NEW MATERIAL:A diphenyl ether derivative of formula I [X and Z are H or halogen; Y is halogen, trifluoromethyl, etc.; R is group of formula III (R1 and R2 are lower alkyl, H, etc. or together may form a saturated cycloaliphatic ring), etc.].
EXAMPLE: 2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-[ ( 1,4-dioxaspiro-[4.4]nonan-2-yl )methoxy ]-4'-nitrodiphenyl ether.
USE: Herbicide effective to a wide variety of weeds such as true-grass weeds and broad leaved weeds by soil treatment as well as foliar treatment. Completely free from phytotoxicity to transplanted rice plant, such as browning of leaf sheath, insufficient tillering, etc.
PROCESS: The compound of formula I is prepared by reacting a compound of formula II with an alkali such as KOH, NaOH, etc. in a proper solvent such as dioxane, etc.
TAKENAKA MASAAKI
KAWAGUCHI YOSHIO
TAKAMURA SEIJI
NISHIMURA MINORU
WATANABE MASANORI