Pyridylmethyl-sulfonamide compounds

A pyridylmethyl-sulfonamide compound of the formula (I)

• where:
• indicates the number of substituents R1 on the pyridine ring and n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;
• m indicates the number of substituents R3 on the phenyl ring and m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;
• R1 is halogen, CN, NO2, OH, SH, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, C1-C4-haloalkylthio, C1-C4-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4-haloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C4-alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4-haloalkylsulfonyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylamino, di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl or C1-C4-alkyl-C3-C8-cycloalkyl;
• and/or
• two radicals R1 that are bound to adjacent carbon atoms of the pyridine ring may form together with said carbon atoms a fused benzene ring, a fused saturated or partially unsaturated 5-, 6-, or 7-membered carbocycle or a fused 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heterocycle containing 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of 2 nitrogen atoms, 1 oxygen atom, and 1 sulfur atom as ring members, it being possible for the fused ring to carry 1 or 2 radicals selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, halomethyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and halomethoxy,
• it being possible for n=2, 3 or 4 that R1 are identical or different;
• R2 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C1-C4-alkyl-C3-C8-cycloalkyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl moiety of benzyl group is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, (C1-C4-alkoxy)carbonyl and di(C1-C4-alkyl)aminocarbonyl;
• R3 is halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy or C1-C4-haloalkoxy, it being possible for m=2, 3 or 4 that R3 are identical or different;
• Y is —O—;
• Het is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic radical, wherein the ring member atoms of the heteroaromatic radical include, besides carbon atoms 1, 2, 3 or 4 nitrogen atoms, or 1 oxygen atom and 0, 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms or 1 sulfur atom and 0, 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms and wherein the heteroaromatic radical is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different substituents Ra, wherein two radicals Ra that are bound to adjacent ring member atoms may form a fused 5- or 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle, wherein the fused carbocycle or heterocycle is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different substituents Rb;
• Ra is halogen, CN, NO2, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, C1-C4-haloalkylthio, C1-C4-alkylsulfinyl, C1-C4-haloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C4-alkylsulfonyl, C1-C4-haloalkylsulfonyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylamino, di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl,
• a radical C(═O)R, wherein R is H, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, amino, C1-C4-alkylamino or di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino,
• a radical CR′(═NOR″), wherein R′ is H or C1-C4-alkyl, and R″ is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl or C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl,
• phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenoxy or phenoxyalkyl, where the five last mentioned radicals are unsubstituted or carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 identical or different substituents Rc;
• Rb and Rc independently of each other are selected from the group consisting of halogen, CN, NO2, OH, SH, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy and C1-C4-haloalkoxy;
• and the N-oxides and the agriculturally acceptable salts of the compounds of the formula (I).