Abstract: A cyanoketone derivatives of the following formula (1) ##STR1## which are characterized by excellent herbicidal activity and effectiveness against a variety of broad leafed weeds, including barnyard grass, green foxtail, velvet leaf, livid amaranth and hairy beggar ticks.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cyanoketone derivatives of the following formula (1) ##STR1## such as 1-cyano-1-piperidinocarbonyl-3-[4-(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)pheno xy]-2-butanone, 1-cyano-1-piperidinocarbonyl-3-[4-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy )phenoxy]-2-butanone, 1-cyano-1-(N-methyl-N-dichlorophenyl)aminocarbonyl-3-[4-(2-quinoxalyloxy)p henoxy]-2-butanone, 1-cyano-1-(N,N-dibutyl)aminocarbonyl-3-[4-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-2-py ridyloxy)phenoxy-2-butanone, and the like, which are characterized by excellent herbicidal activity and effectiveness against a variety of gramineous weeds.

Abstract: A cyanoketone derivative of the following formula (1) ##STR1## wherein A.sub.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group;each of X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 is independently an oxygen or sulfur atom;each of B.sub.1, B.sub.2 and B.sub.3 is independently a hydrogen atom or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group;each of Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2, Y.sub.3 and Y.sub.4 is independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group; andA.sub.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxycarbonyl group, an unsubstituted benzoyl group, a halogen-substituted benzoyl group, a cyano group or a group as defined in A.sub.1 ;provided that when B.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom and B.sub.

Abstract: An N-substituted chloroacetanilide represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein A represents a member selected from the class consisting of halogen atoms, alkoxy groups having a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, alkylthio groups having a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, and alkoxyalkyl groups having a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group and having a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylene group, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are identical or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, an alkoxy group having a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group R is a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.