Front. Chem. Frontiers in Chemistry Front. Chem. 2296-2646 Frontiers Media S.A. 928842 10.3389/fchem.2022.928842 Chemistry Original Research Synthesis and Bioactivity of Novel Sulfonate Scaffold-Containing Pyrazolecarbamide Derivatives as Antifungal and Antiviral Agents Lei et al. Synthesis and Bioactivity of Pyrazolecarbamide Lei Zhi-Wei 1 2 * Yao Jianmei 2 Liu Huifang 2 Ma Chiyu 2 Yang Wen 2 1 State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China 2 Tea Research Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, China

Edited by: Pei Li, Kaili University, China

Reviewed by: Hanxiang Wu, Institute of Plant Protection (IPP) (CAAS), China

Gaopeng Song, South China Agricultural University, China

 *Correspondence: Zhi-Wei Lei, leizhiwei816@163.com

This article was submitted to Organic Chemistry, a section of the journal Frontiers in Chemistry

 22 06 2022 2022 10 928842 26 04 2022 13 05 2022 Copyright © 2022 Lei, Yao, Liu, Ma and Yang. 2022 Lei, Yao, Liu, Ma and Yang

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Novel pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate fragment were synthesized to identify potential antifungal and antiviral agents. All the structures of the key intermediates and target compounds were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of the compound T22 showed that pyrazole carbamide is a sulfonate. The in vitro antifungal activities of the target compounds against Colletotrichum camelliae, Pestalotiopsis theae, Gibberella zeae, and Rhizoctonia solani were evaluated at 50 μg/ml. Among the four pathogens, the target compounds exhibited the highest antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The compound T24 (EC50 = 0.45 mg/L) had higher antifungal activity than the commercial fungicide hymexazol (EC50 = 10.49 mg/L) against R. solani, almost similar to bixafen (EC50 = 0.25 mg/L). Additionally, the target compounds exhibited protective effects in vivo against TMV. Thus, this study reveals that pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate fragment exhibit potential antifungal and antiviral activities.

 Graphical Abstract

pyrazolecarbamide sulfonate antifungal activity antiviral activity synthesis National Natural Science Foundation of China10.13039/501100001809 China Postdoctoral Science Foundation10.13039/501100002858 Introduction

Phytopathogenic microorganisms, such as Rhizoctonia solani, Gibberella zeae, Pestalotiopsis theae, Colletotrichum camelliae, and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) reduce the yield and quality of food and cash crops (Fisher et al., 2012). Chemical pesticides are still the most commonly used control measure for these diseases; however, the associated pesticide resistance and environmental hazards (Wei et al., 2020) impede their usage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel eco-friendly antifungal and antiviral agents agent with low toxicity and high efficiency.

Pyrazole and its derivatives have received considerable attention because of their diverse agrochemical and pharmaceutical applications. Most pyrazole derivatives exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antifungal (Kanungo and Joshi, 2014; Mu et al., 2016; Yan et al., 2018), insecticidal (Wu et al., 2012; Jiang et al., 2020), antibacterial (El Shehry et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2021), and other antimicrobial activities (Kasiotis et al., 2014; Saleh et al., 2020). Especially, pyrazole carboxamide derivatives, such as penthiopyrad, furametpyr, penflufen, isopyrazam, and bixafen, which could inhibit the succinate dehydrogenase, have been developed and commercialized as fungicides (Si et al., 2019).

Sulfonates are also widely applied in agrochemical and medical industries because of their insecticidal (Sun et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2015), antifungal (Kang et al., 2019; Zhou et al., 2022), and antibacteria (Su et al., 2021) Moreover, the heterocyclic compounds containing aryl sulfonate moiety exhibit excellent antiviral activities (Zeng et al., 2010; Huang et al., 2015; Hadházi et al., 2017).

Therefore, we designed and synthesized a series of novel pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate moiety based on the active splicing principle and used the mycelial growth rate and half-leaf blight spot methods to evaluate their antifungal and antiviral activities.

 Materials and Methods Chemistry

The 1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded in CDCl3 using 400 and 101 MHz spectrophotometers (Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Rheinstetten, Germany), respectively, while high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was performed using Thermo Scientific Q Exactive (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, America). The X-ray crystallographic data were collected and processed on a D8 Quest X-ray diffractometer (Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Rheinstetten, German). All solvents were dried using the standard methods and distilled before use.

 3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxylic Acid (4)

As shown in Scheme 1, the key intermediate 4 was synthesized using a previously published three-step procedure (Wang et al., 2020). White powder, yield 46%. m.p 201.1-201.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.98 (s, 1H), 7.12 (t, J = 54.3 Hz, 1H), 4.02 (s, 3H). HRMS (ESI): calculated for C6H6F2N2O2 [M + Na]+: 199.02950, found: 199.02896.

 2-(Difluoromethyl)-N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamide (6)

A mixture of 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI, 120 mmol), Intermediate 4 (100 mmol) and o-aminophenol (100 mmol), and dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP, 10 mmol) were dissolved in CH2Cl2 (500 ml) at −10°C for 1 h. Thereafter, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 8 h, and the key intermediate 6 was purified using column chromatography. Light yellow solid, yield 62%. m.p. 181.1-182.3°C .1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.99 (s, 1H), 8.37 (s, 1H), 8.08 (s, 1H), 7.17 (td, J = 7.7, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.05 (ddd, J = 7.8, 6.0, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 6.91 (dd, J = 7.4,1.5 Hz, 1H), 6.88 (t, J = 54.1Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 160.74, 149.12(t, J = 26.5 Hz), 136.77, 127.62, 125.42, 122.63, 120.51, 120.10, 115.5, 112.18, 110.40 (t, J = 235.3 Hz), 39.71. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C12H11F2N3O2 [M + Na]+: 290.07170, found: 290.07126.

 General Procedure for the Preparation of the Target Compounds (T1-27)

Catalytic DMAP, arylsulfonyl chloride (1.1 mmol), and Et3N (2 mmol) were added to a stirred CH3CN (20 ml) solution of the key intermediate 6 (1 mmol), and the reaction was monitored at room temperature using TLC. Thereafter, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation, and 10 ml of water was added to the residue, followed by extraction of the aqueous layer three times (30 ml × 3) using ethyl acetate. The organic layers were then combined and dried using anhydrous Na2SO4 and later concentrated under reduced pressure to form a crude product, purified using flash chromatography to obtain the target product.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl Benzenesulfonate (T1)

Gray powder, yield 72%. m.p. 138.3-139.6°C .1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.33 (s, 1H), 8.27 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.87–7.80 (m, 2H), 7.70–7.61 (m, 1H), 7.52–7.45 (m, 2H), 7.26 (dd, J = 15.7, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.04–6.97 (m, 1H), 6.90 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.33, 144.86(t, J = 26.5 Hz), 139.41, 134.99, 134.50, 133.41, 131.01, 129.44(×2), 128.65(×2), 128.01, 124.78, 123.27, 122.71, 116.68, 110.50 (t, J = 235.3 Hz), 39.92. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H15F2N3O4S[M + Na]+: 430.06490, found: 430.06531.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Methylbenzenesulfonate (T2)

Light yellow power, yield 79%. m.p. 126.2-126.9°C .1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.35 (s, 1H), 8.28 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.76–7.64 (m, 2H), 7.31–7.21 (m, 4H), 7.09 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (td, J = 7.9, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.88 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 2.42 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.35, 146.34, 145.05(t, J = 29.3 Hz), 139.50, 133.19, 131.54, 131.13, 130.07(×2), 128.72(×2), 127.94, 124.73, 123.20, 122.78, 116.82, 110.44(t, J = 235.8 Hz), 39.92, 21.87. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C19H17F2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 444.08055, found: 444.08109.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2-Fluorobenzenesulfonate (T3)

White powder, yield 78%. m.p. 123.9-124.5°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.40 (s, 1H), 8.33 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (s, 1H), 7.89 (ddd, J = 8.3, 6.9, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.76–7.66 (m, 1H), 7.30 (qd, J = 7.7, 1.3 Hz, 3H), 7.26–7.19 (m, 2H), 7.12 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.10-7.02 (m, 1H), 4.02 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 160.92, 159.53, 158.34, 138.73, 137.67, 137.58, 132.71, 131.57, 131.09, 128.31, 125.00, 124.96, 124.88, 123.24, 122.66, 117.81, 117.60, 116.77, 112.53, 110.19, 39.97. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F3N3O4S [M + Na]+: 448.05548, found: 448.05454.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3-Fluorobenzenesulfonate (T4)

Gray powder, yield 76%. m.p. 119.3-120.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.31–8.19 (m, 2H), 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.63–7.53 (m, 2H), 7.47 (td, J = 8.1, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (tdd, J = 8.3, 2.5, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.30–7.27 (m, 1H), 7.05 (ddd, J = 8.7, 7.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H),7.02 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.7 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.61, 161.09, 159.26, 144.67, 144.40, 144.13, 139.44, 136.61, 136.53, 133.98, 131.37, 131.30, 130.85, 128.18, 124.96, 124.58, 124.54, 123.55, 122.56, 122.35, 122.14, 116.55, 116.08, 115.83, 113.16, 110.82, 108.49, 39.86. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F3N3O4S [M + Na]+:448.05548, found: 448.05454.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Fluorobenzenesulfonate (T5)

Light yellow powder, yield 69%. m.p. 165.2-165.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.32–8.21 (m, 2H), 7.93 (s, 1H), 7.88–7.80 (m, 2H), 7.33–7.26 (m, 1H), 7.18–7.07 (m, 2H), 7.05 (ddd, J = 8.9, 7.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H),7.00 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 166.37(d, J = 259.6 Hz), 159.22, 144.15(t, J = 26.2 Hz), 144.18, 139.45, 134.24, 131.69, 131.59, 130.89, 130.69, 128.13, 124.92, 123.48, 122.78, 116.96, 116.73, 116.65, 110.90(t, J = 235.8 Hz), 105.41, 39.90. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F3N3O4S [M + Na]+:448.05548, found: 448.05454.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2-Chlorobenzenesulfonate (T6)

Gray powder, yield 70%. m.p. 116.3-117.2°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.48 (s, 1H), 8.39–8.30 (m, 1H), 8.03 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.97 (s, 1H), 7.67–7.57 (m, 2H), 7.44 (ddd, J = 8.0, 7.1, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (ddd, J = 8.6, 5.6, 3.4 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (d, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.06–6.99 (m, 2H), 4.01 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.59, 145.46(t, J = 26.5 Hz), 139.00, 135.92, 133.48, 133.15, 132.92, 132.54, 132.50, 131.21, 128.26, 127.52, 124.89, 123.48, 122.61, 116.70, 110.23 (t, J = 236.3 Hz), 39.96. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14ClF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 464.02593, found: 464.02521.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3-Chlorobenzenesulfonate (T7)

Light yellow powder, yield 73%. m.p. 110.0-111.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.24 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 8.19 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.86 (t, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (dt, J = 7.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (ddd, J = 8.1, 2.1, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (ddd, J = 8.5, 6.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.11–7.02 (m, 2H), 7.01 (d, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.16, 144.30(t, J = 27.3 Hz), 139.40, 136.43, 135.79, 134.99, 134.11, 130.81, 130.70, 128.47, 128.22, 126.77, 124.98, 123.52, 122.72, 116.53, 110.90(t, J = 235.3 Hz), 39.88. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14ClF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 464.02593, found: 464.02521.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Chlorobenzenesulfonate (T8)

Light yellow powder, yield 79%. m.p. 185.6-185.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.24 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 8.22 (s, 1H), 7.93 (s, 1H), 7.77–7.69 (m, 2H), 7.44–7.36 (m, 2H), 7.29 (ddd, J = 8.6, 7.2, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (td, J = 7.7, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 7.02 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.15, 143.97(t, J = 26.7 Hz), 141.62, 139.54, 134.48, 133.37, 130.80, 130.04(×2), 129.75(×2), 128.15, 125.00, 123.59, 122.89, 116.64, 111.03(t, J = 234.7 Hz), 39.88. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14ClF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 464.02593, found: 464.02521.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2-Bromobenzenesulfonate (T9)

Gray powder, yield 69%. m.p. 133.9-134.2°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.48 (s, 1H), 8.36–8.28 (m, 1H), 8.04 (dd, J = 7.8, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (s, 1H), 7.81 (dd, J = 7.8, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.53 (td, J = 7.6, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (td, J = 7.7, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.32–7.25 (m, 1H), 7.00 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 7.04–6.98 (m, 2H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.59, 145.42(t, J = 25.8 Hz), 139.06, 136.05, 135.79, 134.98, 132.99, 132.79, 131.24, 128.23, 128.07, 124.89, 123.52, 122.66, 121.38, 116.82, 110.22(t, J = 235.6 Hz), 39.94. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14BrF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 507.97542, found: 507.97227.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3-Bromobenzenesulfonate (T10)

Light yellow powder, yield 80%. m.p. 128.4-128.5°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.30–8.21 (m, 1H), 8.18 (s, 1H), 8.01 (t, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.73 (ddd, J = 8.1, 1.9, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (ddd, J = 7.9, 1.8, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (td, J = 6.1, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 7.11–7.03 (m, 2H), 7.01 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.13, 144.26 (t, J = 27.3 Hz), 139.35, 137.90, 136.47, 134.16, 131.24, 130.87, 130.75, 128.23, 127.18, 125.00, 123.50, 123.38, 122.78, 116.47, 110.91(t, J = 235.3 Hz), 39.91.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14BrF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 507.97542, found: 507.97227.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Bromobenzenesulfonate (T11)

Light yellow powder, yield 79%. m.p. 175.8-176.4°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.23 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.68–7.61 (m, 2H), 7.60–7.50 (m, 2H), 7.29 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.0, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (ddd, J = 8.6, 7.1, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 6.97 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.12, 143.91(t, J = 28.8 Hz), 139.54, 134.57, 133.94, 132.73(×2), 130.77, 130.26, 130.02(×2), 128.15, 125.02, 123.60, 122.92, 116.60, 111.06(t, J = 235.02 Hz), 39.89.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14BrF2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 507.97542, found: 507.97227.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2-Nitrobenzenesulfonate (T12)

Light yellow powder, yield 83%. m.p. 146.0-147.8°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.31 (s, 1H), 8.26 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (dd, J = 7.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (d, J = 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (td, J = 7.8, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (td, J = 7.8, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (dd, J = 7.9, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.28 (m, 1H), 7.13 (ddd, J = 8.3, 7.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H),7.11 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.55, 148.37, 146.02(t, J = 25.3 Hz), 138.50, 136.28, 132.83, 132.35(×2), 130.76, 128.57, 128.06, 125.10, 124.90, 123.43, 123.06, 116.02(t, J = 2.7 Hz), 109.75(t, J = 236.8 Hz), 39.91. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F2N4O6S [M + Na]+: 475.04998, found: 475.04948.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-3-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Nitrobenzenesulfonate (T13)

Gray powder, yield 79%. m.p. 160.4-160.9°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.70 (t, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.42 (ddd, J = 8.2, 2.2, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (d, J = 4.6 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (dt, J = 8.0, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (s, 1H), 7.66 (t, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (ddd, J = 8.3, 7.5, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 158.87, 148.24, 143.29(t, J = 27.7 Hz),, 139.43, 136.92, 135.14, 134.01, 130.78, 130.38, 129.07, 128.44, 125.34, 123.96, 123.77, 122.79, 116.11, 111.46(t, J = 234.2 Hz), 39.83.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F2N4O6S [M + Na]+: 475.04998, found:475.04948.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Nitrobenzenesulfonate (T14)

Light yellow powder, yield 80%. m.p. 198.9-199.6°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.24–8.17 (m, 2H), 8.15 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.07 (s, 1H), 7.99–7.94 (m, 2H), 7.86 (s, 1H), 7.33 (td, J = 7.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.21 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.88 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 158.82, 151.19, 144.20(t, J = 26.5 Hz), 140.75, 139.69, 135.60, 130.30, 130.00(×2), 128.42, 125.40, 124.41(×2), 124.16, 123.00, 116.31, 111.61(t, J = 234.7 Hz), 39.81. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H14F2N4O6S [M + Na]+: 475.04998, found:475.04948.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2,5-Dichlorobenzenesulfonate (T15)

Light yellow powder, yield 82%. m.p. 155.6-157.3°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.40 (s, 1H), 8.35–8.27 (m, 1H), 8.01 (d, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.57 (dd, J = 8.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.31 (ddd, J = 8.5, 5.4, 3.5 Hz, 1H), 7.10–7.03 (m, 2H), 7.06 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.52, 145.01(t, J = 26.2 Hz), 138.96, 135.74, 134.44, 133.74, 133.54, 133.36, 132.06, 131.70, 131.01, 128.43, 125.11, 123.77, 122.47, 116.62, 110.43(t, J = 235.3 Hz), 39.93. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13Cl2F2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 497.98696, found: 497.98602.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3,5-Dichlorobenzenesulfonate (T16)

Gray powder, yield 78%. m.p. 128.9-129.5°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.27–8.22 (m, 1H), 8.15 (s, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.68 (d, J = 1.9 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (t, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (ddd, J = 8.5, 5.7, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 7.15–7.12 (m, 2H), 7.06 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.03, 143.78(t, J = 25.6 Hz), 139.33, 137.56, 136.50, 134.78, 134.76, 130.61, 128.44, 126.84(×2), 125.19, 123.82, 122.63, 116.40, 111.22(t, J = 234.9 Hz), 76.84, 39.89. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13Cl2F2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 497.98696, found: 497.98602.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3,4-Dichlorobenzenesulfonate (T17)

Gray powder, yield 79%. m.p. 173.4-174.4°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.18 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (d, J = 4.1 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (d, J = 2.4 Hz, 2H), 7.56–7.43 (m, 2H), 7.32 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.0, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.20–7.09 (m, 2H), 6.93 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 158.92, 143.41(t, J = 28.3 Hz), 139.81, 139.59, 135.04, 134.65, 134.32, 131.42, 130.50, 130.29, 128.31, 127.52, 125.24, 123.89, 123.05, 116.33, 111.39(t, J = 234.8 Hz), 39.84.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13Cl2F2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 497.98696, found: 497.98602.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3,5-Difluorobenzenesulfonate (T18)

Gray powder, yield 86%. m.p. 143.1-144.0°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.33–8.12 (m, 2H), 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.45–7.22 (m, 3H), 7.11–7.03 (m, 3H),7.00 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 164.11, 164.00, 161.57, 161.45, 159.20, 144.23, 143.95, 143.68, 139.45, 137.91, 137.82, 137.73, 134.57, 130.68, 128.36, 125.15, 123.86, 122.38, 116.42, 113.44, 112.50, 112.41, 112.30, 112.21, 111.11, 110.83, 110.58, 110.33(t, J = 235.4 Hz), 39.84. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13F4N3O4S [M + Na]+:466.04606, found: 466.04663.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2,5-Difluorobenzenesulfonate (T19)

Light yellow powder, yield 80%. m.p. 141.4-141.6°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.33 (s, 1H), 8.29 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.58 (ddd, J = 7.0, 5.2, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 7.43–7.32 (m, 1H), 7.33–7.27 (m, 1H), 7.25–7.20 (m, 1H), 7.18 (dd, J = 8.1, 1.7 Hz, 2H), 7.09 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (dd, J = 15.6, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.50, 159.06, 156.94, 156.55, 154.39, 145.44, 145.18, 144.92, 138.78, 133.15, 130.87, 128.43, 125.06, 124.42, 124.34, 124.27, 124.19, 124.10, 124.04, 123.55, 122.51, 119.42, 119.34, 119.18, 119.10, 118.33, 118.06, 116.57, 112.73, 110.39, 108.05, 39.91. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13F4N3O4S [M + Na]+: 466.04606, found: 466.04663.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2,4-Difluorobenzenesulfonate (T20)

light yellow powder, yield 79%. m.p. 148.7-149.6°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.36 (s, 1H), 8.30 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.90 (ddd, J = 8.9, 7.8, 5.9 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.10–7.05 (m, 1H),7.08 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.04–6.95 (m, 2H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.46, 145.53, 138.87, 135.14, 133.40, 133.01, 132.81, 132.69, 130.97, 129.09, 129.00, 128.94, 128.76, 128.36, 124.93, 123.41, 123.01, 121.07, 116.49, 112.41, 110.07, 107.73, 39.90. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C18H13F4N3O4S [M + Na]+: 466.04606, found: 466.04663.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzenesulfonate (T21)

Gray powder, yield 69%. m.p. 120.6-121.2°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.36 (s, 1H), 8.30 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.90 (ddd, J = 8.9, 7.8, 5.9 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (ddd, J = 8.5, 7.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.10–7.05 (m, 2H),7.09 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.04–6.95 (m, 2H), 4.00 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 168.62, 166.13, 166.02, 162.04, 161.91, 159.48, 159.31, 145.37, 145.11, 144.85, 138.85, 133.57, 133.46, 133.26, 130.97, 128.36, 125.00, 123.51, 122.57, 119.62, 119.49, 116.67, 112.78, 112.75, 112.56, 112.53, 110.44, 108.10, 106.65, 106.41, 106.39, 106.15, 39.92.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C19H14F5N3O4S [M + Na]+: 498.05229, found: 498.05078.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-3-Carboxamido)Phenyl 3-(Trifluoromethyl)Benzenesulfonate (T22)

Light yellow powder, yield 73%. m.p. 147.2-148.3°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.27–8.15 (m, 2H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 7.92 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.87 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (ddd, J = 8.6, 5.8, 3.1 Hz, 1H), 7.13–7.03 (m, 2H), 6.96 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.09, 144.17, 143.89, 143.62, 139.32, 136.04, 134.52, 132.64, 132.30, 131.96, 131.82, 131.63, 131.46, 131.43, 131.39, 131.36, 130.75, 130.30, 128.28, 125.69, 125.65, 125.62, 125.58, 125.02, 124.22, 123.59, 122.64, 121.50, 116.36, 113.43, 111.11, 108.78, 39.79.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C19H14F5N3O4S [M + Na]+: 498.05229, found: 498.05078.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-Methoxybenzenesulfonate (T23)

Gray powder, yield 83%. m.p. 130.0-131.1°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.35 (s, 1H), 8.28 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.78–7.70 (m, 2H), 7.30–7.23 (m, 1H), 7.09 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (td, J = 7.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.93-6.86 (m, 3H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 3.86 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 164.70, 159.36, 144.97(t, J = 25.8 Hz), 139.56, 133.27, 131.15, 131.02(×2), 127.90, 125.68, 124.72, 123.18, 122.93, 116.83, 114.64(×2), 110.48(t, J = 235.4 Hz), 55.93, 39.90.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C19H17F2N3O5S [M + Na]+:460.07547, found: 460.07503.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl Phenylmethanesulfonate (T24)

Light yellow powder, yield 83%. m.p. 123.4-124.2°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.35 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.27 (s, 1H), 7.68 (s, 1H), 7.51–7.44 (m, 2H), 7.40 (dd, J = 5.0, 2.0 Hz, 3H), 7.31 (td, J = 7.9, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.20 (m, 1H),7.15 (t, J = 54.0 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (td, J = 7.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.02–6.97 (m, 1H), 4.65 (s, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.54, 145.26(t, J = 25.8 Hz),138.25-132.95, 131.24, 131.09(×2), 129.67, 129.24, 128.23(×2), 126.88, 125.03, 123.19, 122.90,115.83,110.39 (t, J = 235.4 Hz), 57.29, 39.92. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C19H17F2N3O4S [M + Na]+:444.08055, found: 448.07975.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl Naphthalene-2-Sulfonate (T25)

Light yellow powder, yield 80%. m.p. 158.7-159.5°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.43 (d, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 8.30–8.17 (m, 2H), 7.94–7.81 (m, 3H), 7.71 (ddd, J = 13.8, 8.5, 1.6 Hz, 2H), 7.65–7.58 (m, 2H), 7.31–7.21 (m, 1H), 7.04–6.99 (m, 2H), 6.98 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 3.90 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.11, 144.39(t, J = 25.7 Hz), 139.66, 135.70, 133.52, 131.91, 131.81, 130.94, 130.72, 129.89, 129.82, 129.55, 128.15, 128.01, 128.00, 124.87, 123.32, 123.04, 122.76, 116.48, 110.66 (t, J = 234.8 Hz, 1H), 39.76. HRMS (ESI): calculated for C22H17F2N3O4S [M + Na]+:480.08055, found: 448.08005.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzenesulfonate (T26)

White powder, yield 81%. m.p. 155.0-155.4°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.56 (s, 1H), 8.35 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.28–7.23 (m, 1H), 7.15 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (s, 2H), 6.91 (td, J = 7.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.52 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H), 2.55 (s, 6H), 2.35 (s, 3H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.50, 145.40 (t, J = 25.3 Hz), 144.77, 140.77(×2), 139.25, 132.64, 132.05(×2), 131.52, 129.59, 127.78, 124.57, 123.25, 121.97, 116.80, 110.09 (t, J = 234.8Hz, 1H), 39.85, 22.85(×2), 21.23.HRMS (ESI): calculated for C21H21F2N3O4S [M + Na]+:472.11185, found: 472.11150.

 2-(3-(Difluoromethyl)-1-Methyl-1H-Pyrazole-4-Carboxamido)Phenyl 4-(Tert-butyl)Benzenesulfonate (T27)

Light yellow powder, yield 82%. m.p.149.7-150.5°C.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.41 (s, 1H), 8.31 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.81–7.73 (m, 2H), 7.56–7.46 (m, 2H), 7.26 (td, J = 7.8, 1.5 Hz, 1H),7.11 (t, J = 54.1 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (td, J = 7.9, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 1.32 (s, 9H).13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 159.33, 159.29, 145.04(t, J = 25.2 Hz), 139.43, 133.31, 131.48, 131.22, 128.57(×2), 127.93, 126.46(×2), 124.66, 123.12, 122.75, 116.81, 110.45 (t, J = 236.3 Hz), 39.91, 35.54, 31.05(×3). HRMS (ESI): calculated for C22H23F2N3O4S [M + Na]+: 486.12750, found: 486.12686.

 <italic>In Vitro</italic> Biological Evaluation <italic>In Vitro</italic> Antifungal Assay

The test strains were Colletotrichum camelliae (C.camelliae), Pestalotiopsis theae (P. theae) provided by Guizhou Tea Research Institute, and Gibberella zeae (G. zeae), Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) provided by Guizhou Institute of Plant Protection. In this study, the in vitro antifungal activity of the target compounds T1-27 against four plant pathogens was screened by the mycelial growth rate method (Zhang et al., 2019). The tested compounds were dissolved in DMSO to prepare a 10 mg/ml stock solution before mixing with PDA. The PDA containing compounds at a concentration of 50 mg/L were then poured into sterilized Petri dishes for primary screening. Data Processing System (DPS, V9.50) was used for statistical analysis of test data, and Duncan’s new multiple range method was used to test the significance of differences. The EC50 values and 95% confidence limits were calculated after testing the inhibition rates, based on the above method. The inhibition rate of the potent compounds was further tested and the corresponding EC50 values were calculated by using DPS. This test method is provided in the Supporting information.

 <italic>In Vivo</italic> Antiviral Activities Assay

The in vivo antiviral activities of target compounds T1-27 against TMV were tested by the half leaf blight spot method previously reported in the literature(Chen et al., 2021; Xie et al., 2018). TMV was propagated in Nicotiana tabacum cv. K326 by the Gooding method. Antiviral activities of the target compounds against TMV in vivo were at 500 mg/L. The commercial antiviral agents Ningnanmycin and Chitosan oligosaccharides were severed as the positive controls. Data is processed in the same way as that of antifungal activity.

 Results and Discussion Chemistry

The reaction between the starting material, ethyl 4,4-difluoro-3-oxobutanoate 1) and triethyl orthoformate in acetic anhydride at 140°C, yielded ethyl 2-(ethoxymethylene)-4,4-difluoro-3-oxobutanoate (compound 2) (Sun and Zhou, 2015). Compound 2 was then treated with methylhydrazine to yield compound 3, which was successively hydrolyzed with lithium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid to obtain a white solid of the key intermediate 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (compound 4) (Scheme 1). Thereafter, compound 6, a light yellow solid, was formed by conjugating compound 4 with 2-aminophenol in CH2Cl2 using EDCI and DMAP (Scheme 2). Finally, different substituted moieties of arylsulfonyl chloride were reacted with compound 5 to yield the target compounds (Scheme 3). The structures of all key intermediates and target compounds were confirmed via 1H and 13C NMR and HRMS, and their spectra data are shown in the Supplementary Material. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of compound T22 showed that the compound is a sulfonate and not a sulfonamide. Figure 1 shows the crystal structure of T22, whose deposition number is CCDC 2168151.

Synthesis of the key intermediate 4.

Synthesis of the key intermediate 6.

Synthesis of the target compounds.

The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of compound T22.

 <italic>In Vitro</italic> Biological Evaluation <italic>In Vitro</italic> Antifungal Assay

The preliminary in vitro antifungal activities of the 27 target compounds are presented in Tables 1, 2. Most of the target compounds exhibited some degree of antifungal activities against the four plant pathogens at 50 μg/ml (Table 1). Among the four plant pathogens, the target compounds, particularly T24, exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against R. solani. When R group was nitro group, the antifugal activity against R. solani was no more than 20%. It can be known from these data that the substituent on the benzene ring was a strong electron-withdrawing group, the antifungal activity was adversely affected. We also found that the activity of T24 against R. solani was much higher than that of T1 (Table 1). The only structural difference between these two compounds is the presence of an extra methylene group in T24, which is thought to enhance its antifungal activity. The compound T24 (EC50 = 0.45 mg/L) was superior to the commercial fungicide hymexazol (EC50 = 10.49 mg/L), but closer to bixafen (EC50 = 0.25 mg/L) in its activity against R. solani (Table 2).

Inhibition rate in vitro of target compounds T1-27 at 50 μg/ml.

Compounds Inhibition Rate (%)
R. Solani (36 h) C.camelliae (120 h) P. Theae (120 h) G.Zeae (120 h)
T1 29.37 ± 1.02 k 20.30 ± 1.22 kl 30.30 ± 0.42 ij 30.20 ± 1.33 j
T2 51.59 ± 1.31 e 41.09 ± 1.10 de 31.60 ± 1.69 hi 42.50 ± 1.23 d
T3 30.95 ± 1.19 k 26.90 ± 1.09 i 33.75 ± 0.19 fg 26.88 ± 2.09 k
T4 10.14 ± 0.24 q 11.74 ± 0.26o 12.04 ± 1.04 r 18.21 ± 1.04 no
T5 13.23 ± 0.97 op 16.20 ± 0.27 n 18.23 ± 1.08 p 19.69 ± 0.97 n
T6 44.97 ± 0.92 g 34.17 ± 0.12 f 40.02 ± 0.42 d 30.67 ± 0.62 j
T7 62.96 ± 1.27 d 12.90 ± 1.16o 32.16 ± 0.17 gh 36.16 ± 1.36 h
T8 61.38 ± 1.39 d 30.18 ± 1.09 h 29.08 ± 0.19 jk 41.38 ± 2.49 de
T9 23.02 ± 1.06 m 21.02 ± 0.76 k 20.19 ± 0.46o 25.02 ± 1.16 kl
T10 30.56 ± 1.42 k 20.66 ± 1.02 kl 28.51 ± 0.32 k 25.69 ± 1.02 kl
T11 36.77 ± 1.21 i 30.07 ± 0.41 h 33.71 ± 0.42 fg 38.27 ± 1.41 fg
T12 12.43 ± 1.01 p 19.73 ± 0.70 kl 17.40 ± 0.80 p 16.43 ± 1.21o
T13 13.46 ± 1.09 op 19.40 ± 1.17 lm 12.66 ± 0.19 r 10.26 ± 1.49 p
T14 20.45 ± 0.91 n 23.25 ± 0.78 j 22.05 ± 0.88 mn 22.45 ± 0.71 m
T15 24.34 ± 1.08 m 21.06 ± 0.98 k 23.04 ± 0.13 lm 26.64 ± 1.00 k
T16 48.15 ± 1.26 f 28.05 ± 0.16 i 33.18 ± 0.19 fgh 43.19 ± 0.26 d
T17 34.13 ± 1.10 j 24.03 ± 1.01 j 29.03 ± 1.00 jk 33.03 ± 0.16 i
T18 81.48 ± 1.06 c 40.40 ± 1.78 de 35.98 ± 0.76 e 40.08 ± 0.96 ef
T19 45.74 ± 1.02 g 35.04 ± 1.12 f 34.74 ± 0.92 ef 38.87 ± 0.46 f
T20 44.18 ± 1.00 g 40.01 ± 0.90 e 24.18 ± 0.10 l 36.58 ± 0.90 gh
T21 14.81 ± 0.98o 17.80 ± 0.68 mn 14.81 ± 0.78 q 24.73 ± 0.88 kl
T22 27.25 ± 0.93 l 23.15 ± 0.63 j 17.25 ± 0.13 p 26.35 ± 0.73 kl
T23 20.11 ± 0.95 n 20.71 ± 0.36 kl 13.05 ± 0.65 r 24.41 ± 0.65 l
T24 100.00 ± 0.00 a 45.31 ± 0.47 c 62.40 ± 0.51 c 48.00 ± 1.10 c
T25 29.37 ± 0.40 k 31.07 ± 0.69 gh 20.30 ± 0.16o 39.07 ± 0.64 f
T26 30.69 ± 0.73 k 32.19 ± 0.33 g 21.30 ± 0.44 no 32.64 ± 0.91 i
T27 40.21 ± 0.98 h 42.12 ± 1.84 d 20.20 ± 0.61° 26.26 ± 0.68 kl
hymexazol 84.28 ± 0.96 b 54.91 ± 1.80 b 66.11 ± 3.20 b 67.33 ± 2.19 b
bixafen 100.00 ± 0.00 a 79.49 ± 1.36 a 93.40 ± 1.77 a 100.00 ± 0.00 a

Note: Data in the table are mean ± SD., Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant difference at p < 0.05 level by Duncan’s new multiple range test.

The meaning of bold is only to emphasize the good activity of the two compounds.

EC50 values of T24 against R. solani.

Compound Regression Equation EC50 (mg/L) R 2 95% confidence Interval (mg/L)
T24 y = 5.7941 + 1.3307x 0.45 0.9588 0.32-0.61
hymexazol y = 3.9940 + 0.9853x 10.49 0.9949 6.35-17.33
bixafen y = 5.7941 + 1.3307x 0.25 0.9976 0.13-0.47
<italic>In Vivo</italic> Antiviral Activities of Compounds T1-27

The phenylsulfonyl fragment has been reported to increase the antiviral activity (Hadházi et al., 2017), we synthesised novel sulfonate scaffold-containing pyrazolecarbamide and evaluated their antiviral activities.The curative, protective, and inactivation effects of the 27 target compounds against TMV were evaluated using the half leaf blight spot method (Liu et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2021), and the commercial agents, Ningnanmycin and Chitosan oligosaccharide, served as positive controls. Compound T18 (54.2%) exhibited a close curative activity to ningnanmycin (55.3%) at 500 mg/ml. Additionally, most of the target compounds exhibited protective effects in vivo, and the protective effects of compounds T5 (50.4%) and T12 (50.2%) were similar to that of Ningnanmycin (50.7%). Although the target compounds had lower inactivation effects than ningnanmycin, most of them exhibited better inactivation activities than Chitosan oligosaccharides (Table 3).

Antiviral activity of the target compounds against TMV in vivo (500 mg/L).

Compound Curative effect(%) Protective effect(%) Inactivation effect(%)
T1 30.9 ± 2.4 fg 40.1 ± 2.2 ghi 54.6 ± 3.2 jkl
T2 35.2 ± 1.6 f 43.1 ± 1.4 defghi 53.2 ± 1.3 jkl
T3 32.8 ± 3.2 fg 49.8 ± 2.3 b 63.3 ± 2.3 efgh
T4 40.8 ± 2.9 e 43.8 ± 2.6 cdefgh 62.6 ± 4.2 efghi
T5 42.4 ± 4.5 de 50.4 ± 1.5 b 59.5 ± 1.7 ghijk
T6 42.5 ± 2.0 de 42.4 ± 2.4 efghi 57.6 ± 2.5 hijk
T7 43.8 ± 1.7 de 43.5 ± 1.4 defghi 56.5 ± 3.0 ijk
T8 45.9 ± 2.5 cde 47.2 ± 3.0 bcde 62.8 ± 2.2 efghi
T9 35.2 ± 2.7 f 41.1 ± 3.2 ghi 50.5 ± 3.9 lmn
T10 32.2 ± 2.3 fg 42.5 ± 2.4 defghi 55.1 ± 3.4 hijk
T11 33.8 ± 4.0 f 49.8 ± 1.9 b 57.3 ± 3.5 jkl
T12 41.9 ± 2.0 de 50.2 ± 3.6 b 60.6 ± 2.4 fghij
T13 43.0 ± 3.7 de 45.4 ± 3.5 bcdefg 58.5 ± 4.7 hijk
T14 44.5 ± 3.1 de 43.0 ± 3.9 defghi 49.6 ± 4.5 lmn
T15 40.8 ± 0.7 e 49.5 ± 4.4 b 46.5 ± 3.7 no
T16 42.9 ± 3.1 de 48.0 ± 3.0 bcd 72.8 ± 4.9 bc
T17 41.5 ± 3.7 e 41.1 ± 4.2 fghi 67.6 ± 4.3 de
T18 54.2 ± 3.6 ab 49.1 ± 4.4 bc 70.2 ± 4.6 bcd
T19 46.9 ± 3.4 cd 40.1 ± 3.2 ghi 74.6 ± 4.2 b
T20 49.8 ± 3.9 bc 45.8 ± 4.6 bcdef 68.6 ± 3.9 cde
T21 28.4 ± 2.9 g 40.3 ± 1.5 fghi 65.3 ± 2.1 defg
T22 41.2 ± 2.0 e 32.4 ± 1.8 j 58.7 ± 3.8 hijk
T23 33.8 ± 1.7 f 38.6 ± 2.6 hi 66.3 ± 3.9 def
T24 35.9 ± 2.5 f 37.9 ± 3.1 i 42.8 ± 3.7o
T25 33.8 ± 1.7 f 45.6 ± 1.7 bcdefg 57.5 ± 1.9 hijk
T26 45.9 ± 2.5 cde 43.2 ± 2.8 defghi 49.8 ± 2.9 lmn
T27 30.9 ± 1.7 fg 40.2 ± 2.9 fghi 57.8 ± 2.1 hijk
Chitosan oligosaccharides 54.6 ± 2.7 a 57.6 ± 2.2 a 47.9 ± 1.5 mno
Ningnanmycin 55.3 ± 1.2 a 50.7 ± 1.1 b 98.1 ± 1.0 a

Note: Data in the table are mean ± SD., Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant difference at p < 0.05 level by Duncan’s new multiple range test.

 Conclusion

In summary, 27 novel pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate fragment were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antifungal and in vivo antiviral activities against four plant pathogens (C. camelliae, P, theae, G. zeae, and R. solani). The structures of these compounds were identified using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectral data obtained via 1H and 13C NMR and HRMS spectroscopy. The preliminary bioassay results showed that the target compounds exhibited certain inhibitory activities against the test fungi and TMV. Compound T24 exhibited excellent antifungal activities against R. solani compared to the commercial fungicide hymexazol, almost similar to bixafen. Moreover, the target compounds displayed protective effects in vivo against TMV. Thus, our research group is conducting further structural optimization of the target compounds for wide-scale field application.

 Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

 Author Contributions

Z-WL and WY conceived and designed the paper. Z-WL and HL contributed to the synthesis, purification, characterization of all compounds. JY and CM performed the biological activity research. Z-WL wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and reviewed the manuscript.

 Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

 Publisher’s Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31860517) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M623069) for supporting this project. We deeply thank Dandan xie for his help in elucidating the single crystal structure.

 Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2022.928842/full#supplementary-material

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