Process Development for the Sulfonamide Herbicide Pyroxsulam

Abstract

The development of a manufacturing process for the initial commercial production of pyroxsulam sulfonamide herbicide is described. The process encompasses seven reaction steps, and includes a new route to 4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridines, a scaleable method of lithiating a pyridine intermediate, and a sulfilimine-catalyzed formation of a sulfonamide.