3-phenyl-pyrrolidine-2,4-dione derivatives having pesticidal activity

A 3-phenyl derivative of the formula ##STR47## in which A--B represents --S--CH.sub.2 --, --SO--CH.sub.2 --, --SO.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --S--, --CH.sub.2 --SO or --CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.2 --,

• X represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy,
• Y represents hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -halogenoalkyl,
• Z represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy,
• n represents a number from 0-3,
• R represents hydrogen, or a group of the formula
• --CO--R.sup.1,
• --CO--O--R.sup.2
• or
• E,
• in which
• E represents a metal cation equivalent or an ammonium ion,
• R.sup.1 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkythio-C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -polyalkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or cycloalkyl having 5-6 ring atoms, which may be interrupted by oxygen or sulphur, and which are optionally substituted by halogen, represents phenyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkoxy, represents phenyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkoxy, represents pyridyl, pyrimidyl, thiazolyl or pyrazolyl optionally substituted by halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, represents phenoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, or represents pyridyloxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, pyrimidyloxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl or thiazolyloxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, amino or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, and
• R.sup.2 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -polyalkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl which are optionally substituted by halogen, or represents phenyl optionally substituted by halogen, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkyl.