6-aryl-4-aminopicolinates and their use as herbicides

A compound of the formula I

• wherein
• X represents H, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkylthio, aryloxy, nitro, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, thiocyanide, or cyano;
• Y represents an aryl group selected from the group consisting of a phenyl, indanyl or naphthyl or a heteroaryl group selected from the group of 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic rings containing one or more heteroatoms which may be fused to other aromatic systems, the aryl or heteroaryl group being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, aryloxy, formyl, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 acyl, C1-C6 alkylthio, C1-C6 alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6 alkylsulfonyl, aryl, C1-C6 OC(O)alkyl, C1-C6 NHC(O)alkyl, C(O)OH, C1-C6 C(O)alkyl, C(O)NH2, C1-C6 C(O)NHalkyl, C1-C6 C(O)N(alkyl)2, —OCH2CH2—, —OCH2CH2CH2—, —OCH2O— or —OCH2CH2O—;
• Z represents halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkylthio, aryloxy, nitro, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, thiocyanide, or cyano;
• and
• W represents —NO2, —N3, —NR1R2, —N═CR3R4 or —NHN═CR3R4 wherein
• R1 and R2 independently represent H, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 alkenyl, C3-C6 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, amino, C1-C6 acyl, C1-C6 carboalkoxy, C1-C6 alkylcarbamyl, C1-C6 alkylsulfonyl, C1-C6 trialkylsilyl or C1-C6 dialkyl phosphonyl or R1 and R2 taken together with N represent a 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring which may contain additional O, S or N heteroatoms;
• and
• R3 and R4 independently represent H, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 alkenyl, C3-C6 alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl or R3 and R4 taken together with ═C represent a 5- or 6-membered saturated ring;
• and
• agriculturally acceptable derivatives of the carboxylic acid group.