4-Halgeno-oxetan-2-ones and process for their production

Abstract

Novel compounds having the formula I ##STR1## are described wherein X is a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom and Y is a residue having the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 C- wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and each is a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom and R.sup.3 is a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a group -CR.sup.4 R.sup.5 R.sup.6, a cyano group, a group-COR.sup.7 or -PO(R.sup.8).sub.2 wherein R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, independently, are F, Cl or Br, R.sup.7 nd R.sup.8 are the same or different and each is a chlorine atom or a group -OR.sup.9 wherein R.sup.9 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 straight chain or branched alkyl group with the proviso that when X is a chlorine atom, none of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, can be a bromine atom. They can be obtained by reacting diketene with a compound XY in the presence of an agent capable of forming free radicals. Compounds (I) have biocidal activity against various organisms, e.g. bacteria, fungi and algae.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.