Novel substituted nitrodiphenyl ethers, herbicidal compositions containing them, a process for the preparation of the nitrodiphenyl ethers and the use thereof for combating weeds

摘要

Novel compounds are provided which exhibit activity as herbicides for combating weeds. The novel compounds have the formula:wherein X is hydrogen, halo, trihalomethyl, alkyl; nitro or cyano; Y is hydrogen or halo; Z is halo, trihalomethyl or pentahaloethyl; W is nitro, cyano, halo or a radical of the formula S(O)_n, R wherein R is (C₁-C₆)alkyl or trihaloalkyl, n is 0, 1 or 2; R¹ is hydrogen or an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl radical; R² is hydrogen or (Ci-C₆)alkyl; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; R³ is an optionally substituted group which is alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, formyl aminocarbonyl, mononuclear aryloxy or carboxy (including agronomically acceptable amides, esters or salts thereof); or R¹ and R² may be joined to form, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a heterocyclic ring containing one nitrogen atom and from 4 to 8 nuclear carbon atoms.