1-Phenoxy-[imidazolyl-(1)]-2-hydroxy-alkanes

An imidazole of the formula ##EQU9## in which R.sup.1 is optionally monosubstituted or disubstituted phenyl the substituents being selected from halogen, straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy and alkylthio with, in either case, 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogenoalkyl with 1 or 2 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 halogen atoms, halogenoalkoxy and halogenoalkylthio with, in either case, 1 or 2 carbon atoms and 3 to 5 halogen atoms, carbalkoxy with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkoxy moiety, o- and p-phenyl, and nitro;

• R.sup.2 is hydrogen, straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms or optionally monosubstituted phenyl, the substituents being selected from halogen, straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy and alkylthio with, in either case, 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogenoalkyl with 1 or 2 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 halogen atoms, halogenoalkoxy and halogenoalkylthio with, in either case, 1 or 2 carbon atoms and 3 to 5 halogen atoms, carbalkoxy with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkoxy moiety, o- and p-phenyl, and nitro;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl or alkenyl with up to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 5 to 6 carbon atoms, optionally substituted benzyl, the substituents being selected from fluorine, chlorine and alkyl and alkoxy, each with up to 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• R.sup.4 is straight-chain or branched alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, straight-chain or branched alkenyl with 2 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 5 to 7 carbon atoms, optionally substituted phenyl, the substituents being selected from fluorine, chlorine and alkyl and alkoxy each with up to 4 carbon atoms,
• or a salt thereof with fungicidal or plant growth-regulating activity.