Reactions of nitroxides XIV. Analogs of phenoxy carboxylic herbicides based on the piperidine scaffold; unexpected fungicidal activity of the 2-[(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)oxy]butanoic acid

Alkanoic acid derivatives bearing a nitroxyl moiety 3a – e were synthesized from 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl ( 1 ) and the corresponding 2-bromoalkane carboxylic acids 2a – e . The herbicidal and antifungal activity of 3a – e was tested. No herbicidal activity of the tested compounds was found. The 2-[(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)oxy]butanoic acid 3c revealed a strong antifungal activity against the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora cactorum .