Substituted (3r,4r)-4-cyan-3,4-diphenylbutanoates, method for the production thereof and use thereof as herbicides and plant growth regulators

A compound of formula (I) and/or a salt thereof, in each case in the optically active (3R,4R)-threo form,

• in which
• R1 is hydrogen or a hydrolyzable radical,
• (R2)n is n substituents R2,
• where R2 (if n=1) or each of the substituents R2 (if n is greater than 1) independently of the others is halogen, cyano, nitro, (C1-C8)-alkyl, (C1-C8)-alkoxy, (C1-C8)-alkylthio, (C1-C8)-alkylsulfinyl, (C1-C8)-alkylsulfonyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkoxy, (C1-C6)-haloalkylthio, (C1-C6)-haloalkylsulfinyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkylsulfonyl, (C2-C6)-alkenyl, (C2-C6)-alkynyl, tri-[(C1-C4)-alkyl]-silyl or tri-[(C1-C4)-alkyl]-silyl-(C1-C4)-alkyl
• or where in each case two groups R2 located ortho at the ring together are a group of the formula —Z1-A*-Z2 in which
• A* is an alkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted by at least one radical selected from the group consisting of halogen, (C1-C4)-alkyl, (C1-C4)-haloalkyl, (C1-C4)-alkoxy and (C1-C4)-haloalkoxy,
• Z1 is a direct bond, O or S and
• Z2 is a direct bond, O or S,
• where the group —Z1-A*-Z2 together with the carbon atoms, attached to the group, of the phenyl ring form a fused-on 5- or 6-membered ring, and
• (R3)m is m substituents R3,
• where R3 (if m=1) or each of the substituents R3 (if m is greater than 1) independently of the others is halogen, cyano, nitro, (C1-C8)-alkyl, (C1-C8)-alkoxy, (C1-C8)-alkylthio, (C1-C8)-alkylsulfinyl, (C1-C8)-alkylsulfonyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkoxy, (C1-C6)-haloalkylthio, (C1-C6)-haloalkylsulfinyl, (C1-C6)-haloalkylsulfonyl, (C2-C6)-alkenyl, (C2-C6)-alkynyl, NR*R**, where R* and R** are defined below, tri-[(C1-C4)-alkyl]-silyl or tri-[(C1-C4)-alkyl]-silyl-(C1-C4)-alkyl
• or where in each case two groups R3 located ortho at the ring together are a group of the formula —Z3-A**-Z4 in which
• A** is an alkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted by at least one radical selected from the group consisting of halogen, (C1-C4)-alkyl, (C1-C4)-haloalkyl, (C1-C4)-alkoxy and (C1-C4)-haloalkoxy,
• Z3 is a direct bond, O or S and
• Z4 is a direct bond, O or S,
• where the group —Z3-A**-Z4 together with the carbon atoms, attached to the group, of the phenyl ring form a fused-on 5- or 6-membered ring, and
• n, m are each independently of one another 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, optionally 0, 1, 2 or 3, with the proviso that the two are not simultaneously 0,
• where the stereochemical configuration at the carbon atom in position 3 of the butyric acid derivative has a stereochemical purity of from 60 to 100% (R), optionally from 70 to 100% (R), or optionally from 80 to 100% (R), or even optionally from 90 to 100% (R), based on a mixture of threo enantiomers present, and
• the stereochemical configuration at the carbon atom in position 4 of the butyric acid derivative has a stereochemical purity of from 60 to 100% (R), optionally from 70 to 100% (R), or optionally from 80 to 100% (R), in or even optionally from 90 to 100% (R), based on a mixture of threo enantiomers present.