2-(substituted phenyl)imidazoles and pesticidal compositions comprising them

The compound which is:

• 2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifiuoromethylphenyl)-4,5-dicyanoimidazole;
• 2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dicyanoimidazole;
• 5-bromo-2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-trifluoromethylimidazole
• 2(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-nitro-4-trifluoromethylimidazole;
• 4. 5-dibromo-2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)imidazole:
• or
• 4-bromo-2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-nitroimidazole.

A pesticidal composition which comprises, as an active ingredient, a pesticidally effective amount of a compound of the formula:

• ##STR6## wherein R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or straight- or branched-chain alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or substituted by straight- or branched-chain alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulphinyl or alkylsulphonyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cyano, carboxy or straight- or branched-chain alkoxycarbonyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms:
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 which can be the same or different, each represents hydrogen, halogen, nitro, carboxy, cyano, straight- or branched-chain alkoxycarbonyl or alkanoyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms, carbamoyl or sulphamoyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two straight- or branched-chain alkyl [groups]each having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, amino which is unsubstituted or substituted on the nitrogen atom by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of straight- and branched-chain alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and straight-and branched-chain alkoxycarbonyl and alkanoyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms, or represents a group R, RO, RS, RSO or RSO.sub.2 , in which R represents straight- or branched-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms;
• and
• Ar represents phenyl which is substituted at least at the 2- and 4-positions and which has the formula:
• ##STR7## wherein R.sup.4 represents halogen or a group R or RO, in which R represents straight- or branched-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which is substituted by one or more halogen,
• R.sup.6 represents a group R or RO, in which R is defined as above,
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.7, which can be the same or different, each represents a substituent as defined above for R.sup.4, or hydrogen,
• and R.sup.8 represents a substituent as defined above for R.sup.4, or hydrogen;
• or a pesticidally acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 cannot simultaneously represent hydrogen, in association with one or more compatible adjuvants.