Herbicidal compositions

A compound of formula (II) ##STR26## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)carbonyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, halo-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl and halo-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkoxy;

• R.sup.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, halo-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl, C(O).sub.m R.sup.10 or halogen;
• wherein R.sup.10 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkynyl or phenyl, any of which may be optionally substituted and m is 1 or 2 R.sup.8 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or halogen or the group R.sub.7 and R.sup.8 together form an oxo group;
• and the group CZR.sup.9 is carboxy or an ester thereof having the formula COOR.sup.15 wherein R.sup.15 is a substituted for alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or phenyl groups as defined for R.sub.10 and R.sub.15 or substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkynyl or phenyl group and the substituents are one or more groups selected from halogen;
• hydroxy;
• C.sub.1 - C.sub.6 alkoxy;
• C(.sub.1 -.sub.6)alkoxyC(.sub.1 -.sub.6)alkoxy;
• C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy substituted by phenyl or naphthyl;
• nitro;
• C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 cycloalkyl;
• a heterocyclic group having a ring of from 3 to 10 atoms containing at least one atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur, optionally substituted by oxo;
• cyano;
• phenyl optionally substituted by nitro, halo, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy or carboxy or salts or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl esters thereof, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylsilyl;
• or R.sup.9 is a group SR.sup.10 or NR.sup.11 R.sup.12 wherein R.sup.11 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl and R.sup.12 is hydrogen, optionally substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl optionally substituted by carboxy or by a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl carboxylic ester, S(O).sub.n R.sup.10, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, or R.sup.9 is a group --NR.sup.11 NR.sup.13 R.sup.14 wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 are independently selected from hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl;
• or R.sup.9 is a group --NR.sup.11+ NR.sup.13 R.sup.14 R.sup.20 X.sup.- wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 and R.sup.20 are each hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, and X.sup.- is an agriculturally acceptable anion;
• Z is oxygen or sulphur and R.sup.17 is halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxy, amino or mono or di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.10) alkylamine.