3-aryl-4-hydroxy-delta3-dihydrofuranone derivatives

3-Aryl-4-hydroxy-.DELTA..sup.3 -dihydrofuranone derivatives of the general formula (I) ##STR444## in which X represents alkyl, halogen, alkoxy or halogenoalkyl,

• Y represents hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy or halogenoalkyl,
• Z represents alkyl, halogen or alkoxy,
• n represents a number from 0-3, or in which the radicals X and Z together with the phenyl radical to which they are bonded form the naphthalene radical of the formula ##STR445## in which Y has the abovementioned meaning, G represents hydrogen (a) or the groups ##STR446## A and B together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded form a cycle which is substituted by alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulphoxyl, alkylsulphonyl, carboxyl or CO.sub.2 R.sup.2 or
• A and B together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded represent a cycle in which two substituents together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded represent a saturated cycle which is optionally substituted by alkyl, alkoxy or halogen and which can be interrupted by oxygen or sulphur,
• E.sup..sym. represents a metal ion equivalent or an ammonium ion,
• L and M represent in each case oxygen or sulphur,
• R.sup.1 represents in each case optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl or cycloalkyl which can be interrupted by at least one hetero atom, in each case optionally substituted phenyl, phenylalkyl, hetaryl, phenoxyalkyl or hetaryloxyalkyl and
• R.sup.2 represents alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl or polyalkoxyalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted or represents in each case optionally substituted phenyl or benzyl,
• R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently of one another represent alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkylthio, alkenylthio, alkinylthio or cycloalkylthio, each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, and in each case optionally substituted phenyl, phenoxy or phenylthio,
• R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 independently of one another represent hydrogen, or represent alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted benzyl,
• or in which R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 together represent an alkylene radical which is optionally interrupted by oxygen or sulphur,
• and the stereomerically and enantiomerically pure forms and their mixtures.