Herbicidal derivatives of 5-phenoxy-2-nitrofuran-3-carboxylic acid

A herbicidal compound of the formula ##STR6## where (i) R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, halo alkythio, and alkoxycarbonyl;

• (ii) X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, cyano, and trihalomethyl;
• and
• (iii) X.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, and trihalomethyl.