Synthesis and antifungal activity of β mrifluoroalkyl aminovinyl ketone derivatives

Ten β-trifluoroalkyl aminovinyl ketone derivatives were synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on several phytopathogenic fungi, an oomycete and plants were assessed. The various compounds were fungitoxic at the 10-100 μM range, with (Z)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)but-2-en1-one exhibiting the highest inhibitory effect on most of the test pathogens. Alternarla alternata and Neurospora crassa were the most tolerant and sensitive fungi to the compounds, respectively. We propose that (Z)-3-amino-4,4,4- trifluoro-1-phenylbut-2-en-1-one is the minimal structural requirement for a β-trifluoroalkyl aminovinyl ketone fungitoxic derivative.