Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein: R.sup.1 is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, or optionally substituted alkylthio; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl or a group of formula --YR.sup.7 ; R.sup.3 is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy group, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, halogen, nitro or a group of formula --COR.sup.8, wherein R.sup.8 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkoxy; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each hydrogen atom or alkyl; R.sup.6 is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy group, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, halogen, nitro, or a group of formula --COR.sup.8, as defined above;A, Q and X are each oxygen or sulfur; Y is a group of formula --CO--, --COO--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 S--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## (in which: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aryl or pyridyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent alkylene; A and B are each hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfonyl, dialkylsulfamoyl, aliphatic carboxylic acyl, carboxy, --CONR.sup.a R.sup.b where R.sup.a and R.sup.b are each hydrogen or alkyl, formyl or cyano groups; D represents optionally substituted phenyl, benzyl, pyridyl or pyrimidinyl; and n is 0, 1 or 2; and salts and esters thereof) have valuable herbicidal properties, and, since they are totally innocuous to rice plants, are especially useful for the treatment of paddy fields.

Abstract: Pyrazole derivatives of formula (I): ##STR1## (R.sup.1 is methyl, halogen or nitro; n is 2 or 3; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.3-4 alkenyl or aralkyl; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.3-4 alkenyl or phenyl; A is C.sub.1-5 alkylene) are of use as herbicides.

Abstract: Isoxazolone derivatives having the formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogen atom; Y is hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or phenyl group; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkoxycarbonylalkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a phenyl group which may be substituted with one to three substituents or an aralkyl group which may be substituted with one to three substituents in the aryl moiety. They are useful as plant growth regulators, more specifically herbicides and plant growth retardants, and prepared by reacting the corresponding N-halogenocarbonylisoxazolone with an amine or by reacting the corresponding 3-hydroxyisoxazole with a carbamoyl halide.

Abstract: Isoxazolone derivatives having the formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogen atom; Y is hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or phenyl group; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkeyl group, an alkoxycarbonylalkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a phenyl group which may be substituted with one to three substituents or an aralkyl group which may be substituted with one to three substituents in the aryl moiety. They are useful as plant growth regulators, more specifically herbicides and plant growth retardants, and prepared by reacting the corresponding N-halogenocarbonylisoxazolone with an amine or by reacting the corresponding 3-hydroxyisoxazole with a carbamoyl halide.