Abstract: The present invention provides pyruvic acid oximes of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, cinnamyloxy, phenylamino, phenyl-N-alkylamino or phenylthio radical or an aryl or aryloxy radical, the aryl moiety of which can be substituted one or more times by C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, halogen, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl, amino, acetylamino, nitrile, nitro or methylenedioxy, A is a straight-chained or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing up to 10 carbon atoms, which can be substituted one or more times by halogen or hydroxyl, and R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl radical, which can be substituted one or more times by halogen, hydroxyl, nitrile, phenyl or carboxyl, or is a nitrile or formyl group, with the proviso that when R--A-- is a methyl or ethyl radical, R.sub.1 is not a methyl radical or a nitrile group and when R--A-- is a benzyl radical, R.sub.