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Title:
SUBSTITUTED BENZAMIDES AS HERBICIDES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2023/066784
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention related to compounds of Formula (I) or an agronomically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as described herein. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said compounds, to methods of controlling weeds using said compositions and to the use of Compounds of Formula (I) as a herbicide.

Inventors:
BURTON PAUL MATTHEW (GB)
ARMSTRONG SARAH (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2022/078501
Publication Date:
April 27, 2023
Filing Date:
October 13, 2022
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION AG (CH)
International Classes:
C07D257/06; A01N43/713; C07D403/12
Domestic Patent References:
WO2012028579A12012-03-08
WO2012028579A12012-03-08
WO2002034048A12002-05-02
WO2002046387A22002-06-13
WO2012082542A22012-06-21
WO2012082548A22012-06-21
WO2010085705A22010-07-29
WO2011068567A12011-06-09
WO1993007278A11993-04-15
WO1995034656A11995-12-21
WO2003052073A22003-06-26
Foreign References:
EP0451878A11991-10-16
EP0374753A21990-06-27
EP0427529A11991-05-15
Other References:
"Manual on Development and Use of FAO Specifications for Plant Protection Products", 1999
"The Pesticide Manual", 2012, BRITISH CROP PROTECTION COUNCIL
CAS , no. 9005-64-5
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SYNGENTA IP (CH)
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Claims:
Claims 1. A compound of Formula (I): or an agronomically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:- R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4alkyl-, C1-C4haloalkyl-, C1-C4alkoxy-C1- C4alkyl- and C1-C4haloalkoxy-C1-C4alkyl-; R2 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C6alkyl-, C1-C3alkoxy-, C1-C6 haloalkyl-, C1-C3haloalkoxy- and -S(O)pC1-C6alkyl; R3 is C1-C3haloalkyl; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6alkyl-, C1-C6haloalkyl and C3- C6cycloalkyl; R5 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6alkyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6alkyl-, C1-C6-alkoxy-, phenyl and heteroaryl wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl are optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 R6 substituents; R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C1-C6alkyl, C1- C6haloalkyl- and C1-C6alkoxy-; and p is 0, 1 or 2. 2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 is methyl. 3. A compound according to any one of the previous claims, wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, Cl, -CF3 and -SO2methyl. 4. A compound according to claim 3, wherein R2 is Cl. 5. A compound according to any one of the previous claims, wherein R3 is -CF3 or -CHF2. 6. A compound according to any one of the previous claims, wherein R4 is hydrogen or C1- C6alkyl-. 7. A compound according to any one of the previous claims, wherein R5 is C1-C6alkyl- or C3- C6cycloalkyl-. 8. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein R5 is -phenyl and wherein the -phenyl is optionally substituted as defined in claim 1. 9. A compound according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein R5 is -heteroaryl, wherein said -heteroaryl is optionally substituted as defined in claim 1. 10. A compound according to claim 9, wherein R5 is a heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, R5e, R5f, R5g, R5h, R5i and R5j: 11. A herbicidal composition comprising a compound according to any one of the previous claims and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. 12. A herbicidal composition according to claim 11, further comprising at least one additional pesticide. 13. A herbicidal composition according to claim 12, wherein the additional pesticide is a herbicide or herbicide safener. 14. A method of controlling weeds at a locus comprising application to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a composition according to any one of claims 11 to 13. 15. Use of a compound of Formula (I) as defined in claim 1 as a herbicide.
Description:
SUBSTITUTED BENZAMIDES AS HERBICIDES The present invention relates to herbicidal compounds, to processes for their preparation, to herbicidal compositions which comprise the compounds, and to their use for controlling weeds, in particular in crops of useful plants, or for inhibiting plant growth. N-(tetrazol-5-yl)arylcarboxamides are disclosed in, for example, WO2012/028579. The present invention relates to novel arylcarboxamides, which exhibit surprisingly good weed control. Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a compound of Formula (I): or an agronomically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:- R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 alkyl-, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl-, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy-C 1 - C 4 alkyl- and C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy-C 1 -C 4 alkyl-; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl-, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy-, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl-, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy- and -S(O) p C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 3 is C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl; R 4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl-, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl and C 3 - C 6 cycloalkyl; R 5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 6 alkyl-, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-, phenyl and heteroaryl wherein the phenyl or heteroaryl are optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 R 6 substituents; R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl (e.g methyl), C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl- and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy-; and p is 0, 1 or 2. C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups include, for example, methyl (Me, CH 3 ), ethyl (Et, C 2 H 5 ), n-propyl (n- Pr), isopropyl (i-Pr), n-butyl (n-Bu), isobutyl (i-Bu), sec-butyl and tert-butyl (t-Bu). C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl- includes cyclopropyl (c-propyl (c-Pr)), cyclobutyl (c-butyl (c-Bu)), cyclopentyl (c-pentyl) and cyclohexyl (c-hexyl). C 1 -C 3 alkoxy- and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy includes, for example, methoxy- and ethoxy-. C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy-C 1 -C 6 alkyl- includes, for example methoxyethyl-. Halogen (or halo) encompasses fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. The same correspondingly applies to halogen in the context of other definitions, such as haloalkyl. C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl includes, for example, fluoromethyl-, difluoromethyl-, trifluoromethyl-, chloromethyl-, dichloromethyl-, trichloromethyl-, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl-, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 1,1- difluoroethyl, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl-, 2-chloroethyl-, pentafluoroethyl-, 1,1- difluoro-2,2,2-trichloroethyl-, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoroethyl-, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl-, heptafluoro-n- propyl and perfluoro-n-hexyl. C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl includes, for example, fluoromethyl-, difluoromethyl-, trifluoromethyl-, chloromethyl-, dichloromethyl-, trichloromethyl-, 2,2,2- trifluoroethyl-, 2-fluoroethyl-, 2-chloroethyl-, pentafluoroethyl-, 1,1-difluoro-2,2,2- trichloroethyl-, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoroethyl-, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl- and heptafluoro-n-propyl-. C 1 -C 4 alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 alkyl- includes, for example, methoxyethyl-. C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy-C 1 -C 4 alkyl- includes, for example, trifluoromethoxyethyl-. C 1 -C 6 alkyl-S- (alkylthio) is, for example, methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutylthio, sec-butylthio or tert-butylthio, preferably methylthio or ethylthio. C 1 -C 6 alkyl-S(O)- (alkylsulfinyl) is, for example, methylsulfinyl, ethylsulfinyl, propylsulfinyl, isopropylsulfinyl, n-butylsulfinyl, isobutylsulfinyl, sec-butylsulfinyl or tert- butylsulfinyl, preferably methylsulfinyl or ethylsulfinyl. C 1 -C 6 alkyl-S(O) 2 - (alkylsulfonyl) is, for example, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, n-butylsulfonyl, isobutylsulfonyl, sec-butylsulfonyl or tert- butylsulfonyl, preferably methylsulfonyl or ethylsulfonyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R1is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl and n-propyl, preferably methyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, Cl, -CF 3 and -SO 2 methyl, more preferably Cl. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, R 3 is -CF 3 or -CHF 2 . In another preferred embodiment of the present invention R 4 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl- (preferably methyl), most preferably methyl or hydrogen. In another embodiment of the present invention R 5 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl- (e.g methyl, ethyl or n- propyl, preferably methyl) or C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl- (preferably cPr-). In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, R 5 is -phenyl wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted as previously described. In another embodiment of the present invention, R 5 is -heteroaryl wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted as previously described. In a more preferred embodiment the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl. In an even more preferred embodiment the heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, R5e, R5f, R5g, R5h, R5i and R5j: In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heteroaryl is R 5c which is optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl (e.g methyl), C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy. In a still more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heteroaryl is R 5c which is optionally substituted by one halogen, preferably fluorine. In one embodiment of the present invention, R 4 is hydrogen or methyl and R5 is methyl, ethyl or n-propyl. In another embodiment of the present invention, R 4 is hydrogen or methyl and R 5 is phenyl wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by one halogen, preferably fluorine. In another embodiment of the present invention, R 4 is hydrogen or methyl and R 5 is heteroaryl wherein the heteroaryl is R 5c which is optionally substituted by one halogen, preferably fluorine. Compounds of Formula (I) (and certain intermediate compounds used to synthesise compound of Formula (I)) may contain asymmetric centres and may be present as a single enantiomer, pairs of enantiomers in any proportion or, where more than one asymmetric centre are present, contain diastereoisomers in all possible ratios. Typically one of the enantiomers has enhanced biological activity compared to the other possibilities. The present invention also includes all possible geometric and tautomeric forms of a compound of formula (I). The present invention also includes agronomically acceptable salts that the compounds of Formula (I) may form with amines (for example ammonia, dimethylamine and triethylamine), alkali metal and alkaline earth metal bases or quaternary ammonium bases. Among the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, oxides, alkoxides and hydrogen carbonates and carbonates used as salt formers, emphasis is to be given to the hydroxides, alkoxides, oxides and carbonates of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, but especially those of sodium, magnesium and calcium. The corresponding trimethylsulfonium salt may also be used. The compounds of Formula (I) according to the invention can be used as herbicides by themselves, but they are generally formulated into herbicidal compositions using formulation adjuvants, such as carriers, solvents and surface-active agents (SFAs). Thus, the present invention further provides a herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidal compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. The composition can be in the form of concentrates which are diluted prior to use, although ready-to-use compositions can also be made. The final dilution is usually made with water, but can be made instead of, or in addition to, water, with, for example, liquid fertilisers, micronutrients, biological organisms, oil or solvents. The herbicidal compositions generally comprise from 0.1 to 99 % by weight, especially from 0.1 to 95 % by weight, compounds of Formula I and from 1 to 99.9 % by weight of a formula- tion adjuvant which preferably includes from 0 to 25 % by weight of a surface-active substance. The compositions can be chosen from a number of formulation types, many of which are known from the Manual on Development and Use of FAO Specifications for Plant Protection Products, 5th Edition, 1999. These include dustable powders (DP), soluble powders (SP), water soluble granules (SG), water dispersible granules (WG), wettable powders (WP), granules (GR) (slow or fast release), soluble concentrates (SL), oil miscible liquids (OL), ultra low volume liquids (UL), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), dispersible concentrates (DC), emulsions (both oil in water (EW) and water in oil (EO)), micro-emulsions (ME), suspension concentrates (SC), aerosols, capsule suspensions (CS) and seed treatment formulations. The formulation type chosen in any instance will depend upon the particular purpose envisaged and the physical, chemical and biological properties of the compound of Formula (I). Dustable powders (DP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of Formula (I) with one or more solid diluents (for example natural clays, kaolin, pyrophyllite, bentonite, alumina, montmorillonite, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earths, calcium phosphates, calcium and magnesium carbonates, sulphur, lime, flours, talc and other organic and inorganic solid carriers) and mechanically grinding the mixture to a fine powder. Soluble powders (SP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of Formula (I) with one or more water-soluble inorganic salts (such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or magnesium sulphate) or one or more water-soluble organic solids (such as a polysaccharide) and, optionally, one or more wetting agents, one or more dispersing agents or a mixture of said agents to improve water dispersibility/solubility. The mixture is then ground to a fine powder. Similar compositions may also be granulated to form water soluble granules (SG). Wettable powders (WP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of Formula (I) with one or more solid diluents or carriers, one or more wetting agents and, preferably, one or more dispersing agents and, optionally, one or more suspending agents to facilitate the dispersion in liquids. The mixture is then ground to a fine powder. Similar compositions may also be granulated to form water dispersible granules (WG). Granules (GR) may be formed either by granulating a mixture of a compound of Formula (I) and one or more powdered solid diluents or carriers, or from pre-formed blank granules by absorbing a compound of Formula (I) (or a solution thereof, in a suitable agent) in a porous granular material (such as pumice, attapulgite clays, fuller's earth, kieselguhr, diatomaceous earths or ground corn cobs) or by adsorbing a compound of Formula (I) (or a solution thereof, in a suitable agent) on to a hard core material (such as sands, silicates, mineral carbonates, sulphates or phosphates) and drying if necessary. Agents which are commonly used to aid absorption or adsorption include solvents (such as aliphatic and aromatic petroleum solvents, alcohols, ethers, ketones and esters) and sticking agents (such as polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl alcohols, dextrins, sugars and vegetable oils). One or more other additives may also be included in granules (for example an emulsifying agent, wetting agent or dispersing agent). Dispersible Concentrates (DC) may be prepared by dissolving a compound of Formula (I) in water or an organic solvent, such as a ketone, alcohol or glycol ether. These solutions may contain a surface active agent (for example to improve water dilution or prevent crystallisation in a spray tank). Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) or oil-in-water emulsions (EW) may be prepared by dissolving a compound of Formula (I) in an organic solvent (optionally containing one or more wetting agents, one or more emulsifying agents or a mixture of said agents). Suitable organic solvents for use in ECs include aromatic hydrocarbons (such as alkylbenzenes or alkylnaphthalenes, exemplified by SOLVESSO 100, SOLVESSO 150 and SOLVESSO 200; SOLVESSO is a Registered Trade Mark), ketones (such as cyclohexanone or methylcyclohexanone) and alcohols (such as benzyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol or butanol), N- alkylpyrrolidones (such as N-methylpyrrolidone or N-octylpyrrolidone), dimethyl amides of fatty acids (such as C 8 -C 10 fatty acid dimethylamide) and chlorinated hydrocarbons. An EC product may spontaneously emulsify on addition to water, to produce an emulsion with sufficient stability to allow spray application through appropriate equipment. Preparation of an EW involves obtaining a compound of Formula (I) either as a liquid (if it is not a liquid at room temperature, it may be melted at a reasonable temperature, typically below 70°C) or in solution (by dissolving it in an appropriate solvent) and then emulsifying the resultant liquid or solution into water containing one or more SFAs, under high shear, to produce an emulsion. Suitable solvents for use in EWs include vegetable oils, chlorinated hydrocarbons (such as chlorobenzenes), aromatic solvents (such as alkylbenzenes or alkylnaphthalenes) and other appropriate organic solvents which have a low solubility in water. Microemulsions (ME) may be prepared by mixing water with a blend of one or more solvents with one or more SFAs, to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable isotropic liquid formulation. A compound of Formula (I) is present initially in either the water or the solvent/SFA blend. Suitable solvents for use in MEs include those hereinbefore described for use in in ECs or in EWs. An ME may be either an oil-in-water or a water-in-oil system (which system is present may be determined by conductivity measurements) and may be suitable for mixing water-soluble and oil-soluble pesticides in the same formulation. An ME is suitable for dilution into water, either remaining as a microemulsion or forming a conventional oil-in-water emulsion. Suspension concentrates (SC) may comprise aqueous or non-aqueous suspensions of finely divided insoluble solid particles of a compound of Formula (I). SCs may be prepared by ball or bead milling the solid compound of Formula (I) in a suitable medium, optionally with one or more dispersing agents, to produce a fine particle suspension of the compound. One or more wetting agents may be included in the composition and a suspending agent may be included to reduce the rate at which the particles settle. Alternatively, a compound of Formula (I) may be dry milled and added to water, containing agents hereinbefore described, to produce the desired end product. Aerosol formulations comprise a compound of Formula (I) and a suitable propellant (for example n-butane). A compound of Formula (I) may also be dissolved or dispersed in a suitable medium (for example water or a water miscible liquid, such as n-propanol) to provide compositions for use in non-pressurised, hand-actuated spray pumps. Capsule suspensions (CS) may be prepared in a manner similar to the preparation of EW formulations but with an additional polymerisation stage such that an aqueous dispersion of oil droplets is obtained, in which each oil droplet is encapsulated by a polymeric shell and contains a compound of Formula (I) and, optionally, a carrier or diluent therefor. The polymeric shell may be produced by either an interfacial polycondensation reaction or by a coacervation procedure. The compositions may provide for controlled release of the compound of Formula (I) and they may be used for seed treatment. A compound of Formula (I) may also be formulated in a biodegradable polymeric matrix to provide a slow, controlled release of the compound. The composition may include one or more additives to improve the biological performance of the composition, for example by improving wetting, retention or distribution on surfaces; resistance to rain on treated surfaces; or uptake or mobility of a compound of Formula (I). Such additives include surface active agents (SFAs), spray additives based on oils, for example certain mineral oils or natural plant oils (such as soy bean and rape seed oil), and blends of these with other bio-enhancing adjuvants (ingredients which may aid or modify the action of a compound of Formula (I). Wetting agents, dispersing agents and emulsifying agents may be SFAs of the cationic, anionic, amphoteric or non-ionic type. Suitable SFAs of the cationic type include quaternary ammonium compounds (for example cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide), imidazolines and amine salts. Suitable anionic SFAs include alkali metals salts of fatty acids, salts of aliphatic monoesters of sulphuric acid (for example sodium lauryl sulphate), salts of sulphonated aromatic compounds (for example sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate, calcium dodecylbenzenesulphonate, butylnaphthalene sulphonate and mixtures of sodium di-isopropyl- and tri-isopropyl-naphthalene sulphonates), ether sulphates, alcohol ether sulphates (for example sodium laureth-3-sulphate), ether carboxylates (for example sodium laureth-3-carboxylate), phosphate esters (products from the reaction between one or more fatty alcohols and phosphoric acid (predominately mono-esters) or phosphorus pentoxide (predominately di-esters), for example the reaction between lauryl alcohol and tetraphosphoric acid; additionally these products may be ethoxylated), sulphosuccinamates, paraffin or olefine sulphonates, taurates and lignosulphonates. Suitable SFAs of the amphoteric type include betaines, propionates and glycinates. Suitable SFAs of the non-ionic type include condensation products of alkylene oxides, such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof, with fatty alcohols (such as oleyl alcohol or cetyl alcohol) or with alkylphenols (such as octylphenol, nonylphenol or octylcresol); partial esters derived from long chain fatty acids or hexitol anhydrides; condensation products of said partial esters with ethylene oxide; block polymers (comprising ethylene oxide and propylene oxide); alkanolamides; simple esters (for example fatty acid polyethylene glycol esters); amine oxides (for example lauryl dimethyl amine oxide); and lecithins. Suitable suspending agents include hydrophilic colloids (such as polysaccharides, polyvinylpyrrolidone or sodium carboxymethylcellulose) and swelling clays (such as bentonite or attapulgite). The compounds of present invention can also be used in mixture with one or more additional herbicides and/or plant growth regulators. Examples of such additional herbicides or plant growth regulators include acetochlor, acifluorfen (including acifluorfen-sodium), aclonifen, ametryn, amicarbazone, aminopyralid, aminotriazole, atrazine, beflubutamid-M, benquitrione, bensulfuron (including bensulfuron-methyl), bentazone, bicyclopyrone, bilanafos, bipyrazone, bispyribac-sodium, bixlozone, bromacil, bromoxynil, butachlor, butafenacil, carfentrazone (including carfentrazone-ethyl), cloransulam (including cloransulam-methyl), chlorimuron (including chlorimuron-ethyl), chlorotoluron, chlorsulfuron, cinmethylin, clacyfos, clethodim, clodinafop (including clodinafop-propargyl), clomazone, clopyralid, cyclopyranil, cyclopyrimorate, cyclosulfamuron, cyhalofop (including cyhalofop-butyl), 2,4-D (including the choline salt and 2-ethylhexyl ester thereof), 2,4-DB, desmedipham, dicamba (including the aluminium, aminopropyl, bis-aminopropylmethyl, choline, dichloroprop, diglycolamine, dimethylamine, dimethylammonium, potassium and sodium salts thereof) diclosulam, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, dimethachlor, dimethenamid-P, dioxopyritrione, diquat dibromide, diuron, epyrifenacil, ethalfluralin, ethofumesate, fenoxaprop (including fenoxaprop-P-ethyl), fenoxasulfone, fenpyrazone, fenquinotrione, fentrazamide, flazasulfuron, florasulam, florpyrauxifen (including florpyrauxifen-benzyl), fluazifop (including fluazifop-P-butyl), flucarbazone (including flucarbazone-sodium), flufenacet, flumetsulam, flumioxazin, fluometuron,fomesafen, flupyrsulfuron (including flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium), fluroxypyr (including fluroxypyr-meptyl), fomesafen, foramsulfuron, glufosinate (including L-glufosinate and the ammonium salts of both), glyphosate (including the diammonium, isopropylammonium and potassium salts thereof), halauxifen (including halauxifen-methyl), haloxyfop (including haloxyfop-methyl), hexazinone, hydantocidin, imazamox (including R- imazamox), imazapic, imazapyr, imazethapyr, indaziflam, iodosulfuron (including iodosulfuron- methyl-sodium), iofensulfuron (including iofensulfuron-sodium), ioxynil, isoproturon, isoxaflutole, lancotrione, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop-P, mesosulfuron (including mesosulfuron- methyl), mesotrione, metamitron, metazachlor, methiozolin, metolachlor, metosulam, metribuzin, metsulfuron, napropamide, nicosulfuron, norflurazon, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxyfluorfen, paraquat dichloride, pendimethalin, penoxsulam, phenmedipham, picloram, pinoxaden, pretilachlor, primisulfuron-methyl, prometryne, propanil, propaquizafop, propyrisulfuron, propyzamide, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, pyraclonil, pyraflufen (including pyraflufen-ethyl), pyrasulfotole, pyridate, pyriftalid, pyrimisulfan, pyroxasulfone, pyroxsulam, quinclorac, quinmerac, quizalofop (including quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl), rimisoxafen, rimsulfuron, saflufenacil, sethoxydim, simazine, S-metalochlor, sulfentrazone, sulfosulfuron, tebuthiuron, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, tetflupyrolimet, thiencarbazone, thifensulfuron, tiafenacil, tolpyralate, topramezone, tralkoxydim, triafamone, triallate, triasulfuron, tribenuron (including tribenuron-methyl), triclopyr, trifloxysulfuron (including trifloxysulfuron-sodium), trifludimoxazin, trifluralin, triflusulfuron, tripyrasulfone, 3-(2-chloro-4- fluoro-5-(3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-trifluoromethyl-3,6-dihydropy rimidin-1(2H)-yl)phenyl)-5- methyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester,4-hydroxy-1-methoxy-5-methyl-3-[4- (trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazolidin-2-one, 4-hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)- 2-pyridyl]-imidazolidine-2-one, 5-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl ]- imidazolidin-2-one, 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]imidazol idin-2-one, 4- hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-[1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol- 3-yl]imidazolidin-2-one, (4R)1- (5-tert-butylisoxazol-3-yl)-4-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-imid azolidin-2-one, 4-amino-3-chloro- 5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl)pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (including agrochemically acceptable esters thereof, for example, methyl 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6- yl)pyridine-2-carboxylate, prop-2-ynyl 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6- yl)pyridine-2-carboxylate and cyanomethyl 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6- yl)pyridine-2-carboxylate), 3-ethyl-sulfanyl-N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl )- [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine-8-carboxamide, 3-(isopropylsulfanylmethyl)-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4- oxadiazol-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]py ridine-8-carboxamide, 3- (isopropylsulfonyl-methyl)-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl) -5-(trifluoromethyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]-pyridine-8-carboxamide, 3-(ethylsulfonylmethyl)-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4- oxadiazol-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]py ridine-8-carboxamide, ethyl-2-[[3- [[3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-[3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl )pyrimidin-1-yl]-2-pyridyl] oxy]acetate,6-chloro-4-(2,7-dimethyl-1-naphthyl)-5-hydroxy-2 -methyl-pyridazin-3-one, tetrahydro-furan-2-ylmethyl(2R)-2-[(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-f luoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-propanoate, (2R)-2-[(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]propano ic acid, tetrahydrofuran-2- ylmethyl2-[(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]prop anoate, 2-[(4-amino-3,5-dichloro- 6-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]propanoic acid, 2-fluoro-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-3-[(R)- propylsulfinyl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-3- propylsulfinyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, (2-fluorophenyl)methyl6-amino-5-chloro-2-(4- chloro-2-fluoro-3-methoxyphenyl)-pyrimidine-4-carboxylate, 6-amino-5-chloro-2-(4-chloro-2- fluoro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid, 3-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-(5-hydroxy-1,3- dimethyl-pyrazole-4-carbonyl)-1,5-dimethyl-quinazoline-2,4-d ione and [4-[3-(3-chlorophenyl)- 1,5-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-quinazoline-6-carbonyl]-2,5-dimethyl- pyrazol-3-yl]N,N- diethylcarbamate. The mixing partners of the compound of Formula I may also be in the form of esters or salts, as mentioned e.g. in The Pesticide Manual, Sixteenth Edition, British Crop Protection Council, 2012. The compound of Formula I can also be used in mixtures with other agrochemicals such as fungicides, nematicides or insecticides, examples of which are given in The Pesticide Manual. The mixing ratio of the compound of Formula I to the mixing partner is preferably from 1: 100 to 1000:1. The mixtures can advantageously be used in the above-mentioned formulations (in which case "active ingredient" relates to the respective mixture of compound of Formula I with the mixing partner). The compounds or mixtures of the present invention can also be used in combination with one or more herbicide safeners. Examples of such safeners include benoxacor, cloquintocet (including cloquintocet-mexyl), cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, fenchlorazole (including fenchlorazole-ethyl), fenclorim, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen (including isoxadifen-ethyl), mefenpyr (including mefenpyr-diethyl), metcamifen and oxabetrinil. Particularly preferred are mixtures of a compound of Formula I with cyprosulfamide, isoxadifen-ethyl, cloquintocet-mexyl and/or metcamifen. The safeners of the compound of Formula I may also be in the form of esters or salts, as mentioned e.g. in The Pesticide Manual, 16 th Edition (BCPC), 2012. The reference to cloquintocet- mexyl also applies to a lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium salt thereof as disclosed in WO 02/34048, and the reference to fenchlorazole-ethyl also applies to fenchlorazole, etc. Preferably the mixing ratio of compound of Formula I to safener is from 100:1 to 1:10, especially from 20:1 to 1:1. The mixtures can advantageously be used in the above-mentioned formulations (in which case “active ingredient” relates to the respective mixture of compound of Formula I with the safener). The present invention still further provides a method of controlling weeds at a locus said method comprising application to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a composition comprising a compound of Formula (I). Moreover, the present invention further provides a method of selectively controlling weeds at a locus comprising crop plants and weeds, wherein the method comprises application to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a composition according to the present invention. ‘Controlling’ means killing, reducing or retarding growth or preventing or reducing germination. Generally, the plants to be controlled are unwanted plants (weeds). ‘Locus’ means the area in which the plants are growing or will grow. Some crop plants may be inherently tolerant to herbicidal effects of compounds of Formula (I). However, in some instances tolerance may need to be engineered into the crop plant, for example by way of genetic engineering. Thus, it is possible that the crop plant is rendered tolerant to HPPD-inhibitors via genetic engineering. Methods of rending crop plants tolerant to HPPD-inhibitors are known, for example from WO0246387. Thus in an even more preferred embodiment the crop plant is transgenic in respect of a polynucleotide comprising a DNA sequence which encodes an HPPD-inhibitor resistant HPPD enzyme derived from a bacterium, more particularly from Pseudomonas fluorescens or Shewanella colwelliana, or from a plant, more particularly, derived from a monocot plant or, yet more particularly, from a barley, maize, wheat, rice, Brachiaria, Cenchrus, Lolium, Festuca, Setaria, Eleusine, Sorghum or Avena species. Several HPPD-tolerant soybean transgenic “events” are known and include for example SYHT04R (WO2012/082542), SYHT0H2 (WO2012/082548) and FG72. Other polynucleotide sequences that can be used to provide plants which are tolerant to the compounds of the present invention are disclosed in, for example, WO2010/085705 and WO2011/068567. Crop plants in which the composition according to the invention can be used thus include crops such as cereals, for example barley and wheat, cotton, oilseed rape, sunflower, maize, rice, soybeans, sugar beet, sugar cane and turf. Crop plants can also include trees, such as fruit trees, palm trees, coconut trees or other nuts. Also included are vines such as grapes, fruit bushes, fruit plants and vegetables. The rates of application of compounds of Formula I may vary within wide limits and depend on the nature of the soil, the method of application (pre- or post-emergence; seed dressing; application to the seed furrow; no tillage application etc.), the crop plant, the weed(s) to be controlled, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop. The compounds of Formula I according to the invention are generally applied at a rate of from 10 to 2000 g/ha, especially from 50 to 1000 g/ha. The application is generally made by spraying the composition, typically by tractor mounted sprayer for large areas, but other methods such as dusting (for powders), drip or drench can also be used. Crop plants are to be understood as also including those crop plants which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicides (e.g. ALS-, GS-, EPSPS-, PPO-, ACCase- and HPPD-inhibitors) by conventional methods of breeding or by genetic engineering. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding is Clearfield® summer rape (canola). Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by genetic engineering methods include e.g. glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady® and LibertyLink®. Crop plants are also to be understood as being those which have been rendered resistant to harmful insects by genetic engineering methods, for example Bt maize (resistant to European corn borer), Bt cotton (resistant to cotton boll weevil) and also Bt potatoes (resistant to Colorado beetle). Examples of Bt maize are the Bt 176 maize hybrids of NK® (Syngenta Seeds). The Bt toxin is a protein that is formed naturally by Bacillus thuringiensis soil bacteria. Examples of toxins, or transgenic plants able to synthesise such toxins, are described in EP-A-451878, EP-A-374753, WO 93/07278, WO 95/34656, WO 03/052073 and EP-A-427529. Examples of transgenic plants comprising one or more genes that code for an insecticidal resistance and express one or more toxins are KnockOut® (maize), Yield Gard® (maize), NuCOTIN33B® (cotton), Bollgard® (cotton), NewLeaf® (potatoes), NatureGard® and Protexcta®. Plant crops or seed material thereof can be both resistant to herbicides and, at the same time, resistant to insect feeding (“stacked” transgenic events). For example, seed can have the ability to express an insecticidal Cry3 protein while at the same time being tolerant to glyphosate. Crop plants are also to be understood to include those which are obtained by conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering and contain so-called output traits (e.g. improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavour). Other useful plants include turf grass for example in golf-courses, lawns, parks and roadsides, or grown commercially for sod, and ornamental plants such as flowers or bushes. The compositions can be used to control unwanted plants (collectively, ‘weeds’). The weeds to be controlled may be both monocotyledonous species, for example Agrostis, Alopecurus, Avena, Brachiaria, Bromus, Cenchrus, Cyperus, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Eleusine, Lolium, Monochoria, Rottboellia, Sagittaria, Scirpus, Setaria and Sorghum, and dicotyledonous species, for example Abutilon, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Chenopodium, Chrysanthemum, Conyza, Galium, Ipomoea, Nasturtium, Sida, Sinapis, Solanum, Stellaria, Veronica, Viola and Xanthium. Weeds can also include plants which may be considered crop plants but which are growing outside a crop area (‘escapes’), or which grow from seed left over from a previous planting of a different crop (‘volunteers’). Such volunteers or escapes may be tolerant to certain other herbicides. The compounds of the present invention can be prepared according to the following schemes. Scheme 1 Compounds of formula (I) may be prepared from benzoic acids of formula (II) and amines of formula (III). Following the above scheme, the benzoic acid of Formula (II) and the amine of Formula (III) are treated with a suitable amide coupling reagent in a suitable solvent. An additive to increase the reaction rate may optionally be added. An example of a suitable amide coupling reagent is thionyl chloride. An example of a suitable solvent is pyridine. An example of a suitable additive is N- methylimidazole. Scheme 2 Benzoic acids of formula (II) may be prepared by hydrolysis esters of formula (IV), where “Alk” is defined as a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group. The benzoic acid of Formula (IV) is treated with a hydroxide base, for example sodium hydroxide, in a suitable solvent, for example a 3:1 mixture of ethanol : water, to give the compounds of Formula (II). Scheme 3 Compounds of formula (IV) where R 4 is not hydrogen may be prepared from compounds of formula (V). The compound of formula (V) is treated with a base, for example sodium hydride, and a compound of formula (VI), where LG is defined as a leaving group. An example of a suitable leaving group is iodide. For example, where R4 is methyl, the compound of formula (VI) is iodomethane. Scheme 4 Compounds of formula (V) may be prepared from aldehydes of formula (VII) and primary amides of formula (VIII). The compound of formula (VII) and compound of formula (VIII) are treated with an acid, for example trifluoroacetic acid, and a reducing agent, for example triethylsilane, in a suitable solvent, for example toluene. Scheme 6 Compounds of formula (VII) may be prepared from aldehydes of formula (IX). The compound of formula (IX) is treated with an oxidant, for example Dess-Martin Periodinane, in a suitable solvent, for example benzotrifluoride, to give the compound of formula (VII). Scheme 7 Compounds of formula (IX) may be prepared by carbonylation of aryl bromides of formula (X).

The compound of formula (X) is treated in an autoclave with carbon monoxide gas at a suitable pressure, for example 10 bar, with a suitable catalyst, for example [1,1′- bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) and a suitable base, for example triethylamine. The solvent is Alk-OH. For example, if the solvent is methanol, “Alk” as shown in the scheme above will be methyl. Scheme 8 Compounds of formula (X) may be prepared from compounds of formula (XI). The compound of formula (XI) is treated with a reducing agent, for example sodium borohydride, in a suitable solvent, for example methanol. Scheme 9 Compounds of formula (XI) may be prepared from different methods depending on the nature of R 3 and R 2 . As one example, if R 3 is trifluoromethyl and R2 is chloro, compounds of formula (X) may be prepared from commercially available 1-bromo-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene. 1-Bromo-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene is treated with a base, for example lithium diisopropylamide, in a suitable solvent, for example tetrahydrofuran. Then, N,N- dimethylformamide is added to the reaction to give the compound of formula (XI). Scheme 10 If R 2 is chloro and R 3 is not trifluoromethyl, the compound of formula (X) may be prepared from commercially available 5-bromo-6-chloro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. 5-bromo-6-chloro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde is treated with a reagent which will depend on the nature of R 3 . The skilled person will be familiar with these reagents and which correspond to which R 3 . For example, if R 3 is difluoromethyl, an example of a suitable reagent is diethyl (bromodifluoromethyl)phosphonate. The following non-limiting examples provide specific synthesis methods for representative compounds of the present invention, as referred to in Table 1 provided herein. Example 1: Preparation of Compound 1.003. Step 1: Preparation of 3-bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzaldehyde To a stirred solution of 1-bromo-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene (15 g, 54 mmol) in THF (300 mL), Lithium diisopropylamide (2.0 mol/L) in THF (32 mL) was added dropwise at -78 °C and reaction was stirred at same temperature for 1 hour. To the solution, anhydrous DMF (8.4 mL, 107.82 mmol) was added and reaction was stirred for another 0.5 hour at -78 °C. After completion, the mixture was quenched by drop wise addition of aqueous 1 N HCl. The resulting aqueous solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 50 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated to get crude, which was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel (cyclohexane : ethyl acetate gradient 99:1 to 90:10) to afford 3- bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzaldehyde (13.0 g, 76%) as yellow oil. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 10.28 (s, 1 H) 8.18 (d, 1 H) 7.52 (d, 1 H) Step 2: Preparation of [3-bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy) phenyl] methanol To a stirred solution of 3-bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy) benzaldehyde (13.0 g, 42.8 mmol) in methanol (95 mL) was added sodium borohydride (2.27 g, 60.0 mmol) portion wise at 0 °C. The reaction mass was then allowed to stir for 2 hrs at ambient temperature. After completion, ice cold water was added slowly to quench excess sodium borohydride and then it was concentrated to reduce methanol. The resulting solution was acidified with 2 N HCl and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 X 30 mL). Combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated to afford [3-bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy) phenyl] methanol (13.0 g, 99% Yield) as pale yellow oil. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 7.88 (d, J=9.03Hz, 1 H) 7.36 (d, J=8.78 Hz, 1 H) 5.38 (t, J=5.40 Hz, 1 H) 4.65 (d, J=5.52 Hz, 2 H) Step 3: Preparation of methyl 2-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate To a solution of [3-bromo-2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]methanol (13.0 g, 42.6 mmol) in methanol (130 mL) was added 1,1'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-palladium(II)dichloride dichloromethane complex (7 g, 8.51 mmol) and triethylamine (12 mL, 85.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 95°C under carbon monoxide atmosphere (10 atm) for 6 hours. After the reaction, the mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and diluted with water (100 mL). The resulting aqueous solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 X 50 ml). Combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude residue. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel (cyclohexane: ethyl acetate eluent gradient 99:1 to 80:20) to give methyl 2-chloro-3- (hydroxymethyl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy) benzoate (9.0 g, 68% Yield) as yellow oil. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 7.83 (d, 1 H) 7.50 (d, 1 H) 5.36 (t, 1 H) 4.65 (d, 2 H) 3.89 (s, 3 H) Step 4: Preparation of methyl 2-chloro-3-formyl-4-(trifluoromethoxy) benzoate To a stirred solution of methyl 2-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy) benzoate (5.0 g, 18 mmol) in trifluoromethyl benzene (50 mL) at 0-10 °C was added Dess-Martin periodinane (15 g, 35 mmol) portion wise. The reaction was continued to stir at ambient temperature for 3 h. After completion, reaction mixture was cooled to 10 °C and diluted with saturated NaHCO3 solution. The resulting aqueous solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 X 25 ml). Combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulphate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude residue. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel (cyclohexane: ethyl acetate eluent gradient 99:1 to 70:30) to afford methyl 2-chloro- 3-formyl-4-(trifluoromethoxy) benzoate (3.0 g, 60% Yield) as yellow solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm 10.35 (s, 1 H) 8.12 (d, J=8.80 Hz, 1 H) 7.66 (d, J=8.68, 1 H) 3.91 (s, 3 H) Step 5: Preparation of methyl 2-chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzoate To a microwave vial, was added propanamide (776 mg, 10.62 mmol), 2,2,2-trifluoroacetic acid (0.82 mL, 11 mmol), methyl 2-chloro-3-formyl-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (1.00 g, 3.54 mmol, 100 ml), triethylsilane (1.7 mL, 11 mmol,) and stirred in toluene (15 mL). The reaction mixture is and heated in a MW at 160 °C for 2 h. The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography (0-50% gradient of Ethyl Acetate in Cyclohexane). Product containing fractions were combined and concentrated in vacuo to afford methyl 2-chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benz oate as a white solid (540 mg, 1.590 mmol, 45%) 1H NMR (400 MHz, chloroform) δ = 7.82 - 7.75 (m, 1H), 7.31 - 7.25 (m, 1H), 5.71 - 5.60 (m, 1H), 4.75 - 4.68 (m, 2H), 3.98 - 3.93 (m, 3H), 2.25 - 2.14 (m, 2H), 1.14 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H) Step 6: Preparation of 2-chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benz oic acid To a stirred solution of methyl 2-chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (0.300 g, 0.883 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (3.6 mL) and water (0.9 mL) at room temperature was added lithium hydroxide monohydrate (0.111 g, 2.65 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction was quenched by addition of 2 M aq. HCl (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for a further 5 minutes, followed by Ethyl acetate extraction X3. The combined organic phases were concentrated in vacuo to afford 2- chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoi c acid (0.274 g, 0.841 mmol, 95 %) as a beige solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, methanol) δ = 7.91 - 7.75 (m, 1H), 7.45 - 7.34 (m, 1H), 4.66 - 4.54 (m, 2H), 2.25 - 2.11 (m, 2H), 1.17 - 0.99 (m, 3H) Step 7: Preparation of 2-chloro-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl ]-4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzamide 2-chloro-3-[(propanoylamino)methyl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benz oic acid (275 mg, 0.844 mmol), 1-methyltetrazol-5-amine (100 mg, 1.009 mmol) are stirred in 3-methylpyridine (3 mL) for 10 mins under nitrogen atmosphere. To this reaction mixture is added Triethylamine (0.18 mL, 1.3 mmol) followed by 1-Methylimidazole (0.075 mL, 0.93 mmol) and stirred at RT for 30 min. The reaction mixture was then then cooled to 0°C and Thionyl Chloride (0.124 mL, 1.69 mmol) was added dropwise, at a rate to maintain the temperature at 0 °C. The reaction mixture is warmed to room temperature and stirred for 16 h. The reaction mass was quenched with 2N HCl (10ml) and stirred for 30 min. This is extracted with ethyl acetate X2 and the combined organics are collected and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by reverse phase chromatography (30- 60% gradient of Acetonitrile in water). Product containing fractions are combined and the solvents are removed on the freeze drier to give Preparation of 2-chloro-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)-3- [(propanoylamino)methyl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzamide (150 mg, 0.3680 mmol, 44% yield) as a white solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, methanol) δ ppm 1.13 (t, J=7.64 Hz, 3 H) 2.14 - 2.28 (m, 2 H) 4.09 (s, 3 H) 4.59 - 4.70 (m, 2 H) 7.48 - 7.56 (m, 1 H) 7.73 - 7.80 (m, 1 H) 8.29 (br s, 1 H).

TABLE 1 – Examples of herbicidal compounds of the present invention.

Biological Examples Seeds of a variety of test species are sown in standard soil in pots Amaranthus retoflexus (AMARE), Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH), Setaria faberi (SETFA), Echinochloa crus-galli (ECHCG), Ipomoea hederacea (IPOHE)). After cultivation for one day (pre-emergence) or after 8 days cultivation (post-emergence) under controlled conditions in a glasshouse (at 24/16°C, day/night; 14 hours light; 65 % humidity), the plants are sprayed with an aqueous spray solution derived from the formulation of the technical active ingredient in acetone / water (50:50) solution containing 0.5% Tween 20 (polyoxyethelyene sorbitan monolaurate, CAS RN 9005-64-5). Compounds are applied at 250 g/h unless otherwise indicated. The test plants are then grown in a glasshouse under controlled conditions in a glasshouse (at 24/16°C, day/night; 14 hours light; 65 % humidity) and watered twice daily. After 13 days for pre and post-emergence, the test is evaluated for the percentage damage caused to the plant. The biological activities are shown in the following table on a five-point scale (5 = 80-100%; 4 = 60-79%; 3=40-59%; 2=20-39%; 1=0-19%). TABLE B1