HALOCARBOXYLIC ACID ANILIDES,THEIR PREPARATION AND THEIR USE AS HERBICIDES

1347076 Halocarboxylic acid anilides FARBWERKE HOECHST AG 18 Aug 1971 [26 Aug 1970] 38759/71 Heading C2C [Also in Division A5] The invention comprises halocarboxylic acid anilides of the formula wherein X 1 and X 2 each represents F, Cl or Br; X 3 represents H, Cl, F, Br or the group CHCl 2 ; Hal represents indentical or different halogen atoms, n 1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3, n 2 is 0, 1, or 2, n 3 is 0, 1 or 2 and the sum of n 1 +n 2 +n 3 is an integer from HO 4 . They may be obtained by reacting an appropriately substituted aniline (a) with a corresponding halocarboxylic acid halide in the presence of a tertiary base or (b) in the presence of H 2 SO 4 with a corresponding halocarboxylic anhydride or halocarboxylic acid. Compounds containing a nitro group may be obtained by nitrating the corresponding non-nitro-substituted compound with KNO 3 or HNO 3 in H 2 SO 4 . Examples are given for the production of the compounds. They are useful as herbicides for combating unwanted plant growth and as such may be used in conjunction with a carrier, other herbicides or fertilizers.