The present invention relates to a novel a process for the preparation of the compound of the general formula (I):wherein R1and R2are independently H or C1-6alkyl, which comprises treating with a reducing agent either a compound of the general formula (II):wherein R1and R2have the meanings given for the compound of the formula (I), R3is H or C1-4alkyl and Ph is phenyl, or a compound of the general formula (III):wherein R1, R2, R3and Ph have the meanings given for the compound of the formula (II), the reducing agent being effective to cleave the benzyl moiety Ph- CH(R3)- from the benzylamino moiety PhCH(R3)NH- in the compound of the formula (II) or in the compound of the formula (III) to leave an amino group and, in addition, in the case of the compound of the formula (III), to reduce both the 2,3-double bond and the double bond joining the R1R2C-moiety to the 9-position of the benzonorbornene ring to single bonds. It also relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds (II) and (III) and their precursors and to the compounds (II) and (III) themselves and certain of their precursors, which are novel compounds. The compounds (I) are useful for the preparation of various fungicidal heterocyclyl-carboxylic acid benzonorbornen-5-yl-amides.本發明關於一種製備通式(I)化合物的新穎方法，其中R1及R2獨立為H或C1－6烷基，該方法包括以還原劑處理通式(II)化合物：其中R1及R2具有就式(I)化合物所提供的意義，R3為H或C1－4烷基及Ph為苯基，或通式(III)化合物：其中R1、R2、R3及Ph具有就式(II)化合物所提供的意義，該還原劑可有效自式(II)化合物或式(III)化合物中的苯甲胺基部分PhCH(R3)NH－裂解苯甲基部分Ph－CH(R3)－，留下胺基，此外，在式(III)化合物的例子中，可有效使2,3－雙鍵及連接R1R2C－部分至苯并降莰烯環的9－位置之雙鍵二者還原成單鍵。本發明也關於製備化合物(II)與(III)及其前驅體的方法，並關於化合物(II)及(III)本身及其特定的前驅體，彼等為新穎化合物。化合物(I)有用於製備各種殺真菌的雜環基羧酸苯并降莰烯－5－基醯胺類。
