Phenoxy-alkanecarboxylic acid derivatives, their production, herbicidal compositions containing them, and their use

A phenoxy-phenoxy-alkanecarboxylic acid derivative of the formula I ##STR54## in which Q is a radical ##STR55## A is a radical --COB, B is a radical --OR.sub.5,

• R.sub.1 is a halogen atom,
• n is the number 0, 1 or 2,
• R.sub.2 is a halogen atom or the trifluoromethyl, nitro, or carbamoyl group,
• R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl group, or the nitro, or carbamoyl group,
• R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, benzyl or phenyl both optionally substituted by halogen, or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkoxyalkyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 cycloalkyl,
• R.sub.5 is hydrogen or the cation of a base 1/mM.sup.m.sym. wherein M is an alkali metal cation or an alkaline--earth metal cation or an Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn or Ni cation, or an ammonium group ##STR56## m as integer 1, 2 or 3 takes account of the valency of the cation, and R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d independently of one another are each hydrogen, benzl or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted by --OH, --NH.sub.2 or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, or
• R.sub.5 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alkyl group which is unsubstituted or is substituted by halogen, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkoxyalkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylthio, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkanoyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -acyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, bis-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl)amino, tris-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl)-ammonium, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkenyl, or a phenoxy group which is unsubstituted or in its turn mono- or poly-substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy;
• or is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 -alkenyl group which is unsubstituted or is mono- to tetrasubstituted by halogen or monosubstituted by phenyl or methoxy-carbonyl;
• or is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkynyl group;
• or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl group which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl;
• or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkenyl group;
• or a phenyl group which is unsubstituted or is mono- or poly-substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, COOH, OH, SO.sub.3 H, NH.sub.2 or --NH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl) or --N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl).sub.2 ;
• X, Y and Z are each an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.