To obtain a new compound having excellent herbicidal activity.
This compound is expressed by the formula I [R1 is H, a 1-6C alkyl, a 4-7C cycloalkyl, a 2-6C alkenyl, a 2-6C alkynyl, a 1-6C haloalkyl, etc.; R2 is a group of the formula II (E. is C or N; X is a halogen, a 1-4C alkyl, nitro, etc.; (n) is 0-2), etc.], e.g. 2-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-propenyl]-2- isopropylmalononitrile. The compound of the formula I can be produced by reacting a compound of the formula III with a compound of the formula IV (W' is a halogen) in the absence of solvent or in a solvent (e.g. acetone) in the presence or absence of a base (e.g. potassium carbonate) at -20 to +200°C. The compound has low phytotoxicity and exhibits especially strong herbicidal activity on cocksure grass which is the most harmful weed in the culture of paddy rice plant. It is also effective against large crab-glass, green foxtail, umbrella sedge, smooth pigweed, monochoria, bulrush, etc.
IKEDA OSAMU
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