New fluoro intermediates for herbicidal sulfonylureas

New pyrimidine and triazine intermediates for herbicidal sulfonylureas are prepared as follows: 2,4-dichloro-6-methylpyrimidine is converted via a halogenation, halogen exchange and substitution sequence to 2-amino-4-trifluoromethyl-6-trifluoromethoxypyrimidine. New fluoromethyl-triazines are available starting from guanidine, trichloroacetonitrile and difluoroacetic anhydride, or alternatively from thiocarbamoyl guanidine and chlorodifluoroacetic ester ring closure. To obtain new o-fluoroalkyl-benzenesulfonamide precursors, o-chlorobenzaldehyde was fluorinated with sulfur tetrafluoride, or a bromobenzene derivative was subjected to a substitution reaction with sodium pentafluoropropionate. Sulfonylureas derived from trifluoromethylpyrimidines with an m-methylthio substituent are selective post-emergence herbicides in cotton, presumably due to sulfone metabolization. Selectivity in wheat is obtained by combining 4-methoxy-6-trifluoromethylpyrimidine with a lipophilic difluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide moiety. Also in the difluoromethyl-triazine series, the combination with the difluoromethyl-benzenesulfonamide moiety is a good choice for wheat selectivity. Chlorodifluoromethyl- and trifluoromethyltriazines, however, combine better with an aromatic ester for best activity and selectivity in wheat. Selected compounds are undergoing broad field tests in wheat.