DE2046476

1293546 2-Alkyl glycerol derivatives and their use as herbicides SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ NV 30 July 1970 [23 Sept 1969] 46745/69 Heading C2C The invention comprises 2-alkyl glycerol derivatives of formula wherein R represents an alkyl group; one group Y represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or acyl group; and the other two groups Y either individually represent a hydrogen atom or an alkanoyl or heterocyclic group or jointly represent a carbonyl or optionally substituted divalent aliphatic hydrocarbyl group. Compounds of the above formula wherein all the groups Y are other than hydrogen atoms are prepared by reacting the corresponding monohydroxy derivative with a compound of formula HalY, wherein Y represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or acyl group and Hal represents a halogen atom. The compounds of Formula I wherein two of the groups Y each represent a hydrogen atom are prepared by hydrolysing the corresponding compound wherein the two groups Y jointly represent preferably under acid conditions. The compounds of Formula I wherein one or two of the groups Y each represents an alkanoyl group, are obtained by reacting the corresponding diol with a suitable acylating agent, e.g. an acyl halide in the presence of an organic base, or an acid anhydride. The compounds of Formula I wherein the two groups Y jointly represent are prepared by reacting the corresponding diol with a compound of formula R 1 R 2 CO or an acetal or ketal derived from such a carbonyl compound in the presence of an acid. The compounds of Formula I wherein two groups Y jointly represent a carbonyl group are obtained by reacting the corresponding diol with a dialkyl carbonate in the presence of a base. Many compounds are specified. The invention also comprises a herbicidal composition comprising a carrier or a surface-active agent, or both a carrier and surface-active agent, and, as active ingredient(s) at least one 2-alkyl glycerol derivative of Formula I.