An Atom-Efficient Route to Ethyl 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (DFMMP)—A Key Building Block for a Novel Fungicide Family

A growing number of fluorine-containing active ingredients in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries inevitably raises the demand for new fluorinated building blocks. Their availability is mainly constricted by suitable chemistry and available bulk fluorine containing starting materials. Because of the high cost impact especially in the agrochemical industry, the choice of a synthetic route is heavily driven by economic aspects; thus, the environmental profile often is handled as a "secondary factor" or finally falls aside. DFMMP is a key building block for a fast growing new fungicide family, like Syngenta's Sedaxane, and BASF's Fluxapyroxad and Bayer's Bixafen currently made by environmetally less friendly routes. Herein we present a cost-competitive and green route, developed at Solvay laboratories, displaying significantly lower environmental impact.