3-substituted arylamidine compounds, preparation and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to 3-substituted arylamidine compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and A are as defined in the detailed description. The present invention further provides methods for the preparation of said compounds and their use as a fungicide.

Description

[0001] Title: 3-SUBSTITUTED ARYLAMIDINE COMPOUNDS, PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to 3-substituted arylamidine compounds. More particularly, the present invention relates to 3-substituted arylamidine compounds of formula (I), to a process for their preparation and to the use thereof as a fungicide. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fungal plant pathogens continue to pose a serious threat to agriculture. Therefore, the control of plant 10 diseases caused by these pathogens is extremely important in achieving high crop efficiency. The damage caused by fungal diseases to ornamental, vegetable, field, cereal and fruit crops can cause significant reduction in productivity and thereby result in decreased food availability to feed the growing world population as well as increased costs for the consumer. In addition to often being highly destructive, plant diseases can be difficult to control and may develop resistance to commercial 15 fungicides. Many products are commercially available for these purposes, but the need continues for new fungicidal compounds which are more effective, less costly, less toxic, environmentally safer or have different sites of action. For example, WO2000046184, WO2003093224 discloses the arylamidine derivatives and their use, either alone or as part of compositions, as fungicides. Further, WO2020148617 specifically disclosed 20 the 3-substituted aryl amidine compounds. The effectiveness of arylamidine derivatives described in the prior art is good but leaves something to be desired in various cases. Therefore, it is always of high interest in agriculture to use novel pesticidal compounds to avoid and / or control the development of microorganisms such as fungal or bacterial pathogens or pests being resistant to known active ingredients. These novel compounds should also be 25 more active than those already known, with the aim of decreasing the amount of active compound to be used, whilst at the same time maintaining an effectiveness at least equivalent to the already known compounds. Currently, the environmental, human safety and economy related requirements concerning crop protection agents are continuously increasing, for example with respect to activity spectrum, toxicity, 30 environmental safety, selectivity, application rate, formation of residues and favorable manufacture, including the occurrence of resistance problems in many classes of fungicides. Therefore, there is a continuous need to provide new fungicidal compounds which will overcome these environmental and economic challenges and / or alleviate the problems associated with pathogens resistance. Accordingly, the present invention provides a new family of arylamidine compounds which possesses the above- 35 mentioned effects or advantages. 1

[0002] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides 3-substituted arylamidine compound of formula (I) or salts, stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs or N-oxides thereof, 5 Formula (I) wherein, R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7and A are as defined in the detailed description. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a process for preparing the compounds of formula (I) or salts thereof. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising at least one compound 10 of formula (I) and optionally at least one other active compound selected from fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, fertilizers and / or mixtures thereof. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) and compositions thereof, for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic microorganisms of 15 agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides the use of at least one compound of formula (I), in combinations or compositions, and methods of using the same, particularly in the field of agriculture, mainly for protecting plants. The compounds of the present invention have enhanced activity against microbials, particularly against 20 phytopathogenic fungi. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION DEFINITIONS The following definitions provided for the terminologies used in the present disclosure are for illustrative purpose only and in no manner limit the scope of the present invention disclosed in the 25 present disclosure. The transitional phrase "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "has", "having", "contains", "containing", "characterized by" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, subject to any limitation explicitly indicated. For example, a composition, mixture, process 2

[0003] or method that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, mixture, process or method. The transitional phrase "consisting of" excludes any element, step or ingredient not specified. If in the claim, such would close the claim to the inclusion of materials other than those recited, except for 5 impurities ordinarily associated therewith. When the phrase "consisting of" appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole. The transitional phrase "consisting essentially of" is used to define a composition or method that includes materials, steps, features, components or elements, in addition to those literally disclosed, 10 provided that these additional materials, steps, features, components or elements do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. The term "consisting essentially of" occupies a middle ground between "comprising" and "consisting of". Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive "or" and not to an exclusive "or". For example, a condition "A" or "B" is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) 15 and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B is true (or present). Also, the indefinite articles "a" and "an" preceding an element or component of the present invention are intended to be nonrestrictive regarding the number of instances (i.e. occurrences) of the element or component. Therefore "a" or "an" should be read to include one or at least one, and the singular word 20 form of the element or component also includes the plural unless the number is obviously meant to be singular. As referred to in this disclosure, the term "pesticide" in each case also always comprises the term "crop protection agent". The term "agronomic" refers to the production of field crops such as for food, fuels, biofuels, any 25 biomaterials and fiber and includes namely the growth of corn, soybeans and other legumes, rice, cereal (e.g., wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice, maize), leafy vegetables (e.g., lettuce, cabbage, and other cole crops), fruiting vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, crucifers and cucurbits), potatoes, sweet potatoes, grapes, cotton, tree fruits (e.g., pome, stone and citrus), small fruit (berries, cherries), biofuel production crops such as corn, sugar / starch crops, sugar-beet and sweet sorghum, cellulosic crops such as 30 switchgrass, miscanthus, corn stover, poplar, biodiesel crops rapeseed (canola), soybeans, palm oil, mustard, camelina, safflower, sunflower and jatropha and other specialty crops (e.g., canola, sunflower, olives). The term "nonagronomic" refers to other than field crops, such as horticultural crops (e.g., greenhouse, nursery or ornamental plants not grown in a field), residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial 3

[0004] structures, turf (e.g., sod farm, pasture, golf course, lawn, sports field, etc.), wood products, stored product, agro-forestry and vegetation management, public health (i.e. human) and animal health (e.g., domesticated animals such as pets, livestock and poultry, undomesticated animals such as wildlife) applications. 5 The terms alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carbocyclyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and heteroaryl groups, as defined herein, are optionally substituted (e.g., "substituted" or "unsubstituted" alkyl, "substituted" or "unsubstituted" alkenyl, "substituted" or "unsubstituted" alkynyl, "substituted" or "unsubstituted" carbocyclyl, "substituted" or "unsubstituted" heterocyclyl, "substituted" or "unsubstituted" aryl or "substituted" or "unsubstituted" heteroaryl group). In general, the term "substituted", whether preceded 10 by the term "optionally" or not, means that at least one hydrogen present on a group (e.g., a carbon or nitrogen atom etc.) is replaced with a permissible substituent, e.g., a substituent which upon substitution results in a stable compound, e.g., a compound which does not spontaneously undergo transformation such as by rearrangement, cyclization, elimination, or other reaction under normal conditions (temperature, pressure, air etc.). Unless otherwise indicated, a "substituted" group has a substituent at 15 one or more substitutable positions of the group, and when more than one position in any given structure is substituted, the substituent is either the same or different at each position. The term "alkyl", used either alone or in compound words such as "alkylthio" or "haloalkyl" includes straight-chain or branched C1 to C12 alkyl, more preferably C1 to C8 alkyl, most preferably C1 to C6 alkyl. Non limiting examples of alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-20 methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3- methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1- methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and l-ethyl-2-methylpropyl or the 25 different isomers. If the alkyl is at the end of a composite substituent, as, for example, in alkylcycloalkyl, the part of the composite substituent at the start, for example the cycloalkyl, may be mono- or polysubstituted identically or differently and independently by alkyl. The same also applies to composite substituents in which other radicals, for example alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyl, halogen, carbonyl, carbonyloxy and the like, are at the end. 30 The term "alkenyl", used either alone or in compound words includes branched or straight-chain C2 to C12alkenes, more preferably C2to C8alkenes, most preferably C2to C6alkenes. Non limiting examples of alkenes include ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2-methyl-l-propenyl, l-methyl-2 -propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2- pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, l-35 methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, l-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3- methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2 -propenyl, 1- 4

[0005] ethyl-1-propenyl, l-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1- methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-methyl-1-pentenyl, 3-methyl-1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2- pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, l-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2- methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4- 5 pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, l,l-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-l-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, l,3- dimethyl-2-butenyl, l,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 2,3- dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-l-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl- 1-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, l-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl- 1-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-10 butenyl, l,l,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-l-methyl-2-propenyl, l-ethyl-2-methyl-l-propenyl and l- ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl and the different isomers. "Alkenyl" also includes polyenes such as 1,2- propadienyl and 2,4-hexadienyl. This definition also applies to alkenyl as a part of a composite substituent, for example haloalkenyl and the like, unless defined specifically elsewhere. The term "alkynyl", used either alone or in compound words includes branched or straight-chain C2 to 15 C12 alkynes, more preferably C2 to C8 alkynes, most preferably C2 to C6 alkynes. Non limiting examples of alkynes include ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2- propynyl, 1-pentynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 4-pentynyl, l-methyl-2-butynyl, l-methyl-3-butynyl, 2- methyl-3-butynyl, 3-methyl-l-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl, 1-ethyl -2-propynyl, 1-hexynyl, 2- hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 4-hexynyl, 5-hexynyl, 1-methyl-2-pentynyl, l-methyl-3-pentynyl, 1-methyl-4-20 pentynyl, 2-methyl-3-pentynyl, 2-methyl-4-pentynyl, 3-methyl-l-pentynyl, 3-methyl-4-pentynyl, 4- methyl-l-pentynyl, 4-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butynyl, l,l-dimethyl-3-butynyl, l,2-dimethyl- 3-butynyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 3,3-dimethyl-l-butynyl, l-ethyl-2-butynyl, l-ethyl-3-butynyl, 2- ethyl-3-butynyl and 1-ethyl-l-methyl-2-propynyl and the different isomers. This definition also applies to alkynyl as a part of a composite substituent, for example haloalkynyl etc., unless specifically defined25 elsewhere. "Alkynyl" can also include moieties comprised of multiple triple bonds such as 2,5- hexadiynyl. The term "cycloalkyl" means alkyl closed to form a ring. For example, C3-C8-cycloalkyl refers to a saturated, non-aromatic ring (cycloalkane) containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Non limiting examples include but are not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. This definition also 30 applies to cycloalkyl as a part of a composite substituent, for example cycloalkylalkyl etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. The term "alkoxy" used either alone or in compound words included C1to C24alkoxy, preferably C1to C15 alkoxy, more preferably C1 to C10 alkoxy, most preferably C1 to C6 alkoxy. Non limiting examplesof alkoxy include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, butoxy, 1-methylpropoxy, 2-35 methylpropoxy, 1,1-dimethylethoxy, pentoxy, 1-methylbutoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, 3-methylbutoxy, 2,2- dimethylpropoxy, 1-ethylpropoxy, hexoxy, 1,1-dimethylpropoxy, 1,2-dimethylpropoxy, 1- 5

[0006] methylpentoxy, 2-methylpentoxy, 3-methylpentoxy, 4-methylpentoxy, 1,1-dimethylbutoxy, 1,2- dimethylbutoxy, 1,3-dimethylbutoxy, 2,2-dimethylbutoxy, 2,3-dimethylbutoxy, 3,3-dimethylbutoxy, 1- ethylbutoxy, 2-ethylbutoxy, 1,1,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1,2,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropoxy and l-ethyl-2-methylpropoxy and the different isomers. This definition also applies to alkoxy as a part 5 of a composite substituent, for example haloalkoxy, alkynylalkoxy, etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. The term “C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl” includes alkyl chain which is connected to an alkoxy group. Non limiting examples includes methyl methoxy, ethyl methoxy, propyl ethoxy etc. The term "hydroxy" means –OH, "amino" means –NRR, wherein R can be H or any possible substituent 10 such as alkyl; "carbonyl" means -C(O)-, "carbonyloxy" means -OC(O)-, "sulfinyl" means SO, "sulfonyl" means S(O)2. The term "halogen", either alone or in compound words such as "haloalkyl", includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Further, when used in compound words such as "haloalkyl", said alkyl may be partially or fully substituted with halogen atoms, which may be the same or different. 15 Non limiting examples of "haloalkyl" include chloromethyl, bromomethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 1-chloroethyl, 1-bromoethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro- 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, and 1,1,1- 20 trifluoroprop-2-yl. This definition also applies to haloalkyl as a part of a composite substituent, for example haloalkylaminoalkyl etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. The term "haloalkoxy" means straight-chain or branched alkoxy groups where some or all of the hydrogen atoms in these groups may be replaced by halogen atoms as specified above. Non limiting examples of haloalkoxy include chloromethoxy, bromomethoxy, dichloromethoxy, trichloromethoxy, 25 fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chlorofluoromethoxy, dichlorofluoromethoxy, chlorodifluoromethoxy, 1-chloroethoxy, 1-bromoethoxy, 1-fluoroethoxy, 2-fluoroethoxy, 2,2- difluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2- dichloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy, pentafluoroethoxy and l,l,l-trifluoroprop-2-oxy. This definition also applies to haloalkoxy as a part of a composite substituent, for example haloalkoxyalkyl 30 etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. The term "aromatic" indicates that the Huckel rule is satisfied and the term "non-aromatic" indicates that the Huckel rule is not satisfied. The terms "carbocycle" or "carbocyclic" or "carbocyclyl" include "aromatic carbocyclic ring system" and "nonaromatic carbocylic ring system" or polycyclic or bicyclic (spiro, fused, bridged, nonfused) 6

[0007] ring compounds in which the ring may be aromatic or non-aromatic (where aromatic indicates that the Huckel rule is satisfied and non-aromatic indicates that the Huckel rule is not satisfied). Non limiting examples of non-aromatic carbocyclic ring system are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, norbornyl and the like. 5 Non limiting examples of aromatic carbocyclic ring system are phenyl, naphthyl and the like. The term "aryl" as used herein is a group that contains any carbon-based aromatic group including, but not limited to phenyl, naphthalene, biphenyl, anthracene, and the like. The preferred aryl is phenyl. The aryl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. In addition, the aryl group can be a single ring structure or comprise multiple ring structures that are either fused ring structures or attached via one or more 10 bridging groups such as a carbon-carbon bond. The term "aralkyl" refers to aryl hydrocarbon radicals including an alkyl portion as defined above. Non limiting examples include benzyl, phenylethyl, and 6-napthylhexyl. The term "hetero" in connection with rings refers to a ring in which at least one ring atom is not carbon and which can contain 1 to 4 heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, 15 oxygen and sulfur, provided that each ring contains no more than 4 nitrogens, no more than 2 oxygens and no more than 2 sulfurs. The term “heteroaryl”, "heterocycle" or "heterocyclic" includes "aromatic heterocycle" or "heteroaryl ring system" and "nonaromatic heterocycle ring system" or polycyclic or bicyclic (spiro, fused, bridged, non-fused) ring compounds in which ring may be aromatic or non-aromatic, wherein the heterocycle 20 ring contains at least one heteroatom selected from N, O, S(O)0-2, and or C ring member of the heterocycle may be replaced by C(=O), C(=S), C(=CR*R*) and C=NR*, * indicates integers. The term "non-aromatic heterocycle" or "non-aromatic heterocyclic" means three- to fifteen-membered, preferably three- to twelve-membered, saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle containing one to four heteroatoms from the group of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur: mono, bi- or tricyclic heterocycles 25 which contain, in addition to carbon ring members, one to three nitrogen atoms and / or one oxygen or sulphur atom or one or two oxygen and / or sulphur atoms; if the ring contains more than one oxygen atom, they are not directly adjacent; for example (but not limited to) oxiranyl, aziridinyl, oxetanyl, azetidinyl, thietanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, pyrrolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinyl, l,2,4-thiadiazolidinyl,30 l,2,4-triazolidin-1-yl, l,2,4-triazolidin-3-yl, l,2,3-triazolidinyl, l,3,4-oxadiazolidinyl, l,3,4- thiadiazolidinyl, 1,3,4-triazolidinyl, dihydrofuryl, dihydrothienyl, pyrrolinyl, isoxazolinyl, isothiazolinyl, dihydropyrazolyl, dihydrooxazolyl, dihydrothiazolyl,piperidinyl, pyrazynyl, morpholinyl, thiomorphlinyl, l,3-dioxan-5-yl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, hexahydropyridazinyl, hexahydropyrimidinyl, piperazinyl and cycloserines. This definition also applies 7

[0008] to heterocyclyl as a part of a composite substituent, for example heterocyclylalkyl etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. The term "heteroaryl" or "aromatic heterocyclic" means 5 or 6-membered, fully unsaturated monocyclic ring system containing one to four heteroatoms from the group of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur; if the 5 ring contains more than one oxygen atom, they are not directly adjacent; 5-membered heteroaryl containing one to four nitrogen atoms or one to three nitrogen atoms and one sulphur or oxygen atom: 5-membered heteroaryl groups which, in addition to carbon atoms, may contain one to four nitrogen atoms or one to three nitrogen atoms and one sulphur or oxygen atom as ring members, for example (but not limited thereto) furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, 10 imidazolyl, l,2,4-oxadiazolyl, l,2,4-thiadiazolyl, l,2,4-triazolyl, l,3,4-oxadiazolyl, l,3,4-thiadiazolyl, l,3,4-triazolyl, tetrazolyl; nitrogen-bonded 5-membered heteroaryl containing one to four nitrogen atoms, or benzofused nitrogen-bonded 5-membered heteroaryl containing one to three nitrogen atoms: 5-membered heteroaryl groups which, in addition to carbon atoms, may contain one to four nitrogen atoms or one to three nitrogen atoms as ring members and in which two adjacent carbon ring members 15 or one nitrogen and one adjacent carbon ring member may be bridged by a buta-l,3-diene-l,4-diyl group in which one or two carbon atoms may be replaced by nitrogen atoms, where these rings are attached to the skeleton via one of the nitrogen ring members, for example (but not limited to) 1-pyrrolyl, 1- pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-triazol-l- yl, 1-imidazolyl, 1,2,3-triazol-l-yl and 1,3,4-triazol-l-yl. 6-membered heteroaryl which contains one to four nitrogen atoms: 6-membered heteroaryl groups 20 which, in addition to carbon atoms, may contain, respectively, one to three and one to four nitrogen atoms as ring members, for example (but not limited thereto) pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, l,3,5-triazin-2-yl, l,2,4-triazin-3-yl and l,2,4,5-tetrazin-3-yl; benzofused 5-membered heteroaryl containing one to three nitrogen atoms or one nitrogen atom and one oxygen or sulphur atom: for example (but not limited to) indolyl, benzimidazolyl, indazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, 25 benzothiazolyl, and benzoxazolyl; benzofused 6-membered heteroaryl which contains one to three nitrogen atoms: for example (but not limited to) quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl and cinnolinyl. This definition also applies to heteroaryl as a part of a composite substituent, for example heteroarylalkyl etc., unless specifically defined elsewhere. 30 The term "leaving group (LG)" means, all substituents which have sufficient nucleophilicity under the prevailing reaction conditions or nucleophilically replaceable group; by way of example, halogens, triflate, mesylate, tosylate or SO2-Me may be mentioned as suitable leaving groups. As used herein the term “cyano” means -CN. The total number of carbon atoms in a substituent group is indicated by the "Ci-Cj" prefix where i and 35 j are numbers from 1 to 21. For example, C1-C3alkylsulfonyl designates methylsulfonyl to 8

[0009] propylsulfonyl; C2alkoxyalkyl designates CH3OCH2; C3 alkoxyalkyl designates, for example, CH3CH(OCH3), CH3OCH2CH2or CH3CH2OCH2; and C4 alkoxyalkyl designates the various isomers of an alkyl group substituted with an alkoxy group containing a total of four carbon atoms, examples including CH3CH2CH2OCH2and CH3CH2OCH2CH2. In the above recitations, when a compound of 5 Formula (I) is comprised of one or more heterocyclic rings, all substituents are attached to these rings through any available carbon or nitrogen by replacement of a hydrogen on said carbon or nitrogen. When a compound is substituted with a substituent bearing a subscript that indicates that the number of said substituents can exceed 1, said substituents (when they exceed 1) are independently selected from the group of defined substituents. Further, when the subscript m in (R)m indicates an integer ranging 10 from for example 0 to 4, then the number of substituents may be selected from the integers from 0 and 4 inclusive. When a group contains a substituent which can be hydrogen, then, when this substituent is taken as hydrogen, it is recognized that said group is being un-substituted. The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with 15 reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the description. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the 20 embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 25 Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken 30 as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application. The numerical values mentioned in the description and the foregoing claims though might form a critical part of the present invention of the present disclosure, any deviation from such numerical values shall 9

[0010] still fall within the scope of the present disclosure if that deviation follows the same scientific principle as that of the present invention disclosed in the present disclosure. The term "pest" for the purpose of the present disclosure includes but is not limited to fungi, stramenopiles (oomycetes), bacteria, nematodes, mites, ticks, insects and rodents. 5 The term "plant" is understood here to mean all plants and plant populations, such as desired and undesired wild plants or crop plants (including naturally occurring crop plants). Crop plants may be plants which can be obtained by conventional breeding and optimization methods or by biotechnological and genetic engineering methods or combinations of these methods, including the transgenic plants and including the plant cultivars which are protectable and non-protectable by plant 10 breeders’ rights. For the purpose of the present disclosure the term "plant" includes a living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a site, absorbing water and required substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis. 15 Examples of "plant" for the purpose of the present invention include but are not limited to agricultural crops such as wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats or rice; beet, e.g. sugar beet or fodder beet; fruits and fruit trees, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e.g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor 20 oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit and citrus trees, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; any horticultural plants, vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits or paprika; lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; cucurbitaceae; oleaginous plants; energy and raw material plants, such as 25 cereals, corn, soybean, other leguminous plants, rape, sugar cane or oil palm; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; cacao; bananas; peppers; vines (table grapes and grape juice grape vines); hop; turf; sweet leaf (also called Stevia); natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, such as flowers, shrubs, broad- leaved trees or evergreens, e.g. conifers; and on the plant propagation material, such as seeds, and the crop material of these plants. 30 Preferably, the plant for the purpose of the present invention include but is not limited to cereals, corn, rice, soybean and other leguminous plants, fruits and fruit trees, grapes, nuts and nut trees, citrus and citrus trees, any horticultural plants, cucurbitaceae, oleaginous plants, tobacco, coffee, tea, cacao, sugar beet, sugar cane, cotton, potato, tomato, onions, peppers and vegetables, ornamentals, any floricultural plants and other plants for use of human and animals. 10

[0011] The term "plant parts" is understood to mean all parts and organs of plants above and below the ground. For the purpose of the present disclosure the term plant parts include but is not limited to cuttings, leaves, twigs, tubers, flowers, seeds, branches, roots including taproots, lateral roots, root hairs, root apex, root cap, rhizomes, slips, shoots, fruits, fruit bodies, bark, stem, buds, auxillary buds, meristems, 5 nodes and internodes. The term "locus thereof" includes soil, surroundings of plant or plant parts and equipment or tools used before, during or after sowing / planting a plant or a plant part. Application of the compounds of the present disclosure or the compound of the present disclosure in a composition optionally comprising other compatible compounds to a plant or a plant material or locus 10 thereof include application by a technique known to a person skilled in the art which include but is not limited to spraying, coating, dipping, fumigating, impregnating, injection and dusting. The term "applied" means adhered to a plant or plant part either physically or chemically including impregnation. As used herein, the term "polymorph" refers to any crystalline or solid-state form of a compound of 15 formula (I) having the same molecular composition but differing in the arrangement or packing of molecules in the crystal lattice. The term includes all crystalline, amorphous, solvate (including hydrates), and non-solvate forms of the compound of Formula (I). Unless otherwise specified, all such polymorphic forms are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term "N-oxide" refers to a compound derived from a parent nitrogen-containing 20 compound of formula (I) in which one or more nitrogen atoms are oxidized to form the corresponding N-oxide(s). The invention includes all agriculturally acceptable N-oxide forms. As used herein, the term "metal complex" refers to a coordination compound formed by the interaction of one or more ligands (e.g., the compound of formula (I) or a derivative thereof) with one or more metal ions, typically through coordinate (dative covalent) bonds. Suitable metal ions include, but are 25 not limited to, transition metals (e.g., Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo), alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, lanthanides, or other agriculturally acceptable metals. Unless otherwise specified, all agriculturally acceptable metal complexes of the compound of formula (I) are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. In view of the above, the present invention provides 3-substituted arylamidine compound of formula 30 (I), 11

[0012] wherein, R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; 5 R2is selected from C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C8-cycloalkyl; or R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one to three additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atom; 10 R1ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and C1-C4-haloalkyl; R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; 15 R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; 20 or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form an oxo group; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C8-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and C7-C12-aralkyl; wherein said C1-C8-alkyl, 25 C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C7-C12-aralkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; 12

[0013] R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy; X represents halogen; or salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof. 5 In another embodiment of the present invention, the compound of formula (I) is represented as compound of formula (Ia) or (Ib), (Ia / Ib) wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen; R7is selected from the group 10 consisting of C1-C8-alkyl, phenyl, C7-C12-aralkyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring wherein said C1-C8-alkyl, phenyl, C7-C12-aralkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7bare as defined in the detailed description. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compound of formula (I) is represented as a 15 compounds of formula (Ic) or (Id), (Ic / Id) wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R7is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl, C7-C12-aralkyl, phenyl and 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring; wherein said C1-C8-alkyl, 20 phenyl, C7-C12-aralkyl, phenyl and 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7bare as defined in the detailed description. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compound of formula (I) is represented as a compound of formula (Ie), 13

[0014] wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen; A is oxygen (O), and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7aare as defined in the detailed description. 5 In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compound of formula (I) is represented as a compound of formula (If), wherein, R1ais selected from hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl or C1-C6-haloalkyl; A is oxygen (O); R7is C7-C12- 10 aralkyl, preferably benzyl; wherein said C7-C12-aralkyl or benzyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7bare as defined in the detailed description. The following list provides definitions, including preferred definitions, for the substituents R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7a, R7band A with reference to the compounds of formula (I), (Ia) to (If), (A), (A-1) 15 and (A-2) of the present invention. For any one of these substituents, any of the definitions given below may be combined with any definition of any other substituent given below or elsewhere in this document. In one embodiment of the present invention, R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl. 20 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C3-alkyl. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R2is selected from C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C8-cycloalkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R2is selected from C1-C4-alkyl or C3-C6-cycloalkyl. 25 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R2is selected from C1-C4-alkyl or C3-C5-cycloalkyl. 14

[0015] In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R2is selected from C1-C3-alkyl or C3-C5- cycloalkyl; wherein said C1-C3-alkyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl and said C3- C5-cycloalkyl is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they 5 are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one to three additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms. In another embodiment of the present invention, R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a four- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic 10 ring optionally contains one to three additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected, form a four- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one to two additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen or 15 sulfur. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a five- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one additional heteroatom selected from oxygen or sulfur. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to 20 which they are connected form a five- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one additional heteroatom which is oxygen. In one embodiment of the present invention, R1ais selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-haloalkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R1ais selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C4- 25 alkyl and C1-C4-haloalkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1ais selected from the group consisting of H, C1- C3-alkyl and C1-C3-haloalkyl. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1ais selected from hydrogen, methyl and trifluoromethyl. 30 In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1ais hydrogen. In one embodiment of the present invention, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl. 15

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1-C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, C1- C3-alkyl and C3-C6-cycloalkyl. 5 In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R3is C1-C3-alkyl. In another more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R3is selected from methyl, ethyl, n- propyl or isopropyl. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, R3is methyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, 10 cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, cyano, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, and C6-cycloalkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkyl. 15 In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo and C1-C3-alkyl. In another more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, R4is selected from the group consisting of 20 hydrogen, fluoro, chloro and methyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R5is selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R5is selected from hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R5is selected from hydrogen or C1-C3-alkyl. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R5is hydrogen. 25 In one embodiment of the present invention, R6is selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R6is selected from hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R6is selected from hydrogen or C1-C3-alkyl. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R6is hydrogen. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention R5and R6together with the atom to which they are 30 connected form an oxo group. 16

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. 5 In another embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to five-membered saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which they are 10 connected form a three- to four-membered saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms selected independently from oxygen or nitrogen or sulfur. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a four-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring 15 contains one or two heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen or nitrogen or sulfur. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a four-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring contains one heteroatom selected from oxygen or sulfur. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, R5and R6together with the atom to which 20 they are connected form a four-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring contains one oxygen atom. In one embodiment of the present invention, A is selected from oxygen or sulfur. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A is oxygen. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, A is sulfur. 25 In one embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and C7-C12-aralkyl; wherein said C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl, phenyl and 5 to 6- membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b. 30 In another embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl and C7-C10-aralkyl; wherein said C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl, phenyl and 5 to 6- 17

[0018] membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6- alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl rings, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C3-alkoxy-C1-C3- 5 alkyl and C7-C10-aralkyl; wherein said C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C7-C10-aralkyl, phenyl and 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6- alkyl, phenyl, 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C3-alkoxy-C1-C3-alkyl and C7-C10-aralkyl; 10 wherein said C7-C10-aralkyl, phenyl and 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R7b. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1- C4-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5 or 6-membered 15 heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R7b. In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C3-alkoxy-C1-C3- alkyl and benzyl; wherein said, phenyl, benzyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl are 20 unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R7b. In one embodiment of the present invention, C7-C12-aralkyl is benzyl or phenylethyl; preferably benzyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy. 25 In another embodiment of the present invention, R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-haloalkoxy. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7ais phenyl; wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X or C1-C4-alkyl. 30 In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7ais phenyl; wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one with one to three substituents independently selected from X or C1-C3-alkyl. 18

[0019] In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7ais phenyl; wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one to two substituents independently selected from fluoro, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl. In one embodiment of the present invention, R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1- 5 C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy. In another embodiment of the present invention, R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl and C1-C4-haloalkoxy. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl and C1-C3-haloalkoxy. 10 In one embodiment of the present invention, a 6-membered heteroaryl ring in R7is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and pyridazinyl; preferably pyridinyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, when R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form an oxo group, then R1ais selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-haloalkyl, preferably R1ais selected from hydrogen or C1-C3-haloalkyl, more preferably R1ais selected from hydrogen or CF3. 15 The present invention, accordingly, makes available a compound of formula (I) having R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, A, R1a, R7aand R7bas defined above in all combinations / each permutation. In one embodiment, the present invention provides 3-substituted arylamidine compound of formula (I), 20 wherein, R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl; R2is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4-alkyl and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; or R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered 25 saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one to two additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, or sulfur atom; R1ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C3-alkyl and C1-C3-haloalkyl; R3is selected from X, C1-C3-alkyl or C1-C3-alkoxy; 19

[0020] R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1-C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen; or 5 R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a four- to five-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to two heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form an oxo group; 10 A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6- cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl and 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; 15 R7ais phenyl; wherein said phenyl ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X or C1-C4-alkyl; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3- haloalkyl and C1-C3-haloalkoxy; X represents halogen; 20 or salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof. Any of the compounds according to the invention can exist in one or more optical, geometric or chiral isomer forms depending on the number of asymmetric centres in the compound. The invention thus relates equally to all the optical isomers and to their racemic or scalemic mixtures (the term "scalemic" denotes a mixture of enantiomers in different proportions), and to the mixtures of all the possible 25 stereoisomers, in all proportions. The diastereomers and / or the optical isomers can be separated according to the methods which are known per se by a person ordinary skilled in the art. Any of the compounds according to the invention can also exist in one or more geometric isomer forms, for instance, depending on the number of double bonds in the compound. The invention thus relates equally to all geometric isomers and to all possible mixtures, in all proportions. The geometric isomers 30 can be separated according to general methods, which are known per se by a person ordinary skilled in the art. Any of the compounds according to the invention, can also exist in one or more amorphic or isomorphic 20

[0021] or polymorphic forms, depending on their preparation, purification storage conditions, and various other influencing factors. The invention thus relates to all the possible amorphic, isomorphic and polymorphic forms, in all proportions. The amorphic, isomorphic and polymorphic forms can be prepared and / or separated and / or purified according to general methods, which are known per se by a person ordinary 5 skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a compound of formula (A) or salts or stereoisomers thereof,; wherein, R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, R5and R6are as defined above. 10 In another embodiment, the present invention provides a compound of formula (A-1); wherein, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1- C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; 15 R4is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated 20 heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; 21

[0022] and R7is selected from the group consisting of C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C3-C8-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; 5 R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy. 10 In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a compound of formula (A-2) or salts or stereoisomers thereof, wherein, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1- 15 C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R4is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; or 20 R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; and R7is selected from the group consisting of C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl 25 ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C3-C8-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; 22

[0023] R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl and 5 C1-C6-haloalkoxy. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the preparation of the compound of formula (I). A. Synthesis of amidine derivatives of formula (Ia) and (Ib) 10 The arylamidine compounds of the formula (Ia) and (Ib) can be obtained by a process described in the following schemes 1-3; 15 wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The compounds of the formula (Ia) and (Ib) can be prepared by treating the corresponding aniline derivatives of formula (II) with N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine in 1,4-dioxane using a 20 catalytic amount of anhydrous p-toluenesulphonic acid, following an analogous procedure mentioned in US20110130282 as shown in scheme 1; Scheme: 2 23

[0024] wherein, R5and R6are hydrogen and R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The aniline derivatives of formula (II) can be prepared by reduction of a nitro intermediate of formula (III) using, for instance, iron and aqueous ammonium chloride or stannous (II) chloride in hydrochloric acid, in the presence of a suitable solvent and at a temperature following an analogous procedure as 5 mentioned in the US2006194801A1 and shown in scheme 2; Scheme: 3 wherein, X is halogen, R5and R6are hydrogen and R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The nitro derivatives of formula (III) is an essential intermediate and can be prepared by treating the 10 correspoding benzyl halide derivatives of formula (IV) with substituted or unsubstituted phenols or thiophenols or benzyl alcohols (R7-AH) in the presence of a suitable base and a solvent, and under temperature conditions following an analogous procedure mentioned in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2017), 134, 230-241 as shown in scheme 3. Alternatively, the arylamidine compounds of the formula (Ia) and (Ib) can also be obtained by a process 15 described in the following schemes 4-7; Scheme: 4 wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. 20 The arylamidine compounds of formula (Ia) and (Ib) can be prepared by treating the corresponding alcohol derivatives of formula (V) with the substituted or unsubstituted phenols or thiophenols (R7-AH) under Mitsonobu reaction conditions in the presence of DIAD or DEAD or DTAD and triphenyl phosphine in a suitable solvent and at room temperature, following an analogous procedure as disclosed in WO2015028960 and in scheme 4. 25 Scheme: 5 24

[0025] wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen and R1, R2, R3and R4are as defined herein above. The compounds of formula (V) can be prepared by treating the corresponding aniline derivatives of formula (VI) with N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine in 1,4-dioxane using a catalytic amount 5 of anhydrous p-toluenesulphonic acid, following an analogous procedure as mentioned in US20110130282 and as shown in scheme 5. Scheme: 6 wherein, R5and R6are hydrogen and R3and R4are as defined herein above. 10 The aniline derivatives of formula (VI) can be prepared by a reduction of the nitro intermediate of formula (VII) using, for instance, iron and aqueous ammonium chloride or stannous (II) chloride in hydrochloric acid, in the presence of a suitable solvent and at a temperature following an analogous procedure as mentioned in the US2006194801 and as shown in scheme 6. Scheme: 7 15 wherein, R5and R6are hydrogen and R3and R4are as defined herein above. Compounds of formula (VII) can be prepared by reduction of the corresponding acid derivatives of formula (VIII) using reducing agents known in the literature, such as sodium borohydride in the presence of Lewis acid as boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in the presence of a suitable solvent and at 20 a temperature following an analogous procedure mentioned in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry (2011), 9(1), 185-197 and as in scheme 7. B. Synthesis of amidine derivatives of formula (Ie) The arylamidine compounds of formula (Ie) can be obtained by a process described in the following schemes 8-10; 25 25

[0026] (Ie) Scheme: 8 wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6are hydrogen; A is oxygen; and R1, R2, R3, R45 and R7aare as defined herein above. The arylamidine compounds of formula (Ie) can be prepared by treating the corresponding aniline derivatives of formula (II-a) with N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine in 1,4-dioxane using a catalytic amount of anhydrous p-toluenesulphonic acid, following an analogous procedure mentioned in US20110130282, as shown in scheme 8; 10 Scheme: 9 wherein, R5and R6are hydrogen; A is oxygen; and R3, R4and R7aare as defined herein above. The aniline derivatives of formula (II-a) can be prepared by a reduction of the nitro intermediate of formula (III-a) using, for instance, iron and aqueous ammonium chloride or stannous (II) chloride in 15 hydrochloric acid in a suitable solvent and temperature, following an analogous procedure as mentioned in the US2006194801A1 and as shown in scheme 9. Scheme: 10 wherein, R5and R6are hydrogen; A is oxygen; and R3, R4and R7aare as defined herein above. 20 The nitro derivatives of formula (III-a) is an essential intermediate and can be prepared by treating the corresponding benzyl halide derivatives of formula (IV-a) with substituted or unsubstituted benzoic acids (R7-AH) using a suitable base, in the presence of a solvent and at temperature conditions following an analogous procedure as mentioned in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2017), 134, 230-241. 26

[0027] C. Synthesis of substituted oxetanoyl arylamidines (Ic and Id) The arylamidine compounds of the formula (Ic) or (Id) can be obtained by a process described in the 5 following schemes 11-13. Scheme: 11 wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The compounds of formula (Ic) can be prepared by alkylation of hydroxy-oxetanoyl derivatives of 10 formula (X) with compound of formula (IX), wherein LG are leaving groups, for instance, halide such as chloro, bromo, iodo, aryl or alkyl sulphonates such as mesylate, tosylate, triflate or nosylate, in the presence of a suitable base such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, cesium carbonate, sodium anhydride and a suitable solvent such as anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane following an analogous procedure as mentioned in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 15 2016, 55, 1868-1871. Scheme: 11a wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. 20 The arylamidine compounds of formula (Ic) or (Id) can be prepared by treating the corresponding alcohol derivatives of formula (X) with compounds of formula (XI) under Mitsunobu reaction conditions in the presence of DIAD or DEAD or DTAD and triphenyl phosphine, in the presence of a suitable solvent at 25 °C, following an analogous procedure as disclosed in WO2015028960. Scheme: 12 27

[0028] wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; and R1, R2, R3and R4are as defined herein above. The compounds of formula (X) are the key intermediate (Scheme 12), and can be prepared by treating halo intermediates of formula (XIII) with Li / Mg alkyl reagents, followed by a reaction with a 4- 5 membered heterocycle (XII), in a suitable solvent and at a suitable temperature following an analogous procedure as mentioned in the Org. Lett.2020, 22, 8219-8223 and shown in scheme 12. Scheme: 13 wherein, R1ais selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl; and R1, R2, R3and R4are as defined herein above. 10 The compounds of formula (XIII) can be prepared by treating the corresponding commercially available 5-bromo aniline derivatives of formula (XIV) with an excess of trimethyl orthoformate using a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulphonic acid. The resulting intermediates are heated with a respective secondary amine (HNR1R2) preferably in 1,4-dioxane (Scheme 13) following an analogous procedure as mentioned in WO2020148617. 15 D. Synthesis of substituted ester arylamidines (If): The arylamidine compounds of the formula (If) can be obtained by a process described in the following schemes 14-16; 20 Scheme-14 28

[0029] wherein, R1ais selected from H, C1-C6-alkyl or C1-C6-haloalkyl; A is oxygen(O); and R1, R2, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The ester derivatives of formula (If) can be obtained by treating the corresponding aniline derivatives of formula (XV) with N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine, preferably in 1,4-dioxane, using a 5 catalytic amount of anhydrous p-toluenesulphonic acid by following an analogous procedure mentioned in US20110130282 as shown in the scheme 14. Scheme-15 wherein, A is oxygen(O); and R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. 10 The aniline derivatives of formula (XV) can be obtained by reduction of the corresponding nitro intermediates of formula (XVI) applying various reduction methods mentioned in the literature, for example using iron powder in the presence of aqueous ammonium chloride or conducting a hydrogenation in the presence of Pd / C, optionally under pressure, following an analogous procedure mentioned in US2006194801A1 as shown in scheme 15. 15 Scheme-16 wherein, R3, R4and R7are as defined herein above. The nitro derivatives of formula (XVI) can be obtained by alkylation of the nitro acid intermediate of formula (XVII) with the corresponding halide derivatives in the presence of a suitable base like 20 potassium carbonate, following an analogous procedure mentioned in WO199902660, as shown in the scheme 16. In one embodiment, the present invention provides use of compound of formula (I) and composition thereof, for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops. 25 In another embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) and compositions thereof for controlling rust diseases of agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops. 29

[0030] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the term phytopathogenic microorganisms refers to phytopathogenic fungi. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) and compositions thereof, to control and / or prevent diseases of agricultural crops such as cereals, corn, 5 soybean and other leguminous plants; fruits and fruit trees; nuts and nut trees; citrus and citrus trees; any horticultural plants; oleaginous plants; coffee, tea, and other vegetables, and ornamentals. In a more preferred embodiment, the compounds of formula (I) can be used to treat several fungal pathogens and diseases, caused by such pathogens. Non-limiting examples of pathogens of fungal diseases which can be treated in accordance with the 10 invention include: diseases caused by powdery mildew pathogens, for example Blumeria species, for example Blumeria graminis; Podosphaera species, for example Podosphaera leucotricha; Sphaerotheca species, for example Sphaerotheca fuliginea; Uncinula species, for example Uncinula necator; Erysiphe species, for example Erysiphe cichoracearu; 15 diseases caused by rust disease pathogens, for example Gymnosporangium species, for example Gymnosporangium sabinae; Hemileia species, for example Hemileia vastatrix; Phakopsora species, for example Phakopsora pachyrhizi or Phakopsora meibomiae; Puccinia species, for example Puccinia recondita, Puccinia graminis or Puccinia striiformis, and and Puccinia melanocephala; Uromyces species, for example Uromyces appendiculatus; 20 in particular, Cronartium ribicola (White pine blister rust); Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae (Cedar-apple rust); Hemileia vastatrix (Coffee rust); Phakopsora meibomiae and P. pachyrhizi (Soybean rust); Puccinia coronata (Crown Rust of Oats and Ryegrass); Puccinia graminis (Stem rust of wheat and Kentucky bluegrass, or black rust of cereals); Puccinia hemerocallidis (Daylily rust); Puccinia persistens subsp. triticina (wheat rust or 'brown or red rust'); Puccinia sorghi (rust in corn); 25 Puccinia striiformis ('Yellow rust' in cereals); Puccinia melanocephala; Uromyces appendiculatus (rust of beans); Uromyces phaseoli (Bean rust); Puccinia melanocephala ('Brown rust' in sugarcane); Puccinia kuehnii ('Orange rust' in sugarcane); diseases caused by pathogens from the group of the Oomycetes, for example Albugo species, for example Albugo candida; Bremia species, for example Bremia lactucae; Peronospora species, for 30 example Peronospora pisi or P. brassicae; Phytophthora species, for example Phytophthora infestans; Plasmopara species, for example Plasmopara viticola; Pseudoperonospora species, for example Pseudoperonospora humuli or Pseudoperonospora cubensis; Pythium species, for example Pythium ultimum; leaf blotch diseases and leaf wilt diseases caused, for example, by Alternaria species, for example 35 Alternaria solani; Cercospora species, for example Cercospora beticola; Cladiosporium species, for 30

[0031] example Cladiosporium cucumerinum; Cochliobolus species, for example Cochliobolus sativus (conidial form: Drechslera, syn: Helminthosporium) or Cochliobolus miyabeanus; Colletotrichum species, for example Colletotrichum lindemuthanium, Colletotrichum capsici; Cycloconium species, for example Cycloconium oleaginum; Diaporthe species, for example Diaporthe citri; Elsinoe species, for 5 example Elsinoe fawcettii; Gloeosporium species, for example Gloeosporium laeticolor; Glomerella species, for example Glomerella cingulata; Guignardia species, for example Guignardia bidwelli; Leptosphaeria species, for example Leptosphaeria maculans; Magnaporthe species, for example Magnaporthe grisea; Microdochium species, for example Microdochium nivale; Mycosphaerella species, for example Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycosphaerella arachidicola or Mycosphaerella 10 fijiensis; Phaeosphaeria species, for example Phaeosphaeria nodorum; Pyrenophora species, for example Pyrenophora teres or Pyrenophora tritici repentis; Ramularia species, for example Ramularia collo-cygni or Ramularia areola; Rhynchosporium species, for example Rhynchosporium secalis; Septoria species, for example Septoria apii, Septoria tritici or Septoria lycopersici; Stagonospora species, for example Stagonospora nodorum; Typhula species, for example Typhula incarnata; 15 Venturia species, for example Venturia inaequalis; root and stem diseases caused, for example, by Corticium species, for example Corticium graminearum; Fusarium species, for example Fusarium oxysporum; Gaeumannomyces species, for example Gaeumannomyces graminis; Plasmodiophora species, for example Plasmodiophora brassicae; Rhizoctonia species, for example Rhizoctonia solani; Sarocladium species, for example Sarocladium 20 oryzae; Sclerotium species, for example Sclerotium oryzae; Tapesia species, for example Tapesia acuformis; Thielaviopsis species, for example Thielaviopsis basicola; Ganoderma species, for example Ganoderma lucidum; ear and panicle diseases (including corn cobs) caused, for example, by Alternaria species, for example Alternaria spp.; Aspergillus species, for example Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium species, for 25 example Cladosporium cladosporioides; Claviceps species, for example Claviceps purpurea; Fusarium species, for example Fusarium culmorum; Gibberella species, for example Gibberella zeae; Monographella species, for example Monographella nivalis; Stagnospora species, for example Stagnospora nodorum; diseases caused by smut fungi, for example Sphacelotheca species, for example Sphacelotheca reiliana; 30 Tilletia species, for example Tilletia caries or Tilletia controversa; Urocystis species, for example Urocystis occulta; Ustilago species, for example Ustilago nuda; fruit rot caused, for example, by Aspergillus species, for example Aspergillus flavus; Botrytis species, for example Botrytis cinerea; Penicillium species, for example Penicillium expansum or Penicillium purpurogenum; Rhizopus species, for example Rhizopus stolonifer; Sclerotinia species, for example 35 Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Verticilium species, for example Verticilium alboatrum; 31

[0032] seed- and soil-borne rot and wilt diseases, and also diseases of seedlings, caused, for example, by Alternaria species, for example Alternaria brassicicola; Aphanomyces species, for example Aphanomyces euteiches; Ascochyta species, for example Ascochyta lentis; Aspergillus species, for example Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium species, for example Cladosporium herbarum; Cochliobolus 5 species, for example Cochliobolus sativus (conidial form: Drechslera, Bipolaris Syn: Helminthosporium); Colletotrichum species, for example Colletotrichum coccodes; Fusarium species, for example Fusarium culmorum; Gibberella species, for example Gibberella zeae; Macrophomina species, for example Macrophomina phaseolina; Microdochium species, for example Microdochium nivale; Monographella species, for example Monographella nivalis; Penicillium species, for example 10 Penicillium expansum; Phoma species, for example Phoma lingam; Phomopsis species, for example Phomopsis sojae; Phytophthora species, for example Phytophthora cactorum; Pyrenophora species, for example Pyrenophora graminea; Pyricularia species, for example Pyricularia oryzae; Pythium species, for example Pythium ultimum; Rhizoctonia species, for example Rhizoctonia solani; Rhizopus species, for example Rhizopus oryzae; Sclerotium species, for example Sclerotium rolfsii; Septoria 15 species, for example Septoria nodorum; Typhula species, for example Typhula incarnata; Verticillium species, for example Verticillium dahliae; cancers, galls and witches’ broom caused, for example, by Nectria species, for example Nectria galligena; wilt diseases caused, for example, by Monilinia species, for example Monilinia laxa; 20 deformations of leaves, flowers and fruits caused, for example, by Exobasidium species, for example Exobasidium vexans; Taphrina species, for example Taphrina deformans; degenerative diseases in woody plants, caused, for example, by Esca species, for example Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum or Fomitiporia mediterranea; Ganoderma species, for example Ganoderma boninense; 25 diseases of flowers and seeds caused, for example, by Botrytis species, for example Botrytis cinerea; diseases of plant tubers caused, for example, by Rhizoctonia species, for example Rhizoctonia solani; Helminthosporium species, for example Helminthosporium solani; diseases caused by bacterial pathogens, for example Xanthomonas species, for example Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae; Pseudomonas species, for example Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans; 30 Erwinia species, for example Erwinia amylovora; Ralstonia species, for example Ralstonia solanacearum. Fungal diseases on roots and the stem base caused, for example, by black root rot (Calonectria crotalariae), charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina), fusarium blight or wilt, root rot, and pod and collar rot (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium orthoceras, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium equiseti), 32

[0033] mycoleptodiscus root rot (Mycoleptodiscus terrestris), neocosmospora (Neocosmospora vasinfecta), pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum), stem canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora), phytophthora rot (Phytophthora megasperma), brown stem rot (Phialophora gregata), pythium rot (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium 5 ultimum), rhizoctonia root rot, stem decay, and damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), sclerotinia stem decay (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), sclerotinia southern blight (Sclerotinia rolfsii), thielaviopsis root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola). Plants which can be treated in accordance with the invention include the following: Rosaceae sp (for example pome fruits such as apples, pears, apricots, cherries, almonds and peaches), Ribesioidae sp., 10 Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp., Musaceae sp. (for example banana trees and plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (for example coffee), Theaceae sp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (for example lemons, oranges and grapefruit); Vitaceae sp. (for example grapes); Solanaceae sp. (for example tomatoes, peppers), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (for example lettuce), Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae 15 sp., Cucurbitaceae sp. (for example cucumber), Alliaceae sp. (for example leek, onion), Papilionaceae sp. (for example peas); major crop plants, such as Poaceae / Gramineae sp. (for example maize, turf, cereals such as wheat, rye, rice, barley, oats, millet and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (for example sunflower), Brassicaceae sp. (for example white cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes, and oilseed rape, mustard, horseradish and cress), Fabacae sp. 20 (for example bean, peanuts), Papilionaceae sp. (for example soya bean), Solanaceae sp. (for example potatoes), Chenopodiaceae sp. (for example sugar beet, fodder beet, swiss chard, beetroot); Malvaceae (for example cotton); useful plants and ornamental plants for gardens and wooded areas; and genetically modified varieties of each of these plants. More preference is given to controlling the following diseases of soya beans: Fungal diseases on leaves, 25 stems, pods and seeds caused, for example, by Altemaria leaf spot (Altemaria spec. atrans tenuissima), Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporoides dematium var. truncatum), brown spot (Septoria glycines ), cercospora leaf spot and blight ( Cercospora kikuchii), choanephora leaf blight (Choanephora infundibulifera trispora (Syn.)), dactuliophora leaf spot (Dactuliophora glycines), downy mildew (Peronospora manshurica), drechslera blight (Drechslera glycini), frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora 30 sojina), leptosphaerulina leaf spot (Leptosphaerulina trifolii), phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllosticta sojaecola), pod and stem blight (Phomopsis sojae), powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa), pyrenochaeta leaf spot (Pyrenochaeta glycines), rhizoctonia aerial, foliage, and web blight (Rhizoctonia solani), rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae), scab (Sphaceloma glycines), stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium botryosum), target spot (Corynespora cassiicola). 35 The present invention also relates to the use of compounds of formula I, the combinations or the compositions thereof for controlling or preventing the following plant diseases: Puccinia spp. (rusts) 33

[0034] on various plants, for example, but not limited to P. triticina (brown or leaf rust), P. striiformis (stripe or yellow rust), Puccinia melanocephala (sugarcane rust), P. hordei (dwarf rust), P. graminis (stem or black rust) or P. recondita (brown or leaf rust) on cereals, such as e. g. wheat, barley or rye and Phakopsoraceae spp. on various plants, in particular Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae 5 (soybean rust) on soybeans, Hemileia vastatrix (Coffee rust), Uromyces appendiculatus, Uromyces fabae and Uromyces phaseoli (rust of beans). In one embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) and compositions thereof, for controlling and / or preventing plant diseases caused by pathogens such as: Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, Corynespora cassiicola, 10 Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum capsici, Septoria lycopersici, Fusarium culmorum, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Sphaerotheca fuliginea, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Puccinia triticina, Septoria tritici, Phytopthora infestans, Plasmopara viticola or Uncinula necator. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) and compositions thereof, for controlling and / or preventing plant diseases as: Puccinia spp. (rusts) on 15 various plants, selected from, but not limited to P. triticina (brown or leaf rust), P. striiformis (stripe or yellow rust), P. hordei (dwarf rust), P. graminis (stem or black rust) or P. recondita (brown or leaf rust) on cereals, selected from wheat, barley or rye and Phakopsoraceae spp. on various plants, in particular Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae (soybean rust) on soybeans. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides the use of compounds of formula (I) 20 and compositions thereof, for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic fungi such as Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae, of agricultural crops and or horticultural crops. The present invention provides a method for controlling unwanted microorganisms, wherein compounds of formula (I) are applied to the microorganisms and / or in their habitat. The present invention further provides a method for protecting seed against unwanted microorganisms 25 by using seed treated with at least one compound of formula (I). The compounds of formula (I) can possess potent microbicidal activity and can be used for the control of unwanted microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, in crop protection and in the protection of such materials. The compounds of formula (I) possess fungicidal properties and can be used in crop protection, for 30 example for control of Plasmodiophoromycetes, Oomycetes, Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes. The compounds of formula (I) can be used as bactericides in crop protection, for example, for the control of Pseudomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Corynebacteriaceae and Streptomycetaceae. 34

[0035] The compounds of formula (I) can be used for curative or protective control of phytopathogenic fungi. The present invention therefore also relates to curative and protective methods for controlling phytopathogenic fungi by the use of the active ingredients or compositions, which are applied to the seed, the plant or plant parts, the fruit or the soil in which the plants grow. 5 In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic microorganisms, comprising a compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides or salts thereof, and one or more inert carriers. The present invention provides a composition wherein the concentration of the compound of formula (I) ranges from 10 to 90% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition, preferably 10 from 30 to 70% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic fungi, comprising a compound of formula (I), salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof and one or more inert carriers, wherein the concentration of compound of formula (I) ranges from 10 to 90% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. 15 The composition may additionally comprise one or more active compatible compounds selected from fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, nutrients or fertilizers. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising the compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides or salts thereof and one or more active 20 compatible compounds selected from fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, nutrients or fertilizers. In another embodiment, compounds of formula (I) of the present invention are also read as including agriculturally acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary salts include, but are not limited to: hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, acetate, trifluoroacetate, and trifluoromethane sulfonate. 25 According to the invention, as defined above, a carrier is a natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic substance with which the active ingredients are mixed or combined for better applicability, in particular for application to plants or plant parts or seed. The carrier which may be solid or liquid is generally inert and should be suitable for use in agriculture. Useful solid carriers include for example ammonium salts and natural rock flours, such as kaolins, clays, 30 talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and synthetic rock flours, such as finely divided silica, alumina and silicates; useful solid carriers for granules include: for example, crushed and fractionated natural rocks such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite and dolomite, and also synthetic granules of inorganic and organic flours, and granules of organic material such as paper, 35

[0036] sawdust, coconut shells, maize cobs and tobacco stalks; useful emulsifiers and / or foam-formers include: for example nonionic and anionic emulsifiers, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, for example alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates and also protein hydrolysates; suitable dispersants are nonionic and / or ionic 5 substances, for example from the classes of the alcohol-POE and / or -POP ethers, acid and / or POP POE esters, alkylaryl and / or POP POE ethers, fat and / or POP POE adducts, POE- and / or POP-polyol derivatives, POE- and / or POP-sorbitan or -sugar adducts, alkyl or aryl sulphates, alkyl- or arylsulphonates and alkyl or aryl phosphates or the corresponding PO-ether adducts. Additionally, suitable are oligo- or polymers, for example those derived from vinylic monomers, from acrylic acid, 10 from EO and / or PO alone or in combination with, for example, (poly) alcohols or (poly) amines. It is also possible to use lignin and its sulphonic acid derivatives, unmodified and modified celluloses, aromatic and / or aliphatic sulphonic acids and also their adducts with formaldehyde. The active ingredients can be applied as such or converted to customary formulations or in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such as ready-to-use solutions, emulsions, 15 water- or oil-based suspensions, powders, wettable powders, pastes, soluble powders, soluble tablets, dusts, soluble granules, granules for broadcasting, suspoemulsion concentrates, natural products impregnated with active ingredient, synthetic substances impregnated with active ingredient, fertilizers and also microencapsulations in polymeric substances. Application is accomplished in a customary manner, for example by watering, spraying, atomizing, nursery boxes, broadcasting, dusting, foaming, 20 spreading-on and the like. It is also possible to deploy the active ingredients by the ultra-low volume method or to inject the active ingredient preparation or the active ingredient itself into the soil. It is also possible to treat the seed of the plants. The active ingredients can be further converted to the nanoformulation with intent to further improve water solubility, thermal stability, bioavailability, sensory attributes and physiological performance. 25 Furthermore, the choice of the type of formulation will depend on the specific use. The formulations mentioned can be prepared in a manner known per se, for example by mixing the active ingredients with at least one customary extender, solvent or diluent, emulsifier, dispersant and / or binder or fixing agent, wetting agent, a water repellent, if appropriate siccatives and UV stabilizers and if appropriate dyes and pigments, antifoams, preservatives, secondary thickeners, stickers, gibberellins 30 and also other processing auxiliaries. The present invention includes not only formulations which are already ready for use and can be deployed with a suitable apparatus to the plant or the seed, but also commercial concentrates which have to be diluted with water prior to use. The auxiliaries used may be those substances which are suitable for imparting particular properties to 35 the composition itself and / or to preparations derived therefrom (for example spray liquors, seed 36

[0037] dressings), such as certain technical properties and / or also particular biological properties. Typical auxiliaries include extenders, solvents and carriers. Suitable extenders are, for example, water, polar and nonpolar organic chemical liquids, for example from the classes of the aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons (such as paraffins, alkylbenzenes, 5 alkylnaphthalenes, chlorobenzenes), the alcohols and polyols (which may optionally also be substituted, etherified and / or esterified), the ketones (such as acetone, cyclohexanone), esters (including fats and oils) and (poly) ethers, the unsubstituted and substituted amines, amides, lactams (such as N- alkylpyrrolidones) and lactones, the sulphones and sulphoxides (such as dimethyl sulphoxide). Liquefied gaseous extenders or carriers are understood to mean liquids which are gaseous at standard 10 temperature and under standard pressure, for example aerosol propellants such as halohydrocarbons, or else butane, propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. In the formulations it is possible to use tackifiers such as carboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in the form of powders, granules or latices, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, or else natural phospholipids such as cephalins and lecithins and synthetic 15 phospholipids. Further additives may be mineral, vegetable oils and methylated seed oils. If the extender used is water, it is also possible to use, for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Useful liquid solvents are essentially: aromatics such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics or chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example petroleum 20 fractions, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide, or else water. Composition comprising compounds of the formula (I) may additionally comprise further components, for example surfactants. Suitable surfactants are emulsifiers and / or foam formers, dispersants or wetting 25 agents having ionic or nonionic properties, or mixtures of these surfactants. Examples thereof are salts of polyacrylic acid, salts of lignosulphonic acid, salts of phenolsulphonic acid or naphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols (preferably alkylphenols or arylphenols), salts of sulphosuccinic esters, taurine derivatives (preferably alkyl taurates), phosphoric esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols, fatty 30 esters of polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containing sulphates, sulphonates and phosphates, for example alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates, protein hydrolysates, lignosulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose. The presence of a surfactant is necessary if one of the active ingredients and / or one of the inert carriers is insoluble in water and when the application is affected in water. The proportion of surfactants is between 5 and 40 per cent by weight 35 of the inventive composition. 37

[0038] The invention also relates to agrochemical compositions comprising an auxiliary and at least one fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according to the invention. The term "effective amount" denotes an amount of the composition or of the compounds of formula (I), which is sufficient for controlling harmful fungi on cultivated plants or in the protection of materials and which 5 does not result in a substantial damage to the treated plants. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as the fungal species to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant or material, the climatic conditions and the specific compound of formula (I) used. The compounds of formula (I), their oxides and salts can be converted into customary types of agrochemical compositions, e. g. solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, 10 pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for composition types are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g. EC), emulsions (e.g. EW, EO, ES, ME), cap sules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e. g. BR, TB, DT), granules (e. g. WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), insecticidal articles (e.g. LN), as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (e. g. GF). These and further 15 composition types are defined in the "Catalogue of pesticide formulation types and international coding system", Technical Monograph No.2, 6thEd. May 2008, Croplife International. The compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grube mann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001. Suitable auxiliaries are solvents, liquid carriers, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, dispersants, 20 emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants, compatibilizers, bactericides, anti- freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants, tackifiers and binders. Suitable solvents and liquid carriers are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e. g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, 25 cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e. g. cyclohexanone; esters, e. g. lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e. g. N-methyl pyrrolidone, fatty acid dimethyl amides; and mixtures thereof. 30 Suitable solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e. g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e. g. ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e. g. cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, nutshell meal, and mixtures thereof. 38

[0039] Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emulsifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon's, Vol.1: Emulsifiers and Detergents, McCutcheon's 5 Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.). The agrochemical compositions generally comprise between 0.01 and 95%, preferably between 0.1 and 90%, and in particular between 0.5 and 75%, by weight of active substance. The active substances are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably from 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum). 10 For the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds, solutions for seed treatment (LS), Suspoemulsions (SE), flowable concentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), and gels (GF) are usually employed. The com positions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active substance concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, 15 preferably from 0.1 to 40%, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing. Methods for applying compound of formula (I) and compositions thereof, respectively, onto plant propagation material, especially seeds, include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, and soaking as well as in-furrow application methods. Preferably, compound of formula (I) or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propagation material by a method such 20 that germination is not induced, e.g. by seed dressing, pelleting, coating and dusting. When employed in plant protection, the amounts of active substances applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, and in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha. In treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds, e.g. by dusting, coating or drenching seed, 25 amounts of active substance of from 0.1 to 1000 g, preferably from 1 to 1000 g, more preferably from 1 to 100 g and most preferably from 5 to 100 g, per 100 kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seeds) are generally required. When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active substance applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the 30 protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1kg, of active substance per cubic meter of treated material. Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e. g. herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners, biopesticides) may be added to the active substances or the compositions comprising them as premix or, if appropriate not until 39

[0040] immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the compositions ac cording to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 100:1, preferably 1:10 to 10:1. A pesticide is generally a chemical or biological agent (such as pestidal active ingredient, compound, composition, virus, bacterium, antimicrobial or disinfectant) that through its effect deters, 5 incapacitates, kills or otherwise deter pests. Target pests can include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), and microbes that destroy property, cause nuisance, spread disease or are vectors for disease. The term pesticides includes also plant growth regulators that alter the expected growth, flowering, or reproduction rate of plants; defoliants that cause leaves or other foliage to drop from a plant, usually to facilitate harvest; desiccants that promote 10 drying of living tissues, such as unwanted plant tops; plant activators that activate plant physiology for defense against certain pests; safeners that reduce unwanted herbicidal action of pesticides on crop plants; and plant growth promoters that affect plant physiology to increase plant growth, biomass, yield or any other quality parameter of the harvestable goods of a crop plant. Biopesticides have been defined as a form of pesticides based on micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, 15 viruses, nematodes, etc.) or natural products (compounds, such as metabolites, proteins, or extracts from biological or other natural sources) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: http: / / www.epa.gov / pesticides / biopesticides / ). Biopesticides are typically created by growing and concentrating naturally occurring organisms and / or their metabolites including bacteria and other microbes, fungi, viruses, nematodes, proteins, etc. They are often considered to be important 20 components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Biopesticides fall into two major classes, microbial and biochemical pesticides: 1. Microbial pesticides consist of bacteria, fungi or viruses (and often include the metabolites that bacteria and fungi produce). Entomopathogenic nematodes are also classed as microbial pesticides, even though they are multicellular. 25 2. Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests or provide other crop protection uses as defined below, but are relatively non-toxic to mammals. The user applies the composition according to the invention usually from a pre-dosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemical composition is made up with water, buffer, and / or further auxiliaries to the desired application 30 concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2000 liters, preferably 50 to 500 liters, of the ready-to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area. The present invention further relates to a composition for controlling unwanted microorganisms, comprising at least one of the compounds of formula (I) and / or one or more active compatible 40

[0041] compound selected from fungicides, bactericides, acaricides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, biopesticides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, fertilizers and / or mixtures thereof. Generally, a compound of the present invention is used in the form of a composition (e.g. formulation) containing a carrier. A compound of the invention and compositions thereof can be used in various 5 forms such as aerosol dispenser, capsule suspension, cold fogging concentrate, dustable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, emulsion oil in water, emulsion water in oil, encapsulated granule, fine granule, flowable concentrate for seed treatment, gas (under pressure), gas generating product, granule, hot fogging concentrate, macrogranule, microgranule, oil dispersible powder, oil miscible flowable concentrate, oil miscible liquid, paste, plant rodlet, powder for dry seed treatment, seed 10 coated with a pesticide, soluble concentrate, soluble powder, solution for seed treatment, suspension concentrate (flowable concentrate), ultra-low volume (ulv) liquid, ultra-low volume (ulv) suspension, water dispersible granules or tablets, water dispersible powder for slurry treatment, water soluble granules or tablets, water soluble powder for seed treatment and wettable powder. A formulation typically comprises a liquid or solid carrier and optionally one or more customary 15 formulation auxiliaries, which may be solid or liquid auxiliaries, for example un-epoxidized or epoxidized vegetable oils (for example epoxidized coconut oil, rapeseed oil or soya oil), antifoams, for example silicone oil, preservatives, clays, inorganic compounds, viscosity regulators, surfactant, binders and / or tackifiers. The composition may also further comprise a fertilizer, a micronutrient donor or other preparations which influence the growth of plants as well as comprising a combination 20 containing the compound of the invention with one or more other biologically active agents, such as bactericides, fungicides, nematicides, bio stimulants, acaricides, and insecticides. Accordingly, the present invention also makes available a composition comprising a compound of the invention and an agronomical carrier and optionally one or more customary formulation auxiliaries. The compositions are prepared in a manner known per se, in the absence of auxiliaries for example 25 by grinding, screening and / or compressing a solid compound of the present invention and in the presence of at least one auxiliary for example by intimately mixing and / or grinding the compound of the present invention with the auxiliary (auxiliaries). In the case of solid compounds of the invention, the grinding / milling of the compounds is to ensure specific particle size. These processes for the preparation of the compositions and the use of the compounds of the invention for the 30 preparation of these compositions are also a subject of the invention. The compositions comprise 0.1 to 99%, especially 0.1 to 95%, of compound according to the present invention and 1 to 99.9%, especially 5 to 99.9%, of at least one solid or liquid carrier, it being possible as a rule for 0 to 25%, especially 0.1 to 20%, of the composition to be surfactants (% in each case meaning percent by weight). Whereas concentrated compositions tend to be preferred for 35 commercial goods, the end consumer as a rule uses dilute compositions which have substantially 41

[0042] lower concentrations of active ingredient. Examples of foliar formulation types for pre-mix compositions are: Whereas examples of seed treatment formulation types for pre-mix compositions are: 5 Examples of formulation types suitable for tank-mix compositions are solutions, dilute emulsions, suspensions, or a mixture thereof, and dusts. As with the nature of the formulations, the methods of application, such as foliar, drench, spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances. 10 The tank-mix compositions are generally prepared by diluting with a solvent (for example, water) the one or more pre-mix compositions containing different pesticides, and optionally further auxiliaries. Suitable carriers and adjuvants can be solid or liquid and are the substances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders, or fertilizers. 15 Generally, a tank-mix formulation for foliar or soil application comprises 0.1 to 20 %, especially 0.1 to 15 %, of the desired ingredients, and 99.9 to 80 %, especially 99.9 to 85 %, of a solid or liquid auxiliary (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 20 %, especially 0.1 to 15 %, based on the tank-mix formulation. Typically, a pre- mix formulation for foliar application comprises 0.1 to 99.9 %, especially 1 to 95 %, of the desired 20 ingredients, and 99.9 to 0.1 %, especially 99 to 5 %, of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 50 %, 42

[0043] especially 0.5 to 40 %, based on the pre-mix formulation. Normally, a tank-mix formulation for seed treatment application comprises 0.25 to 80 %, especially 1 to 75 %, of the desired ingredients, and 99.75 to 20 %, especially 99 to 25 %, of a solid or liquid auxiliary (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in 5 an amount of 0 to 40 %, especially 0.5 to 30 %, based on the tank-mix formulation. Typically, a pre-mix formulation for seed treatment application comprises 0.5 to 99.9 %, especially 1 to 95 %, of the desired ingredients, and 99.5 to 0.1 %, especially 99 to 5 %, of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 50 %, especially 0.5 to 40 %, based on the pre-mix formulation whereas commercial products 10 will preferably be formulated as concentrates (e.g., pre-mix composition (formulation)), the end user will normally employ dilute formulations (e.g., tank mix composition). Preferred seed treatment pre-mix formulations are aqueous suspension concentrates. The formulation can be applied to the seeds using conventional treating techniques and machines, such as fluidized bed techniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seed treaters, and drum coaters. Other methods, such 15 as spouted beds may also be useful. The seeds may be pre sized before coating. After coating, the seeds are typically dried and then transferred to a sizing machine for sizing. Such procedures are known in the art. The compounds of the present invention are particularly suited for use in soil and seed treatment applications. In general, the pre-mix compositions of the invention contain 0.5 to 99.9 especially 1 to 95, 20 advantageously 1 to 50 %, by mass of the desired ingredients, and 99.5 to 0.1, especially 99 to 5 %, by mass of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries (or adjuvant) can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 50, especially 0.5 to 40 %, by mass based on the mass of the pre-mix formulation. A compound of formula (I) in a preferred embodiment, independent of any other embodiments, is in 25 the form of a plant propagation material treating (or protecting) composition, wherein said plant propagation material protecting composition may comprises additionally a colouring agent. The plant propagation material protecting composition or mixture may also comprise at least one polymer from water-soluble and water-dispersible film-forming polymers that improve the adherence of the active ingredients to the treated plant propagation material, which polymer generally has an average 30 molecular weight of at least 10,000 to about 100,000. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms in agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops, wherein said compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides, or salts, composition or combination thereof, is applied to the plants, to the seeds of plants, to parts thereof 35 or a locus thereof. The said phytopathogenic microorganisms are preferably fungi. 43

[0044] In another embodiment, the present invention provides use of the compounds of formula (I), salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof, composition or combination thereof comprising compound of formula (I), for controlling or preventing agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops against phytopathogenic fungi. 5 In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling or preventing an infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms in agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops wherein the compound of formula (I) or salts, stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs or N-oxides thereof as disclosed in the present invention is applied to the seeds of plants. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling or preventing 10 phytopathogenic microorganisms in agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops using the compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides, or salts, composition or combination thereof, which comprises a step of applying an effective dosage of the compound or the composition or the combination, in amounts ranging from 1 g to 5 kg per hectare of agricultural and / or horticultural crops. 15 In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for combating phytopathogenic fungi, comprising treating plants, soil, seeds or materials to be protected with the compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides, or salts, composition or combination thereof. Examples of application methods for the compounds of the invention and compositions thereof, are in 20 general spraying, atomizing, dusting, brushing on, dressing, scattering or pouring which are to be selected to suit the intended aims of the prevailing circumstances. One method of application in agriculture is application to the foliage of the plants (foliar application), it being possible to select frequency and rate of application to match the danger of infestation with the pest or fungi in question. Alternatively, the active ingredient can reach the plants via the root system 25 (systemic action), by applying the compound to the locus of the plants, for example by application of a liquid composition of the compound into the soil (by drenching), or by applying a solid form of the compound in the form of granules to the soil (soil application). In the case of paddy rice plants, such granules can be metered into the flooded paddy-field. The application of the compounds of the present invention to the soil is a preferred application method. 30 Typical rates of application per hectare is generally 1 to 2000 g of active ingredient per hectare, in particular 10 to 1000 g / ha, preferably 10 to 600 g / ha, such as 50 to 300 g / ha. It is possible to use dyes such as inorganic pigments, for example iron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian Blue, and organic dyes such as alizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyanine dyes, and trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc. 44

[0045] Further additives may be perfumes, mineral or vegetable, optionally modified oils, waxes and nutrients (including trace nutrients), such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc. Additional components may be stabilizers, such as cold stabilizers, preservatives, antioxidants, light 5 stabilizers, or other agents which improve chemical and / or physical stability. If appropriate, other additional components may also be present, for example protective colloids, binders, adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic substances, penetrants, stabilizers, sequestering agents, complex formers. In general, the active ingredients can be combined with any solid or liquid additive commonly used for formulation purposes. 10 The formulations contain generally between 0.05 and 99 % by weight, 0.01 and 98 % by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 95 % by weight, more preferably between 0.5 and 90 % of active ingredient, most preferably between 10 and 70 % by weight. The formulations described above can be used for controlling unwanted microorganisms, in which the compositions comprising compounds of the formula (I) are applied to the microorganisms and / or in 15 their habitat. Compounds of formula (I) according to this invention, as well as salts, N-oxides, metal complexes, stereoisomers or polymorphs can be used as such or in formulations thereof and can be mixed with known mixing partners in order to broaden, for example, the activity spectrum or to prevent resistance development. Useful mixing partners include, for example, known fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, 20 nematicides, biopesticides and bactericides. A mixture with other known active ingredients, such as herbicides, or with fertilizers and growth regulators, safeners and / or semiochemicals, is also possible. According to one embodiment, individual components of the composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank or any other kind of vessel used for applications (e. g. seed treater drums, seed pelleting machinery, 25 knapsack sprayer) and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate. Consequently, one embodiment of the invention is a kit for preparing a usable pesticidal composition, the kit comprising a) a composition comprising component 1) as defined herein and at least one auxiliary; and b) a composition comprising component 2) as defined herein and at least one auxiliary; and optionally c) a composition comprising at least one auxiliary and optionally a further active 30 component 3) as defined herein. The compound / s of formula (I), the combinations and the compositions thereof comprising them in the use as fungicides with other fungicides may result in an expansion of the fungicidal spectrum of activity being obtained or in a prevention of fungicide resistance development. Furthermore, in many cases, extraordinary effects are obtained. 45

[0046] This can be obtained by applying the compound / s of formula (I) and at least one further pesticidally active substance simultaneously, either jointly (e. g. as tank-mix) or separately, or in succession, wherein the time interval between the individual applications is selected to ensure that the active substance applied first still occurs at the site of action in a sufficient amount at the time of application 5 of the further pesticidally active substance(s). The order of application is not essential for working of the present invention. The known and reported active compounds such as fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, safeners, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, fertilizers and nutrients can be combined with at least one compound of formula (I) of the present invention. For example, fungicides, 10 insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, safeners, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, fertilizers and nutrients disclosed and reported in WO2017076739 (A to O) can be combined with a compound of formula (I) of the present invention. The present invention also relates to such combinations comprising the compound of the present invention and active compatible compounds reported in WO2017076739. 15 The fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, fertilizers and nutrients reported in WO2017076739, are not reproduced herein for the sake of brevity and are incorporated herein by way of reference as non-limiting examples to be combined with at least one compound of formula (I) of the present invention. All plants and plant parts can be treated in accordance with the invention. Plants are understood here to 20 mean all plants and plant populations, such as desired and undesired wild plants or crop plants (including naturally occurring crop plants). Crop plants may be plants which can be obtained by conventional breeding and optimization methods or by biotechnological and genetic engineering methods or combinations of these methods, including the transgenic plants and including the plant cultivars which are protectable and non-protectable by plant breeders’ rights. Plant parts are understood 25 to mean all parts and organs of plants above and below the ground, such as shoot, leaf, flower and root, examples of which include leaves, needles, stalks, stems, flowers, fruit bodies, fruits and seeds, and also roots, tubers and rhizomes. The plant parts also include harvested material and vegetative and generative propagation material, for example cuttings, tubers, rhizomes, slips and seeds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a seed comprising the compound of formula (I), 30 salts, stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides thereof, wherein the amount of the compound of formula (I), stereo-isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs, N-oxides, or salts thereof is from 0.1 g to 10 kg per 100 kg of seed. The invention furthermore includes a method for treating seed, particularly seeds (dormant, primed, pregerminated or even with emerged roots and leaves) treated with at least one of the compounds of the 35 formula (I) and compositions thereof. The inventive seeds are used in methods for the protection of 46

[0047] seeds and emerged plants from the seeds from phytopathogenic harmful fungi. In these methods, seed treated with at least one inventive active ingredient is used. It is also desirable to optimize the amount of the active ingredient used so as to provide the best possible protection for the seeds, the germinating plants and emerged seedlings from attack by phytopathogenic 5 fungi, but without damaging the plants themselves by the active ingredient used. In particular, methods for the treatment of seed should also take into consideration the intrinsic phenotypes of transgenic plants in order to achieve optimum protection of the seed and the germinating plant with a minimum of crop protection compositions being employed. The present invention therefore, also relates to a method for protecting seeds, germinating plants and 10 emerged seedlings against attack by animal pests and / or phytopathogenic harmful microorganisms by treating the seeds with an inventive composition. The invention also relates to the use of the compositions according to the invention for treating seeds for protecting the seeds, the germinating plants and emerged seedlings against animal pests and / or phytopathogenic microorganisms. The invention further relates to seeds which have been treated with an inventive composition for protection 15 from animal pests and / or phytopathogenic microorganisms. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the treatment of the seeds with these compositions not only protects the seed itself, but also the resulting plants after emergence, from animal pests and / or phytopathogenic harmful microorganisms. In this way, the immediate treatment of the crop at the time of sowing or shortly thereafter protect plants as well as seed treatment in prior to sowing. It is likewise 20 considered to be advantageous that the inventive active ingredients or compositions can be used especially also for transgenic seed, in which case the plant which grows from this seed is capable of expressing a protein which acts against pests, herbicidal damage or abiotic stress. The treatment of such seeds with the inventive active ingredients or compositions, for example, an insecticidal protein, can result in control of certain pests. Surprisingly, a further synergistic effect can be observed in this case, 25 which additionally increases the effectiveness for protection against attack by pests, microorganisms, weeds or abiotic stress. The compounds of the formula (I) are suitable for the protection of seed of any plant variety which is used in agriculture, in the greenhouse, in forests or in horticulture. More particularly, the seed is that of cereals (such as wheat, barley, rye, millet and oats), oilseed rape, maize, cotton, soybeen, rice, potatoes, 30 sunflower, beans, coffee, beet (e.g. sugar beet and fodder beet), peanut, vegetables (such as tomato, cucumber, onions and lettuce), lawns and ornamental plants. Of particular significance is the treatment of the seed of wheat, soybean, oilseed rape, maize and rice. As described below, the treatment of transgenic seed with the inventive active ingredients or compositions is of particular significance. This refers to the seed of plants containing at least one 35 heterologous gene which allows the expression of a polypeptide or protein, e.g. having insecticidal 47

[0048] properties. These heterologous genes in transgenic seeds may originate, for example, from microorganisms of the species Bacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichoderma, Clavibacter, Glomus or Gliocladium. These heterologous genes preferably originate from Bacillus sp., in which case the gene product is effective against the European corn borer and / or the Western corn rootworm. 5 Particularly preferably, the heterologous genes originate from Bacillus thuringiensis. In the context of the present invention, the inventive composition is applied to seeds either alone or in a suitable formulation. Preferably, the seed is treated in a state in which it is sufficiently stable for no damage to occur in the course of treatment. In general, seeds can be treated at any time between harvest and sometime after sowing. It is customary to use seed which has been separated from the plant and 10 freed from cobs, shells, stalks, coats, hairs or the flesh of the fruits. For example, it is possible to use seed which has been harvested, cleaned and dried down to a moisture content of less than 15% by weight. Alternatively, it is also possible to use seed which, after drying, for example, has been treated with water and then dried again, or seeds just after priming, or seeds stored in primed conditions or pre- germinated seeds, or seeds sown on nursery trays, tapes or paper. 15 When treating the seeds, it generally has to be ensured that the amount of the inventive composition applied to the seed and / or the amount of further additives is selected such that the germination of the seed is not impaired, or that the resulting plant is not damaged. This must be ensured particularly in the case of active ingredients which can exhibit phytotoxic effects at certain application rates. The compound of formula (I) can be applied directly, i.e. without containing any other components and 20 without having been diluted. In general, it is preferable to apply the compositions to the seed in the form of a suitable formulation. Suitable formulations and methods for seed treatment are known to those skilled in the art. The compounds of formula (I) can be converted to the customary formulations relevant to on-seed applications, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, slurries or combined with other coating compositions for seed, such as film forming materials, pelleting materials, 25 fine iron or other metal powders, granules, coating material for inactivated seeds, and also ULV formulations. In the treatment of seeds to facilitate plantability, seeds can be coated with polymer. The polymer coating is comprised of a binder, a wax and a pigment, and one or more stabilizers in an amount effective to stabilize the suspension. The binder can be a polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl 30 acetate-ethylene copolymer, vinyl acetate homopolymer, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, vinylacrylic, acrylic, ethylene-vinyl chloride, vinyl ether maleic anhydride, or butadiene styrene. Other similar polymers can be used. These formulations are prepared in a known manner, by mixing the active ingredients or active ingredient combinations with customary additives, for example customary extenders and solvents or 48

[0049] diluents, dyes, wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, antifoams, preservatives, secondary thickeners, adhesives, gibberellins, and also water. Useful dyes which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are all dyes which are customary for such purposes. It is possible to use either pigments, 5 which are sparingly soluble in water, or dyes, which are soluble in water. Examples include the dyes known by the names Rhodamine B, C.I. Pigment Red 112 and C.I. Solvent Red 1. Useful wetting agents which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are all substances which promote wetting and which are conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Usable with preference are 10 alkylnaphthalenesulphonates, such as diisopropyl- or diisobutylnaphthalenesulphonates. Useful dispersants and / or emulsifiers which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are all nonionic, anionic and cationic dispersants conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Usable with preference are nonionic or anionic dispersants or mixtures of nonionic or anionic dispersants. Useful nonionic dispersants include 15 especially ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block polymers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers and tristryrylphenol polyglycol ether, and the phosphated or sulphated derivatives thereof. Suitable anionic dispersants are especially lignosulphonates, polyacrylic acid salts and arylsulphonate / formaldehyde condensates. Antifoams which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the 20 invention are all foam-inhibiting substances conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Silicone antifoams and magnesium stearate can be used with preference. Preservatives which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are all substances usable for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Examples include dichlorophene and benzyl alcohol hemiformal. 25 Secondary thickeners which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are all substances usable for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Preferred examples include cellulose derivatives, acrylic acid derivatives, xanthan, modified clays and finely divided silica. Adhesives which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the 30 invention are all customary binders usable in seed dressing products. Preferred examples include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and tylose. The formulations for on-seed applications usable in accordance with the invention can be used to treat a wide variety of different kinds of seed either directly or after prior dilution with water. For instance, the concentrates or the preparations obtainable therefrom by dilution with water can be used to dress 49

[0050] the seed of cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, and triticale, and also seeds of maize, soybean, rice, oilseed rape, peas, beans, cotton, sunflowers, and beets, or else a wide variety of different vegetable seeds. The formulations usable in accordance with the invention, or the dilute preparations thereof, can also be used for seeds of transgenic plants. In this case, additional synergistic effects may also occur in 5 interaction with the substances formed by expression. For treatment of seeds with the formulations usable in accordance with the invention, or the preparations prepared therefrom by adding water, all mixing units usable customarily for on-seed applications are useful. Specifically, the procedure in on-seed applications is to place the seeds into a mixer, to add the particular desired amount of the formulations, either as such or after prior dilution with water, and to 10 mix everything until all applied formulations are distributed homogeneously on the seeds. If appropriate, this is followed by a drying operation. The compounds of the invention and compositions thereof are also suitable for the protection of plant propagation material, for example seeds, such as fruit, tubers or kernels, or nursery plants, against pests of the abovementioned type. The propagation material can be treated with the compound prior 15 to planting, for example seed can be treated prior to sowing. Alternatively, the compound can be applied to seed kernels (coating), either by soaking the kernels in a liquid composition or by applying a layer of a solid composition. It is also possible to apply the compositions when the propagation material is planted to the site of application, for example into the seed furrow during drilling. These treatment methods for plant propagation material and the plant propagation material thus treated are 20 further subjects of the invention. Typical treatment rates would depend on the plant and pest / fungi to be controlled and are generally between 1 to 200 grams per 100 kg of seeds, preferably between 5 to 150 grams per 100 kg of seeds, more preferably between 10 to 100 grams per 100 kg of seeds. The application of the compounds of the present invention to seeds is a preferred application method. The application rate of the formulations usable in accordance with the invention can be varied within a 25 relatively wide range. It is guided by the specific content of the active ingredients in the formulations and by the seeds. The application rates of each single active ingredient are generally between 0.001 and 15 g per kilogram of seed, preferably between 0.01 and 5 g per kilogram of seed. When using the compounds of formula (I) as fungicides, the application rates can be varied within a relatively wide range, depending on the kind of application. The application rate of the inventive active 30 ingredients is: in the case of treatment of plant parts, for example leaves: from 0.1 to 10000 g / ha, preferably from 10 to 1000 g / ha, more preferably from 30 to 300 g / ha (in the case of application by watering or dripping, it is even possible to reduce the application rate, especially when inert substrates such as rockwool or perlite are used); 50

[0051] in the case of seed treatment: from 0.1 to 200 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably from 1 to 150 g per 100 kg of seed, more preferably from 2.5 to 25 g per 100 kg of seed, even more preferably from 2.5 to 12.5 g per 100 kg of seed; in the case of soil treatment: from 0.1 to 10000 g / ha, preferably from 1 to 5000 g / ha. 5 These application rates are merely by way of example and are not limiting for the purposes of the invention. In some cases, the compounds of formula (I) can, at specific concentrations or application rates, also be used as herbicides, safeners, growth regulators or agents to improve plant properties, or as microbicides, for example as fungicides, antimycotics, bactericides, viricides (including compositions against viroids) 10 or as compositions against MLO (Mycoplasma-like organisms) and RLO (Rickettsia-like organisms). The compounds of formula (I) intervene in the physiological processes of plants and can therefore also be used as plant growth regulators. Plant growth regulators may exert various effects on plants. The effect of the substances depends essentially on the time of application in relation to the developmental stage of the plant, the plant variety as well as on the amounts of active ingredient applied to the plants 15 or their environment and on the type of application. In each case, growth regulators should have a particular desired effect on the crop plants. Growth regulating effects, comprise earlier germination, better emergence, more developed root system and / or improved root growth, increased ability of tillering, more productive tillers, earlier flowering, increased plant height and / or biomass, shorting of stems, improvements in shoot growth, number of 20 kernels / ear, number of ears / m², number of stolons and / or number of flowers, enhanced harvest index, bigger leaves, less dead basal leaves, improved phyllotaxy, earlier maturation / earlier fruit finish, homogenous riping, increased duration of grain filling, better fruit finish, bigger fruit / vegetable size, sprouting resistance and reduced lodging. Increased or improved yield is referring to total biomass per hectare, yield per hectare, kernel / fruit 25 weight, seed size and / or hectolitre weight as well as to improved product quality, comprising: improved processability relating to size distribution (kernel, fruit, etc.), homogenous riping, grain moisture, better milling, better vinification, better brewing, increased juice yield, harvestability, digestibility, sedimentation value, falling number, pod stability, storage stability, improved fiber length / strength / uniformity, increase of milk and / or meet quality of silage fed animals, adaption to 30 cooking and frying; further comprising improved marketability relating to improved fruit / grain quality, size distribution (kernel, fruit, etc.), increased storage / shelf-life, firmness / softness, taste (aroma, texture, etc.), grade (size, shape, number of berries, etc.), number of berries / fruits per bunch, crispness, freshness, coverage with wax, frequency of physiological disorders, colour, etc.; 51

[0052] further comprising increased desired ingredients such as e.g. protein content, fatty acids, oil content, oil quality, aminoacid composition, sugar content, acid content (pH), sugar / acid ratio (Brix), polyphenols, starch content, nutritional quality, gluten content / index, energy content, taste, etc.; and further comprising decreased undesired ingredients such as e.g. less mycotoxines, less aflatoxines, 5 geosmin level, phenolic aromas, lacchase, polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases, nitrate content etc. Furthermore, beneficial effects on growth or yield can be achieved through improved nutrient use efficiency, especially nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, phosphours (P)-use efficiency, water use efficiency, improved transpiration, respiration and / or CO2assimilation rate, better nodulation, improved Ca- metabolism etc. The compounds of the formula (I) also exhibit a potent strengthening effect in plants. 10 Accordingly, they can be used for mobilizing the defenses of the plant against attack by undesirable microorganisms. Plant-strengthening (resistance-inducing) substances in the present context are substances capable of stimulating the defense system of plants in such a way that the treated plants, when subsequently inoculated with undesirable microorganisms, develop a high degree of resistance to these 15 microorganisms. Further, in context with the present invention, plant physiology effects comprise the following: Abiotic stress tolerance, comprising tolerance to high or low temperatures, drought tolerance and recovery after drought stress, water use efficiency (correlating to reduced water consumption), flood tolerance, ozone stress and UV tolerance, tolerance towards chemicals like heavy metals, salts, 20 pesticides etc. Biotic stress tolerance comprising increased fungal resistance and increased resistance against nematodes, viruses and bacteria. In context with the present invention, biotic stress tolerance preferably comprises increased fungal resistance and increased resistance against nematodes. Increased plant vigor, comprising plant health / plant quality and seed vigor, reduced stand failure, 25 improved appearance, increased recovery after periods of stress, improved pigmentation (e.g. chlorophyll content, stay-green effects, etc.) and improved photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, the compounds of formula (I) can reduce the mycotoxin content in the harvested material and the foods and feeds prepared therefrom. Mycotoxins include particularly, but not exclusively, the following: deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 15-Ac-DON, 3-Ac-DON, T2- and HT2-toxin, 30 fumonisins, zearalenon, moniliformin, fusarin, diaceotoxyscirpenol (DAS), beauvericin, enniatin, fusaroproliferin, fusarenol, ochratoxins, patulin, ergot alkaloids and aflatoxins which can be produced, for example, by the following fungi: Fusarium spec., such as F. acuminatum, F. asiaticum, F. avenaceum, F. crookwellense, F. culmorum, F. graminearum (Gibberella zeae), F. equiseti, 52

[0053] F. fujikoroi, F. musarum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. poae, F. pseudograminearum, F. sam- bucinum, F. scirpi, F. semitectum, F. solani, F. sporotrichoides, F. langsethiae, F. subglutinans, F. tricinctum, F. verticillioides etc., and also by Aspergillus spec., such as A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. nomius, A. ochraceus, A. clavatus, A. terreus, A. versicolor, Penicillium spec., such as P. verrucosum, 5 P. viridicatum, P. citrinum, P. expansum, P. claviforme, P. roqueforti, Claviceps spec., such as C. purpurea, C. fusiformis, C. paspali, C. africana, Stachybotrys spec. and others. The compounds of the formula (I) can also be used in the protection of materials, for protection of industrial materials against attack and destruction by phytopathogenic fungi. Microorganisms capable of degrading or altering the industrial materials include, for example, bacteria, 10 fungi, yeasts, algae and slime organisms. The compounds of the formula (I) preferably act against fungi, especially moulds, wood-discoloring and wood-destroying fungi (Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Zygomycetes), and against slime organisms and algae. Examples include microorganisms of the following genera: Alternaria, such as Alternaria tenuis; Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus niger; Chaetomium, such as Chaetomium globosum; Coniophora, such as Coniophora 15 puetana; Lentinus, such as Lentinus tigrinus; Penicillium, such as Penicillium glaucum; Polyporus, such as Polyporus versicolor; Aureobasidium, such as Aureobasidium pullulans; Sclerophoma, such as Sclerophoma pityophila; Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma viride; Ophiostoma spp., Ceratocystis spp., Humicola spp., Petriella spp., Trichurus spp., Coriolus spp., Gloeophyllum spp., Pleurotus spp., Poria spp., Serpula spp. and Tyromyces spp., Cladosporium spp., Paecilomyces spp. Mucor spp., Escherichia, such as 20 Escherichia coli; Pseudomonas, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Candida spp. and Saccharomyces spp., such as Saccharomyces cerevisae. In addition, the compounds of formula (I) also have very good antimycotic effects. They have a very broad antimycotic activity spectrum, especially against dermatophytes and yeasts, moulds and diphasic fungi (for example against Candida species, such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata), and 25 Epidermophyton floccosum, Aspergillus species, such as Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton species, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporon species such as Microsporon canis and audouinii. The enumeration of these fungi by no means constitutes a restriction of the mycotic spectrum covered and is merely of illustrative character. The compounds can also be used to control important fungal pathogens in fish and crustacea farming, 30 e.g. saprolegnia diclina in trouts, saprolegnia parasitica in crayfish. The compounds of the formula (I) can therefore be used both in medical and non-medical applications. The compounds of the formula (I) can be used as such, in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such as ready-to-use solutions, suspensions, wettable powders, pastes, soluble powders, dusts and granules. Application is accomplished in a customary manner, for example by 35 watering, spraying, atomizing, broadcasting, dusting, foaming, spreading-on and the like. It is also 53

[0054] possible to deploy the active ingredients by the ultra-low volume method or to inject the active ingredient preparation / the active ingredient itself into the soil. It is also possible to treat the seed of the plants. It is possible to treat all plants and their parts in accordance with the invention, preferably with wild 5 plant species and plant cultivars, or those obtained by conventional biological breeding methods, such as crossing or protoplast fusion, and also parts thereof. In a further preferred embodiment, transgenic plants and plant cultivars obtained by genetic engineering methods, if appropriate in combination with conventional methods (Genetically Modified Organisms), and parts thereof are treated. The terms "parts" or "parts of plants" or "plant parts" have been explained above. More preferably, plants of the 10 plant cultivars which are commercially available or are in use are treated in accordance with the invention. Plant cultivars are understood to mean plants which have new properties ("traits") and have been obtained by conventional breeding, by mutagenesis or by recombinant DNA techniques. They can be cultivars, varieties, bio- or genotypes. The term "cultivated plants" is to be understood as including plants which have been modified by 15 breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering including but not limiting to agricultural biotech products on the market or in development (cf. http: / / cera-gmc.org / , see GM crop database therein). The method of treatment according to the invention can be used in the treatment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), e.g. plants or seeds. Genetically modified plants (or transgenic plants) are plants of which a heterologous gene has been stably integrated into genome. The expression "heterologous gene" 20 essentially means a gene which is provided or assembled outside the plant and when introduced in the nuclear, chloroplastic or mitochondrial genome gives the transformed plant new or improved agronomic or other properties by expressing a protein or polypeptide of interest or by downregulating or silencing other gene(s) which are present in the plant (using for example, antisense technology, cosuppression technology, RNA interference – RNAi – technology or microRNA – miRNA - technology). A 25 heterologous gene that is located in the genome is also called a transgene. A transgene that is defined by its particular location in the plant genome is called a transformation or transgenic event. Genetically modified plants are plants, which genetic material has been so modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that under natural circumstances cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutations or natural recombination. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into 30 the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s), oligo-or polypeptides e. g. by glycosylation or polymer additions such as prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated moieties or PEG moieties. Plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering, e. g. have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes 35 of herbicides, such as auxin herbicides such as dicamba or 2,4-D; bleacher herbicides such as 54

[0055] hydroxylphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonyl ureas or imidazolinones; enolpyruvylshikimate- 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, such as glyphosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate; protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as 5 acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or oxynil (i. e. bromoxynil or ioxynil) herbicides as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. Furthermore, plants have been made resistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple genetic modifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate or to both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALS inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxin herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors. These herbicide resistance 10 technologies are e. g. described in Pest Managem. Sci.61, 2005, 246; 61, 2005, 258; 61, 2005, 277; 61, 2005, 269; 61, 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Sci.57, 2009, 108; Austral. J. Agricult. Res.58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1185; and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis), e. g. Clearfield® summer rape (Canola, BASF SE, Germany) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e. g. 15 imazamox, or ExpressSun® sunflowers (DuPont, USA) being tolerant to sulfonyl ureas, e. g. tribenuron. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render cultivated plants such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets and rape, tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate, some of which are commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady® (glyphosate-tolerant, Monsanto, U.S.A.), Cultivance® (imidazolinone tolerant, BASF SE, Germany) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate- 20 tolerant, Bayer CropScience, Germany). Furthermore, plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genus (Bacillus), by the use of recombinant DNA techniques are within the scope of the present invention. The Bacillus are particularly from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as δ-endotoxins, e. g. CrylA(b), CrylA(c), CrylF, CrylF(a2), CryllA(b), CrylllA, CrylllB(bl) or Cry9c; vegetative 25 insecticidal proteins (VIP), e. g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e. g. Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; 30 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of35 the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as pre- toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by 55

[0056] a new combination of protein domains, (see, e. g. WO02 / 015701). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e. g., in EP374753, WO93 / 007278, WO95 / 34656, EP427529, EP451878, WO03 / 18810 und WO03 / 52073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and 5 are described, e. g. in the publications mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants, producing these proteins, tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups of arthropods, especially to beetles (Coeloptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins are, e. g., described in the publications mentioned above, 10 and some of which are commercially available such as YieldGard® (corn cultivars producing the CrylAb toxin), YieldGard® Plus (corn cultivars producing CrylAb and Cry3Bb1 toxins), Starlink® (corn cultivars producing the Cry9c toxin), Herculex® RW (corn cultivars producing Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and the enzyme phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN® 33B (cotton cultivars producing the CrylAc toxin), Bollgard® I (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1 Ac toxin), 15 Bollgard® II (cotton cultivars producing CrylAc and Cry2Ab2 toxins); VIPCOT® (cotton cultivars producing a VIP-toxin); NewLeaf®(potato cultivars producing the Cry3A toxin); Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt1 1 (e. g. Agrisure® CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (corn cultivars producing the CrylAb toxin and PAT enyzme), MIR604 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France (corn cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry3A toxin, c.f. 20 WO 03 / 018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), IPC 531 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (cotton cultivars producing a modified version of the CrylAc toxin) and 1507 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry1 F toxin and PAT enzyme). Furthermore, plants capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance 25 of those plants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens by the use of recombinant DNA techniques are also within the scope of the present invention. Examples of such proteins are the so-called "pathogenesis-related proteins" (PR proteins, see, e. g. EP392225), plant disease resistance genes (e. g. potato cultivars, which express resistance genes acting against Phytophthora infestans derived from the Mexican wild potato Solanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lysozym (e. g. potato cultivars capable of 30 synthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteria such as Erwinia amylvora). The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e. g. in the publications mentioned above. Furthermore, plants capable to synthesize one or more proteins, by the use of recombinant DNA techniques, to increase the productivity (e. g. biomass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content 35 or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth-limiting environmental factors or 56

[0057] tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, plants that contain a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, by the use of recombinant DNA techniques, to improve human or animal nutrition, e. g. oil 5 crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e. g. Nexera® rape, DOW Agro Sciences, Canada) are also within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, plants that contain a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, by the use of recombinant DNA techniques, to improve raw material production, e. g. potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin (e. g. Amflora® potato, BASF SE, Germany) are also 10 within the scope of the present invention. Plants and plant cultivars which are preferably to be treated according to the invention include all plants which have genetic material which impart particularly advantageous, useful traits to these plants (whether obtained by breeding and / or biotechnological means). Plants and plant cultivars which are also preferably to be treated according to the invention are resistant 15 against one or more biotic stresses, i.e. said plants show a better defense against animal and microbial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, mites, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and / or viroids. Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention are those plants which are resistant to one or more abiotic stresses. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased 20 mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance. Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention, are those plants characterized by enhanced yield characteristics. Increased yield in said plants can be the result of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such as water use efficiency, water 25 retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield can furthermore be affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including but not limited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, 30 seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content and composition for example cotton or starch, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability. 57

[0058] Plants that may be treated according to the invention are hybrid plants that already express the characteristic of heterosis or hybrid vigor which results in generally higher yield, vigor, health and resistance towards biotic and abiotic stresses. Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which 5 may be treated according to the invention are herbicide-tolerant plants, i.e. plants made tolerant to one or more given herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such herbicide tolerance. Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are insect-resistant transgenic plants, i.e. plants made 10 resistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such insect resistance. Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are tolerant to abiotic stresses. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such stress 15 resistance. Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention show altered quantity, quality and / or storage-stability of the harvested product and / or altered properties of specific ingredients of the harvested product. Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic 20 engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are plants, such as oilseed rape or related Brassica plants, with altered oil profile characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered oil profile characteristics. Digital Technologies 25 The compounds of the invention can be used in combination with models e.g. embedded in computer programs for site specific crop management, satellite farming, precision farming or precision agriculture. Such models support a site-specific management of agricultural sites with data from various sources such as soils, weather, crops (e.g. type, growth stage, plant health), weeds (e.g. type, growth stage), diseases, pests, nutrients, water, moisture, biomass, satellite data, yield etc. with the purpose to 30 optimize profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment. Particularly, such models can help to optimize agronomical decisions, control the precision of pesticide applications and record the work performed. As an example, the compounds of the invention can be applied to a crop plant according to an appropriate dose regime if a model models the development of a pest and calculates that a threshold has 35 been reached for which it is recommendable to apply the compound of the invention to the crop plant. 58

[0059] Commercially available systems which include agronomic models are e.g. FieldScriptsTM from The Climate Corporation, XarvioTM from BASF, AGLogicTM from John Deere, etc. The compounds of the invention can also be used in combination with smart spraying equipment such as e.g. spot spraying or precision spraying equipment attached to or housed within a farm vehicle such 5 as a tractor, robot, helicopter, airplane, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as a drone, etc. Such an equipment usually includes input sensors (such as e.g. a camera) and a processing unit configured to analyze the input data and provide a decision, based on the analysis of the input data, to apply the compound of the invention to the crop plants (respectively the weeds) in a specific and precise manner. The use of such smart spraying equipment usually also requires position systems (e.g. GPS receivers) 10 to localize recorded data and to guide or to control farm vehicles; geographic information systems (GIS) to represent the information on intelligible maps, and appropriate farm vehicles to perform the required farm action such as the spraying. In an example, pests can be detected from imagery acquired by a camera. In an example the pests can be identified and / or classified based on that imagery. Such identification and / or classification can make 15 use of image processing algorithms. Such image processing algorithms can utilize machine learning algorithms, such as trained neutral networks, decision trees and artificial intelligence algorithms. In this manner, the compounds described herein can be applied only where needed. Positive crop response: The compounds of the present invention not only control phytopathogenic fungi effectively but also 20 show positive crop response such as plant growth enhancement effects like enhanced root growth, enhanced tolerance to drought, high salt, high temperature, chill, frost or light radiation, improved flowering, enhanced nutrient utilization (such as improved nitrogen assimilation), enhanced quality plant products, higher number of productive tillers, enhanced resistance to insect pests and the like, which results in higher yields. 25 In one embodiment, the compounds of formula (I) as disclosed in the present invention are used for the nonagronomic applications. CHEMISTRY EXAMPLES: The following examples illustrate the manner and process of making certain compounds of the present invention, without limiting the scope thereof, and include the best mode presently contemplated by the 30 inventors for carrying out the invention. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the remaining exemplified compounds provided in Table-I and compounds belonging to markush formula (I) can be prepared in an analogous manner, employing the general synthetic schemes and synthesis procedures described herein, optionally with routine modifications as needed. 59

[0060] Example 1: Preparation of N'-(3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylformimidamide (Compound No.77) a) Preparation of 1-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethyl-3-nitrobenzene 5 To a stirred solution of potassium carbonate (1.0 g, 7.0 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL), 4- chlorophenol (0.5 g, 4.2 mmol) was added at 25 °C and the mixture was stirred for 15 min. Then, 1- (bromomethyl)-2,5-dimethyl-3-nitrobenzene (0.9 g, 3.5 mmol) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with ice cold water (10 mL), the precipitate formed was filtered and dried to obtain 1-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5- 10 dimethyl-3-nitrobenzene (0.8 g, 2.8 mmol, 80 % yield) as an off white solid. GCMS: 291.10. b) Preparation of 3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethylaniline To a stirred solution of 1-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethyl-3-nitrobenzene (0.8 g, 2.8 mmol) in ethanol (15 mL) and water (15 mL), mixture (1:1), in a 100 mL thermal vial equipped with reflux 15 condenser, iron powder (0.8 g, 14.1 mmol) and ammonium chloride (0.8 g, 14.1 mmol) were added at 25 °C and the mixture was heated at 80 °C for 6 h. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C, diluted with dichloromethane (30 mL) and filtered through a Celite®pad. The filtrate was diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2 x 15 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate,20 filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5- dimethylaniline (0.6 g, 2.4 mmol, 86 % yield) as a pale brown solid. LCMS: m / z 262.0 (M+1). c) Preparation of N'-(3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylformimidamide 25 To a stirred solution of 3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5-dimethylaniline (0.5 g, 1.9 mmol) in 1,4- dioxane (3 mL) in a 20 mL thermal vial, N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine (0.4 mL, 2.9 60

[0061] mmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (0.04 g, 0.2 mmol) were added at 25 °C and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred at 80 °C for 12 h. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (10 mL) and brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium 5 sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain the crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain N'-(3-((4-chlorophenoxy)methyl)-2,5- dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (0.5 g, 1.6 mmol, 81 % yield) as an off white solid. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.58 (s, 1H), 7.34-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.04-7.00 (m, 2H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 6.58 (s, 1H), 4.97 (s, 2H), 3.49-3.32 (2H), 2.92 (s, 3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 1.11 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H); 10 LCMS (ES) m / z 331.05 (M+1). Example 2: Preparation of N'-(5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(((5-methylpyridin-3-yl)oxy)methyl)phenyl)- N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (Compound No.284) a) Preparation of 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid 15 To a stirred solution of 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid (28.5 g, 157 mmol) in sulfuric acid (169 mL, 315 mmol), 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (32.5 g, 165 mmol) was added in portions at 23 °C, and the mixture was heated at 100 °C for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C and slowly added into ice-water (500 mL). The precipitate formed was filtered, washed with water (150 mL) and dried to give 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid (32.0 g, 20 148 mmol, 94 % yield);1H-NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-D) δ 8.17 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 1H), 6.28 (bs, 1H), 2.54 (s, 3H). b) Preparation of (5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)methanol To a stirred mixture of sodium borohydride (6.3 g, 167 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL), a solution 25 of 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid (30 g, 14 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (250 mL) was added slowly at 0 °C and the mixture was stirred for 10 min at the same temperature. Boron trifluride-diethyl etherate (72.0 mL, 28 mmol) was added dropwise at 0 °C; the mixture was slowly warmed to 25 °C and stirred for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was quenched with cold water (150 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 150 mL). The combined ethyl acetate layer was washed 30 with water (100 mL) and brine (150 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and 61

[0062] concentrated. The crude compound was purified by flash column chromatography to obtain (5-chloro- 2-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)methanol (26.5 g, 132 mmol, 95 % yield).1H-NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-D) δ 7.74-7.69 (m, 2H), 4.76 (s, 2H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 2.05 (bs, 1H); LCMS (ES) m / z 200.85 (M-1). 5 c) Preparation of (3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)methanol To a stirred solution of (5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)methanol (36 g, 179 mmol) in ethanol (250 mL) and water (250 mL) mixture, iron (29.9 g, 536 mmol) and ammonium chloride (38.2 g, 714 mmol) were added at 25 °C and the suspension was heated at 75 °C for 10 h. After completion of the reaction, 10 the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C, filtered through a Celite®pad and washed with ethyl acetate (150 mL). The filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 150 mL). The combined ethyl acetate layers were washed with water (200 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated. The crude product was triturated with hexane (100 mL) and dried to obtain (3-amino- 5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)methanol (30 g, 175 mmol, 98 % yield) as pale brown solid.1H-NMR (400 15 MHz, CHLOROFORM-D) δ 6.80 (d, 1H), 6.65 (d, 1H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 2.09 (s, 3H); GCMS (ES) m / z 171.10 (M+). d) Preparation of N'-(5-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylformimidamide 20 To a stirred solution of (3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)methanol (30 g, 175 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (500 mL), N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine (38.7 mL, 262 mmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (3.3 g, 17.5 mmol) were added at 25 °C and the mixture was stirred at 90 °C for 12 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C, quenched with water (200 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 200 mL). The combined ethyl acetate layers were washed 25 with water (200 mL) and brine (200 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain N'-(5-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylphenyl)-N- ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (39 g, 162 mmol, 93 % yield) as a brown solid.1H-NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-D) δ 7.38 (s, 1H), 7.02 (d, 1H), 6.67 (d, 1H), 4.60 (s, 2H), 3.38-3.27 (m, 2H), 3.00 (d, 3H), 2.16 (t, 3H), 1.26 (d, 1H), 1.23-1.21 (m, 3H) ; LCMS (ES) m / z 241.00 (M+1). 62

[0063] e) Preparation of N'-(5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(((5-methylpyridin-3-yl)oxy)methyl)phenyl)-N- ethyl-N-methylformimidamide To a stirred solution of N'-(5-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N- 5 methylformimidamide (0.5 g, 2.0 mmol), 5-methylpyridin-3-ol (0.2 g, 1.8 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (0.6 g, 2.4 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL), diisopropyl azodicarboxylate was added dropwise at 25 °C and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 5 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was quenched with aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (10%, 20 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The aqueous layer was neutralized with saturated 10 sodium bicarbonate solution (25 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The combined ethyl acetate layers were washed with water (10 mL) and brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain N'- (5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(((5-methylpyridin-3-yl)oxy)methyl)phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (0.1 g, 0.3 mmol, 15 % yield).1H-NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-D) δ 8.18 (s, 1H), 8.08 (s, 1H), 15 7.40 (d, 1H), 7.10 (d, 2H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 5.02 (s, 2H), 3.58-3.35 (m, 2H), 3.05 (d, 3H), 2.33 (d, 3H), 2.27-2.22 (m, 3H), 1.29-1.19 (m, 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 332.00 (M+1). Example 3: Preparation of N'-(3-(3-((2-bromobenzyl)oxy)oxetan-3-yl)-5-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (Compound No 188) : a) Preparation of N'-(3-bromo-5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide 20 To a stirred solution of 3-bromo-5-fluoro-2-methylaniline (20.2 g, 99 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (180 mL), N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine (21.9 mL, 15 mmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (1.9 g, 9.9 mmol) were added at 25 °C, and the mixture was stirred at 85 °C for 12 h. 25 After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C, diluted with water (100 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography to obtain N'-(3-bromo-5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide 30 (19.9 g, 73 mmol, 74 % yield) as a dark brown liquid. LCMS: m / z 274.30 (M+1). 63

[0064] b) Preparation of N-ethyl-N'-(5-fluoro-3-(3-hydroxyoxetan-3-yl)-2-methylphenyl)-N- methylformimidamide To a stirred solution of N'-(3-bromo-5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (15 g, 5 55.0 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (140 mL), n-butyllithium (2.5M in hexane) (24 mL, 61 mmol) was added over a period of 15 min at -78 °C and the mixture was stirred for another 15 minutes. A solution of 3- oxetanone (5.3 mL, 82 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added dropwise at -78 °C, and the reaction mixture was slowly warmed to 25 °C over a period of 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was slowly quenched with water (120 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography to obtain N-ethyl-N'-(5-fluoro-3-(3- hydroxyoxetan-3-yl)-2-methylphenyl)-N-methylformimidamide (8.7 g, 33 mmol, 59 % yield) as pale brown crystals.1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.39 (bs, 1H), 6.53-6.42 (m, 2H), 5.14 (d, 2H), 4.86 (d, 15 2H), 3.49-3.32 (bs, 2H), 3.00 (s, 3H), 2.06-2.03 (m, 4H), 1.23-1.19 (m, 3H); LCMS: m / z 267.10 (M+1). Below intermediate was prepared using the above procedure. c) Preparation of N'-(3-(3-((2-bromobenzyl)oxy)oxetan-3-yl)-5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-N- 20 ethyl-N-methylformimidamide To a stirred solution of N-ethyl-N'-(5-fluoro-3-(3-hydroxyoxetan-3-yl)-2-methylphenyl)-N- methylformimidamide (0.2 g, 0.8 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (4 mL), sodium hydride (0.04 g, 1.5 mmol) 64

[0065] was added portionwise at 10 °C and the mixture was stirred for 20 min at the same temperature. Then, 1-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)benzene (0.2 g, 0.8 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 25 °C for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), 5 dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to give N'-(3-(3-((2- bromobenzyl)oxy)oxetan-3-yl)-5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylformimidamide (0.14 g, 0.33 mmol, 43 % yield) as colourless gum.1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.54-6.99 (m, 5H), 6.67-6.51 (m, 2H), 5.12 -5.00 (m, 4H), 4.19 (s, 2H), 3.51-3.32 (bs, 2H), 3.00 (s, 3H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 1.23-1.19 (m, 10 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 436.85 (M+1). Example 4: Preparation of 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2-methylbenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate (Compound No 55). a) Preparation of 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate 15 To a stirred solution of 1-(bromomethyl)-5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzene (0.9 g, 3.3 mmol) in N,N- dimethylformamide (10 mL), 3-fluorobenzoic acid (0.6 g, 4.2 mmol) and potassium carbonate (1.4 g, 9.8 mmol) were added at 25°C, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with cold water (25 mL), the precipitate formed was filtered, washed with n-hexane (10 mL) and dried to obtain 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate 20 (0.9 g, 2.8 mmol, 87 % yield) as an off white solid. GCMS m / z 323.01 (M+). b) Preparation of 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate To a stirred suspension of 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate (0.9 g, 2.8 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) and water (10 mL), iron powder (1.1 g, 19.9 mmol) and ammonium chloride (0.6 g, 25 11.4 mmol) were added at 25°C, and the reaction mixture was heated at 80 °C for 10 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25°C, filtered through a Celite®pad and the residue was washed with dichloromethane (20 mL). The filtrate was diluted with water (30 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2 x 20 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (20 mL) and brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure 65

[0066] to obtain 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate (0.8 g, 2.7 mmol, 96 % yield) as solid. LCMS (ES) m / z 294.05 (M+1). c) Preparation of 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2-methylbenzyl 3- fluorobenzoate 5 To a stirred solution of 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzyl 3-fluorobenzoate (0.5 g, 1.7 mmol) in 1,4- dioxane (10 mL), N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine (0.6 mL, 4.3 mmol) and p- toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (0.03 g, 0.8 mmol) were added at 25°C, and the mixture was heated at 90 °C for 10 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25°C, diluted 10 with water (20 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (10 mL) and brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2-methylbenzyl 3- fluorobenzoate (0.4 g, 1.0 mmol, 57 % yield) as a brown viscous liquid.1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO- 15 d6) δ 7.82-7.57 (m, 5H), 7.03-6.87 (m, 2H), 5.32 (s, 2H), 3.44-3.33 (bs, 2H), 2.98-2.92 (bs, 3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 1.22-1.10 (m, 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 362.95 (M+1). Example 5: Preparation of 5-chloro-3-((1-(ethyl(methyl)amino)ethylidene)amino)-2- methylbenzyl 2-methylbenzoate (Compound No.71) a) Preparation of 5-chloro-3-((1-(ethyl(methyl)amino)ethylidene)amino)-2-methylbenzyl 2- 20 methylbenzoate To a stirred solution of 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzyl 2-methylbenzoate (0.3 g, 1.0 mmol) in toluene (8 mL), a solution of phosphorus oxychloride (0.1 mL, 1.2 mmol) and N-ethyl-N- methylacetamide (0.2 g, 1.6 mmol) in toluene (3 mL) was added at 25 °C, and the mixture was heated 25 at 90 °C for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C, slowly quenched by a mixture of cold water (15 mL) and triethylamine (5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain 5-chloro-3-((1- 66

[0067] (ethyl(methyl)amino)ethylidene)amino)-2-methylbenzyl 2-methylbenzoate (0.3 g, 0.7 mmol, 67 % yield) as a brown viscous liquid.1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.80 (d, 1H), 7.49-7.45 (m, 1H), 7.33-7.29 (m, 2H), 6.99 (d, 1H), 6.55 (d, 1H), 5.28 (s, 2H), 3.41 (q, 2H), 2.94 (s, 3H), 2.42 (s, 3H), 1.99 (s, 3H), 1.76 (s, 3H), 1.08 (t, 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 373.15 (M+1). 5 Example 6: Preparation of 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)- 2-methylbenzoate (Compound No.1). a) Preparation of 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoate 10 To a stirred solution of 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid (1.5 g, 7.0 mmol) in N,N- dimethylformamide (15 mL), 1-(bromomethyl)-3-methylbenzene (1.8 g, 9.7 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2.9 g, 20.9 mmol) were added at 25°C, and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 16 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with cold water (25 mL); the precipitate formed was filtered and dried to obtain 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3- 15 nitrobenzoate (1.5 g, 4.7 mmol, 67 % yield) as an off white solid. LCMS (ES) m / z 319.1 (M+). b) Preparation of 3-methylbenzyl 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzoate To a stirred suspension of 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoate (1.3 g, 4.1 mmol) in ethanol (15 mL) and water (15 mL), iron (1.1 g, 20.3 mmol) and ammonium chloride (0.9 g, 16.3 mmol) 20 were added at 25°C, and the mixture was heated at 75 °C for 10 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25°C, filtered through a Celite®pad and the residue was washed with ethyl acetate (20 mL). The filtrate was diluted with water (20 mL), extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 40 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (20 mL), brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 3-methylbenzyl 25 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzoate (0.8 g, 2.8 mmol, 68 % yield) as off white solid. LCMS (ES) m / z 290.05 (M+1). c) Preparation of 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2- methylbenzoate 67

[0068] Method A: To a stirred solution of 3-methylbenzyl 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzoate (1.5 g, 5.2 mmol) in 1,4- dioxane (90 mL), N-(dimethoxymethyl)-N-methylethanamine (1.9 mL, 12.9 mmol) and p- 5 toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (0.1 g, 0.5 mmol) were added at 25°C and the mixture was heated at 85 °C for 10 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25°C, diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 30 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (20 mL) and brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC 10 to obtain 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-(((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2-methylbenzoate (0.8 g, 2.2 mmol, 43 % yield) as a gum. LCMS (ES) m / z 359.10 (M+1). Method B: To a stirred solution of 3-methylbenzyl 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzoate (0.4 g, 1.5 mmol) in trimethyl orthoformate (1.6 mL, 14.5 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (0.03 g, 0.2 mmol) 15 was added and the mixture was stirred at 100 °C for 2 h. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 1,4 dioxane (10 mL) and N- ethylmethylamine (0.4 mL, 4.4 mmol) was added at 25 °C and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred at 45 °C for 2 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain 3-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3- 20 (((ethyl(methyl)amino)methylene)amino)-2-methylbenzoate as brown gum (0.4 g, 1.0 mmol, 68 % yield).1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.75-7.05 (m, 7H), 5.24 (s, 2H), 3.46-3.31 (bs, 2H), 2.99-2.92 (bs, 3H), 2.35-2.31 (d, 6H), 1.14-1.10 (m, 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 358.70 (M+1). Example 7: Preparation of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-(ethyl(methyl)amino)-2,2,2- 25 trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2-methylbenzoate (Compound No.6) a) Preparation of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)benzoate 68

[0069] To a stirred solution of 2-methylbenzyl 3-amino-5-chloro-2-methylbenzoate (0.5 g, 1.6 mmol) and triethylamine (0.3 mL, 2.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (15 mL), trifluoroacetic anhydride (0.3 mL, 2.3 mmol) was added dropwise at 0 °C and the mixture was stirred for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2 x 10 mL). 5 The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(2,2,2- trifluoroacetamido)benzoate (0.5 g, 1.3 mmol, 90 % yield) as a solid. LCMS (ES) m / z 383.80 (M+1). b) Preparation of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2- methylbenzoate 10 To a stirred solution of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)benzoate (0.5 g, 1.4 mmol) in acetonitrile (40 mL), a mixture of triethylamine (0.4 mL, 2.6 mmol) and diphenyl chlorophosphate (0.7 mL, 2.8 mmol) was added at 25 °C and the mixture was stirred at 90 °C for 14 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25 °C and evaporated under reduced15 pressure to obtain 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2- methylbenzoate (0.5 g, 95 % yield). This intermediate was used as such for next step without any purification. c) Preparation of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-(ethyl(methyl)amino)-2,2,2- trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2-methylbenzoate 20 To a stirred solution of 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2- methylbenzoate (0.3 g, 0.6 mmol) in acetonitrile (3 mL), N-methylethanamine (0.1 g, 1.9 mmol) was added at 25 °C, and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 1 h. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2 x 25 10 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by preparative HPLC to obtain 2-methylbenzyl 5-chloro-3-((1-(ethyl(methyl)amino)- 2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)amino)-2-methylbenzoate (0.1 g, 0.2 mmol, 36 % yield) as a gum.1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 7.32 – 6.89 (m, 6H), 5.32 (s, 2H), 3.46-3.31 (m, 2H), 2.92 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 30 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.16-1.09 (m, 3H); LCMS (ES) m / z 426.60 (M+1). 69

[0070] The following examples set forth the manner and process of making compounds of the present invention without being a limitation thereof and include the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. The following compounds in Table-I were obtained using analogous procedures as described in the 5 schemes 1-16 or in the chemistry examples 1-7. Table: I 70

[0071] 71

[0072] 72

[0073] 73

[0074] 74

[0075] 75

[0076] 76

[0077] 77

[0078] 78

[0079] 79

[0080] 80

[0081] 81

[0082] 82

[0083] 83

[0084] 84

[0085] 85

[0086] 86

[0087] 87

[0088] 88

[0089] 89

[0090] 90

[0091] 91

[0092] 92

[0093] 93

[0094] 94

[0095] 95

[0096] 96

[0097] *Compound names generated using Chemdraw Professional 19.1As described herein the compounds of formula (I) show fungicidal activities which are exerted with respect to numerous phytopathogenic fungi which attacks on important agricultural crops. The compounds of the present invention were assessed for their activity as described in the following tests: 5 Biological Test Examples 97

[0098] Example 1: Pyricularia oryzae (Rice blast): The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes. 5 mL medium, with the compound in the desired test concentration, was dispensed into a 60 mm sterile petri-plate. After solidification, each plate was 5 seeded with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate of Pyricularia oryzae. The plates were incubated in growth chambers at 25oC temperature and 60% relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the untreated inoculated control. Compounds 1 2 3 4 6 11 12 13 14 16 18 2010 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 43 44 45 46 47 50 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 71 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 92 95 96 9815 99 101 102 103 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 120 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 166 167 168 16920 170 171 172 173 174 175 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 198 199 200 204 205 206 207 211 212 213 215 216 217 218 226 228 229 230 231 236 238 241 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 259 260 261 262 263 264 26525 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. Example 2: Alternaria solani (early blight of tomato): 30 The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes. 5 mL medium, with the compound in the desired concentration, was dispensed into a 60 mm sterile petri-plate. After solidification, each plate was seeded with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate of Alternaria solani. The plates were incubated in growth chambers at 25oC temperature and 60% 35 relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the untreated inoculated control. 98

[0099] Compounds 1 4 11 17 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 52 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 5 78 79 80 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 89 92 95 96 99 101 102 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 120 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 142 143 145 147 148 150 151 152 15310 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 199 200 204 205 206 207 229 230 231 243 244 245 246 247 248 250 251 253 254 255 256 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 27115 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. Example 3: Colletotrichum capsici (anthracnose): The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar 20 medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes. 5 mL medium, with the compound in the desired concentration, was dispensed into a 60 mm sterile petri-plate. After solidification, each plate was seeded with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate of Colletotrichum capsici. The plates were incubated in growth chambers at 25oC temperature and 60% relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the 25 untreated inoculated control. Compounds 21 34 59 62 64 75 76 77 78 80 83 84 87 95 96 106 107 117 124 126 132 153 160 166 167 172 173 175 177 178 179 183 184 199 200 204 205 206 207 243 267 269 274 279 281 282 283 at 300 30 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. Example 4: Corynespora cassiicola (Leaf spot of tomato): The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes. 5 mL medium, with the compound in the desired 35 concentration, was dispensed into a 60 mm sterile petri-plate. After solidification, each plate was seeded 99

[0100] with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate of Corynespora cassiicola. The plates were incubated in growth chambers at 25oC temperature and 70% relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the untreated inoculated control. 5 Compounds 28 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 49 52 56 59 60 61 62 63 64 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 82 84 85 86 88 95 96 106 107 108 110 115 117 118 124 143 145 147 151 155 229 243 244 245 24610 255 256 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. 15 Example 5: Botrytis cinerea (Gray mold) Yeast, bacterial peptone and sodium acetate (YBA) liquid medium containing a BOTRCI (104spores / mL) spore suspension was prepared. For the inhibition assay, each test compound was solved in dimethyl sulfoxide and 100 µl of the respective test solution was given into a well of a 96-well microtiter plate, consequently, the same volume (100 µl) of the media and spore suspension was added to each 20 well to obtain the final test concentration. The plates were incubated at 22 °C for 15-18 days. The growth inhibition was evaluated by measuring the Od600. Percent inhibition was calculated with the below formula: I= (C-B)-(T-B) / (C-B)*100 where T=treatment, C=control, and B=blank 25 Compounds 28 34 35 36 43 44 45 46 47 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 71 72 73 75 76 77 78 79 84 88 92 95 96 101 103 106 107 108 110 111 115 117 124 133 134 135 137 138 139 143 144 145 147 148 149 151 153 155 157 159 160 166 16730 179 229 230 245 247 252 253 254 255 256 270 274 275 278 282 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated inoculated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. Example 6: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (White mold): The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar 35 medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes.5 mL medium with the compound in the desired test 100

[0101] concentration was dispensed into 60 mm sterile petri-plates. After solidification, each plate was seeded with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate. Plates were incubated in growth chambers at 20oC temperature and 70% relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the untreated inoculated control. 5 Compounds 204 206 225 226 228 229 230 231 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 261 264 267 268 270 274 275 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. 10 Example 7: Rhizoctonia solani (Sheath Blight): The compounds were dissolved in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide and then added to potato dextrose agar medium just prior to dispensing it into petri dishes.5 mL medium with the compound in the desired test concentration was dispensed into 60 mm sterile petri-plates. After solidification, each plate was seeded with a 5 mm size mycelial disc taken from the periphery of an actively growing virulent culture plate. 15 Plates were incubated in growth chambers at 25° C temperature and 60% relative humidity for seven days and the radial growth was measured and compared to the one of the untreated inoculated control. Compounds 20 21 23 26 28 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 43 44 58 62 63 64 74 75 76 77 78 79 84 87 88 92 95 96 101 106 107 108 10920 110 111 115 116 117 118 120 122 123 124 125 126 127 129 131 132 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 142 143 144 145 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 160 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 180 181 183 184 185 204 205 206 229 230 243 244 245 246 264 267 25 269 270 271 272 274 275 280 281 283 at 300 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive pathogen growth. Green House Experiments: Example A: Phakopsora pachyrhizi test in soybean 30 The compounds were dissolved in 2% dimethyl sulfoxide / acetone and then mixed with water containing an emulsifier to a calibrated spray volume of 30 ml. The test solutions were poured into spray bottles for further applications. To test the preventive activity of compounds, healthy young soybean plants, raised in the greenhouse, were sprayed with the compounds preparations at the stated application rates inside the spray cabinets 35 using hollow cone nozzles. One day after treatment, the plants were inoculated with a suspension 101

[0102] containing 2 x105Phakopsora pachyrhizi conidia. The inoculated plants were then kept in a greenhouse chamber at 22-24 °C temperature and 80-90 % relative humidity for disease expression. A visual assessment of the compound’s performance was carried out by rating the disease severity (0- 100% scale) on treated plants 3, 7, 10 and 15 days after application. Efficacy (% control) of the 5 compounds was calculated by comparing the disease rating in the treatment with the one of the untreated, inoculated control plants. The compounds were also assessed for their plant compatibility by recording symptoms like necrosis, chlorosis and stunting. Compounds 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 26 28 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 48 4910 50 51 52 53 58 59 62 63 64 74 75 76 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 87 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 99 100 101 102 104 106 107 108 109 110 111 113 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 127 128 129 130 131 133 134 13515 136 137 138 139 140 143 144 145 148 149 150 151 154 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 184 186 187 188 189 191 192 194 195 197 198 199 200 201 202 204 205 206 207 209 212 223 229 230 231 239 24320 244 245 246 249 250 251 252 253 255 257 260 261 264 266 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 285 286 289 290 291 293 294 295 296 298 at 250 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive disease development. 25 Example B: Botrytis cinerea test in tomato The compounds were dissolved in 2% dimethyl sulfoxide / acetone and then mixed with water containing emulsifier to a calibrated spray volume of 30 mL. The test solutions were poured into spray bottles for further applications. To test the preventive activity of the compounds, healthy young tomato plants, raised in the greenhouse, 30 were sprayed with the compound preparation at the stated application rates inside the spray cabinets using hollow cone nozzles. One day after treatment, the plants were inoculated with a spore suspension containing 1.2x106Botrytis cinerea inoculum and 2% malt. The inoculated plants were then kept in a greenhouse chamber at 18-20 °C temperature and 90-100 % relative humidity for disease expression. A visual assessment of the compound’s performance was carried out by rating the disease severity (0- 35 100% scale) on treated plants 3, 7 and 10 days after application. Efficacy (% control) of the compounds was calculated by comparing the disease rating in the treatment with the one of the untreated, inoculated 102

[0103] control plants. The compounds were also assessed for their plant compatibility by recording symptoms like necrosis, chlorosis & stunting. Compounds 22 39 75 80 81 82 83 87 88 106 108 122 124 125 126 127 129 130 131 154 164 173 175 5 176 187 189 192 194 197 202 217 221 271 at 250 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive disease development. Example C: Fusarium culmorum test in Wheat The compounds were dissolved in 2% dimethyl sulfoxide / acetone and then mixed with water containing 10 emulsifier to a calibrated spray volume of 30 mL. The test solutions were poured into spray bottles for further applications. To test the preventive activity of compounds, healthy young wheat plants, raised in the greenhouse, were sprayed with the active compound preparation at the stated application rates inside the spray cabinets using hollow cone nozzles. One day after treatment, the plants were inoculated with a spore 15 suspension containing 2x106Fusarium culmorum inoculum with 2% malt. The inoculated plants were then kept in a greenhouse chamber at 24 °C temperature and 80-90 % relative humidity for disease expression. A visual assessment of the compound’s performance was carried out by rating the disease severity (0- 100% scale) on treated plants 3, 7, 10 and 15 days after application. Efficacy (% control) of the 20 compounds was calculated by comparing the disease rating in the treatment with the one of the untreated inoculated control plants. The compounds were also assessed for their plant compatibility by recording symptoms like necrosis, chlorosis and stunting. Compounds 48 51 54 65 91 92 93 177 190 194 244 259 260 261 268 269 at 250 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in 25 these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive disease development. Example D: Alternaria solani test in Tomato The compounds were dissolved in 2% DMSO / Acetone & then mixed with water to calibrated spray volume of 50ml. This 50ml spray solution was poured into the spray bottles for further applications. To test the preventive activity of compounds, healthy young Tomato plants raised in the greenhouse 30 were sprayed with active compound preparation at the stated application rates inside the Generation-3 spray cabinets using hallow cone nozzles. One day after treatment, the plants were inoculated with spore suspension (2% Malt) containing 0.24x106 Alternaria solani inoculum. Then they were kept in greenhouse chamber at 220C temperature & 80-90 % Relative Humidity for disease expression. 103

[0104] A visual assessment of compound’s performance was carried by rating the disease severity (0-100% scale) on treated plants on 3, 7 & 10 days after application. Efficacy (% control) of the compounds was calculated by comparing the disease rating in the treatment with untreated control. The spyayed plants were also assessed for compound’s phytotoxic effects by recording symptoms like necrosis, 5 chlorosis & stunting. Compounds 29 30 69 80 84 85 88 92 93 108 109 123 124 126 129 143 169 170 171 172 202 204 205 206 267 270 278 at 250 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive disease development. 10 Example E: Pyricularia oryzae test in Rice The compounds were dissolved in 2% DMSO / Acetone & then mixed with water to calibrated spray volume of 50ml. This 50ml spray solution was poured into the spray bottles for further applications. To test the preventive activity of compounds, healthy young rice seedlings / plants raised in the greenhouse were sprayed with active compound preparation at the stated application rates inside the 15 Generation-3 spray cabinets using hallowcone nozzles. One day after treatment, the plants were inoculated with spore suspension containing 1.4x106Pyricularia oryzae inoculum. The inoculated plants then were kept in greenhouse chamber at 240C temperature & 95% Relative Humidity for disease expression. A visual assessment of compound’s performance was carried by rating the disease severity (0-100% 20 scale) on treated plants on 15 days after application. Efficacy (% control) of the compounds was calculated by comparing the disease rating in the treatment with untreated control. The spayed plants were also assessed for compound’s phytotoxic effects by recording symptoms like necrosis, chlorosis & stunting. Compounds 66 83 194 216 220 221 224 225 226 227 285 at 250 25 ppm gave more than or equal to 70 % control in these tests when compared to the untreated check which showed extensive disease development. Having described the invention with reference to certain preferred aspects, other aspects will become apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, both to materials and methods, may be practiced without 30 departing from the scope of the invention. 104

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A compound of formula (I),5 wherein, R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; R2is selected from C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C8-cycloalkyl; or R1and R2together with the nitrogen atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered 10 saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring optionally contains one to three additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atom; R1ais selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and C1-C4-haloalkyl; R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; 15 R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated 20 carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form an oxo group; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; 25 R7is selected from the group consisting of C1-C8-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and C7-C12-aralkyl; wherein said C1-C8-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C7-C12-aralkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; 105R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- 5 haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy; X represents halogen; or salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof.

2. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R1is selected from hydrogen or C1-C4- alkyl. 10 3. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R2is selected from C1-C4-alkyl or C3- C6-cycloalkyl.

4. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R3is selected from the group consisting of X, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1-C3-haloalkoxy and CC6-cycloalkyl.

5. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R4is selected from the group consisting15 of hydrogen, X, cyano, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, and C3-C6- cycloalkyl.

6. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R5and R6are hydrogen; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a four-membered saturated 20 heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one or two heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; or R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form an oxo group.

7. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R7is selected from the group consisting25 of C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5 to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C4- alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from R7b.

8. The compound of formula (I) according to claims 1 or 7, wherein R7ais selected from phenyl or 30 benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4- haloalkoxy.

9. The compound of formula (I) according to claims 1 or 7, wherein R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl and C1-C4-haloalkoxy. 10610. A composition for controlling and / or preventing phytopathogenic fungi, comprising a compound of formula (I), salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof, as claimed in claim 1 and one or more inert carriers, wherein the concentration of compound of formula (I) ranges from 10 to 90% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. 5 11. A combination comprising the compound of formula (I), salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N-oxides thereof as claimed in claim 1 and one or more active compatible compounds selected from fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, biopesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, nutrients or fertilizers.

12. Use of the compounds of formula (I), salts, stereo-isomers, polymorphs, metal complexes or N- 10 oxides thereof as claimed in claim 1, composition thereof as claimed in claim 10 or combination thereof as claimed in claim 11, for controlling or preventing agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops against phytopathogenic fungi.

13. A method for controlling or preventing infestations of useful plants by phytopathogenic fungi in agricultural crops and / or horticultural crops, wherein said compound of formula (I), salts, stereo- 15 isomers, metal complexes, polymorphs or N-oxide thereof as claimed in claim 1, composition thereof as claimed in claim 10 or combination thereof as claimed in claim 11, is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or to a locus thereof.

14. A compound of formula (A) or salts or stereoisomers thereof,20 wherein, R1, R1a, R2, R3, R4, R5and R6are as defined in claim 1.

15. A compound of formula (A-1),wherein, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1- 25 C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R4is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; 107R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently 5 selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; and R7is selected from the group consisting of C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C3-C8-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents 10 independently selected from R7b; R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- 15 haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy.

16. A compound of formula (A-2) or salts or stereoisomers thereof,wherein, R3is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C3-alkyl, C1-C3-alkoxy, C1-C3-haloalkyl, C1- 20 C3-haloalkoxy and C3-C6-cycloalkyl; R4is selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1- C6-haloalkoxy and C3-C8-cycloalkyl; R5and R6are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; or 25 R5and R6together with the atom to which they are connected form a three- to six-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, wherein said heterocyclic ring contains one to three heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; A is selected from oxygen or sulfur; 108and R7is selected from the group consisting of C3-C8-cycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring, -(C=O)-R7a, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl and benzyl; wherein said C3-C8-cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R7b; 5 R7ais selected from phenyl or benzyl; wherein said phenyl or benzyl ring are unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from X, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6- haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or C1-C6-haloalkoxy; R7bis selected from the group consisting of X, cyano, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6- haloalkyl and C1-C6-haloalkoxy. 10 109

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