2-oxo-3-pyrroline derivatives, process for their production and herbicidal composition

A 2-oxo-3-pyrroline derivative of the formula:

• ##STR40## wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom;
• Z is an oxygen atom or a group of the formula .dbd.N--OR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a benzyl group, or a phenyl group which is substituted by halogen atoms;
• R is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a benzyl group, a chloro-substituted benzyl group, a benzylidene methyl group, a group of the formula ##STR41## wherein Y is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower haloalkyl group, or a lower alkoxy group and n is an integer of from 1 to 3, or a group of the formula ER.sup.2 wherein E is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a group of the formula >N--R.sup.3 wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkenyl group;
• and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower cycloalkyl group, a lower alkenyl group, a lower alkynyl group, a benzyl group, a phenylsulfonyl group or a group of the formula ##STR42## wherein G is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower haloalkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower haloalkoxy group, a methylenedioxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkylsulfonyl group, a phenoxy group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, acetyl, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group or a dimethylamino group, and m is an integer of from 1 to 5.