PHENOXYACETIC ACID DERIVATIVE AND AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL HERBICIDE CONTAINING THE DERIVATIVE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject new compound having an alkoxy-substituted methylidene group bonded to an acetic acid part and a substituent of a benzene ring bonded through ethylene group, exhibiting excellent herbicidal activity at a reduced rate of application and useful as a safe herbicide. SOLUTION: This compound is expressed by formula I [R1 and R2 are each H, a (substituted) lower alkyl, a (substituted) lower alkenyl, etc.; X is a halogen, cyano, a lower alkyl, etc.; (n) is 0-2; A is a halogen or A' (A' is OR3 , SR3 or a group of formula II or formula III; R3 is a (substituted) lower alkyl, etc.; R4 is H, cyano, a (substituted) lower alkyl, etc.; R5 is a (substituted) lower alkyl, etc.)], e.g. methyl 2-(3-bromomethylphenoxy)-3-methoxyacrylate. The compound of the formula I can be produced e.g. by reacting a compound of formula IV (B is a halogen) with a proper halogenation agent in a proper solvent or in the absence of solvent optionally in the presence of a free radical initiator and optionally under irradiation with light.