Herbicidal and fungistatic properties of fluorine analogs of phenoxyacetic herbicides

[Display omitted] •Fluorine analogs of herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4,5-T, and 4-CPA were synthesized.•Fluorine derivatives of 2,4-D show herbicidal activity against three weed species.•Parent herbicides and some monofluorine derivatives show fungistatic activity against Phytophtora cactorum. Aryloxy fluoroacetic acids 3a-3h – fluorine analogs of phenoxyacetic herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4,5-T, and 4-CPA were efficiently synthesized in 29–88% yield, using appropriate phenols and either bromodifluoro- or bromofluoroacetic acid in the presence of sodium hydride as a base and in either dioxane or THF as solvents. Fluorine derivatives of 2,4-D (3a, 3b) show herbicidal activity against three weed species. Parent herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4,5-T, 4-CPA, monofluorine derivatives of MCPA (3d) and 2,4,5-T (3f) show fungistatic activity against phytopatogenic fungi species Phytophtora cactorum.