Insecticidal [1,1'-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl esters

A substituted [1,1'-biphenyl]-3-ylmethyl compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein Y is hydroxyl, methanesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, chloro, bromo, and

• (1) b is 0, a is 1-4, and
• when a is 1,
• A is 2- or 6-halo, 4-chloro, 4-fluoro, 5-fluoro, 2-lower alkyl, or 2-trifluoromethyl, and
• when a is 2,
• A is fluoro, 2 and 4-substituents independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, and lower alkyl, with the proviso that only one may be bromo or alkyl other than methyl, or 2 and 6-substituents independently selected from fluoro, chloro and methyl and
• when a is 3 or 4,
• A is fluoro, or may be as when a is 1 or a is 2 with one or two additional fluoro groups;
• or
• (2) a is 0, b is 1-5, and
• when b is 1,
• B is halo, 2' or 3'-lower alkyl, 2' or 3'-trifluoromethyl, or 2' or 3'-lower alkoxy, and
• when b is 2,
• B is fluoro, or 2' and 4'-substituents independently selected from fluoro, chloro and bromo, and
• when b is 3, 4 or 5,
• B is fluoro;
• or
• (3) a is 1-4, b is 1-4, and
• A is fluoro or a 2-substituent selected from chloro, bromo, and lower alkyl with 0 to 3 fluoro groups, and B is fluoro or a 2'-substituent selected from chloro and methyl with 0 to 3 fluoro groups.