Insecticidal, acaricidal and herbicidal 1-H-3-aryl-pyrrolidine-2,4-dione derivatives

A 3-aryl-pyrrolidine-2,4-dione derivative of the formula ##STR532## in which X represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy,

• Y represent hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, halogen or 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 (Ia), or represents the groups of the formula ##STR533## in which 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.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylthio-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -polyalkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and cycloalkyl which has 3-8 ring atoms and which can be interrupted by at least one of oxygen and sulphur, each of these substituents being optionally substituted by halogen, or represents optionally 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-substituted phenyl;
• or represents optionally halogen-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkyl- or represents optionally halogen- and C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl-substituted phenoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl,
• 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 each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, or represents phenyl or cycloalkyl which has 3-8 ring atoms, each of which is 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,
• A represents hydrogen or represents straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -polyalkoxy-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkylthio-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, cycloalkyl which has 3-8 ring atoms and which can be interrupted by at least one of oxygen and sulphur, each of these substituents being optionally substituted by halogen, or represents aryl, or aryl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -halogenoalkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy or nitro,
• B represents hydrogen or straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxyalkyl, and
• E.sup..sym. represents a metal ion equivalent or an ammonium ion.