Cyclohexanedionecarboxylic acid derivatives with herbicidal and plant growth regulating properties

A method of regulating plant growth, which comprises treating plants, parts of plants or seeds with an effective amount of a cyclohexanedionecarboxylic acid derivative of the formula ##STR57## wherein A is an --OR.sub.2 or --NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 radical,

• R is C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl,
• R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 haloalkenyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl,
• R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkylthioalkyl;
• C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio;
• C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl;
• phenyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 aralkyl, wherein the phenyl nucleus is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, nitro or cyano, or
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring system which may contain an additional oxygen or sulfur atom in the ring, or a metal or ammonium salt thereof;
• or of a composition containing said derivative.

A method of selectively controlling weeds pre- or postemergence in crops of useful plants, which comprises applying to said useful plants or to the locus thereof an effective amount of a cyclohexanedionecarboxylic acid derivative of the formula ##STR60## wherein R is C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy or C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkythio,

• R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 haloalkenyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl,
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkylthioalkyl;
• C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio;
• or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl;
• one of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is also cyclopropyl, methoxy, phenyl or benzyl, wherein the phenyl nucleus is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, nitro or cyano, or
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring system which may contain an additional oxygen or sulfur atom in the ring, or a metal or ammonium salt thereof;
• or of a composition containing said derivative.

A method of regulating plant growth, which comprises treating plants, parts of plants or seeds with an effective amount of a cyclohexanedionecarboxylic acid derivative of the formula ##STR61## wherein R is C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl,

• R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 haloalkenyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl,
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independent hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkylthioalkyl;
• C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio;
• or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl;
• one of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is also cyclopropyl, methoxy, phenyl or benzyl, wherein the phenyl nucleus is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, nitro or cyano, or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring system which may contain an additional oxygen or sulfur atom in the ring, or a metal or ammonium salt thereof;
• or of a composition containing said derivative.