Synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives and their antifungal activities against phytopathogenic fungi in vitro.

5,6-Diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (3) and 6,7-diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (4) were chemoselectively synthesized by the condensation of isoflavone (1) and 3-aminopyrazole (2). 5,6-Diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (3) were obtained via microwave irradiation, and 6,7-diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (4) were obtained via conventional heating. In addition, the pyrimidine derivatives 3 and 4 were evaluated against five phytopathogenic fungi (Cytospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, and Fusarium solani) using the mycelium growth rate method. Some of them were effective in inhibiting the growth of the five phytopathogenic fungi. For instance, 6,7-diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (4j) inhibited the growth of A. solani with an [Formula: see text] value of 17.11 [Formula: see text], and 6,7-diarylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (4h) inhibited the growth of both Cytospora sp. and F. solani with [Formula: see text] values of 27.32 and 21.04 [Formula: see text], respectively. A chemoselective synthesis of 5,6-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 3 derivatives in excellent yields was performed under microwave irradiation and 6,7-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 4 were also prepared using heating method. The antifungal properties of 3 and 4 were tested against Cytospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, and Fusarium solani.