Cyclic 1,2-diol benzyl ether compounds

Benzyl ether of cyclic 1,2-diols, of the formula ##STR218## wherein R.sup.1 is phenyl or substituted phenyl, which substituents are selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkoxy with up to 4 carbon atoms, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy with up to 4 carbon atoms each and up to 5 halogen atoms, trimethylene, tetramethylene or pentamethylene groups, and phenyl, and phenoxy, the last two radicals being optionally substituted by halogen, alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 2 carbon atoms each or haloalkyl with up to 2 carbon atoms and up to 3 identical or different halogen atoms;

• R.sup.2 is alkyl with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl or alkynyl with 2 to 4 carbon atoms each, haloalkyl with up to 2 carbon atoms and up to 3 identical or different halogen atoms or the grouping --CHX--R.sup.1 wherein X is defined as below;
• X is hydrogen, alkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl, or alkynyl with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, haloalkyl with up to 2 carbon atoms and up to 3 identical or different halogen atoms, phenyl or substituted phenyl, the substitutents being selected from halogen, alkyl or alkoxy with 1 or 2 carbon atoms each or haloalkyl with up to 2 carbon atoms and up to 3 identical or different halogen atoms;
• Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are individually selected from hydrogen, alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl or substituted phenyl, the substituents being selected from halogen, alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or haloalkyl or haloalkoxy with up to 4 carbon atoms each and up to 5 halogen atoms and
• A is a 2- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated alkyllene bridge or substituted alkylene bridge, the substituents being slected from halogen, alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl and substituted phenyl, the substituents being selected from halogen, alkyl or alkoxy with up to 4 carbon atoms each, haloalkyl or haloalkoxy with up to 4 carbon atoms each and up to 5 halogen atoms each.