Synthesis and fungitoxic activity of 5‐aryl‐1‐formyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles and their complexes

Cyclization of 3‐aryl‐1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐ones with hydrazine hydrate in refluxing formic acid afforded the title ligands, 5‐aryl‐1‐formyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles (HL¹–HL⁴, Ar = Ph, 4‐CH₃O‐C₆H₄‐, 2‐furyl, 2‐thienyl). Reaction of HL¹–HL⁴ with the divalent metal ions, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, afforded novel complexes of the type ML₂] (M = metal ion; L = deprotonated ligand) which were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, molar conductances, magnetic moments and electronic and infrared spectral data. The ligands behaved as tridentate, coordinating through the phenolic oxygen after deprotonation, N‐2 of the pyrazole ring and oxygen of the 1‐formyl group. The ligands and their complexes were evaluated for growth‐inhibiting activity against four phytopathogenic fungi. Macrophomina phaseoli was generally most sensitive followed by Alternaria alternata and Colletotrichum falcatum while Fusarium oxysporum was least sensitive to the tested compounds. The ligand HL¹ and its complexes showed the best activity against the fungi tested. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry