Optically active antifungal azoles. VI. Synthesis and antifungal activity of N-[(1R,2R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazo l-1- yl)propyl]-N'-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H,4H)-1,2,4-triazolones and 5(1H,4H)-tetrazolones.

A new series of optically active antifungal azoles, N-[(1R,2R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-tria zol-1- yl)propyl]-N'-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H,4H)-1,2,4-triazolones (1,2) and 5(1H,4H)-tetrazolones (3), were prepared from the triflate derivative of (1S)-1-[(2R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-oxiranyl]ethanol (13) by an SN2 displacement reaction with the anion of an azolone (17-19) and subsequent ring-opening reaction with 1H-1,2,4-triazole. The optically active oxiranylethanol 13 was synthesized from methyl (R)-lactate in a stereo-controlled manner. The azolones 1-3 prepared showed potent antifungal activities in vitro and in vivo.