5-Acylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamides
This is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 743,543, filed Nov. 22, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,263. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Background of the Invention 
     Compounds of the general structural formula ##STR2## have been disclosed as intermediates employed in the synthesis of ureidothiadiazolesulfonamide herbicides, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,247. The above-illustrated acetamido-substituted compounds are generally not significantly phytotoxic. For example, the compounds having the above structural formula in which both R 1  and R 2  are both propyl substituents, or in which R 1 , R 2  and the nitrogen atom together form a piperidinyl structure appear to possess no useful phytotoxicity. I have discovered useful herbicidal properties in only two acetamido compounds of the general structural formula illustrated above. However, when the acetyl group is replaced by other substituents the character of the compounds is changed substantially. I have discovered that a class of compounds which are useful selective herbicides are those having the general structural formula ##STR3## in which R 1  and R 2  are selected from hydrogen, and lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkylene and alkoxy structures and together possess a total of 1 to 6 carbon atoms when R 3  is ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, methoxy or tert-butyl. A particularly useful compound of the group is one in which R 1  is H, R 2  is methyl and R 3  is cyclopropyl. This compound is useful in a special problem situation, combating specific weeds in sugar beets. 
    
    
     SYNTHESIS OF THE HERBICIDES 
     Synthesis of the compounds is illustrated by means of the following procedures: 
     PREPARATION OF 2-PROPIONAMIDO-5-MERCAPTO-1,3,4-THIADIAZOLE 
     To a suspension of 20 g of 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole in 200 ml of pyridine was added 14.6 g of propionyl chloride with cooling over a five minute period. After stirring the reaction mixture for 4 hours at room temperature, water was added and the resulting solid collected by filtration to give 20.2 g of 2-propionamido-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, m.p. 234°-237° C. 
     PREPARATION OF 2-PROPIONAMIDO-5-(N-METHYL-N-ETHYLSULFONAMIDO)-1,3,4-THIADIAZOLE 
     A slurry of 5.0 g of 2-propionamido-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole in 150 ml of 5% NaCl solution was cooled to 0° and chlorine gas slowly bubbled through for about 1 hr. with rapid stirring. The temperature was maintained at 0°-5° during the reaction. The resulting solid was collected by filtration, washed with ice water, then resuspended in 100 ml of ice water. An excess of methylethylamine was added and the resulting solution stirred for 30 min. Acidification to pH 1 with dilute hydrochloric acid gave a solid which was isolated by filtration, washed with water and dried, 5.2 g, m.p. 208°-210° C., and was identified as the desired product, 2-propionamido-5-(N-methyl-N-ethylsulfonamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole. 
     The aminomercaptothiadiazole starting material may be readily made by means of published procedures. 
     Illustrative compounds made by means of the general method illustrated above are those listed in the following table. 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
 ##STR4##                                                                 
Com-                                                                      
pound R.sup.1      R.sup.2  R.sup.3  M.P.(° C.)                    
______________________________________                                    
1     CH.sub.3     H        CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                            
                                     219-221                              
2     CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                            
                                     233-237                              
3     CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                             
                                     235-238                              
4     CH.sub.3     H        CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                             
                                     224-226                              
5     CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                   
                   CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                      
                            CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                             
                                     203-205                              
6     H            H        CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                             
                                     253-254                              
                                     (dec)                                
7     CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 cyclopropyl                                   
                                     248-250                              
8     CH.sub.3     H        &#34;        215-217                              
9     CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                   
                   CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                      
                            &#34;        185-195                              
10    H            H        &#34;        264-266                              
                                     (dec)                                
11    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 267-270                              
12    CH.sub.3     H        CH.sub.3 263-265                              
13    CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                   
                   H        cyclopropyl                                   
                                     194-195                              
14    CH.sub.3     OCH.sub.3                                              
                            &#34;        211-215                              
15    CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                  
                   H        &#34;        210-215                              
16    CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                          
                   H        &#34;        231-233                              
17    tetramethylene        &#34;        232-234                              
18    OCH.sub.3    H        &#34;        205-207                              
19    CH.sub.3     n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                      
                            &#34;        166-167                              
20    1,4-dimethyl-                                                       
      tetramethylene        &#34;        257-260                              
21                                                                        
       ##STR5##    H        &#34;        203-206                              
22    CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                   
                   H        CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                            
                                     205-206                              
23    CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                   
                   CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                      
                            &#34;        203-211                              
24    CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                  
                   H        &#34;        229-232                              
25    tert-butyl   H        &#34;        236-239                              
                                     (dec)                                
26    CH.sub.3     n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                      
                            &#34;        158-161                              
27    CH.sub.3     sec-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                    
                            &#34;        146-151                              
28    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                      
                            &#34;        203-205                              
29    CH.sub.3     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                        
                            cyclopropyl                                   
                                     170-172                              
30    CH.sub.3     sec-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                    
                            &#34;        152-155                              
31    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.2 CN                                            
                            &#34;        222- 224                             
                                     (dec)                                
32    tert-butyl   H        &#34;        249-253                              
                                     (dec)                                
33    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 tert-butyl                                    
                                     175-177                              
34    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3                                     
                                     205-207                              
                                     (dec)                                
35    CH.sub.3     CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                      
                            CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                             
                                     208-210                              
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     combating unwanted vegetation 
     post-emergent use of the herbicides to combat unwanted vegetation may be demonstrated by means of the procedure described below. 
     POST-EMERGENT USE 
     An aqueous dispersion of each active compound is prepared, for example, by combining 0.4 gram of the compound with about 4 ml of a solvent-emulsifier mixture (3 parts of a commercial polyoxyethylated vegetable oil emulsifier, one part xylene, one part kerosene) and then adding water, with stirring, to a final volume of 40 ml. Rate of application and spray volume may be adjusted by appropriate dilution. The species of plants of which each compound is to be tested are planted in disposable 12 in.×10 in. greenhouse flats about 3 in. deep. Twelve days after emergence of the plants, each flat is sprayed with an aqueous dispersion of the active compound prepared as described above, at chosen rates of active compound per acre and at a spray volume of 40 gallons per acre. Approximately two weeks after the spray application the plants are observed and the results rated according to the following schedule. 
     DEGREE OF EFFECT 
     0=no effect 
     1=slight effect (observable, but no permanent injury) 
     2=moderate effect (some plants died) 
     3=severe effect (most of the plants died) 
     4=maximum effect (all plants died) 
     Pre-emergent use of the herbicides to combat vegetation may be demonstrated by means of the procedure described below. 
     PRE-EMERGENT USE 
     A solution of each active compound is prepared by dissolving 290 mg of the compound in 200 ml of acetone. Disposable expanded polystyrene trays about 21/2 inches deep and about one square foot in area are filled with soil, seeded and sprayed with the solution at the chosen rate of active chemical per acre of sprayed area. Twenty-eight days after seeding and treatment the plantings are examined and herbicidal effects are rated according to the schedule as described above. 
     Results of both post-emergent application at 5 lb. per acre and pre-emergent use at 10 lb. per acre are tabulated below. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________
Results of Herbicidal Use                                                 
                      Downy                                               
Compound No.                                                              
           Crabgrass                                                      
                 Coxcomb                                                  
                      brome                                               
                          Millet                                          
                              Alfalfa                                     
                                  Oats                                    
                                     Radish                               
                                         Sugarbeet                        
                                               Tomato                     
__________________________________________________________________________
1       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              3   3   2  4   4     4                          
2       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   2  4   4     4                          
3       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   2  4   4     4                          
4       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              3   3   2  4   4     4                          
5       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              3   3   2  4   4     4                          
6       pre                                                               
           2     4    0   3          3                                    
        post              0   0   0  1   2     1                          
7       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   4  4   4     4                          
8       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   4  4   4     4                          
9       pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   3  4   4     4                          
10      pre                                                               
           2     3    1   3          3                                    
        post              0   0   0  1   2     0                          
11      pre                                                               
           3     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              1   2   1  3   4     4                          
12      pre                                                               
           3     4    1   3          4                                    
        post              1   1   1  4   2     4                          
13      pre                                                               
           4     3    3   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   3  4   4     4                          
14      pre                                                               
           3     4    2   3          4   4                                
        post              4   4   2  4   4     4                          
15      pre                                                               
           3     4    2   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   2  4   4     4                          
16      pre                                                               
           2     3    2   3          4   4                                
        post              3   3   2  3   4     4                          
17      pre                                                               
           3     4    1   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   1  4   4     4                          
18      pre                                                               
           4     2    2   3          3   4                                
        post              3   4   2  4   4     4                          
19      pre                                                               
           3     4    4   3          4   4                                
        post              4   4   2  4   4     4                          
20      pre                                                               
           1     4    4   1          4   4                                
        post              2   3   1  4   4     2                          
21      pre                                                               
           2     4    4   2          4   4                                
        post              2   3   1  2   4     3                          
22      pre                                                               
           1     4    4   1          4   4                                
        post              2   3   1  4   4     2                          
23      pre                                                               
           2     4    4   2          4   4                                
        post              2   3   1  2   4     3                          
24      pre                                                               
           3     4    2   4          4   4                                
        post              0   1   0  1   4     1                          
25      pre                                                               
           0     4    3   2          3   4                                
        post              0   0   0  1   1     0                          
26      pre                                                               
           0     4    1   1          4   4                                
        post              2   3   1  4   4     4                          
27      pre                                                               
           0     4    3   1          4   4                                
        post              1   2   1  4   4     4                          
28      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
                          2   4   3  4   4     4                          
29      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   4  4   4     4                          
30      pre                                                               
           3     4    4   2          4   4                                
        post              2   3   3  4   4     4                          
31      pre                                                               
           0     4    1   0          2   4                                
        post              1   1   2  2   3     2                          
32      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              1   2   1  2   3     1                          
33      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   3  4   4     4                          
34      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   3  4   4     4                          
35      pre                                                               
           4     4    4   4          4   4                                
        post              4   4   3  4   4     4                          
__________________________________________________________________________
 
    
     It will be noticed that in the results tabulated above, some compounds were so phytotoxic that no selectivity pattern was clearly evident. However, when the application rate is reduced and tests are conducted on a greater variety of species, useful selectivities appear. By way of illustration, at a post-emergent application rate of only one-half pound per acre, Compound No. 29 gives complete control of several species of weeds, including yellow foxtail, smartweed, velvet leaf, jimson weed and cocklebur without permanent injury to either soybeans or peanuts. It is advisable, of course, to conduct tests outdoors under realistic crop growth conditions, including variations in weather, before a judgment is made regarding potential commercial use of a herbicide. This is particularly advisable with respect to certain crops which do not behave the same outdoors as they do in a greenhouse. This is the case with sugar beets, as discussed below. 
     COMBATING WEEDS IN SUGAR BEETS 
     Weeds in sugar beets are particularly troublesome for a variety of reasons. Sugar beets are grown in twenty-three states of the U.S., from Maine to California, about 70 percent of the acreage being irrigated land. The wide area includes so many pestiferous weeds that no single herbicide can be expected to solve all of the weed control problems. The present practice is to use combinations of more than one herbicide at a time. In order to obtain effective weed control in this manner, a large choice of herbicides is needed. However, the choice of desirable selective herbicides for this purpose is inadequate. Unfortunately sugar beets are easily injured by the majority of herbicides and some of the worst weeds, such as kochia and lambsquarters are very similar in herbicide sensitivity to the crop. 
     One characteristic of sugar beets is beneficial in this situation, however. There is a tendency for the beets to produce a stand which is too thick for maximum crop yield and thinning of the stand is customary. Consequently, injury of a minor portion of the beet plants by the herbicide, for example, about ten percent, can be tolerated. In general, preemergence chemical weed control at planting time is preferred, so as to avoid the expense of making another pass through the field at a later date. Sugar beets exhibit behavior outdoors which is often different from that encountered in a greenhouse. One of the herbicides of this invention was tested outdoors at two locations, over one hundred miles apart so as to assess its performance under field conditions in combating weeds in sugar beets and various grain crops. The following procedure was used: 
     Various crop and weed species were seeded in 12 inch rows with Planet Jr. planters. Plots were 5 feet wide by 32 feet long with 1 or 2 replications. 
     Treatments were applied with a CO 2  -pressurized hand sprayer. Three (3) Tee Jet 8003 nozzles on 20 inch spacings were operated at a speed of 3 mph through the field and at a pressure of 40 psi, resulting in a spray volume of 30 gallon per acre. 
     Preemergence applications were made on the day of planting while postemergence treatments were made 2 or 3 weeks after planting, depending upon the location. Commercial herbicides were included as standards for purposes of comparison. 
     Evaluations were made on a 0 to 10 scale. Where 0=no effect and 10=complete kill. A dash (--) indicates that a rating was not given due to a poor stand or the specie was over-grown by an uncontrolled volunteer specie, such as giant foxtail at the first location or pigweed at the second location. 
     Results are presented in the following table. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________
RESULTS OF HERBICIDE TESTS AT TWO OUTDOOR LOCATIONS                       
                                 Phenmedipham                             
            Compound No. 8                                                
                        Ethofumesate                                      
                                 lb. per acre                             
            Application Rate                                              
                        lb. per acre                                      
                                 (post-                                   
            lb. per acre                                                  
                        (pre-emergent)                                    
                                 emergent)                                
Plant Species                                                             
            1/2                                                           
               1  2  4  1  2  4  1                                        
__________________________________________________________________________
Giant Foxtail                                                             
         pre   3,8                                                        
                  9,9                                                     
                     8.10                                                 
                        10,10                                             
                           10,10                                          
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            0,1                                                           
               2,2                                                        
                  2,6            3,3                                      
Barnyard grass                                                            
         pre   2,8                                                        
                  3,9                                                     
                     8,10                                                 
                        7,6                                               
                           9,8                                            
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            2,2                                                           
               3,2                                                        
                  2,5            3,3                                      
Crabgrass                                                                 
         pre                                                              
,10      9,-                                                              
            -- 10,10                                                      
                  10,-                                                    
                     --                                                   
         post                                                             
            -- -- --             3,2                                      
Grain Sorghum                                                             
         pre   0,2                                                        
                  2,5                                                     
                     3,6                                                  
                        3,2                                               
                           4,5                                            
                              10,5                                        
         post                                                             
            2,3                                                           
               0,0                                                        
                  0,2            3,2                                      
Wheat    pre   2,7                                                        
                  3,8                                                     
                     0,10                                                 
                        10,8                                              
                           10,9                                           
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            -- -- --             7,-                                      
Oats     pre   0,1                                                        
                  0,7                                                     
                     3,10                                                 
                        6,6                                               
                           9,8                                            
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            -- -- --             1,-                                      
Barley   pre   0,2                                                        
                  0,5                                                     
                     3,8                                                  
                        5,5                                               
                           7,7                                            
                              9,9                                         
         post                                                             
            -- -- --             3,-                                      
Rice     pre   0,2                                                        
                  0,4                                                     
                     0,7                                                  
                        2,3                                               
                           5,7                                            
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            -- -- --             3,-                                      
Corn     pre   0,1                                                        
                  0,1                                                     
                     0,3                                                  
                        4,0                                               
                           5,0                                            
                              5,3                                         
         post                                                             
            3,0                                                           
               0,0                                                        
                  0,3            4,4                                      
Cocklebur                                                                 
         pre   0,0                                                        
                  0,0                                                     
                     0,-                                                  
                        0,0                                               
                           0,0                                            
                              0,-                                         
         post                                                             
            0,5                                                           
,8                                                                        
,8                   --                                                   
Velvetleaf                                                                
         pre   1,2                                                        
                  0,4                                                     
                     0,5                                                  
                        0,3                                               
                           4,4                                            
                              5,5                                         
         post                                                             
            3,2                                                           
               3,2                                                        
                  4,5            2,0                                      
Morningglory                                                              
         pre   0,2                                                        
                  0,5                                                     
                     0,9                                                  
                        0,0                                               
                           3,2                                            
                              4,3                                         
         post                                                             
            0,4                                                           
               0,1                                                        
                  4,3            3,3                                      
Wild Mustard                                                              
         pre   0,7                                                        
                  0,9                                                     
                     10,10                                                
                        3,5                                               
                           9,4                                            
,7                                                                        
         post                                                             
            10,3                                                          
               10,0                                                       
                  10,5           10,10                                    
Lambsquarters                                                             
         pre   9,10                                                       
                  9,-                                                     
                     -- 5,-                                               
                           10,-                                           
                              10                                          
         post                                                             
            10,-                                                          
               10,-                                                       
                  10,-           10,-                                     
Redroot Pigweed                                                           
         pre   8,10                                                       
                  10,10                                                   
                     10,10                                                
                        10,10                                             
                           10,10                                          
                              10,10                                       
         post                                                             
            8,4                                                           
               10,8                                                       
                  10,10          8,8                                      
Soybeans pre   0,1                                                        
                  0,2                                                     
                     2,4                                                  
                        4,3                                               
                           4,3                                            
                              6,4                                         
(Clark)  post                                                             
,2                                                                        
,4                                                                        
,5                   2,-                                                  
Flax     pre   2,0                                                        
                  0,3                                                     
                     2,6                                                  
                        3,2                                               
                           4,4                                            
                              7,2                                         
         post                                                             
            1,1                                                           
               6,2                                                        
                  10,6           3,4                                      
Sunflower                                                                 
         pre   0,2                                                        
                  0,7                                                     
                     2,10                                                 
                        0,1                                               
                           0,1                                            
                              0,2                                         
         post                                                             
            4,2                                                           
               9,6                                                        
                  10,7           3,2                                      
Rape     pre   3,10                                                       
                  7,10                                                    
                     10,10                                                
                        0,1                                               
                           1,2                                            
                              4,6                                         
         post                                                             
            7,0                                                           
               10,2                                                       
                  10,6           9,9                                      
Sugar Beet                                                                
         pre   2,3                                                        
                  0,5                                                     
                     0,8                                                  
                        0,2                                               
                           2,3                                            
                              2,1                                         
         post                                                             
            2,0                                                           
               6,3                                                        
                  5,5            4,4                                      
Volunteer:                                                                
         pre   10 10 10 7  10 10                                          
Smartweed                                                                 
         post                                                             
            9  9  10                                                      
__________________________________________________________________________
 
    
     In the outdoor tests described above, a rating from about 8 to 10 indicates weed control to a beneficial extent, sufficient to obtain improved yields of crops. An injury rating on the crop of zero to about 2 can usually be tolerated, if the weed infestation would otherwise be severe. The herbicide designated as Compound No. 8 herein has been shown to be particularly useful when applied pre- or post-emergently at a rate of from one-half to about one and one-half pounds per acre to control crabgrass, wild mustard, lambsquarters and redroot pigweed in the presence of such crops as corn, soybeans and sugar beets. Preferably, Compound No. 8 is applied pre-emergently at a rate of between one-half and one pound per acre to combat weeds such as lambsquarters and pigweed in sugarbeets.