PYRIDYLIMINOMETHYL BENZENE DERIVATIVES

This invention provides pyridyliminomethylbenzene derivatives and acid-addition salts thereof, said derivatives being compounds of general formula: wherein X is hydrogen, cyano, ethynyl, optionally-substituted alkyl, optionally-substituted alkoxy, cycloalkyl, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, haloaryloxy, alkoxyaryloxy, aralkyloxy, haloaralkyloxy, alkoxyaralkyloxy, optionally-substituted alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, alkenylthio, alkynylthio, arylthio, haloarylthio, alkoxyarylthio, aralkylthio, or a group of formula: wherein R and R are independently selected from hydrogen and optionally-substituted alkyl, or R and R together with the interjacent nitrogen atom from a heterocyclic ring of from 5 to 7 ring atoms, one of which ring atoms may be a further heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur m is 0, 1 or 2; Y is hydrogen or alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, halo, nitro, aryloxy, haloaryloxy, cyano or alkoxycarbonyl; n is 0, 1 or 2; and Z is an alkyl, alkoxy or halo moiety. Such compounds have been shown to posses fungicidal properties. The invention also provides methods of preparing such compouds; fungicidal compositions containing them and their use. There are also provided intermediates for making the compounds wherein a halogen atom is present in place of X in formula I.