New antifungal 1,2,4-triazoles with difluoro(heteroaryl)methyl moiety

New 1,2,4-triazoles (1) having a difluoro(heteroaryl)methyl moiety were designed and synthesized via 1-aryl-2,2-difluoro-2-(heteroaryl)ethanones (2), which were prepared by two routes starting from the reaction of ethyl 2,2-difluoro(heteroaryl)acetate with phenyllithiums (Route A) and from the reaction of chlorodifluoro(heteroaryl)methane with benzaldehydes (Route B). The compounds 1 except for 1g show antifungal activities against yeasts and filamentous fungi in vitro, especially (+)-1f have equal or superior activities compared to those of itraconazole.