Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) including processes comprising a. reacting a compound of formula (II) with a nucleophile in the presence of water to give a compound comprising a thietane moiety in which the carbon atom at the 3 position of the thietane moiety is bonded to a nitrogen atom; wherein the nucleophile is selected the group consisting of: N3?, a sulfonamide having two hydrogen atoms bound to the nitrogen atom, a diimide having a hydrogen atom bound to the nitrogen atom or an anion thereof, NH2OH and NH3; and b. when the nucleophile used in step a. is N3? or NH2OH, reacting the compound produced in step a. with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula (I); or when the nucleophile used in step a. is a sulfonamide, reacting the compound produced in step a. with a reagent suitable for cleaving the S—N bond of the sulfonamide group to give a compound of formula (I); or when the nucleophile used in step a.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) including processes comprising a. reacting a a compound comprising a thietane moiety in which the carbon atom at the 3 position of the thietane moiety is bonded to a nitrogen atom; wherein the nucleophile is selected the group consisting of: N3?, a sulfonamide having two hydrogen atoms bound to the nitrogen atom, a diimide having a hydrogen atom bound to the nitrogen atom or an anion thereof, NH2OH and NH3; and b. when the nucleophile used in step a. is N3? or NH2OH, reacting the compound produced in step a. with a suitable reducing agent to give a compound of formula (I); or when the nucleophile used in step a. is a sulfonamide, reacting the compound produced in step a. with a reagent suitable for cleaving the S—N bond of the sulfonamide group to give a compound of formula (I); or when the nucleophile used in step a. is a diimide, reacting the compound produced in step a.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substituted pyrimidine derivatives, as well as N-oxides thereof and agriculturally acceptable salts thereof, and their use to control undesired plant growth, in particular in crops of useful plants. The invention extends to herbicidal compositions comprising such compounds, N-oxides and/or salts as well as mixtures of the same with one or more further active ingredient (such as, for example, an herbicide, fungicide, insecticide and/or plant growth regulator) and/or a safener. The invention further relates to intermediates useful in the preparation of such compounds, and to processes for their preparation.