Process for preparing 1-azolyl-4-hydroxy-butane derivatives and their physiologically tolerated salts with fungicidal and bactericidal effect

1530568 1-Azolyl-4-hydroxy-butane derivatives BAYER AG 2 Aug 1977 [7 Aug 1976 24 Feb 1977] 32387/77 Heading C2C The invention comprises 1-azolyl-4-hydroxybutane derivatives of the general Formula I in which R represents hydrogen or an acyl radical -CO-R<SP>1</SP> or a grouping -SO 2 -R<SP>2</SP> in which R<SP>1</SP> represents optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, optional substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenoxyalkyl, optionally substituted phenylalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino or optionally substituted phenylamino and R<SP>2</SP> represents alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl, A represents a keto group or a CH(OH) grouping, X represents hydrogen or the -OR grouping, wherein R has the abovementioned meaning, X<SP>1</SP> represents alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl, Y represents the CH group or a nitrogen atom, Z represents halogen, alkyl, halogenoalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkoxycarbonyl, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenoxy, optionally substituted phenylalkyl, amino, cyano and nitro and n represents 0 or 1 to 5 and salts thereof. The compounds of Formula I may be prepared by reacting a 1- bromo-4-(R-oxy)-butan-2-one of general formula in which R 1 X 1 X<SP>1</SP>. Z and n are as above with an azole of general formula in which Y is as above in the presence of a diluent and of an acid-binding agent and, if appropriate, the azolyl-ketone thereby obtained is selectively reduced, in a manner which is in itself known, by means of a complex borohydride, if appropriate in the presence of a diluent, and in either case the 1-azolyl-4- hydroxy-butane derivative is optionally connected to a salt by reaction with an acid. The compounds of Formula I are used as fungicides and bactericides and compositions as such are claimed and described.