Synthesis and antifungal activities of N-aryl-4-phenyl-3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)butanamides

Various N-aryl-4-phenyl-3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)butanamides (2 and 3) were tested for fungicidal activities against Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, and Erysiphe graminis in vivo. Butanamides (2 and 3a) that have an electron withdrawing group (Cl, F) attached to the meta position of the phenyl ring showed good to excellent activities against Pyricularia oryzae, Puccinia recondita, and Erysiphe graminis in high concentration while those that have a strong electron withdrawing group (CN, NO2) or electron donating group (OCH3, CH3) attached to the meta position did not show good activities against all test fungi at 250 mg L-1. The antifungal activities of the compounds synthesized were compared with reference compounds such as Tricyclazole, Moncozeb, and Benomyl.