Phosphinic acid derivatives

Abstract

There are described compounds of the formula I, ##STR1## in which R.sup.5 is methyl or halomethyl, R.sup.2 is --CN, --CONRyRz, --COOR.sup.6 or --COSR.sup.6, R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 each represent hydrogen, a cation or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl, Ry and Rz each represent hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, A represents hydrogen, or A and one of --XR.sup.3 and --ZR.sup.4 together form a double bond, and the other of --XR.sup.3 and --ZR.sup.4 represents --OR.sup.10 or --NHR.sup.11 in which R.sup.10 is alkyl or acyl and R.sup.11 is alkyl, aryl or acyl, X and Z (when not forming part of a double bond with A), which may be the same or different, each represent oxygen, sulphur or a group --NR.sup.7 --, R.sup.7 represents hydrogen or alkyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represent alkyl or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form an optionally substituted alkylene or arylene chain or --XR.sup.3 and --ZR.sup.4 together form .dbd.C(CN).sub.2 or .dbd.NR.sup.8, in which R.sup.8 represents alkoxy, benzyloxy, hydroxy, phenyl, --NHCONH.sub.2, --NHCSNH.sub.2 or --NH phenyl, or one of --XR.sup.3 and --ZR.sup.4 is --OH (or an ester or ether thereof) and the other, is hydrogen, --CN or --SO.sub.3.sup..crclbar. cation, or --XR.sup.3 and --ZR.sup.4 together form carbonyl oxygen. There are also described methods for making the compounds and heribicidal compositions containing them.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.