3-(HET)ARYLCARBOXYLIC ACID DERIVATIVES, THEIR PREPARATION AND INTERMEDIATES FOR THEIR PREPARATION

The invention concerns 3-(hetero)aryl carboxylic acid derivatives of formula (I) in which R is a formyl group, a CO2H group or a group which can be hydrolysed to give a COOH group and the other substituents are as follows: R2 and R3 are halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy or alkylthio; X is nitrogen or CR14, R14 being hydrogen or forming together with R3, an alkylene or alkenylene chain in which each methylene group may be replaced by oxygen; R4 is optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl or an optionally substituted five-membered or six-membered heteroatomic ring containing one to three nitrogen atoms and/or a sulphur or oxygen atom; R5 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl or phenyl; R6 is C1C8 alkyl, C3-C6 alkenyl, C3-C6 alkinyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl, whereby these groups may carry one or more substituents; Y is sulphur, oxygen or a single bound; Z is sulphur or oxygen; with the proviso that R6 be not unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl if R4 is unsubstituted phenyl, Z is oxygen and at the same time, R5 is methyl or hydrogen. These derivatives are useful for regulating plant growth.