Description

The present invention relates to benzoxaborole compounds and to their use as herbicides. The present invention also relates to agrochemical compositions for crop protection and to a method for controlling unwanted vegetation.

Benzoxaboroles of the following formula and their use on the pharma field are described in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2912), 1299-1307.

An application as a herbicide of the above mentioned compounds is not mentioned in the cited state of the art documents.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide compounds having improved herbicidal action, in particular good herbicide activity at low application rates. Moreover, the herbicides should be sufficiently compatible with crop plants for commercial utilization.

These and further objects are achieved by the use of benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), defined below, and by their agriculturally suitable salts.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a use of compounds of formula (I)

A is a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO ₂ , N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is selected from the group consisting of H and Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

R ² is selected from the group consisting of H and Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

R ³ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, OH, CN, amino, NO ₂ , C ₁ -

C6-alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, Ci-C6-alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyloxy, C ₂ -C ₆ - alkynyloxy, (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-Ci-C6-alkyl, (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-Ci-C6-alkoxy, (C ₁ -C ₆ - alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, where the aliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, OH, CN, amino, NO ₂ , C ₁ -

C ₆ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyloxy, C ₂ -C ₆ - alkynyloxy, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, (C ₁ -C ₆ - alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, where the aliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

R ⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, OH, CN, amino, NO ₂ , C ₁ -

C ₆ -alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyloxy, C ₂ -C ₆ - alkynyloxy, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, (C ₁ -C ₆ - alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, where the aliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

R ⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, Ci-C6-alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - alkynyl, (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-Ci-C6-alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, (C ₁ -C ₆ - alkoxy)-C ₃ -C ₆ -alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-Ci-C6-alkyl, where the aliphatic and phenyl parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

R ⁷ is selected from the group consisting of H, Ci-C6-alkyl, C ₃ -C ₆ -alkenyl, C ₃ -C ₆ - alkynyl;

including their agriculturally acceptable salts for controlling unwanted vegetation.

The present invention also relates to the compounds of the formula (I) as defined in claim 1 with the proviso that

if A is cyclohexane, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are H

R ⁶ is not H or CH ₃ .

The present invention also relates to agrochemical compositions comprising a herbicidal active amount of at least one compound (I) as defined above and at least one inert liquid and/or solid carrier and, if appropriate, at least one surface-active substances.

The present invention also relates to method for controlling unwanted vegetation which comprises allowing a herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound of the formula I or of an agriculturally suitable salt or N-oxide thereof as defined to act on plants, their seed and/or their habitat. Application can be done before, during and/or after, preferably during and/or after, the emergence of the unwanted plants.

Further embodiments of the present invention are evident from the claims, the description and the examples. It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and still to be illustrated below of the subject matter of the invention can be applied not only in the combination given in each particular case but also in other combinations, without leaving the scope of the invention.

As used herein, the terms "controlling" and "combating" are synonyms.

As used herein, the terms "undesirable vegetation", "unwanted vegetation",“unwanted plants" and "harmful plants" are synonyms.

In the context of substituents, the term“one or more substitutents” means that the number of substituents is e.g. from 1 to 10, in particular 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

If the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) as described herein is capable of forming geometrical isomers, for example E/Z isomers, the invention relates to both the pure isomers and mixtures thereof. Likeweise, the invention relates to the use of the pure pure isomers and to the use of their mixtures and to compositions containing the pure isomers or mixtures thereof.

If the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) as described herein have one or more centres of chirality and, as a consequence, are present as enantiomers or diastereomers, the invention relates to both the pure enantiomers or diastereomers, and mixtures thereof. Likeweise, the invention relates to the use of the pure enantiomers or diasteremers and to the use of the mixtures thereof and to compositions containing the pure enantiomers or diastereomers or mixtures thereof.

If the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) as described herein have ionizable functional groups, they can also be employed in the form of their agriculturally acceptable salts. Suitable are, in general, the salts of those cations and the acid addition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively, have no adverse effect on the activity of the active

compounds.

Preferred cations are the ions of the alkali metals, preferably of lithium, sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably of calcium and magnesium, and of the transition metals, preferably of manganese, copper, zinc and iron, further ammonium and substituted ammonium in which one to four hydrogen atoms are replaced by Ci-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-Ci-C4-alkyl, (C1-C4- alkoxy)-Ci-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-(Ci-C4-alkoxy)-Ci-C4-alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, preferably

ammonium, methylammonium, isopropylammonium, dimethylammonium,

diisopropylammonium, trimethylammonium, heptylammonium, dodecylammonium,

tetradecylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, 2- hydroxyethyl-ammonium (olamine salt), 2-(2-hydroxyeth-1-oxy)eth-1-ylammonium

(diglycolamine salt), di(2-hydroxyeth-1-yl)-ammonium (diolamine salt), tris(2- hydroxyethyl)ammonium (trolamine salt), tris(2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium,

benzyltrimethylammonium, benzyltriethylammonium, N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium (choline salt), furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4-alkyl)sulfonium, such as trimethylsulfonium, and sulfoxonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4-alkyl)sulfoxonium, and finally the salts of polybasic amines such as N,N-bis-(3-aminopropyl)methylamine and

diethylenetriamine.

Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide,

hydrogensulfate, methylsulfate, sulfate, dihydrogenphosphate, hydrogenphosphate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate, hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate and also the anions of Ci-C ₄ -alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate.

Further embodiments of the present invention are evident from the claims, the description and the examples. It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and still to be illustrated below of the subject matter of the invention can be applied not only in the combination given in each particular case but also in other combinations, without leaving the scope of the invention.

The organic moieties mentioned in the definition of the variables, e.g. A, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ ,

R ⁷ are - like the term halogen - collective terms for individual enumerations of the individual group members. The term halogen denotes in each case fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

All hydrocarbon chains, i.e. all alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, (alkyl)amino, di(alkyl)amino, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, (alky)carbonyl, (alkoxy)carbonyl chains can be straight-chain or branched, the prefix C _n -C _m denoting in each case the possible number of carbon atoms in the group. The same applies to composed radicals, such as cycloalkylalkyl and phenylalkyl.

Examples of such meanings are:

Ci-C ₄ -alkyl and also the Ci-C ₄ -alkyl moieties of Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy, Ci-C ₄ -alkylthio, Ci-C ₄ - alkylsulfonyl, (Ci-C ₄ -alkyl)carbonyl, (Ci-C ₄ -alkyl)carbonyl, (Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy)carbonyl, (Ci-C ₄ - alkyljcarbonyloxy, Ci-C ₄ -alkyoxy-Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl-Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₄ - alkylaminojcarbonyl, di(Ci-C ₄ -alkyl)aminocarbonyl, (Ci-C ₄ -alkylamino)sulfonyl, di(Ci-C ₄ - alkyljaminosulfonyl or phenyl-Ci-C ₄ -alkyl: for example CH3, C2H5, n-propyl, CH(CH3)2, n-butyl, CH(CH ₃ )-C ₂ H ₅ , CH ₂ -CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ and C(CH ₃ ) ₃ ;

Ci-C ₆ -alkyl and also the Ci-C ₆ -alkyl moieties of Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, Ci-C ₆ -alkylthio, C1-C6- alkylsulfonyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkyl)carbonyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkyl)carbonyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)carbonyl, (C1-C6- alkyljcarbonyloxy, Ci-C ₆ -alkyoxy-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl-Ci-C6-alkyl, phenyl(Ci-C ₆ - alkyljaminocarbonyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkylamino)carbonyl, di(Ci-C ₆ -alkyl)aminocarbonyl, (C1-C6- alkylaminojsulfonyl, di(Ci-C ₆ -alkyl)aminosulfonyl or phenyl-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl: Ci-C ₄ -alkyl as mentioned above, and also, for example, n-pentyl, 1 -methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1 -ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1 ,1 -dimethylpropyl, 1 ,2-dimethylpropyl, 1 - methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1 , 1 -dimethylbutyl, 1 ,2- dimethylbutyl, 1 ,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1 - ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1 ,1 ,2-trimethylpropyl, 1 ,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1 -ethyl-1 -methylpropyl or 1 - ethyl-2-methylpropyl, preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1 ,1—

dimethylethyl, n-pentyl or n-hexyl;

C2-C6-alkenyl and also the C2-C6-alkenyl moieties of (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6-alkenyl: a linear or branched ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and a C=C-double bond in any position, such as ethenyl, 1 -propenyl, 2-propenyl, 1 -methyl-ethenyl, 1 - butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1 -methyl-1 -propenyl, 2-methyl-1 -propenyl, 1 -methyl-2-propenyl, 2- methyl-2-propenyl, 1 -pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1 -methyl-1 -butenyl, 2-methyl- 1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1- methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1 ,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1 ,2-dimethyl- 1-propenyl, 1 ,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1 -ethyl-1 -propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2- hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1 -methyl-1 -pentenyl, 2-methyl-1-pentenyl, 3-methyl-

1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1 -pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2- pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-

4-pentenyl, 1 ,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1 ,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1 ,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1 ,2-dimethyl-

2-butenyl, 1 ,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-

3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1 -ethyl-1 -butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1- ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-1 -butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1 ,1 ,2-trimethyl-2- propenyl, 1 -ethyl-1 -methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-1 -propenyl and 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2- propenyl;

C2-C6-alkynyl and also the C2-C6-alkynyl moieties of (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6-alkynyl: linear or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and containing at least one C-C-triple bond, such as ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl (propargyl), 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3- butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl and the like;

Ci-C ₄ -haloalkyl: a Ci-C ₄ -alkyl radical as mentioned above which is partially or fully substituted by fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine, for example, chloro-methyl,

dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, bromomethyl, iodomethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2- chloroethyl, 2-bromoethyl, 2-iodoethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2- fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl,

pentafluoroethyl, 2-fluoropropyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 2,2-difluoropropyl, 2,3-difluoropropyl, 2- chloropropyl, 3-chloropropyl, 2,3-dichloropropyl, 2-bromopropyl, 3-bromopropyl, 3,3,3- trifluoropropyl, 3,3,3-trichloropropyl, 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl, heptafluoropropyl, 1- (fluoromethyl)-2-fluoroethyl, 1-(chloromethyl)-2-chloroethyl, 1-(bromomethyl)-2-bromoethyl, 4- fluorobutyl, 4-chlorobutyl, 4-bromobutyl, nonafluorobutyl, 1 ,1 ,2,2,-tetrafluoroethyl and 1- trifluoromethyl-1 ,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl;

Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl: Ci-C ₄ -haloalkyl as mentioned above, and also, for example,

5-fluoropentyl, 5-chloropentyl, 5-bromopentyl, 5-iodopentyl, undecafluoropentyl, 6-fluorohexyl,

6-chlorohexyl, 6-bromohexyl, 6-iodohexyl and dodecafluorohexyl;

C3-C6-cycloalkyl: monocyclic saturated hydrocarbons having 3 to 6 ring members, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl;

Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy: for example methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy butoxy, 1- methylpropoxy, 2-methylpropoxy and 1 ,1-dimethylethoxy;

Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy and also the Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy moieties of (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)carbonyl, (C1-C6- alkoxy)sulfonyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6- alkenyl, (Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6-alkynyl: Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy as mentioned above, and also, for example, pentoxy, 1-methylbutoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, 3-methoxylbutoxy, 1 ,1-dimethylpropoxy, 1 ,2- dimethylpropoxy, 2,2-dimethylpropoxy, 1-ethylpropoxy, hexoxy, 1-methylpentoxy, 2- methylpentoxy, 3-methylpentoxy, 4-methylpentoxy, 1 ,1-dimethylbutoxy, 1 ,2-dimethylbutoxy, 1 ,3- dimethylbutoxy, 2,2-dimethylbutoxy, 2,3-dimethylbutoxy, 3,3-dimethylbutoxy, 1-ethylbutoxy, 2- ethylbutoxy, 1 ,1 ,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1 ,2,2-trimethylpropoxy, 1 -ethyl-1 -methylpropoxy and 1- ethyl-2-methylpropoxy;

Ci-C ₄ -haloalkoxy: a Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy radical as mentioned above which is partially or fully substituted by fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine, for example, chloro-methoxy, dichloromethoxy, trichloromethoxy, fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chlorofluoromethoxy, dichlorofluoromethoxy, chlorodifluoromethoxy-2-fluoroethoxy, 2- chloroethoxy, 2-bromoethxoy, 2,2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy,

pentafluoroethoxy, 2-fluoropropoxy, 3-fluoropropoxy, 2,2-difluoropropoxy, 2,3-difluoropropoxy, 2-chloropropoxy, 3-chloropropoxy, 2,3-dichloropropoxy, 3,3,3-trifluoropropoxy, 3,3,3- trichloropropoxy, 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy, heptafluoropropoxy, 1-(fluoromethyl)-2- fluoroethoxy, 4-fluorobutoxy, nonafluorobutoxy, 1 ,1 ,2,2,-tetrafluoroethoxy and 1-trifluoromethyl- 1 ,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy;

Ci-C ₆ -haloalkoxy: Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy as mentioned above: Ci-C ₄ -haloalkoxy as mentioned above, and also, for example, 5-fluoropentyl, 5-chloropentyl, 5-bromopentyl, 5-iodopentyl, undecafluoropentyl, 6-fluorohexyl, 6-chlorohexyl, 6-bromohexyl, 6-iodohexyl and

dodecafluorohexyl;

C2-C6-alkenyloxy: C2-C6-alkenyl as defined above, which is bound via an oxygen atom, such as ethenyloxy (vinyloxy), 1-propenyloxy, 2-propenyloxy (allyloxy), 1-butenyloxy, 2- butenyloxy, 3-butenyloxy 1-methyl-2-propenyloxy and the like;

C2-C6-alkynyloxy: C2-C6-alkynyl as defined above, which is bound via an oxygen atom, such as ethynyloxy, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyloxy (propargyloxy), 1-butynyloxy, 2-butynyloxy, 3- butynyloxy 1-methyl-2-propynyloxy and the like;

(Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl: Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, in particular Ci-C ₄ -alkyl as defined above, such as methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, wherein 1 hydrogen atom is replaced by Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy as defined above, examples including methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, n-propoxymethyl, butoxymethyl, 1- methoxyethyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, 1-(n-propoxy)ethyl, 1-butoxyethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, 2-(n-propoxy)ethyl, 2-butoxyethyl, 2-methoxypropyl, 2-ethoxypropyl, 2-(n-propoxy)propyl, 2- butoxypropyl;

(Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy: Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, in particular Ci-C ₄ -alkoxy as defined above, such as methoxy or ethoxy, wherein 1 hydrogen atom is replaced by Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy as defined above, examples including methoxymethoxy, ethoxymethoxy, n-propoxymethoxy,

butoxymethoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, 2-ethoxyethoxy, 2-(n-propoxy)ethoxy and 2-butoxyethoxy;

(Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6-alkenyl: C2-C6-alkenyl, in particular C2-C ₄ -alkenyl as defined above, such as ethenyl, propenyl, 1-butenyl or 2-butenyl, wherein 1 hydrogen atom is replaced by Ci- C ₆ -alkoxy as defined above;

(Ci-C6-alkoxy)-C2-C6-alkynyl: C2-C6-alkynyl, in particular C2-C ₄ -alkynyl as defined above, such as ethynyl, propynyl or 2-butynyl, wherein 1 hydrogen atom is replaced by Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy as defined above; phenyl-C-i-C ₆ -alkyl: Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, in particular Ci-C ₄ -alkyl as defined above, such as methyl or ethyl, wherein 1 hydrogen atom is replaced by phenyl, examples including benzyl, 1 - phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl, 1 -phenylpropyl, 2-phenylpropyl, 1 -phenyl-1 -methylethyl etc.

The preferred embodiments of the invention mentioned herein below have to be understood as being preferred either independently from each other or in combination with one another.

Particular groups of embodiments of the invention relate to those benzoxaboroles of formula (I), wherein the variables A, R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ either independently of one another or in combination with one another, have the following meanings:

Particular groups of embodiments relate to the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), wherein

Further particular groups of embodiments relate to the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), wherein:

A is a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is selected from the group consisting of H and Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

preferably, H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl;

in particular H, CH ₃ , CH2CH ₃ ;

especially CH3;

more especially H.

Further particular groups of embodiments relate to the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), wherein:

R ² is selected from the group consisting of H and Ci-C6-alkyl;

preferably, H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl;

in particular H, CH ₃ , CH2CH ₃ ;

especially CH3;

more especially H.

Further particular groups of embodiments relate to the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), wherein;

R ³ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C2- (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated; preferably H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C2- (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

in particular H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl; more particularly H, Cl, F, Ci-C4-alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -haloalkyl;

even more particularly H, Cl, and F;

especially H.

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C ₂ - (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated; preferably H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C ₂ - (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

in particular H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl;

more particularly H, Cl, F, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -haloalkyl;

even more particularly H, Cl, F, CF3, CH3;

especially H, F, Cl, CF3.

R ⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, C ₂ - (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated; preferably H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (C1-C6- alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

in particular H, halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl;

more particularly H, Cl, F, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, Ci-C ₄ -haloalkyl;

even more particularly H, Cl, F, CH3;

especially H, Cl, F.

R ⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

preferably H, halogen, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl, (Ci-C ₆ -alkoxy)-Ci-C ₆ -alkyl, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic parts of the aforementioned radicals are unsubstituted, partly or completely halogenated;

in particular H, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

more particularly H, Ci-C ₄ -alkyl;

even more particularly H, CH3, CFhCFh;

especially H, CH3.

Particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is hydrogen;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is not H;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

More particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is hydrogen;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl and Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

Even more particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is hydrogen;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of halogen and Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

Especially preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is hydrogen;

R ² is hydrogen; R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is Cl or F;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

Further, particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is CH ₃ ;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is not H;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

More particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is CH ₃ ;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of halogen, Ci-C ₆ -alkyl and Ci-C ₆ -haloalkyl;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

Even more particularly preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is CH ₃ ;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of halogen and Ci-C ₆ -alkyl;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H. Especially preferred are the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) wherein

A is 4- to 7-membered carbocycle or a fused saturated or unsaturated, 4- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms or heteroatom moieties, selected from O, S, SO, SO2, N or NR ⁷ as ring members,

R ¹ is CH3;

R ² is hydrogen;

R ³ is as defined above;

R ⁴ is Cl or F;

R ⁵ is as defined above; and

R ⁶ is H.

Particular preference is given to benzoxaborole compounds of formula I. a, l.b, l.c, l.d and l.e:

Table A-1 : Compounds of formula I. a, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.a.A-1 .1 - l.a.A-1 .96).

Table A-2: Compounds of formula l.b, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.b.A-2.1 - l.b.A-2.96).

Table A-3: Compounds of formula l.c, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.c.A-3.1 - l.c.A-3.96). Table A-4: Compounds of formula l.d, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.d.A-4.1 - l.d.A-4.96).

Table A-5: Compounds of formula l.e, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.e.A-5.1 - l.e.A-5.96).

Table A-6: Compounds of formula l.f, where R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ are defined the rows of table A (l.f.A-6.1 - l.f.A-6.96).

Table A:

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) according to the invention can be prepared by standard processes of organic chemistry, for example by the following processes:

Anellated benzaldehydes corresponding to (II) are known (e.g CAS-numbers 420802-37-5, 137987-77-0, 2089861-40-3, 2092080-77-6, 21 10359-08-3, 857081-99-3) or can be prepared in analogy to the procedures described for the known examples.

The benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV), where A, R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁶ and R are as defined above, can be prepared by reacting a benzaldehyde (II), wherein X is OSO2CF ₃ , Cl, Br or I, with a tetraalkoxydiborane as depicted in the following scheme 1 : Scheme 1 :

The reaction can be performed analogous to known procedures (Miyaura Borylation; see e.g.: Li, Pengbin et al, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 12(22), 3604-3610; 2014 Fang, Hao et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 46(10), 1671-1674; 2005)

Different tetraalkoxydiboranes can be used, preferentially 4,4,4',4',5,5,5',5'-octamethyl-2,2'-bi-1 , 3,2-dioxaborolane or 5,5,5',5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bi-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinane.

The reaction is usually carried out in at temperatures between -20 to 100°C in an inert organic solvent. Preferably the reaction is carried out at temperatures between 0°C to 100°C.

The reaction can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under elevated pressure, if appropriate, under an inert gas, continuously or batchwise.

In one embodiment of the process according to the invention, the benzaldehyde of formula (II) with the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) are used in equimolar amounts.

In another embodiment of the process according to the invention, the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) are used in excess with regard to the benzaldehyde of formula (II).

Preferably the molar ratio of tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) to the benzaldehyde of formula (II) is in the range from 2 : 1 to 1 : 1 , preferably 1.5 : 1 to 1 : 1 , especially preferred 1.2 : 1.

The reaction of the benzaldehde of formula (II) with the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) is usually carried out in an organic solvent. Suitable in principle are all solvents which are capable of dissolving the benzaldehyde of formula (II) and the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) at least partly and preferably fully under reaction conditions. Examples of suitable solvents are aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, nitromethane and mixtures of Cs-Cs-alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, cresols, o-, m- and p-xylene, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, 1 ,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and chlorobenzene, ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tert. -butyl methylether (TBME), dioxane, anisole and tetrahydrofuran (THF), esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; nitriles such as acetonitrile and propionitrile, as well as dipolar aprotic solvents such as sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), 1 ,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), N,N'-dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 1 -methyl-2 pyrrolidinone (NMP). Preferred solvent is DMF as defined above. The term solvent as used herein also includes mixtures of two or more of the above compounds. The reaction of the the benzaldehyde of formula (II) and the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) is usually carried out in the presence of a base. Examples of suitable bases include metal- containing bases and nitrogen-containing bases. Examples of suitable metal-containing bases are inorganic compounds such as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and other metal hydroxides, such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxide, and other metal oxides, such as lithium oxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide, iron oxide, silver oxide; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydrides such as lithium hydride, sodium hydride, potassium hydride and calcium hydride, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal formates, acetates and other metal salts of carboxylic acids, such as sodium formate, sodium benzoate, lithium acetate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, magnesium acetate, and calcium acetate; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal carbonates such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and calcium carbonate, as well as alkali metal hydrogen carbonates (bicarbonates) such as lithium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal phosphates such as sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate and calcium phosphate; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal alkoxides such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium tert-butoxide, potassium tert-pentoxide and dimethoxymagnesium; and furthermore organic bases, such as tertiary amines such as tri-Ci-C ₆ -alkylamines, for example triethylamine, trimethylamine, N-ethyldiisopropylamine, and N-methylpiperidine, pyridine, substituted pyridines such as collidine, lutidine, N-methylmorpholine and also bicyclic amines such as 1 ,8- diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1 ,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN). Preferred bases are alkali metal and alkaline earth metal alkoxides as defined above. The term base as used herein also includes mixtures of two or more, preferably two of the above compounds. Particular preference is given to the use of one base. The bases can be used in excess, preferably from 1 to 10, especially preferred from 2 to 4 base equivalents based on the benzaldehyde of formula (II), and they may also be used as the solvent.

The reaction of the the benzaldehyde of formula (II) and the tetraalkoxydiborane of formula (III) is carried out in the presence of a catalyst. Examples of suitable catalysts are Palladium complexes like tetrakistriphenylphoshine palladium, 1 ,T-

Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenedichloropalladium(ll), Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium or Palladium acetate.

Preferably the molar ratio of the benzaldehyde of formula (II) and the palladium catalyst is in the range from 10 : 1 to 1000 : 1 , preferably 120 : 1 to 100 : 1 , especially preferred 50 : 1.

The end of the reaction can easily be determined by the skilled worker by means of routine methods.

The reaction mixtures are worked up in a customary manner, for example by mixing with water, separation of the phases and, if appropriate, chromatographic purification of the crude product.

The benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) can be transformed to the corresponding benzoxaboroles (I) as depicted in the following Scheme 2:

The reaction can be performed analogous to known procedures (e.g. Zhang, Yong-Kang et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 60(13), 5889-5908; 2017. Jacobs, Robert T. et al, Future Medicinal Chemistry, 3(10), 1259-1278; 201 1. Wienhold, Falk et al, Synthesis, (24), 4059-4067; 201 1 .).

For R ₂ =H a reducing agent is applied, preferentially NaBFU, LiBFU, LiAIFU.

The reaction is usually carried out at temperatures in the range between 0°C and 100°C in an inert organic solvent.

The reaction can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under elevated pressure, if appropriate, under an inert gas, continuously or batchwise.

In one embodiment of the process according to the invention, the benzaldehydeborol of formula (IV) with the reducing agent are used in equimolar amounts.

In another embodiment of the process according to the invention, the reducing agent are used in excess with regard to the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV).

Preferably the molar ratio of reducing agent to the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) is in the range from 2 : 1 to 1 : 1 , preferably 1.5 : 1 to 1 : 1 , especially preferred 1.2 : 1.

The reaction of the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) with the reducing agent is usually carried out in an organic solvent. Suitable in principle are all solvents which are capable of dissolving the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) and the reducing agent at least partly and preferably fully under reaction conditions. Examples of suitable solvents are aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, and mixtures of Cs-Cs-alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, cresols, o-, m- and p-xylene, ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tert. -butyl methylether (TBME), dioxane, anisole and tetrahydrofuran (THF), as well as dipolar aprotic solvents such as sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), 1 ,3-dimethyl-2- imidazolidinone (DMI), N,N'-dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 1- methyl-2 pyrrolidinone (NMP). Preferred solvent is THF as defined above. The term solvent as used herein also includes mixtures of two or more of the above compounds.

The end of the reaction can easily be determined by the skilled worker by means of routine methods.

The reaction mixtures are worked up in a customary manner, for example by mixing with water, separation of the phases and, if appropriate, chromatographic purification of the crude product.

For R ² =C _I -C ₄ alkyl an alkylating agent is applied, preferentially methyl magnesium bromide, ethyl magnesium bromide, methyl lithium, ethyl lithium. The reaction is usually carried out at temperatures in the range between 0°C and 100°C in an inert organic solvent.

The reaction can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under elevated pressure, if appropriate, under an inert gas, continuously or batchwise.

In one embodiment of the process according to the invention, the benzaldehydeborol of formula (IV) with the alkylating agent are used in equimolar amounts.

In another embodiment of the process according to the invention, the alkylating agent are used in excess with regard to the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV).

Preferably the molar ratio of alkylating agent to the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) is in the range from 2 : 1 to 1 : 1 , preferably 1.5 : 1 to 1 : 1 , especially preferred 1.2 : 1.

The reaction of the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) with the alkylating agent is usually carried out in an organic solvent. Suitable in principle are all solvents which are capable of dissolving the benzaldehydeboroles of formula (IV) and the alkylating agent at least partly and preferably fully under reaction conditions. Examples of suitable solvents are aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, and mixtures of Cs-Cs-alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, cresols, o-, m- and p-xylene, ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tert. -butyl methylether (TBME), dioxane, anisole and tetrahydrofuran (THF), as well as dipolar aprotic solvents such as sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), 1 ,3-dimethyl-2- imidazolidinone (DMI), N,N'-dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 1- methyl-2 pyrrolidinone (NMP). Preferred solvent is THF as defined above. The term solvent as used herein also includes mixtures of two or more of the above compounds.

The end of the reaction can easily be determined by the skilled worker by means of routine methods.

The reaction mixtures are worked up in a customary manner, for example by mixing with water, separation of the phases and, if appropriate, chromatographic purification of the crude product.

The compounds of formula (I) have herbicidal activity. Therefore, they can be used for controlling unwanted or undesired plants or vegetation. They can also be used in a method for controlling unwanted or undesired plants or vegetation, which method comprises allowing at least one compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof to act on plants, their environment or on seed. In order to allow the compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof to act on plants, their environment or on seed the compounds of the invention are applied to the plants, their environment or to the seed of said plants.

To widen the spectrum of action and to achieve synergistic effects, the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) may be mixed with a large number of representatives of other herbicidal or growth-regulating active ingredient groups and then applied concomitantly.

Suitable components for mixtures are, for example, herbicides from the classes of the acetamides, amides, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, benzamides, benzofuran, benzoic acids, benzothiadiazinones, bipyridylium, carbamates, chloroacetamides, chlorocarboxylic acids, cyclohexanediones, dinitroanilines, dinitrophenol, diphenyl ether, glycines, imidazolinones, isoxazoles, isoxazolidinones, nitriles, N-phenylphthalimides, oxadiazoles, oxazolidinediones, oxyacetamides, phenoxycarboxylic acids, phenylcarbamates, phenylpyrazoles, phenylpyrazolines, phenylpyridazines, phosphinic acids, phosphoroamidates,

phosphorodithioates, phthalamates, pyrazoles, pyridazinones, pyridines, pyridinecarboxylic acids, pyridinecarboxamides, pyrimidinediones, pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates, quinolinecarboxylic acids, semicarbazones, sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones, sulfonylureas, tetrazolinones, thiadiazoles, thiocarbamates, triazines, triazinones, triazoles, triazolinones,

triazolocarboxamides, triazolopyrimidines, triketones, uracils, ureas.

The invention also relates to combinations of benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) with at least one further herbicide B and/or at least one safener C).

The further herbicidal compound B (component B) is in particular selected from the herbicides of class b1) to b15):

b1 ) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors;

b2) acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors);

b3) photosynthesis inhibitors;

b4) protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors,

b5) bleacher herbicides;

b6) enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP inhibitors);

b7) glutamine synthetase inhibitors;

b8) 7,8-dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors (DHP inhibitors);

b9) mitosis inhibitors;

b10) inhibitors of the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA inhibitors);

b11 ) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors;

b12) decoupler herbicides;

b13) auxinic herbicides;

b14) auxin transport inhibitors; and

b15) other herbicides selected from the group consisting of bromobutide, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, cinmethylin, cumyluron, dalapon, dazomet, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, dimethipin, DSMA, dymron, endothal and its salts, etobenzanid, flamprop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M- isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, flurprimidol, fosamine, fosamine-ammonium, indanofan, indaziflam, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, metam, methiozolin (CAS 403640-27-7), methyl azide, methyl bromide, methyl-dymron, methyl iodide, MSMA, oleic acid, oxaziclomefone, pelargonic acid, pyributicarb, quinoclamine, triaziflam, tridiphane and 6-chloro-3-(2-cyclopropyl-6- methylphenoxy)-4-pyridazinol (CAS 499223-49-3) and its salts and esters;

including their agriculturally acceptable salts or derivatives such as ethers, esters or amides. Preference is given to those compositions according to the present invention comprising at least one herbicide B selected from herbicides of class b1 , b6, b9, b10 and b11. Examples of herbicides B which can be used in combination with the compounds of formula (I) according to the present invention are:

b1 ) from the group of the lipid biosynthesis inhibitors:

ACC-herbicides such as alloxydim, alloxydim-sodium, butroxydim, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalofop, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop- tefuryl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim,

4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran- 3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-72-6); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-cyclopropyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-

2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-45-3); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '- biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2l-l-pyran-3(6 l-l)-one (CAS 1033757-93-5); 4-(2',4'- Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3,5(4H,6H)- dione (CAS 1312340-84-3); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312337-48-6); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2 ^' ,4'- dichloro-4-cyclopropyl- [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3 -one; 5- (Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H- pyran-3-one (CAS 1312340-82-1 ); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2',4'-dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1033760-55-2); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'- fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-p yran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312337-51-1); 4-(2 ^' ,4'-Dichloro -4-cyclopropyl- [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester; 4-(4'-Chloro-4- ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-p yran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312340-83-2); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-

2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1033760-58-5); and non ACC herbicides such as benfuresate, butylate, cycloate, dalapon, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethofumesate, flupropanate, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, TCA, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, triallate and vernolate;

b2) from the group of the ALS inhibitors:

sulfonylureas such as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flucetosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, iofensulfuron, iofensulfuron-sodium, mesosulfuron, metazosulfuron, metsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, propyrisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron,

pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron,

thifensulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl and tritosulfuron, imidazolinones such as imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin and imazethapyr, triazolopyrimidine herbicides and sulfonanilides such as cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, diclosulam, flumetsulam, florasulam, metosulam,

penoxsulam, pyrimisulfan and pyroxsulam,

pyhmidinylbenzoates such as bispyribac, bispyhbac-sodium, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyriminobac-methyl, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium, 4-[[[2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2- pyhmidinyl)oxy]phenyl]methyl]amino]-benzoic acid-1 -methylethyl ester (CAS 420138-41-6), 4- [[[2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]phenyl]methyl]amino]- benzoic acid propyl ester (CAS 420138-40-5), N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]benzen emethanamine (CAS 420138-01-8),

sulfonylaminocarbonyl-triazolinone herbicides such as flucarbazone, flucarbazone-sodium, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone-sodium, thiencarbazone and thiencarbazone-methyl; and triafamone;

among these, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one imidazolinone herbicide;

amicarbazone, inhibitors of the photosystem II, e.g. -(6-tert-butylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-hydroxy-4- methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654744-66-7), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-hydroxy- 4-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637455-12-9), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-chloro- 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637453-94-1 ), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654057-29-0), 1-(5-tert-butyl-1-methyl- pyrazol-3-yl)-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654747-80-4), 4-hydroxy-1- methoxy-5-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolid in-2-one; (CAS 2023785-78-4), 4- hydroxy-1 ,5-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2- one (CAS 2023785-79-5), 5- ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]i midazolidin-2-one (CAS 1701416-69- 4), 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazol idin-2-one (CAS 1708087-22-2), 4-hydroxy-1 ,5-dimethyl-3-[1 -methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3-yl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 2023785-80-8), 1-(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-im idazolidin-2-one (CAS 1844836-64-1 ), triazine herbicides, including of chlorotriazine, triazinones, triazindiones, methylthiotriazines and pyridazinones such as ametryn, atrazine, chloridazone, cyanazine, desmetryn, dimethametryn,hexazinone, metribuzin, prometon, prometryn, propazine, simazine, simetryn, terbumeton, terbuthylazin, terbutryn and trietazin, aryl urea such as chlorobromuron, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, metamitron, methabenzthiazuron, metobenzuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, neburon, siduron, tebuthiuron and thiadiazuron, phenyl carbamates such as desmedipham, karbutilat,

phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, nitrile herbicides such as bromofenoxim, bromoxynil and its salts and esters, ioxynil and its salts and esters, uraciles such as bromacil, lenacil and terbacil, and bentazon and bentazon-sodium, pyridate, pyridafol, pentanochlor and propanil and inhibitors of the photosystem I such as diquat, diquat-dibromide, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride and paraquat-dimetilsulfate. Among these, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one aryl urea herbicide. Among these, likewise a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one triazine herbicide. Among these, likewise a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to those compositions comprising at least one nitrile herbicide; b4) from the group of the protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors:

acifluorfen, acifluorfen-sodium, azafenidin, bencarbazone, benzfendizone, bifenox, butafenacil, carfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlomethoxyfen, chlorphthalim, cinidon-ethyl, fluazolate, flufenpyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen,

fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fluthiacet, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, halosafen, lactofen, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, profluazol, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, thidiazimin, tiafenacil, trifludimoxazin, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(1- methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-dioxo-1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-3-yl)phenoxy]-2- pyridyloxy]acetate (CAS 353292-31-6; S-3100, N-ethyl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoro- methylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 A pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 452098-92-9), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl- 3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 A pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 915396- 43-9), N-ethyl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-met hyl-1 A pyrazole-l- carboxamide (CAS 452099-05-7), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoro- methylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 A pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 452100-03-7), 3-[7-fluoro-3-oxo-4- (prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl]-1 ,5-dimethyl-6-thioxo-[1 ,3,5]triazinan-2,4- dione (CAS 451484-50-7), 2-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H- benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-isoindole-1 ,3-dione (CAS 13001 18-96-0), 1-methyl-6- trifluoromethyl-3-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2-ynyl-3,4-d ihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl)-1 H- pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 13041 13-05-0), methyl (£)-4-[2-chloro-5-[4-chloro-5- (difluoromethoxy)-l /T-methyl-pyrazol-S-ylH-fluoro-phenoxyl-S-methoxy-but^-enoat e (CAS 948893-00-3), and 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1 H-benzimidazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-6- (trifluoromethyl)-l H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 212754-02-4); b5) from the group of the bleacher herbicides:

PDS inhibitors: beflubutamid, diflufenican, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, norflurazon, picolinafen, and 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyri midine (CAS 180608-33-7), HPPD inhibitors: benzobicyclon, benzofenap, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, fenquinotrione, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione (CAS 1486617-21-3), pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone , bleacher, unknown target: aclonifen, amitrole flumeturon,2-chloro-3-methylsulfanyl-N-(1- methyltetrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (CAS 1361139-71-0), 2-(2,4- dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidone (CAS 81777-95-9) and 2-(2,5- dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7) b6) from the group of the EPSP synthase inhibitors:

glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, glyposate-potassium and glyphosate-trimesium (sulfosate); b7) from the group of the glutamine synthase inhibitors: bilanaphos (bialaphos), bilanaphos-sodium, glufosinate, glufosinate-P and glufosinate- ammonium; b8) from the group of the DHP synthase inhibitors:

asulam; b9) from the group of the mitosis inhibitors:

compounds of group K1 : dinitroanilines such as benfluralin, butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine and trifluralin, phosphoramidates such as amiprophos, amiprophos-methyl, and butamiphos, benzoic acid herbicides such as chlorthal, chlorthal-dimethyl, pyridines such as dithiopyr and thiazopyr, benzamides such as propyzamide and tebutam; compounds of group K2: carbetamide, chlorpropham, flamprop, flamprop- isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M-isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl and propham ; among these, compounds of group K1 , in particular dinitroanilines are preferred; b10) from the group of the VLCFA inhibitors:

chloroacetamides such as acetochlor, alachlor, amidochlor, butachlor, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, metolachlor, metolachlor-S, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor and thenylchlor, oxyaceta nil ides such as flufenacet and mefenacet, acetanilides such as diphenamid, naproanilide, napropamide and napropamide-M, tetrazolinones such fentrazamide, and other herbicides such as anilofos, cafenstrole, fenoxasulfone, ipfencarbazone, piperophos, pyroxasulfone and isoxazoline compounds of the formulae 11.1 , II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9

11.6 11.7

II.9

11.8 the isoxazoline compounds of the formula (II) are known in the art, e.g. from WO

2006/024820, WO 2006/037945, WO 2007/071900 and WO 2007/096576; among the VLCFA inhibitors, preference is given to chloroacetamides and oxyacetamides; b1 1 ) from the group of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors:

chlorthiamid, dichlobenil, flupoxam, indaziflam, isoxaben, triaziflam and 1 -cyclohexyl-5- pentafluorphenyloxy-1 ⁴ -[1 ,2,4,6]thiatriazin-3-ylamine (CAS 175899-01 -1 ); b12) from the group of the decoupler herbicides:

dinoseb, dinoterb and DNOC and its salts; b13) from the group of the auxinic herbicides:

2,4-D and its salts and esters such as clacyfos, 2,4-DB and its salts and esters,

aminocyclopyrachlor and its salts and esters, aminopyralid and its salts such as aminopyralid- dimethylammonium, aminopyralid-tris(2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium and its esters, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, chloramben and its salts and esters, clomeprop, clopyralid and its salts and esters, dicamba and its salts and esters, dichlorprop and its salts and esters, dichlorprop-P and its salts and esters, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-butometyl, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen and its salts and esters (CAS 943832-60-8); MCPA and its salts and esters, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB and its salts and esters, mecoprop and its salts and esters, mecoprop-P and its salts and esters, picloram and its salts and esters, quinclorac, quinmerac, TBA (2,3,6) and its salts and esters, triclopyr and its salts and esters, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661 -72- 9) and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 H-indol-6-yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6); b14) from the group of the auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr, diflufenzopyr-sodium, naptalam and naptalam-sodium; b15) from the group of the other herbicides: bromobutide, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, cinmethylin, cumyluron, cyclopyrimorate (CAS 499223-49-3 and its salts and esters, dalapon, dazomet, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, dimethipin, DSMA, dymron, endothal and its salts, etobenzanid, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, flurprimidol, fosamine, fosamine-ammonium, indanofan, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, metam, methiozolin (CAS 403640-27-7), methyl azide, methyl bromide, methyl-dymron, methyl iodide, MSMA, oleic acid, oxaziclomefone, pelargonic acid, pyributicarb, quinoclamine and tridiphane. Preferred herbicides B that can be used in combination with the compounds of the formula I and ecpecially compounds I. a, l.b, l.c, l.d and l.e according to the present invention are: b1) from the group of the lipid biosynthesis inhibitors:

clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, cycloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-P- ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, pinoxaden, profoxydim, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, 4-(4'-Chloro-4- cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6 H)-one (CAS 1312337-72-6); 4-(2\4'-Dichloro-4-cyclopropyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2, 2,6,6- tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (CAS 1312337-45-3); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '- biphenyl]-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2l-l-pyran-3(6 l-l)-one (CAS 1033757-93-5); 4-(2',4'- Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3,5(4H,6H)- dione (CAS 1312340-84-3); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1312337-48-6); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2 ^' ,4'- dichloro-4-cyclopropyl- [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3 -one; 5- (Acetyloxy)-4-(4'-chloro-4-ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H- pyran-3-one (CAS 1312340-82-1 ); 5-(Acetyloxy)-4-(2',4'-dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-3,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2H-pyran-3-one (CAS 1033760-55-2); 4-(4'-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2'- fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-p yran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312337-51-1); 4-(2 ^' ,4'-Dichloro -4-cyclopropyl- [1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6- dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester; 4-(4'-Chloro-4- ethyl-2'-fluoro[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-p yran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1312340-83-2); 4-(2',4'-Dichloro-4-ethyl[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-3-yl)-5,6-dihydro- 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl carbonic acid methyl ester (CAS 1033760-58-5);

benfuresate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethofumesate, molinate, orbencarb, prosulfocarb, thiobencarb and triallate; b2) from the group of the ALS inhibitors:

amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, bispyribac-sodium, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cloransulam-methyl, cyclosulfamuron, diclosulam, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, florasulam, flucarbazone-sodium, flucetosulfuron, flumetsulam, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, iofensulfuron, iofensulfuron-sodium, mesosulfuron,

metazosulfuron, metosulam, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, penoxsulam, primisulfuron-methyl, propoxycarbazon-sodium, propyrisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyribenzoxim, pyrimisulfan, pyriftalid, pyriminobac-methyl, pyrithiobac- sodium, pyroxsulam, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, thiencarbazone-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, tritosulfuron and triafamone; b3) from the group of the photosynthesis inhibitors:

ametryn, amicarbazone, atrazine, bentazone, bentazone-sodium, bromoxynil and its salts and esters, chloridazone, chlorotoluron, cyanazine, desmedipham, diquat-dibromide, diuron, fluometuron, hexazinone, ioxynil and its salts and esters, isoproturon, lenacil, linuron, metamitron, methabenzthiazuron, metribuzin, paraquat, paraquat-dichloride, phenmedipham, propanil, pyridate, simazine, terbutryn, terbuthylazine, thidiazuron, 1 -(6-tert-butylpyrimidin-4-yl)-

2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1654744-66-7), 1 -(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3- yl)-2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637455-12-9), 1 -(5-tert-butylisoxazol-

3-yl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5-one (CAS 1637453-94-1 ), 1 -(5-tert-butyl-1 - methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyrrol-5 -one (CAS 1654057-29-0), 1 -(5- tert-butyl-1 -methyl-pyrazol-3-yl)-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-pyrrol- 5-one (CAS 1654747- 80-4), 4-hydroxy-1 -methoxy-5-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazoli din-2-one; (CAS 2023785-78-4), 4-hydroxy-1 ,5-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2- one (CAS 2023785-79-5), 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1 -methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1701416-69-4), 4-hydroxy-1 -methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1708087-22-2), 4-hydroxy-1 ,5-dimethyl-3-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-3- yl]imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 2023785-80-8) and 1 -(5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy- 3-methyl-imidazolidin-2-one (CAS 1844836-64-1 ); b4) from the group of the protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors:

acifluorfen-sodium, bencarbazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, carfentrazone-ethyl, cinidon- ethyl, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, lactofen, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, tiafenacil, trifludimoxazin, ethyl [3-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(1 -methyl-6-trifluoromethyl- 2,4-dioxo-1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-3-yl)phenoxy]-2-pyridyloxy]acetat e (CAS 353292-31 -6; S- 3100), N-ethyl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 TT-pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 452098-92-9), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenox y)-5-methyl-1 H- pyrazole-1 -carboxamide (CAS 915396-43-9), N-ethyl-3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoro- methylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 TT-pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 452099-05-7), N-tetrahydrofurfuryl- 3-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-5-methyl-1 TT-pyrazole-l -carboxamide (CAS 452100-03-7), 3-[7-fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl]-1 ,5- dimethyl-6-thioxo-[1 ,3,5]triazinan-2,4-dione (CAS 451484-50-7), 2-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop- 2-ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-isoindole-1 ,3-dione (CAS 13001 18-96-0); 1 -methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-3-(2,2,7-trifluoro-3-oxo-4-prop-2- ynyl-3,4-dihydro-2H- benzo[1 ,4]oxazin-6-yl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 13041 13-05-0) and 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2- (trifluoromethyl)-l H-benzimidazol-4-yl]-1 -methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1 H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (CAS 212754-02-4); b5) from the group of the bleacher herbicides:

aclonifen, amitrole, beflubutamid, benzobicyclon, bicyclopyrone, clomazone, diflufenican, fenquinotrione, flumeturon, flurochloridone, flurtamone, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, oxotrione (CAS 1486617-21 -3), norflurazon, picolinafen, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate, topramezone, 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)- pyrimidine (CAS 180608-33-7), 2-chloro-3-methylsulfanyl-N-(1 -methyltetrazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide (CAS 1361 139-71 -0), 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3- isoxazolidone (CAS 81777-95-9) and 2-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3- isoxazolidinone (CAS 81778-66-7); b6) from the group of the EPSP synthase inhibitors:

glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, glyphosate-potassium and glyphosate-trimesium (sulfosate); b7) from the group of the glutamine synthase inhibitors:

glufosinate, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-ammonium; b8) from the group of the DHP synthase inhibitors: asulam; b9) from the group of the mitosis inhibitors:

benfluralin, dithiopyr, ethalfluralin, flamprop, flamprop-isopropyl, flamprop-methyl, flamprop-M- isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl, oryzalin, pendimethalin, thiazopyr and trifluralin; b10) from the group of the VLCFA inhibitors:

acetochlor, alachlor, amidochlor, anilofos, butachlor, cafenstrole, dimethenamid, dimethenamid- P, fentrazamide, flufenacet, mefenacet, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, naproanilide, napropamide, napropamide-M, pretilachlor, fenoxasulfone, ipfencarbazone, pyroxasulfone thenylchlor and isoxazoline-compounds of the formulae 11.1 , II.2, II.3, II.4, II.5, II.6, II.7, II.8 and II.9 as mentioned above; b1 1 ) from the group of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: dichlobenil, flupoxam, indaziflam, isoxaben, triaziflam and 1 -cyclohexyl-5-pentafluorphenyloxy-1 ⁴ -[1 ,2,4,6]thiatriazin-3-ylamine (CAS 175899-01 -1 ); b13) from the group of the auxinic herbicides:

2,4-D and its salts and esters, aminocyclopyrachlor and its salts and esters, aminopyralid and its salts such as aminopyralid-dimethylammonium, aminopyralid-tris(2- hydroxypropyl)ammonium and its esters, clopyralid and its salts and esters, dicamba and its salts and esters, dichlorprop-P and its salts and esters, flopyrauxifen, fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen and its salts and esters (CAS 943832-60-8), MCPA and its salts and esters, MCPB and its salts and esters, mecoprop-P and its salts and esters, picloram and its salts and esters, quinclorac, quinmerac, triclopyr and its salts and esters, florpyrauxifen, florpyrauxifen-benzyl (CAS 1390661 -72-9) and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1 H-indol-6-yl)picolinic acid (CAS 1629965-65-6); b14) from the group of the auxin transport inhibitors: diflufenzopyr and diflufenzopyr-sodium; b15) from the group of the other herbicides: bromobutide, cinmethylin, cumyluron,

cyclopyrimorate (CAS 499223-49-3) and its salts and esters, dalapon, difenzoquat, difenzoquat- metilsulfate, DSMA, dymron (= daimuron), indanofan, metam, methylbromide, MSMA, oxaziclomefone, pyributicarb and tridiphane.

Active compounds B and C having a carboxyl group can be employed in the form of the acid, in the form of an agriculturally suitable salt as mentioned above or else in the form of an agriculturally acceptable derivative in the compositions according to the invention.

In the case of dicamba, suitable salts include those, where the counterion is an agriculturally acceptable cation. For example, suitable salts of dicamba are dicamba-sodium, dicamba- potassium, dicamba-methylammonium, dicamba-dimethylammonium, dicamba- isopropylammonium, dicamba-diglycolamine, dicamba-olamine, dicamba-diolamine, dicamba- trolamine, dicamba-N,N-bis-(3-aminopropyl)methylamine and dicamba-diethylenetriamine. Examples of a suitable ester are dicamba-methyl and dicam ba-butotyl.

Suitable salts of 2,4-D are 2,4-D-ammonium, 2,4-D-dimethylammonium, 2,4-D- diethylammonium, 2,4-D-diethanolammonium (2,4-D-diolamine), 2,4-D-triethanolammonium, 2,4-D-isopropylammonium, 2,4-D-triisopropanolammonium, 2,4-D-heptylammonium, 2,4-D- dodecylammonium, 2,4-D-tetradecylammonium, 2,4-D-triethylammonium, 2,4-D-tris(2- hydroxypropyl)ammonium, 2,4-D-tris(isopropyl)ammonium, 2,4-D-trolamine, 2,4-D-lithium, 2,4- D-sodium. Examples of suitable esters of 2,4-D are 2,4-D-butotyl, 2,4-D-2-butoxypropyl, 2,4-D- 3-butoxypropyl, 2,4-D-butyl, 2,4-D-ethyl, 2,4-D-ethylhexyl, 2,4-D-isobutyl, 2,4-D-isooctyl, 2,4-D- isopropyl, 2,4-D-meptyl, 2,4-D-methyl, 2,4-D-octyl, 2,4-D-pentyl, 2,4-D-propyl, 2,4-D-tefuryl and clacyfos.

Suitable salts of 2,4-DB are for example 2,4-DB-sodium, 2,4-DB-potassium and 2,4-DB- dimethylammonium. Suitable esters of 2,4-DB are for example 2,4-DB-butyl and 2,4-DB-isoctyl.

Suitable salts of dichlorprop are for example dichlorprop-sodium, dichlorprop-potassium and dichlorprop-dimethylammonium. Examples of suitable esters of dichlorprop are dichlorprop- butotyl and dichlorprop-isoctyl.

Suitable salts and esters of MCPA include MCPA-butotyl, MCPA-butyl, MCPA- dimethylammonium, MCPA-diolamine, MCPA-ethyl, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPA-2-ethylhexyl, MCPA-isobutyl, MCPA-isoctyl, MCPA-isopropyl, MCPA-isopropylammonium, MCPA-methyl, MCPA-olamine, MCPA-potassium, MCPA-sodium and MCPA-trolamine.

A suitable salt of MCPB is MCPB sodium. A suitable ester of MCPB is MCPB-ethyl.

Suitable salts of clopyralid are clopyralid-potassium, clopyralid-olamine and clopyralid-tris-(2- hydroxypropyl)ammonium. Example of suitable esters of clopyralid is clopyralid-methyl.

Examples of a suitable ester of fluroxypyr are fluroxypyr-meptyl and fluroxypyr-2-butoxy-1- methylethyl, wherein fluroxypyr-meptyl is preferred. Suitable salts of picloram are picloram-dimethylammonium, picloram-potassium, picloram- triisopropanolammonium, picloram-triisopropylammonium and picloram-trolamine. A suitable ester of picloram is picloram-isoctyl.

A suitable salt of triclopyr is triclopyr-triethylammonium. Suitable esters of triclopyr are for example triclopyr-ethyl and triclopyr-butotyl.

Suitable salts and esters of chloramben include chloramben-ammonium, chloramben-diolamine, chloramben-methyl, chloramben-methylammonium and chloramben-sodium. Suitable salts and esters of 2,3,6-TBA include 2,3,6-TBA-dimethylammonium, 2,3,6-TBA-lithium, 2,3,6-TBA- potassium and 2,3,6-TBA-sodium.

Suitable salts and esters of aminopyralid include aminopyralid-potassium, aminopyralid- dimethylammonium, and aminopyralid-tris(2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium.

Suitable salts of glyphosate are for example glyphosate-ammonium, glyphosate-diammonium, glyphoste-dimethylammonium, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, glyphosate-potassium, glyphosate-sodium, glyphosate-trimesium as well as the ethanolamine and diethanolamine salts, preferably glyphosate-diammonium, glyphosate-isopropylammonium and glyphosate- trimesium (sulfosate).

A suitable salt of glufosinate is for example glufosinate-ammonium.

A suitable salt of glufosinate-P is for example glufosinate-P-ammonium.

Suitable salts and esters of bromoxynil are for example bromoxynil-butyrate, bromoxynil- heptanoate, bromoxynil-octanoate, bromoxynil-potassium and bromoxynil-sodium.

Suitable salts and esters of ioxonil are for example ioxonil-octanoate, ioxonil-potassium and ioxonil-sodium.

Suitable salts and esters of mecoprop include mecoprop-butotyl, mecoprop-dimethylammonium, mecoprop-diolamine, mecoprop-ethadyl, mecoprop-2-ethylhexyl, mecoprop-isoctyl, mecoprop- methyl, mecoprop-potassium, mecoprop-sodium and mecoprop-trolamine.

Suitable salts of mecoprop-P are for example mecoprop-P-butotyl, mecoprop-P- dimethylammonium, mecoprop-P-2-ethylhexyl, mecoprop-P-isobutyl, mecoprop-P-potassium and mecoprop-P-sodium.

A suitable salt of diflufenzopyr is for example diflufenzopyr-sodium.

A suitable salt of naptalam is for example naptalam-sodium.

Suitable salts and esters of aminocyclopyrachlor are for example aminocyclopyrachlor- dimethylammonium, aminocyclopyrachlor-methyl, aminocyclopyrachlor- triisopropanolammonium, aminocyclopyrachlor-sodium and aminocyclopyrachlor-potassium.

A suitable salt of quinclorac is for example quinclorac-dimethylammonium.

A suitable salt of quinmerac is for example quinclorac-dimethylammonium.

A suitable salt of imazamox is for example imazamox-ammonium.

Suitable salts of imazapic are for example imazapic-ammonium and imazapic- isopropylammonium. Suitable salts of imazapyr are for example imazapyr-ammonium and imazapyr- isopropylammonium.

A suitable salt of imazaquin is for example imazaquin-ammonium.

Suitable salts of imazethapyr are for example imazethapyr-ammonium and imazethapyr- isopropylammonium.

A suitable salt of topramezone is for example topramezone-sodium.

Particularly preferred herbicidal compounds B are the herbicides B as defined above; in particular the herbicides B.1 - B.201 listed below in table B:

Table B:

Moreover, it may be useful to apply the compounds of formula (I) in combination with safeners and optionally with one or more further heribicides. Safeners are chemical compounds which prevent or reduce damage on useful plants without having a major impact on the herbicidal action of the compounds of the formula (I) towards unwanted plants. They can be applied either before sowings (e.g. on seed treatments, shoots or seedlings) or in the pre-emergence application or post-emergence application of the useful plant. The safeners and the compounds of formula (I) and optionally the herbicides B can be applied simultaneously or in succession. Suitable safeners are e.g. (quinolin-8-oxy)acetic acids, 1 -phenyl-5-haloalkyl-1 H-1 ,2,4-triazol-3- carboxylic acids, 1 -phenyl-4, 5-d i hyd ro-5-a I kyl- 1 H-pyrazol-3,5-dicarboxylic acids, 4,5-dihydro- 5,5-diaryl-3-isoxazol carboxylic acids, dichloroacetamides, alpha-oximinophenylacetonitriles, acetophenonoximes, 4,6-dihalo-2-phenylpyrimidines, N-[[4-(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]sulfonyl]-2- benzoic amides, 1 ,8-naphthalic anhydride, 2-halo-4-(haloalkyl)-5-thiazol carboxylic acids, phosphorthiolates and N-alkyl-O-phenylcarbamates and their agriculturally acceptable salts and their agriculturally acceptable derivatives such amides, esters, and thioesters, provided they have an acid group.

Examples of preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyometrinil, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4- azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1 ,3- oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31-4) and N-(2-Methoxybenzoyl)-4- [(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfonamide (CAS 129531-12-0).

Particularly preferred safeners C are the following compounds C.1 to C.17 listed in table C.

Table C:

The active compounds B of groups b1 ) to b15) and the safener compounds C are known herbicides and safeners, see, for example, The Compendium of Pesticide Common Names (http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/); Farm Chemicals Handbook 2000 volume 86, Meister Publishing Company, 2000; B. Hock, C. Fedtke, R. R. Schmidt, Herbizide [Herbicides], Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1995; W. H. Ahrens, Herbicide Handbook, 7th edition, Weed Science Society of America, 1994; and K. K. Hatzios, Herbicide Handbook, Supplement for the 7th edition, Weed Science Society of America, 1998. 2,2,5-Trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1 ,3- oxazolidine [CAS No. 52836-31-4] is also referred to as R-29148. 4-(Dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4- azaspiro[4.5]decane [CAS No. 71526-07-3] is also referred to as AD-67 and MON 4660.

The assignment of the active compounds to the respective mechanisms of action is based on current knowledge. If several mechanisms of action apply to one active compound, this substance was only assigned to one mechanism of action.

The weight ratios of the individual components in the preferred mixtures mentioned below are within the limits given above, in particular within the preferred limits.

Particularly preferred are the compositions mentioned below comprising the compound of the formula I as defined above and the substance(s) as defined in the respective row of table 1 ; especially preferred comprising as only herbicidal active compounds compounds l.a.A-1.1 - l.a.A-1.192, l.b.A-2.1 - l.b.A-2.192, l.c.A-3.1 - l.c.A-3.192 as defined and the substance(s) as defined in the respective row of table 1 ;

Table 1

It may furthermore be beneficial to apply the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) alone or in combination with other herbicides, or else in the form of a mixture with other crop protection agents, for example together with agents for controlling pests or phytopathogenic fungi or bacteria. Also of interest is the miscibility with mineral salt solutions, which are employed for treating nutritional and trace element deficiencies. Other additives such as non-phytotoxic oils and oil concentrates may also be added.

The invention also relates to agrochemical compositions comprising at least an auxiliary and at least one benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention.

An agrochemical composition comprises a pesticidally effective amount of a benzoxaborole compound of formula (I). The term "effective amount" denotes an amount of the composition or of the compounds I, which is sufficient for controlling unwanted plants, especially for controlling unwanted plants in cultivated plants and which does not result in a substantial damage to the treated plants. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as the plants to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant or material, the climatic conditions and the specific benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) used.

The benzoxaborole compound of formula (I), their N-oxides or salts can be converted into customary types of agrochemical compositions, e. g. solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for agrochemical composition types are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g. EC), emulsions (e.g. EW, EO, ES, ME), capsules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e.g. BR, TB, DT), granules (e.g. WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), insecticidal articles (e.g. LN), as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (e.g. GF). These and further agrochemical compositions types are defined in the“Catalogue of pesticide formulation types and international coding system”, Technical Monograph No. 2, 6 ^th Ed. May 2008, CropLife International.

The agrochemical compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001 ; or Knowles, New developments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005.

Suitable auxiliaries are solvents, liquid carriers, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants,

compatibilizers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants, tackifiers and binders.

Suitable solvents and liquid carriers are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin,

tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzylalcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e.g. cyclohexanone; esters, e.g. lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e.g. N-methylpyrrolidone, fatty acid dimethylamides; and mixtures thereof.

Suitable solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e.g. ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e.g. cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, nutshell meal, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emulsifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon’s, Vol.1 : Emulsifiers & Detergents, McCutcheon’s Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.).

Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.

Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide.

Examples of N-substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid

alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate. Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. Suitable polyelectrolytes are polyacids or polybases. Examples of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or polyethyleneamines.

Suitable adjuvants are compounds, which have a neglectable or even no pesticidally activity themselves, and which improve the biological performance of the compound I on the target. Examples are surfactants, mineral or vegetable oils, and other auxiliaries. Further examples are listed by Knowles, Adjuvants and additives, Agrow Reports DS256, T&F Informa UK, 2006, chapter 5.

Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), inorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates.

Suitable bactericides are bronopol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones.

Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin.

Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids.

Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and water- soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron

hexacyanoferrate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants).

Suitable tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidons, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylates, biological or synthetic waxes, and cellulose ethers.

Examples for agrochemical composition types and their preparation are:

i) Water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS)

10-60 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention and 5-278 wt% wetting agent (e.g. alcohol alkoxylates) are dissolved in water and/or in a water-soluble solvent (e.g. alcohols) ad 100 wt%. The active substance dissolves upon dilution with water. ii) Dispersible concentrates (DC)

5-25 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention and 1 -10 wt% dispersant (e. g. polyvinylpyrrolidone) are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. cyclohexanone) ad 100 wt%. Dilution with water gives a dispersion.

iii) Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

278-70 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention and 5-10 wt% emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt%. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.

iv) Emulsions (EW, EO, ES) 5-40 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention and 1-10 wt% emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in 20-40 wt% water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon). This mixture is introduced into water ad 100 wt% by means of an emulsifying machine and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.

v) Suspensions (SC, OD, FS)

In an agitated ball mill, 20-60 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are comminuted with addition of 2-10 wt% dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate), 0,1-2 wt% thickener (e.g. xanthan gum) and water ad 100 wt% to give a fine active substance suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. For FS type composition up to 40 wt% binder (e.g.

polyvinylalcohol) is added.

vi) Water-dispersible granules and water-soluble granules (WG, SG)

50-80 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are ground finely with addition of dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate) ad 100 wt% and prepared as water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (e. g. extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.

vii) Water-dispersible powders and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, WS)

50-80 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 1-5 wt% dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1-3 wt% wetting agents (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate) and solid carrier (e.g. silica gel) ad 100 wt%. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.

viii) Gel (GW, GF)

In an agitated ball mill, 5-25 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are comminuted with addition of 3-10 wt% dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1- 5 wt% thickener (e.g. carboxymethylcellulose) and water ad 100 wt% to give a fine suspension of the active substance. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. iv) Microemulsion (ME)

5-20 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are added to 5-30 wt% organic solvent blend (e.g. fatty acid dimethylamide and cyclohexanone), 10-25 wt% surfactant blend (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate and arylphenol ethoxylate), and water ad 100 %. This mixture is stirred for 1 h to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable microemulsion. iv) Microcapsules (CS)

An oil phase comprising 5-50 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention, 0-40 wt% water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), 2-278 wt% acrylic monomers (e.g. methylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid and a di- or triacrylate) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). Radical polymerization initiated by a radical initiator results in the formation of poly(meth)acrylate microcapsules. Alternatively, an oil phase comprising 5-50 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention, 0-40 wt% water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), and an isocyanate monomer (e.g. diphenylmethene-4,4’-diisocyanate) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). The addition of a polyamine (e.g. hexamethylenediamine) results in the formation of polyurea microcapsules. The monomers amount to 1-10 wt%. The wt% relate to the total CS composition.

ix) Dustable powders (DP, DS)

1-10 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are ground finely and mixed intimately with solid carrier (e.g. finely divided kaolin) ad 100 wt%.

x) Granules (GR, FG)

0.5-30 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention is ground finely and associated with solid carrier (e.g. silicate) ad 100 wt%. Granulation is achieved by extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed.

xi) Ultra-low volume liquids (UL)

1-50 wt% of an benzoxaborole compound of formula (I) according to the invention are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt%.

The agrochemical compositions types i) to xi) may optionally comprise further auxiliaries, such as 0,1-1 wt% bactericides, 5-278 wt% anti-freezing agents, 0,1-1 wt% anti-foaming agents, and 0,1-1 wt% colorants.

The agrochemical compositions generally comprise between 0.01 and 95%, preferably between 0.1 and 90%, and in particular between 0.5 and 75%, by weight of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I). The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably from 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum).

Solutions for seed treatment (LS), suspoemulsions (SE), flowable concentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and gels (GF) are usually employed for the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds. The agrochemical compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active substance concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing.

Methods for applying benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) or agrochemical compositions thereof, on to plant propagation material, especially seeds, include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrow application methods of the propagation material. Preferably, compound I or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propagation material by a method such that germination is not induced, e. g. by seed dressing, pelleting, coating and dusting.

Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e.g. herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners) may be added to the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) or the agrochemical compositions comprising them as premix or, if appropriate not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the agrochemical compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1 : 100 to 100: 1 , preferably 1 : 10 to 10: 1.

The user applies the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) according to the invention or the agrochemical compositions comprising them usually from a pre-dosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemical composition is made up with water, buffer, and/or further auxiliaries to the desired application concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2000 liters, preferably 50 to 400 liters, of the ready- to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area.

According to one embodiment, either individual components of the agrochemical composition according to the invention or partially premixed components, e. g. components comprising azines of formula (I) may be mixed by the user in a spray tank and further auxiliaries and additives may be added, if appropriate.

In a further embodiment, individual components of the agrochemical composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

In a further embodiment, either individual components of the agrochemical composition according to the invention or partially premixed components, e. g components comprising benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), can be applied jointly (e.g. after tank mix) or consecutively.

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), are suitable as herbicides. They are suitable as such or as an appropriately formulated composition (agrochemical composition).

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising the azines of formula (I), control vegetation on non-crop areas very efficiently, especially at high rates of application. They act against broad-leaved weeds and grass weeds in crops such as wheat, rice, maize, soya and cotton without causing any significant damage to the crop plants. This effect is mainly observed at low rates of application.

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, are applied to the plants mainly by spraying the leaves or are applied to the soil in which the plant seeds have been sown. Here, the application can be carried out using, for example, water as carrier by customary spraying techniques using spray liquor amounts of from about 100 to 1000 l/ha (for example from 300 to 400 l/ha). The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, may also be applied by the low-volume or the ultra-low-volume method, or in the form of microgranules.

Application of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, can be done before, during and/or after the emergence of the undesirable plants.

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, can be applied pre-, post-emergence or pre-plant, or together with the seed of a crop plant. It is also possible to apply the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the

agrochemical compositions comprising them, by applying seed, pretreated with the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, of a crop plant. If the active ingredients are less well tolerated by certain crop plants, application techniques may be used in which the herbicidal compositions are sprayed, with the aid of the spraying equipment, in such a way that as far as possible they do not come into contact with the leaves of the sensitive crop plants, while the active ingredients reach the leaves of undesirable plants growing underneath, or the bare soil surface (post-directed, lay-by).

In a further embodiment, the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, can be applied by treating seed. The treatment of seeds comprises essentially all procedures familiar to the person skilled in the art (seed dressing, seed coating, seed dusting, seed soaking, seed film coating, seed multilayer coating, seed encrusting, seed dripping and seed pelleting) based on the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions prepared therefrom. Here, the herbicidal compositions can be applied diluted or undiluted.

The term“seed” comprises seed of all types, such as, for example, corns, seeds, fruits, tubers, seedlings and similar forms. Here, preferably, the term seed describes corns and seeds. The seed used can be seed of the useful plants mentioned above, but also the seed of transgenic plants or plants obtained by customary breeding methods.

When employed in plant protection, the amounts of active substances applied, i.e. the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), without formulation auxiliaries, are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.9 kg per ha and in particular from 0.05 to 0.5 kg per ha.

In another embodiment of the invention, the application rate of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) is from 0.001 to 3 kg/ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2.5 kg/ha, of active substance (a.s.).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the rates of application of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) according to the present invention (total amount of benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I)) are from 0.1 g/ha to 3000 g/ha, preferably 10 g/ha to 1000 g/ha, depending on the control target, the season, the target plants and the growth stage.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the application rates of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) are in the range from 0.1 g/ha to 5000 g/ha and preferably in the range from 1 g/ha to 2500 g/ha or from 5 g/ha to 2000 g/ha.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the application rate of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) is 0.1 to 1000 g/ha, preferablyl to 750 g/ha, more preferably 5 to 500 g/ha.

In treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds, e. g. by dusting, coating or drenching seed, amounts of active substance of from 0.1 to 1000 g, preferably from 1 to 1000 g, more preferably from 1 to 100 g and most preferably from 5 to 100 g, per 100 kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seeds) are generally required.

In another embodiment of the invention, to treat the seed, the amounts of active substances applied, i.e. the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) are generally employed in amounts of from 0.001 to 10 kg per 100 kg of seed. When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active substance applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1 kg, of active substance per cubic meter of treated material.

Depending on the application method in question, the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I), or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, can additionally be employed in a further number of crop plants for eliminating undesirable plants. Examples of suitable crops are the following:

Allium cepa, Ananas comosus, Arachis hypogaea, Asparagus officinalis, Avena sativa, Beta vulgaris spec altissima, Beta vulgaris spec rapa, Brassica napus var. napus, Brassica napus var. napobrassica, Brassica rapa var. silvestris, Brassica oleracea, Brassica nigra, Camellia sinensis, Carthamus tinctorius, Carya illinoinensis, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Coffea arabica (Coffea canephora, Coffea liberica), Cucumis sativus, Cynodon dactylon, Daucus carota, Elaeis guineensis, Fragaria vesca, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum, (Gossypium arboreum,

Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium vitifolium), Helianthus annuus, Hevea brasiliensis, Hordeum vulgare, Humulus lupulus, Ipomoea batatas, Juglans regia, Lens culinaris, Linum usitatissimum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Malus spec., Manihot esculenta, Medicago sativa, Musa spec., Nicotiana tabacum (N.rustica), Olea europaea, Oryza sativa, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Picea abies, Pinus spec., Pistacia vera, Pisum sativum, Prunus avium, Prunus persica, Pyrus communis, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus cerasus, Prunus dulcis and Prunus domestica, Ribes sylvestre, Ricinus communis, Saccharum officinarum, Secale cereale, Sinapis alba, Solanum tuberosum, Sorghum bicolor (s. vulgare), Theobroma cacao, Trifolium pratense, Triticum aestivum, Triticale, Triticum durum, Vicia faba, Vitis vinifera and Zea mays.

Preferred crops are Arachis hypogaea, Beta vulgaris spec altissima, Brassica napus var.

napus, Brassica oleracea, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Coffea arabica (Coffea canephora, Coffea liberica), Cynodon dactylon, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum, (Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium vitifolium), Helianthus annuus, Hordeum vulgare, Juglans regia, Lens culinaris, Linum usitatissimum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Malus spec., Medicago sativa, Nicotiana tabacum (N.rustica), Olea europaea, Oryza sativa , Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pistacia vera, Pisum sativum, Prunus dulcis, Saccharum officinarum,

Secale cereale, Solanum tuberosum, Sorghum bicolor (s. vulgare), Triticale, Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, Vicia faba, Vitis vinifera and Zea mays.

Especially preferred crops are crops of cereals, corn, soybeans, rice, oilseed rape, cotton, potatoes, peanuts or permanent crops.

The benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) according to the invention, or the agrochemical compositions comprising them, can also be used in genetically modified plants. The term “genetically modified plants” is to be understood as plants whose genetic material has been modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques to include an inserted sequence of DNA that is not native to that plant species’ genome or to exhibit a deletion of DNA that was native to that species’ genome, wherein the modification(s) cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutagenesis or natural recombination alone. Often, a particular genetically modified plant will be one that has obtained its genetic modification(s) by inheritance through a natural breeding or propagation process from an ancestral plant whose genome was the one directly treated by use of a recombinant DNA technique. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s), oligo- or polypeptides e. g., by inclusion therein of amino acid mutation(s) that permit, decrease, or promote glycosylation or polymer additions such as prenylation, acetylation farnesylation, or PEG moiety attachment.

Plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering, e.g. have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such as auxin herbicides such as dicamba or 2,4-D; bleacher herbicides such as hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonyl ureas or imidazolinones; enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) inhibitors such as glyphosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate; protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or oxynil (i. e. bromoxynil or ioxynil) herbicides as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering; furthermore, plants have been made resistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple genetic modifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate or to both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALS inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxin herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors. These herbicide resistance technologies are, for example, described in Pest Management Science 61 , 2005, 246; 61 , 2005, 258; 61 , 2005, 277; 61 , 2005, 269; 61 , 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Science 57, 2009, 108; Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1 185; and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by mutagenesis and conventional methods of breeding, e. g., Clearfield® summer rape (Canola, BASF SE, Germany) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e. g., imazamox, or ExpressSun® sunflowers (DuPont, USA) being tolerant to sulfonyl ureas, e. g., tribenuron. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render cultivated plants such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets and rape, tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate, imidazolinones and glufosinate, some of which are under development or commercially available under the brands or trade names RoundupReady® (glyphosate tolerant, Monsanto, USA), Cultivance® (imidazolinone tolerant, BASF SE, Germany) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate tolerant, Bayer CropScience, Germany).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genus Bacillus, particularly from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as delta-endotoxins, e. g., CrylA(b), CrylA(c), CrylF, CrylF(a2), CryllA(b), CrylllA, CrylllB(bl) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e. g., VIP1 , VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e. g., Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such as Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3- hydroxy-steroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors);

stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as including pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a new combination of protein domains, (see, e. g., WO 02/0278701 ). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e. g., in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/18810 und WO 03/52073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e. g., in the publications mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups of arthropods, especially to beetles (Coeloptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths

(Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins are, e. g., described in the publications mentioned above, and some of which are commercially available such as YieldGard® (corn cultivars producing the CrylAb toxin), YieldGard® Plus (corn cultivars producing CrylAb and Cry3Bb1 toxins),

Starlink® (corn cultivars producing the Cry9c toxin), Herculex® RW (corn cultivars producing Cry34Ab1 , Cry35Ab1 and the enzyme Phosphinothricin-N-Acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN® 33B (cotton cultivars producing the CrylAc toxin), Bollgard® I (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1 Ac toxin), Bollgard® II (cotton cultivars producing CrylAc and Cry2Ab2 toxins); VIPCOT® (cotton cultivars producing a VIP-toxin); NewLeaf® (potato cultivars producing the Cry3A toxin); Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt11 (e. g., Agrisure® CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (corn cultivars producing the CrylAb toxin and PAT enzyme), MIR604 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France (corn cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry3A toxin, c.f. WO 03/018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), IPC 531 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (cotton cultivars producing a modified version of the CrylAc toxin) and 27807 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry1 F toxin and PAT enzyme).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins, see, e.g., EP-A 392 225), plant disease resistance genes (e. g., potato culti-vars, which express resistance genes acting against Phytophthora infestans derived from the Mexican wild potato, Solanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lyso-zym (e.g., potato cultivars capable of synthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteria such as Erwinia amylovora). The methods for producing such genetically modi-fied plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g., in the publications mentioned above.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the productivity (e.g., bio-mass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of ingredients or new ingredients, specifically to improve human or animal nutrition, e. g., oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e. g., Nexera® rape, Dow AgroSciences, Canada).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of ingredients or new ingredients, specifically to improve raw material production, e.g., potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin (e.g. Amflora® potato, BASF SE, Germany).

A further embodiment of the invention is a method of controlling undesired vegetation, which comprises allowing a herbicidally active amount of at least one compound of formula (I) as defined above to act on plants, their environment or on seed.

The preparation of the benzoxaborole compounds of formula (I) is illustrated by examples; however, the subject matter of the present invention is not limited to the examples given.

The products shown below were characterized by the mass ([m/z]) or retention time (RT; [min.]) determined by HPLC-MS spectrometry.

HPLC-MS = high performance liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry; HPLC column:

RP-18 column (Chromolith Speed ROD from Merck KgaA, Germany), 50 ^* 4.6 mm; mobile phase: acetonitrile + 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/water + 0.1 % TFA using a gradient from 5:95 to 100:0 over 5 minutes at 40°C, flow rate 1.8 ml/min.

MS: quadrupole electrospray ionization, 80 V (positive mode).

The following abbreviations are used:

CH2CI2: Dichloromethane

EtOAc: Acetic acid ethyl ester

THF: Tetrahydrofuran

CH: Cyclohexane

HCI: hydrogen chloride

NaOH: Sodium hydroxyde

DMF: N,N-Dimethylformamide

HPLC: High pressure chromatography

LC: Liquid chromatography

MS: Mass spectrometry

KOAc: potassium acetate

Dppf: 1 ,T-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene MeOH: Methanol

MTBE: Methyl-tert-butylether

PE: Petrolether

TEA: Trifluoroaceticacid

A. Preparation examples

1 . ethyl 4-bromo-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate

A mixture of 2-bromo-3,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde (CAS 4815-97-8) (1.6 g, 7.4 mmol), 2,2- dibromoaceticacid ethyl ester (3.6 g, 14.8 mmol), K ₂ CO ₃ (2 g, 14.8 mmol) in DMF (20 ml.) was heated to 100 °C for 2 h. The reaction was quenched by the addition of H ₂ O, extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phase were washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na ₂ S0 _4, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by the column to give ethyl 4-bromo-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate (1 g, 45%) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: CDCI3 400MHz d 10.16 (d, ^=1.51 Hz, 1 H) 7.61 (dd, ^=8.28, 1 .76 Hz, 1 H) 6.93 (d, ^=8.16 Hz, 1 H) 6.47 (s, 1 H) 4.30 - 4.40 (m, 2 H) 1.32 - 1 .39 (m, 3 H)

2. ethyl-4-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate

A mixture of ethyl 4-bromo-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate (2.7 g, 9 mmol), 2-(5,5- dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinane (3.4 g, 13.5 mmol), KOAc (2.6 g, 27 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Ch (270 mg) in Dioxane (30 ml.) was heated to 80 °C for 2 h under N2 _. The reaction was quenched by the addition of H2O, extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phase were washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na ₂ S0 _4, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by the column to give ethyl 4-(5,5- dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate (1 .8 g, 66%) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: CDCI3 400MHz d 9.85 (s, 1 H) 7.43 (d, ^=7.91 Hz, 1 H) 6.95 (d, ^=8.03 Hz, 1 H) 6.37 (s, 1 H) 4.32 (q, J=6.99 Hz, 2 H) 3.46 - 3.53 (m, 4 H) 1 .28 - 1 .36 (m, 3 H) 1 .13 (s, 6 H) 3. ethyl 1-hydroxy-3H-[1 ,3]dioxolo[4,5-g][2,1]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylate

NaBhU (20 mg, 0.54 mmol) was added to the solution of ethyl 4-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2- dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-1 ,3-benzodioxole-2-carboxylate (360 mg, 1.08 mmol) in MeOH (10 ml.) in portions at 0 °C under N ₂ . Then the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The reaction was quenched by the addition of H ₂ 0 and adjust to pH =1 with HCI (6N), extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phase were washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na ₂ S0 _4, filtered and concentrated. The residue was triturated with MTBE to give ethyl 1-hydroxy-3H-[1 ,3]dioxolo[4,5-g][2,1]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylate (200 mg, 60%) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: DMSO 400MHz d 9.23 (s, 1 H) 7.12 (d, ^=7.91 Hz, 1 H) 6.89 (d, ^=7.91 Hz, 1 H) 6.66 (s, 1 H) 4.93 (s, 2 H) 4.24 (q, J= 7.07 Hz, 2 H) 1.24 (t, J= 7.09 Hz, 3 H)

4.1-hydroxy-3H-[1 ,3]dioxolo[4,5-g][2,1]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylic acid

LiOH (96 mg, 4 mmol) was added to the solution of ethyl 1-hydroxy-3H-[1 ,3]dioxolo[4,5- g][2,1]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylate (500 mg, 2 mmol) in THF (6 ml_)/H ₂ 0 (2 ml.) in portions at 20 °C under N ₂ . Then the mixture was stirred for 2 h. The reaction was quenched by the addition of H ₂ 0, extracted with EtOAc. The aqueous phase was adjusted to pH =1 with HCI (6N), extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phases were washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue was triturated with MTBE to give 1-hydroxy-3H-[1 ,3]dioxolo[4,5- g][2,1]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylic acid (200 mg, 40%) as a yellow solid.

1H NMR: DMSO 400MHz d 9.22 (s, 1 H) 7.09 (d, J=1.12 Hz, 1 H) 6.87 (d, J=7.94 Hz, 1 H) 6.54 (s, 1 H) 4.93 (s, 2 H).

5. methyl 5-formyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate

To the mixture of methyl 4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (CAS 403619-67-0) (1.94 g, 10 mmol), para-formaldehyde (660 mg, 22 mmol) and MgCh (1.9 g, 20 mmol) in THF (50 ml.) was added Et ₃ N (2.02 g, 20 mmol) drop-wise at 20 °C under N2 _. Then the mixture was stirred for 3 h at 85 °C. The reaction was quenched by the addition of H2O, extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phase were washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na ₂ S0 _4, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by the column to give methyl 5-formyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (1 g, 50%) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: CDCIs 400MHz d 11.45 (s, 1 H) 9.66 - 9.74 (m, 1 H) 7.40 (d, ^=8.41 Hz, 1 H) 6.59 (d, ^=8.41 Hz, 1 H) 5.35 (dd, ^=10.73, 6.59 Hz, 1 H) 3.76 - 3.86 (m, 3 H) 3.54 (dd, ^=16.06, 10.79

Hz, 1 H) 3.35 (dd, ^=16.00, 6.46 Hz, 1 H)

6. methyl 7-chloro-5-formyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxyl ate

To a solution of methyl 5-formyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (13.6 g, 60 mmol), MeOH (7.7 g, 24 mmol) in DCM (140 ml.) was added sulfurylchloride (32.5 g, 24 mmol) at 0 °C dropwise. The mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 16 h. The reaction was quenched with H2O and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organics were washed with brine. Dried and concentrated. The crude product was triturated with MTBE to give methyl 7-chloro-5-formyl-4- hydroxy-2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (6.4 g, 41 %) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: CDCIs 400MHz d 9.65 - 9.71 (m, 1 H) 7.42 (s, 1 H) 5.43 (dd, ^=10.69, 6.50 Hz, 1 H) 3.82 - 3.89 (m, 3 H) 3.61 (dd, ^=16.10, 10.80 Hz, 1 H) 3.37 - 3.49 (m, 1 H)

7. methyl-7-chloro-5-formyl-4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)-2,3- dihydrobenzofuran-2- carboxylate

To a solution of methyl 7-chloro-5-formyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxyl ate (6.4 g, 25 mmol) and Et ₃ N (10.1 g, 100 mmol) in DCM (70 ml.) was added trifluoromethane sulfonic acid anhydride (10.6 g, 37.5 mmol) at 0 °C dropwise. The mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 2 h. The reaction was quenched with H2O and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organics were washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The crude was purified by column (PE:EtOAc = 100:1 -20:1 ) to give methyl 7-chloro-5-formyl-4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)-2,3- dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (5 g, 52 %) as a yellow solid.

1H NMR: CDCIs 400MHz d 10.04 (s, 1 H) 7.90 (s, 1 H) 5.49 (dd, ^=10.58, 6.17 Hz, 1 H) 3.87 (s, 3 H) 3.79 - 3.85 (m, 1 H) 3.62 - 3.71 (m, 1 H)

8. methyl-7-chloro-4-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran- 2-carboxylate

The mixture of methyl 7-chloro-5-formyl-4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)-2,3-dihydro benzofuran-2- carboxylate (6 g, 15.46 mmol), 2-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2- dioxaborinane (10.48 g, 46.38 mmol), KOAc (9.1 g, 92.76 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl2 in Dioxane (60 ml.) was stirred at 90 °C for 1 h. The reaction was quenched with H2O and extracted with

EtOAc. The combined organics were washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The crude was purified by column (PE:EtOAc = 50:1 -10:1 ) to give methyl 7-chloro-4-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2- dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxyl ate (4 g, 74 %) as a yellow solid.

¹ H NMR: CDCIs 400MHz d 10.04 (s, 1 H) 7.74 (s, 1 H) 5.36 (dd, ^=10.80, 6.84 Hz, 1 H) 3.83 (s, 3 H) 3.80 (s, 4 H) 3.70 - 3.78 (m, 1 H) 3.51 - 3.58 (m, 1 H) 1 .1 1 (br s, 1 H) 1 .09 (s, 5 H)

9. methyl-5-chloro-1 -hydroxy-3-methyl-7,8-dihydro-3H-furo[2,3-g][2,1]benzoxaboro le-7- carboxylate

To a solution of methyl 7-chloro-4-(5,5-dimethyl-1 ,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)-5-formyl-2,3- dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylate (5 g, 14.2 mmol) and in THF (60 ml.) was added methyl magnesium bromide (9.5 ml_, 28.4 mmol, 3M) at 0 °C dropwise under N ₂ . The mixture was stirred at 20 °C for 16 h. To the reaction was added HCI (4 ml_, 6N). The reaction was quenched with H2O and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organics were washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The crude was purified by prep-HPLC (TFA, CH3CN-H2O) to give methyl 5- chloro-1 -hydroxy-3-methyl-7,8-dihydro-3H-furo[2,3-g][2,1 ]benzoxaborole-7-carboxylate (409 mg, 10 %) as a yellow solid.

1H NMR: CDCI3 400MHz d 7.09 (s, 1 H) 5.35 (dd, ^=10.58, 6.39 Hz, 1 H) 5.25 (qd, ^=6.54, 2.43 Hz, 1 H) 3.82 (d, ^=1.32 Hz, 3 H) 3.70 - 3.79 (m, 1 H) 3.53 - 3.61 (m, 1 H) 1 .48 (dd, ^=6.50, 2.09 Hz, 3 H)

The compounds 2 to 3 listed below in Table 3 have been prepared by analogy to the example 1 mentioned above.

B Use examples

The herbicidal activity of the azines of formula (I) was demonstrated by the following

greenhouse experiments:

The culture containers used were plastic flowerpots containing loamy sand with approximately 3.0% of humus as the substrate. The seeds of the test plants were sown separately for each species.

For the pre-emergence treatment, the active ingredients, which had been suspended or emulsified in water, were applied directly after sowing by means of finely distributing nozzles. The containers were irrigated gently to promote germination and growth and subsequently covered with transparent plastic hoods until the plants had rooted. This cover caused uniform germination of the test plants, unless this had been impaired by the active ingredients.

For the post-emergence treatment, the test plants were first grown to a height of 3 to 8 cm, depending on the plant habit, and only then treated with the active ingredients which had been suspended or emulsified in water. For this purpose, the test plants were either sown directly and grown in the same containers, or they were first grown separately as seedlings and transplanted into the test containers a few days prior to treatment.

Depending on the species, the plants were kept at 10 - 25°C or 20 - 35°C, respectively.

The test period extended over 2 to 4 weeks. During this time, the plants were tended, and their response to the individual treatments was evaluated.

Evaluation was carried out using a scale from 0 to 100. 100 means no emergence of the plants, or complete destruction of at least the aerial moieties, and 0 means no damage, or normal course of growth. A moderate herbicidal activity is given at values of at least 60, a good herbicidal activity is given at values of at least 70, and a very good herbicidal activity is given at values of at least 85.

The plants used in the greenhouse experiments were of the following species:

The results of the herbicidal activity of compounds I against various weed species and certain monocot crop plants at different application rates are summarized in Examples 1 -9 below. Example 1

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 2 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 90 % and 80 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria viridis respectively.

Example 2

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 3 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus and Setaria viridis respectively.

Example 3

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 4 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus and Abutilon theophrasti respectively.

Example 4

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 5 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 and 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinocloa crus-galli and Setaria viridis respectively and by the pre-emergence metod, showed 95 %, 80 and 85 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi respectively.

Example 5

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 6 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 98 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Alopecurus myosuroides respectively and by the pre-emergence metod, showed 80 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus.

Example 6

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 7 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Avena fatua respectively.

Example 7

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 8 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinocloa crus-galli and Setaria viridis respectively and by the pre-emergence metod, showed 80 % herbicidal activity against Setaria faberi. Example 8

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 9 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 98 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Avena fatua respectively.

Example 9

At an application rate of 0.25 kg/ha, the compound 12 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 95 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Sesbania exaltata, Polygonum convolvulus and Amaranthus retroflexus respectively.

Example 10

At an application rate of 0.25 kg/ha, the compound 13 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 85 % and 100 % herbicidal activity against Sesbania exaltata, Polygonum convolvulus and Amaranthus retroflexus respectively.

Example 11

At an application rate of 0.25 kg/ha, the compound 14 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % herbicidal activity against Abutilon theophrasti, Sesbania exaltata and

Amaranthus retroflexus.

Example 12

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 15 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 90 % herbicidal activity against Abutilon theophrasti and Amaranthus retroflexus.

Example 13

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 16 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus.

Example 14

At an application rate of 2 kg/ha, the compound 17 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus.

Example 15

At an application rate of 1 kg/ha, the compound 18 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % and 90 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus and Setaria viridis respectively.

Example 16

At an application rate of 1 kg/ha, the compound 19 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 90 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria viridis respectively.

Example 17

At an application rate of 1 kg/ha, the compound 20 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria viridis. Example 18

At an application rate of 1 kg/ha, the compound 21 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 80 % and 80 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria viridis and Alopecurus myosuroides respectively.

Example 19

At an application rate of 1 kg/ha, the compound 22 applied by the post-emergence method, showed 100 %, 100 % and 95 % herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti and Alopecurus myosuroides respectively.