the specific 2 - nitro - 5 -( substituted - phenoxy ) phenyl alkanone derivatives are described below . one method for preparing these compounds is the use of the ullmann ether synthesis reaction between the alkali metal ( e . g ., na , k ) salt of a suitable substituted phenol , e . g ., m - hydroxy benzaldehyde or m - cresol with an active halogen - substituted aromatic , e . g ., 3 , 4 - dichlorobenzotrifluoride . the intermediate obtained may be nitrated and subsequently derivatized by known procedures . where m - cresol is used as a starting material , the product obtained can be oxidized and subsequently nitrated before the aforementioned derivatization . to a stirred solution of 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrophenyl ethanone ( 3 . 3 g ., 0 . 0092 mole ) in absolute ethanol ( 30 ml ) was bubbled methylamine for 0 . 5 hour as the temperature rose to about 40 ° c . the solution was stirred for 12 hours at room temperature and then heated to reflux for 4 hours . the solvent was stripped to give 3 . 0 g of a brown oil . recrystallization from methanol / water gave a brown solid ( 1 . 2 g ., mp . 133 °- 7 ° c .). to a solution of hydroxylamine hydrochloride ( 0 . 33 g ., 0 . 0048 mole ) and sodium acetate ( 0 . 394 g ., 0 . 0048 mole ) in 2 - 3 ml of water was added a hot solution of 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenzaldehyde ( 1 . 5 g ., 0 . 00434 mole ) in ethanol ( 10 - 12 ml ). the clear yellow solution was heated for 1 . 5 hours and then the solvent was stripped on a rotary evaporator to give a yellow waxy solid which solidified giving 1 . 5 g ., mp . 111 °- 115 ° c . recrystallization from ethanol / water gave a solid mp . 114 °- 118 ° c . nmr ( cdcl 3 ): singlet 8 . 85 ppm ( 1h ), doublet 8 . 30 ppm ( j = 4 . 5 hz , 1h ), complex multiplet 7 . 0 - 8 . 0 ppm ( 7h ). 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenzaldehyde t - butylimine was prepared in a manner similar to that shown for compound 1 . the product was an oily semi - solid . nmr ( cdcl 3 ): singlet 1 . 34 ppm ( 9h ), complex multiplet 6 . 9 - 8 . 4 ppm ( 6h ), singlet 8 . 9 ppm ( 1h ). other illustrative compounds of the present invention are shown below in accordance with the following formula : ______________________________________ ## str5 ## x y name______________________________________h ona 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenzaldehyde oxime sodium salt ## str6 ## 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenza ldehyde methylaminocarbonyloximeh ## str7 ## 5 -[ 2 chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenza ldehyde 1 -( methoxycarbonyl ) ethyloximecn ## str8 ## 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 -( trifluoromethyl ) phenoxy ] α - cyano - 2 - nitrobenzal - dehyde ( n , ndimethylamino - carbonyl ) oximeoc . sub . 2 h . sub . 5 ## str9 ## ethyl o ( 2 , 3 - epoxy propyl ) 5 -[ 2 - chloro - 4 - trifluorometh yl ) phenoxy ]- 2 - nitrobenzohy - droximate______________________________________ the compounds of this invention can be applied in various ways to achieve herbicidal action . they can be applied per se , as solids or in vaporized form , but are preferably applied as the toxic components in pesticidal compositions of the compound and a carrier . these compositions are preferably applied directly to the soil and often incorporated therewith . the compositions can be applied as granulars or dusts ; as liquid sprays , or as gas - propelled sprays and can contain , in addition to a carrier , additives such as emulsifying agents , binding agents , gases compressed to the liquid states , odorants , stabilizers , and the like . a wide variety of liquid and solid carriers can be used . non - limiting examples of solid carriers include talc , bentonite , diatomaceous earth , pyrophyllite , fullers earth , gypsum , flours derived from cotton seeds and nut shells , and various natural and synthetic clays having a ph not exceeding about 9 . 5 . non - limiting examples of liquid carriers include water , organic solvents such as alcohols , ketones , light oils , and medium oils and vegetable oils such as cottonseed oil . in practice , herbicidal application is measured in terms of pounds of herbicide applied per acre . the compounds of this invention are effective herbicides when applied in herbicidal amounts , i . e ., at rates between about 0 . 03 pound and about 10 pounds per acre . crop and weed species are planted in 8 &# 34 ;× 10 &# 34 ; disposable fiber flats containing potting soil to provide each flat with a 4 &# 34 ; row of all test species . crop species consist of field corn ( cn ), crabgrass ( cg ), cotton ( ct ), and soybeans ( sb ). the weed species consist of foxtail millet ( fm ), green foxtail ( gf ), velvetleaf ( vl ), cocklebur ( cb ), wild mustard ( wm ) and pigweed ( pw ). cotton , corn , soybean , and cocklebur plantings consist of 4 to 5 seeds per row depending upon species . the smaller seeded species ( velvetleaf , wild mustard , pigweed , foxtail millet and green foxtail ) are planted in an uncounted but sufficient number to provide a solid row of seedlings . plantings for the pre - and post - emergence portions of the test are identical as to seeding . the initial watering until emergence is done from the top . the post - emergence phase is propagated in advance so as to provide plants of the proper stage of development at the time of treatment . plantings for the pre - emergence phase are made not more than one day in advance of treatment . the desired stage of development for treatment of the post - emergence broadleaf species ( ct , sb , cb , vl , wm , pw ) is the one true leaf or first trifoliate leaf stage . the desired stage for corn would be a height of 3 - 4 &# 34 ;, while a 2 &# 34 ; height would be adequate for the grasses . spray applications are made with a handgun sprayer ( aspirator type ) simultaneously to one flat of established plants for the post - emergence phase and one newly seeded flat for the pre - emergence phase . the 10 lb ./ acre treatment rate consists of the uniform application of 116 milligrams of test compound to the combined area of the two flats ( 160 sq . inches ). application is made in a solvent mixture consisting of 40 ml acetone and 40 ml water and a surfactant concentration of 0 . 1 %. following spray application , flats are returned to the greenhouse where watering of the post - emergence phase is done only by subirrigation . the pre - emergence phase is top watered by sprinkling until after test species have emerged . subsequent watering is by subirrigation . two weeks after treatment , the pre - and post - emergence injury and control is rated on a 0 - 100 % injury and control scale . special physiological effects are rated as to intensity also at this time . the herbicidal test data reported for compounds 1 - 3 was obtained at application rates of 2 lbs . down to 1 / 4 lb ./ acre . the following lists the metric equivalents for each rate . test results are set forth in table i ( pre - emergence ) and table ii ( post - emergence ). table i__________________________________________________________________________dosage pre - emergencecpd . no . lbs ./ acre cg fm gf vl cb wm pw ct cn sb__________________________________________________________________________1 2 50 10 -- 0 10 30 -- -- -- -- 1 / 4 0 0 -- 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- 2 2 -- 90 90 70 0 90 80 10 0 01 / 2 -- 70 0 20 0 20 20 0 0 03 2 -- 80 60 10 10 90 100 20 10 01 / 2 -- 20 20 0 0 10 70 0 0 0__________________________________________________________________________ table ii__________________________________________________________________________dosage post - emergencecpd . no . lbs ./ acre cg fm gf vl cb wm pw ct cn sb__________________________________________________________________________1 2 60 50 -- 90 40 80 100 90 10 301 / 4 10 70 -- 10 10 40 100 40 10 102 2 20 50 -- 100 70 90 100 80 10 501 / 2 10 10 -- 100 10 90 80 30 10 303 2 -- 90 90 70 10 100 100 70 50 501 / 2 -- 60 60 10 10 90 90 50 10 401 / 4 -- 60 40 50 20 90 70 30 20 20__________________________________________________________________________
there is provided a new class of derivatives of 2 - nitro - 5 - phenylalkanone oximes and imines that have pre - and post - emergence herbicidal activity .