organic phase was dried over Na₂S0₄ and evaporated. Purification of the crude product via column chromatography (silica, n-heptane/ethyl acetate gradient) gave 10.8g (71%) of the desired product.

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDCI₃): δ 7.66-7.64 (m, 1H); 7.42-7.39 (m, 2H); 7.26 (d, 1H, J= 3.7 Hz); 7.18 (d, 2H, J= 1.47Hz) ppm.

¹³C-NMR (101 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 176.5; 152.5; 147,7; 138.8 (q); 135.0; 133.6; 129.5; 128.4(q); 127.4; 122.1(q); 119.5; 113.1 ppm.

"F-NMR (377 MHz, CDC1₃): δ - 67.09 ppm.

GC/MS (CI): 335 (M+H)+, R_t = 5.73 min

m.p. = 72-76°C

Example 9: Preparation of enantioenritched 2-(3.5-dichlorophenyl)-4-(2-furyl)-4-oxo-2- (trifluoromethyl)butanenitrile

To a solution of (E)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-l-(2-furyl)but-2-en-l -one (0.200 g, 0.597 mmol) in toluene (3 niL) were added (R)-[l-(9-anthrylmethyl)-5-vinyl-quinuclidin-l -ium-2-yl]-(6- methoxy-4-quinolyl)methanol chloride (0.066 g, 0.119 mmol), acetone cyanohydrin (0.165 mL, 1.802 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.09206 g, 0.657 mmol) sequentially. The reaction mixture was vigorously stirred at room temperature for 2h. At this time aqueous solution of NH₄C1 was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with AcOEt, dried (Na₂S0₄) and evaporated. Purification of the crude product via column chromatography (silica, n-heptane/ethyl acetate gradient) gave 165 mg (76%) of the desired product as white semisolid.

Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack AS-R3, Acetonitrile:MeOH:Water =45:5:50, lml/min): retention time 56.73 minutes (minor enantiomer, 13.4%), 59.31 minutes (major enantiomer, 86.6%>). (The identity of the stereochemistry was not determined. It is expected that the alternative isomer could be produced in enantiomeric excess with use an appropriate catalyst with reversed stereochemistry.)

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 7.68-7.67 (m, 1H); 7.51 (s, 2H); 7.46 (t, lH);7.30-7.27(m,lH); 6.64(dd, lH,J=1.83Hz, J=3.67Hz); 4.48(d, 1H, J=18.3Hz); 3.89(d,lH, J=18.3Hz) ppm

GC/MS (CI): 362 (M+H)+, R_t = 6.60 min

Example 10: Preparation of enantioenritched 3-cyano-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4A4-trifluoro-butanoic acid

2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-(2-furyl)-4-oxo-2-(trifluoromethyl)butanenitrile (0.150 g, 0.414 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane, acetonitrile and water (1 : 1 :2). Sodium periodate (0.627 g, 2.900 mmol) was added, followed by ruthenium chloride hydrate (0.003 g, 0.035 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature ovemight.The reaction was diluted with CH2C12; the organic phase was washed with H₂0 and dried over Na2S04 giving 53mg of violet solid.

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 7.49 (s, 1H); 7.46 (s, 2H); 3.42 (s, 2H) ppm -LC/MS : R_t =1.83min; 310 (M-H)^",

Exam le 11 : Preparation of f£")-3-f3.5-dichlorophenyl -4.4.4-trifluoro-l-pyrrol-l-yl-but-2-en-l-one

A suspension of sodium hydride (0.117 g) in 1 ,2-dimethoxyethane (5 ml) was cooled to 0 °C and a solution of 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-l -pyrrol- 1 -yl-ethanone (0.754 g) in 1, 2 -dimethoxy ethane (2 ml) was added drop-wise and stirred for 20 min. To the reaction mixture was added drop-wise a solution of 1 - (3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoro-ethanone (0.503 g) in 1 ,2-dimethoxyethane (2 ml). The reaction was stirred for a further 30 min at 0 °C, then allowed to warm to RT and stirred for a further 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched by cautious addition of saturated NH₄C1 (10 ml) solution over ice and extracted with ethyl acetate (3x15 ml). The combined organics were passed through a PTFE membrane and concentrated in vacuo to give a turbid orange oil, which was taken up in toluene and purified by column- chromatography on a pre-packed silica column eluting with heptanes/ ethyl acetate to give the title compound as a pale yellow oil (0.313 g)

'H-NMR: (400 MHz, CDC1₃) <¾ ppm 7.40 (m, 2 H), 7.20 (m, 3 H), 7.18 - 7.19 (m, 1 H), 6.33 - 6.35 (m, 2 H).

Example 12: Preparation of enantioenritched 2-(3.5-dichlorophenyl)-4-oxo-4-pyrrol-l-yl-2- (trifluoromethyl) -butanenitrile

To a suspension of potassium carbonate (0.144 g) and (R)-(6-methoxy-4-quinolyl)-[(2S,4S,5R)-l- [(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)methyl]-5-vinyl-quinuclidin-l-ium-2-yl]methanol bromide (0.126 g) in toluene (4 ml) was added a solution of (£')-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-l-pyrrol-l-yl-but-2-en- 1-one (0.313 g) in toluene (2 ml) followed by 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propanenitrile (100 μΐ) in toluene (2 ml). The reaction mixture was heated to 45 °C overnight before potassium cyanide (0.077 g), a drop of water and a further aliquot of the 2-hydroxy-2 -methyl -propanenitrile (100 μΐ) were added and the reaction mixture heated to 60 °C for a further 4 h. The reaction was poured onto saturated NH₄C1 solution and extracted with dichloromethane (3x25 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine, dried over Na₂S0₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give a dark amber gum, which was purified by column- chromatography on a pre-packed silica column eluting with heptanes/ ethyl acetate to give the title compound as a pale yellow oil (0.084 g). Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack IA, Heptane:isopropanol = 95:5, 1 ml/min): retention time 6.09 minutes (minor enantiomer, 34%), 6.96 minutes (major enantiomer, 66%). (The identity of the stereochemistry was not determined. It is expected that the alternative isomer could be produced in enantiomeric excess with use of an appropriate catalyst with reversed

stereochemistry)

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃) <¾ PPm 7.48 - 7.51 (m, 2 H), 7.45 - 7.48 (m, 1 H), 7.21 - 7.26 (m, 2 H), 6.37 (m, 1 H), 3.90 (m, 1 H).

Example 13: Preparation of enantioenritched methyl 3-cyano-3-(3.5-dichlorophenyl)-4.4.4-trifluoro- butanoate

Enantioenritched 2-(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)-4-oxo-4-pyrrol-l -yl-2-(trifluoromethyl)butanenitrile (22 mg) was taken up in methanol (2 ml) and sodium methoxide (33 mg) was added. The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 1 h before saturated NH₄C1 solution (4 ml) was added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc (3x8 ml). The organic portions were combined, passed through a PTFE membrane and concentrated in vacuo to give a colourless semi-solid, which was then taken up in toluene and purified by column-chromatography on silica, eluting with cyclohexane/EtOAc to give the title compound as a colourless oil (7 mg).

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM -if) : <¼ ppm 7.45 - 7.49 (m, 3 H), 3.68 (s, 3 H), 3.36 - 3.39 (m, 1 H).

To a solution of methyl enantioenritched 3-cyano-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butanoate (7 mg) in methanol (0.75 ml) was added cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate (17 mg) followed by sodium borohydride (12 mg). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h at ambient temperature before it was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was taken up in dichloromethane (2 ml) and filtered through Celite. The filter cake washed with further dichloromethane (3x2 ml) and the combined filtrates were concentrated in vacuo to give a black film, which was purified by column-chromatography on silica, eluting with 5-10% methanol/dichloromethane to give the title compound as a colourless oil (6 mg) 'H-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): <¾ ppm 7.41 (t, 1 H), 7.15 - 7.18 (m, 2 H), 5.91 (br.s., 1 H), 4.12 (dd, 2 H), 3.81 (d, 2 H).

Example 15: Preparation of methyl 4-r(3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidin-l-yl1-2- methyl-benzoate

To a degassed solution of (3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine (100.0 mg) and methyl 4-bromo-2-methyl-benzoate (88.7 mg) in dry toluene (1.8 mL) were added sequentially sodium tert-butoxide (34.9 mg), Xantphos (12.6 mg) and Pd₂(dba)₃.CHCl₃ (6.6 mg). The reaction mixture was stirred under argon at 80°C overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with AcOEt and washed two times with water and brine. The organic phase was dried (Na2S04), filtered and evaporated to give 150mg of red orange oil. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (Heptane in 0-100% of AcOEt) giving 51mg (33%) of a white solid.

'H-NMR (400 MHz, CDC13): δ 7.93 (d, IH, J = 8.5 Hz); 7.40 (t, IH, J = 2 Hz); 7.30 (s, 2H); 6.45-6.38 (m, 2H), 4.13 (d, IH, J=10.6 Hz); 3.85 (s, 3H); 3.82 (d, IH, J=10.6 Hz); 3.66-3.48 (m, 2H); 2.92-2.82 (m, IH); 2.63 (s, 3H); 2.60-2.49 (m, IH) ppm.

"F-NMR (400 MHz, CDC13): δ -73.11 ppm.

¹³C-NMR (400 MHz, CDC13): δ 167.74; 148.89; 142.98; 140.46; 135.30; 133.02; 128.87; 126.83;117.39; 114.25; 108.78; 54.47; 53.17; 51.21 ; 46.40; 31.72; 22.71 ppm.

Example 16: Preparation of 4-[(3S)-3-(3.5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidin-l -yll-2-methyl- benzoic acid

Methyl 4-[(3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidin-l -yl] -2-methyl-benzoate (31.0 mg) was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (0.36 niL). Potassium hydroxide (300 mg) in MeOH/H20 (0.36ml /0.36ml) was added at RT. The reaction was stirred at 40°C for 72h. The aqueous layer was extracted with ether, then it was acidified until pH=l with aq. HC1 and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was dried (Na₂S0₄), filtered and evaporated in vacuum to give 26 mg (85%) of the desired product as a white solid.

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC13): δ 8.01 (d, 1H, J = 8 Hz); 7.40 (t, 1H, J = 2 Hz); 7.30 (s, 2H); 6.48-6.40 (m, 2H), 4.13 (d, 1H, J = 11 Hz); 3.82 (d, 1H, J = 11 Hz); 3.66-3.48 (m, 2H); 2.92-2.82 (m, 1H); 2.65 (s, 3H); 2.62-2.48 (m, lH) ppm.

Example 17: Preparation of 4-r(3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidin-l -yl1-N-(l,l - dioxothietan-3 -yl) -2 -methyl -benzamide

To a suspension of 4-[(3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidin-l-yl]-2-methyl-benzoic acid (20.0 mg) in dry dichloromethane (1 mL) were added sequentially 3-hydroxytriazolo[4,5-b]pyridine (7.2 mg, 1.100), 3-(ethyliminomethyleneamino)-N,N-dimethyl-propan-l-amine hydrochloride (10.1 mg) and a solution of 1,1 -dioxothietan-3 -amine hydrochloride (9.1 mg) and triethylamine (14.5 mg) in dichloromethane. The yellow solution stirred under argon for 20h at RT. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM, washed with a saturated solution of NH₄C1 and brine. The organic phase was dried (Na₂S0₄), filtered and evaporated in vacuum to give 16mg (65%) of white solid.

¾-NMR (400 MHz, CDC1₃): δ 7.42-7.38 (m, 2H); 7.31 -7.29 (m, 2H); 6.44-6.39(m, 2H); 6.33 (d, 1H, 6.6Hz); 4.91-4.83 (m, 1H) ; 4.66-4.57 (m, 2H); 4.10 (d, 1H, J=10.6 Hz); 4.06-3.98 (m, 2H); 3.82 (d, 1H, J=10.6Hz); 3.64-3.45 (m, 2H); 2.92-2.84 (m, 1H); 2.61-2.53(m, 1H); 2.60 (s, 3H) ppm. Chiral HPLC analysis (Chiralpack^® IA 0.46cm x 10cm, Heptane:2-propanol:diethylamine = 70:30:0.1, Flow rate: lml/min; Detection: 288nm): retention time 5.61 minutes (major enantiomer, >99 %), 8.46 minutes (minor enantiomer, not observed). Example 18 (Reference): Preparation of (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine and (3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine

- enatiomer (S) - enantiomer

Preparative method:

Column: 250 x 30 mm CHIRALPAK® ID 5μιη

Mobil phase: Carbon dioxide (Methanol +l%Diethylamine) 95/5

Flow rate: 120 mL/min

Detection: UV 220 nm

Outlet Pressure: 130 bar

Temperature: 25°C

Analytical method:

Column: 250 x 4.6 mm CHIRALPAK® IA 5μιη

Mobil phase: Heptane:2-propanol:diethylamine = 70:30:0.1

Flow rate: 1 mL/min

Detection: UV 270 nm

Temperature: 25°C

Retention time 5.15 minutes (S-enantiomer), 6.96 minutes (R-enantiomer)

391mg of (3S)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine (first eluting enantiomer, >99% enantiomeric excess) and 400 mg of (3R)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine (second eluting enantiomer, >98 % enantiomeric excess were prepared from 958 mg of racemic 3-(3,5- dichlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidine.

(Enantiomeric excess is defined as the absolute difference betweent the mole fraction of each enantiomer.)

Claims

1. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(a-i) reacting a compound of formula la

(la)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and wherein the reaction optionally comprises

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and optionally (a-iv-1) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII)

2. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(a-1) reacting a compound of formula la

wherein

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(XVIII)

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and (a-3) reducing the compound of formula XVIII with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of

(a-4-1) reducing the compound of formula III with a suitable reducing agent

to give a compound of formula IX

(a-5-1) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII)

X -A' (XIII) wherein X^B is a leaving group such as halogen, and A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XVI

(a-5-2) reducing the compound of formula XVII with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XVI.

3. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising -i) reacting a compound of formula lb

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein P, R and R are as defined for the compound of formula lb; and

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula lb; and

-2) hydrolysing and dehydrating the compound of fonnula XIX to give a compound of fonnula

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula lb;

wherein dehydration is performed in the presence of acid; or

(b-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula lib with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I.

4. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising (c-i) reacting a compound of formula I

(I) wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(c-iii-1) partially hydrolysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula V

wherein P, R and R are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-iii-2) cyclising the compound of formula V to give a compound of formula VI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or (c-iv-1) hydro lysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula VII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and (c-iv-2) cyclising the compound of formula VII to give a compound of formula VI

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(IX)

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

-1) hydrolysing the compound of formula II to give a compound of formula X

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-vi-2) reacting the compound of formula X with a compound of formula XI Η₂Ν-Α' (XI) wherein A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XI; or (c-vii-1) reducing the compound of formula I with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(c-vii-2) reacting the compound of formula IV with a compound of formula XIII

X^B-A' (XIII) wherein A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII and X^B is a leaving group, e.g. halogen such as bromo, to give a compound of formula XIV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII: and

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XII; and. (c-vii-4) treating the compound of formula XV with a suitable activating agent to give a compound of formula XVI

(c-viii-1) preparing a compound of formula XIV as described in a-vii-2;

(c-viii-2) cyclising the compound of formula XIV to give a compound of formula XVII

5. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

(d-i) reacting a compound of formula II

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of fonnula I; and

(d-ii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of fonnula I; and

(d-ii-2) cyclising the compound of fonnula IV to give a compound of fonnula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of fonnula I; or (d-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula VIII

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and (d-iii-2) treating the compound of formula VIII with an activating agent to give a compound of fonnula IX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of fonnula I.

6. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising

-i) reacting a compound of formula XXI

(XXI)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a compound of formula XXII

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom; and

(e-ii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula IV

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(e-ii-2) cyclising the compound of formula IV to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; or

(e-iii-1) reducing the compound of formula XX with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of

OH (VIII) wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I; and

(e-iii-2) treating the compound of formula VIII with an activating agent, such as SOCl₂ to give a

IX

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula I.

7. A process for the enantio-selective preparation of a pyrrolidine derivative comprising (f-i) reacting a compound of formula XXI

(XXI)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a compound of formula XXIII

(XXIII)

wherein R^1UU is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

in the presence of a chiral catalyst to give a compound of formula XXIV

wherein R¹, R² are as defined for the compound of formula XXI and R¹⁰⁰ is as defined for the compound of formula XXIII; and

(f-ii) reductively cyclising the compound of formula XXIV with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XXV

wherein R , R are as defined for the compound of formula XXI and R is as defined for the compound of formula XXIII: and (f-iii) treating the compound of formula XXV with base followed by treatment with acid to give a compound of formula III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula XXI.

8. A process according to any one of claims 3 to 7 comprising

reducing a compound of formula III to a compound of formula IX with a suitable reducing agent; or

reducing a compound of formula IV to a compound of formula III with a suitable reducing agent; or

reducing a compound of formula IV to a compound of formula IX with a suitable reducing agent; or

reducing a compound of formula XII to a compound of formula XVII with a suitable reducing agent; or

reducing a compound of formula XII to a compound of formula XVI with a suitable reducing agent; or

reducing a compound of formula XVII to a compound of formula XVI with a suitable reducing agent. 9. A compound of formula lie

wherein P is alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, or arylsulfinyl, each optionally substituted;

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; or of formula III

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

10

11. A compound of formula IV

(IV)

wherein

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, 15 and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom,

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

20 of formula V

wherein

P is hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, 25 and wherein the heteroaryl contains at least one ring nitrogen atom, and the heteroaryl is connected at P via a ring nitrogen atom,

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

13. A compound of formula VI

wherein

5 R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

14. A compound of formula VII

10 wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

15 A compound of formula VIII

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

20 of formula IX

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; or

25

17. A compound of formula X

wherein

R is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

18. A compound of formula XII

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

19. A compound of formula XIV

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

20. A compound of formula XV

(XV) wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

21. A compound of formula XVI

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

10 R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

22. A compound of formula XVII

15 wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl.

20 23. A compound of formula XVIII

(XVIII)

wherein

25 R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted.

24. A mixture comprising a compound of lie and a compound of formula IIcA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula lie; or a compound of formula III and a compound of formula IIIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula III; or ound of formula IVA

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula IV; or d a compound of formula VA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substitutedwherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula V; or a mixture comprising a compound of formula VI and a compound of formula VIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VI; or of formula VIIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VII; or of formula VIIIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted; wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula VIII; or compound of formula IXA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula IX; or of formula XA

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula X; or a mixture comprising a compound of formula XII and a compound of formula XIIA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XII; or compound of formula XIVA

(XIV) wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XIV; or a mixture comprising a compound of formula XV and a compound of formula XVA

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XV; or a mixture comprising a compound of formula XVI and a compound of formula XVIA

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVI; or of formula XVII and a compound of formula XVIIA

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVII; or a mixture comprising a compound of formula XVIII and a compound of formula XVIIIA

(XVIII)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

wherein the mixture is enriched for the compound of formula XVIII.

A compound of formula XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, or XXXIII

(XXIX) (XXX) (XXXI) (XXXII) (XXXIII) wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la in claim 1.

26. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chiral catalyst is a chiral cinchona alkaloid derivative.

27. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chiral catalyst is a compound of formula 1

wherein W¹ is ethyl or vinyl; R³⁰ is hydrogen or Ci-C₄alkoxy; R³¹ is hydroxyl, Ci-C₄alkoxy, C₂- C₄alkenyloxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy or optionally substituted benzyloxy; R³² is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; X is an anion.

A process for preparing pyrrolidine derivatives comprising

a compound of formula la

^Γ (la)

wherein

R¹ is chlorodifiuoromethyl or trifiuoromethyl;

R² is aryl or heteroaryl, each optionally substituted;

with a source of cyanide to give a compound of formula Ila

wherein P, R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; and

(a-ii) oxidising the compound of formula Ila with a peroxy acid, or peroxide in the presence of an acid, to give a compound of formula VI- 1

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la; wherein the reaction optionally comprises

(a-iv-1) reacting the compound of formula IX with a compound of formula (XIII) X^B-A' (XIII) wherein X^B is a leaving group such as halogen, and A' is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl to give a compound of formula XVI- 1

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la and A' is as defined for the compound of formula XIII: and optionally

(a-iv-2) reducing the compound of formula XII- 1 with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula XVI- 1.

29. A compound of formula XXIX-1, XXX-1, XXXI-1, XXXII-1 or ΧΧΧΙΠ-1.

(XXIX-1 ) (XXX- 1 ) (XXX 1-1 ) (XXXII-1 ) (XXXIII-1 ) wherein R¹ and R² are as defined for the compound of formula la in claim 1.

30. A process, compound of mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein

5 R² is aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by one to five R⁷⁰, preferably phenyl or phenyl substituted by one to five R⁷; each R⁷⁰ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Q-Qalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂-Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₂-C₈haloalkynyl, hydroxy, Q-Qalkoxy-, Q-Cghaloalkoxy-, mercapto, CpCgalkylthio-, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio-, CpCgalkylsulfinyl-, C_r Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-C₈alkylsulfonyl-, Q-Qhaloalkylsulfonyl-, Ci-C₈alkylcarbonyl-, C_r

10 Qalkoxycarbonyl-, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R⁷¹, or heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to five R⁷¹; each R⁷¹ is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci-C₈alkyl, Ci-C₈haloalkyl, Q- C₈alkoxy-, Ci-C₈haloalkoxy- or Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl-.

31. A process, compound of mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein P is hydroxyl, 15 Ci-Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, or CpCealkylsulfinyl.

32. A compound of mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein P is not hydroxyl, d- Cealkoxy, N-pyrrolyl, N-imidazolyl, N-l,2-4-triazolyl, N-benzotriazolyl, or Ci-Cealkylsulfinyl.

20 33. A process, compound of mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein A' is group C

G^la is oxygen or sulfur;

R^la is hydrogen, Q-Qalkyl, Q-Qalkoxy-, Q-Qalkylcarbonyl-, Ci-C₈alkoxycarbonyl- or Q- 25 C₈haloalkoxycarbonyl-;

R^2a is a group of formula D

where

La is a single bond or Ci-C₆alkylene; and

each R^5a is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, d-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, C₂-C₈alkenyl, C₂- Cghaloalkenyl, C₂-C₈alkynyl, C₂-Cghaloalkynyl, C₃-Ci₀cycloalkyl, d-C₈alkoxy-, Ci-Cghaloalkoxy-, Q- Cgalkylthio-, Ci-Cghaloalkylthio-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkylsulfinyl-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl- or d- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, or

two R^5a on adjacent carbon atoms together form a -CH=CH-CH=CH- bridge;

R^6a is hydrogen, Ci-Cghaloalkyl or d-Cgalkyl;

each R^8a and R^9a is independently hydrogen, halogen, d-Cgalkyl or Ci-Cghaloalkyl;

each R^10a is independently hydrogen, cyano, Q-Cgalkyl, Ci-Cghaloalkyl, Ci-Cgalkylcarbonyl-, d-

Cghaloalkylcarbonyl-, Ci-Cgalkoxycarbonyl-, Ci-Cghaloalkoxycarbonyl-, Ci-Cgalkylsulfonyl-, d- Cghaloalkylsulfonyl-, aryl-Ci-C₄alkylene- or aryl-Crdalkylene- where the aryl moiety is substituted by one to three R^12a, or heteroaryl-d-dalkylene- or heteroaryl-Crdalkylene- where the heteroaryl moiety is substituted by one to three R^12a;

each R^Ua and R^12a is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, d-dalkyl, d-dhaloalkyl, Cp

Cgalkoxy-, CpCghaloalkoxy- or d-dalkoxycarbonyl-.

In one group of compounds, group A17, applicable to all compounds of the invention bearing a group A', optionally A' is not A' as defined in group A16. 34. A process, compound of mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein A' is not group C as defined in claim 33.