Benzoic acid derivatives useful as intermediates for the preparation of herbicidal 4-benzoylpyrazoles

A benzoic acid of the formula

• wherein:
• X is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a halogen atom;
• Z is Cl, --SR or --SO.sub.2 R wherein R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• Y is --COOR;
• wherein R' is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by an alkoxy or alkyl alkoxy which may be a halogenated group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a cyclohexyl group,
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by thioalkyl wherein the alkyl group has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by hydroxy;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by --CN;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by acyloxy having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by a piperidine group;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by an alkynyloxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by an alkenyloxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• an alkenyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms substituted by an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• or a dialkyl amide radical wherein the alkyl radicals have from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.