Solid-state structure determination and solution-state NMR characterization of the (2R,4R)/(2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-diastereomers of the agricultural fungicide propiconazole,the (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-symmetrical triazole constitutional isomer,and a ditriazole analogue

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to determine the structure of a racemic diastereomer of the agricultural fungicide propiconazole 1-(2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,2,4-triazole] and of two by-products (a symmetrical 1,3,4-triazole racemic-constitutional isomer and a propiconazole ditriazole analogue). All three crystalline racemic-diastereomers had (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-stereochemistry in which then-propyl group was observed in atrans-to-phenyl disposition. Propiconazole (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-diastereomer gives crystals belonging to the monoclinic space group P2₁,/a, and, at 293 K,a=8.1192(3),b=18.9769(6),c=10.7137(4) å,Β=99.765(3)?,V=1626.8(1) å³, Z=4,R(F)=0.060, andR _w(F)=0.058. The constitutional isomer by-product (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-1-(2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-pro-pyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,3,4-triazole gives crystals belonging to the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, and, at 293 K,a=11.1763(6),b=10.7716(4),c=14.5804(8) å,Β=107.445(4)?,V=1674.6(1) å³, Z=4,R(F)=0.043, andR _w(F)=0.043. The ditriazole byproduct (2R,4S)/(2S,4R)-1-(2-(2-chloro-4-(1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)phenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-yl-methyl)-1-H-1,2,4-triazole gives crystals belonging to the triclinic space groupP¯ 1, and, at 193 K,a=5.3329(8),b=8.3738(7),c=20.240(2) å, α=84.213(6)?,Β=87.20(1)?,γ=86.23(1)?,V=896.5(2) å³, Z=2,R(F)=0.046, andR _w(F)=0.051. The presence of both propiconazole (2R.4S)- and (2S,4R)-enantiomers enables the formation of a crystalline racemic modification, while the diastereomeric propiconazole (2R,4R)- and (2S,4S)-enantiomers are viscous oils. In the absence of its enantiomorphic partner, the propiconazole (2R,4S)- or (2S,4R)-enantiomers remain as viscous oils rather than form chiral crystals.