Phosphorus acid amides

An amide of the formula ##EQU3## wherein R is alkyl of up to 18 carbon atoms, 2-formylprop-2-yl, alkenyl of up to 18 carbon atoms, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, tolyl, butyl phenyl, naphthyl, .beta.-methyoxyethyl, .beta.-cyanoethyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-dimethylaminophenyl, 2-nitrophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenyl, 2-methoxycarbonylphenyl or 4-phenylsulphonylphenyl;

• R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl of up to 18 carbon atoms, 2-formylprop2-yl, alkenyl of up to 18 carbon atoms, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, .beta.-methoxyethyl, .beta.-cyanoethyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-dimethylaminophenyl, 2-nitrophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenyl, 2-methoxycarbonylphenyl, 4-phenylsulphonylphenyl, p-toluene sulphonyl, acetyl or N=CH-R where R has the meaning stated above;
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each a group R-S-NR.sup.1 where each of R and R.sup.1 have the meaning stated above, hydrogen, halogen, a value as recited for R, 2-benzothiazolylthio, 2-benzoxazolythio, 2-benzimidazolylthio, 2-pyrimidinylthio or 2-triazinylthio groups, amino, ethylamino, diethylamino, dimethylamino, phenylamino, methylphenylamino or ethylphenylamino;
• or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together with the phosphorus atom joining them form 2-oxo-1,3,2-diazaphospholane, 2-oxo-4,5-benzo-1,3,2-diazaphospholane, 2-oxo-1,3,2-oxazaphospholane, 2-oxo-4,5-benzo-1,3,2-oxazaphospholane, 2-oxo-4,5-benzo-1,3-thiazaphospholane, or 2-oxo-2,3-dithiaphospholane.