Abstract: Thiophene compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, nitro, amino, halogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, nitro, amino, halogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl, acyl, C.sub.2-5 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, aryloxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, acyloxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, hydroxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, acyloxy-C.sub.2-5 alkanoyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy-C.sub.2-5 alkanoyl, hydroxy-C.sub.2-5 alkanoyl, aryloxy-C.sub.2-5 alkanoyl or C.sub.2-5 haloalkanoyl; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-8 alkyl, hydroxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.2-5 alkanoyloxy-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, aryl, aryl-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl-C.sub.1-4 alkyl or aryl, aryl-C.sub.1-4 alkyl, heteroaryl or heteroaryl-C.sub.1-4 alkyl substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, amino, nitro, cyano, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.2-5 alkanoylamino, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl, acyloxy, C.sub.