Pydiflumetofen is a pyrazole amide compound discovered in 2008 by Syngenta researchers after 10 years, $350 million and screening of 9,105 compounds. The product was first launched in Argentina in 2017 and entered the Chinese market in 2020. It is the fourth SDHI fungicide successfully launched by Syngenta after isopyrazam (2010), Sedaxane (2011) and benzovindiflupyr (2012).

Product introduction
Product name: Pydiflumetofen
Preferred IUPAC name:
3-(Difluoromethyl)-N-methoxy-1-methyl-N-[1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-2-propanyl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide
CAS Number: 1228284-64-7 check
Chemical formula: C16H16Cl3F2N3O2
Molar mass: 426.67

Mechanism of action
Pydiflumetofen is a pathogen respiration inhibitor that inhibits the function of mitochondria by interfering with the tricarboxylic acid cycle on complex II of the respiratory electron transport chain, preventing them from producing energy, inhibiting the growth of pathogens, and ultimately leading to their death. This product has no cross-resistance with triazole and strobilurin fungicides.

Application
Pydiflumetofen is highly effective and broad-spectrum, and is used for cereals (including wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, etc.), corn, soybeans, vegetables, peanuts, rapeseed, quinoa, melons, dry peas and beans, fruit trees, specialty crops, lawns, ornamental plants, etc., to control diseases caused by many pathogens such as Fusarium spp., Cercospora spp., Botrytis spp., Alternaria spp., such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, brown spot, target spot, web spot, moire, leaf blight, gray mold, fusarium head blight, seedling rot, sclerotinia, black shank, early blight, black spot, scab, etc. It is mainly used by foliar spraying and is also used for seed treatment.

Advantage
According to Syngenta, Pydiflumetofen has outstanding performance in four aspects: broad spectrum, high efficiency, durability and stability.

• First, broad spectrum -- Since its launch, Pydiflumetofen has been registered for more than 30 diseases of more than 100 crops worldwide. The unique N-methoxy structure in its molecule enables it to show excellent activity against gray mold, Fusarium, Sclerotinia, etc., breaking the boundaries of traditional SDHI fungicides and being able to prevent and control 60% of crop diseases other than oomycetes and bacteria.
• Second, high efficiency -- The unique pyrazole amide group in the chemical structure brings higher antibacterial activity. Compared with similar fungicides, the control activity of Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium graminearum and Septoria can reach up to 8 to 30 times, and the disease prevention is more thorough.
• Third, durability -- The lipophilic groups in the chemical structure can quickly and tightly bind to the wax layer of the leaves. 80% enter the wax layer of the leaves 6 hours after application, and a small amount enters the plant body at the same time, which has better protection and can calmly cope with various external environments, ensuring a more lasting prevention effect.
• Fourth, stability -- Excellent resistance to rain erosion. After rain erosion 1 hour after application, the retention of active ingredients is 3 to 5 times higher than that of conventional agents, and it is stable under different environmental conditions.

Market prospects
Since its launch in 2017, the market for Pydiflumetofen has grown rapidly. Sales in 2021 will reach approximately US$300 million. Currently, the product has been registered and marketed in more than 50 countries around the world, and is sold well in the United States, Canada, China, Argentina and other countries. Syngenta expects that the annual peak sales of Pydiflumetofen will exceed US$1 billion, and it is expected to become another leading product in the fungicide market after azoxystrobin.