Herbicidal compositions and methods employing esters of N-phosphonomethylglycine

Claim 1

A phytotoxic composition comprising an inert adjuvant and an effective amount of a compound of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R is --OR 3 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon groups, monovalent hydrocarbon-oxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon groups, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbonoxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 halogens, ##EQU2## groups wherein n is from 1 to 4 and R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl having 1 through 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 through 4 carbon atoms, R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of --OH; --OR 3 wherein R 3 is as above defined and --OR 6 wherein R 6 is a salt-forming cation selected from the group consisting of cations of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, ammonium, organic ammonium, provided that when the organic group is aryl the ammonium salt is a primary amine salt, and mixtures of such salts, provided that no more than two of R, R 1 or R 2 can be --OR 3 .

Claim 8

A method which comprises contacting a plant with a phytotoxic amount of a compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R is --OR 3 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon groups, monovalent hydrocarbon-oxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon groups, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbonoxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 halogens, ##STR4## groups wherein n is from 1 to 4 and R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl having 1 through 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 through 4 carbon atoms, R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of --OH; OR 3 wherein R 3 is as above defined and --OR 6 wherein R 6 is a salt-forming cation selected from the group consisting of cations of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, ammonium, organic ammonium, provided that when the organic group is aryl the ammonium salt is a primary amine salt, and mixtures of such salts, provided that no more than two of R, R 1 or R 2 can be --OR 3 .

Claim 9

A method which comprises contacting a plant with a phytotoxic amount of a compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R is --OR 3 wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon groups, monovalent hydrocarbon-oxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon groups, halogenated monovalent hydrocarbonoxyhydrocarbon groups each containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 halogens, ##STR4## groups wherein n is from 1 to 4 and R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl having 1 through 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 through 4 carbon atoms, R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of --OH; OR 3 wherein R 3 is as above defined and --OR 6 wherein R 6 is a salt-forming cation selected from the group consisting of cations of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, ammonium, organic ammonium, provided that when the organic group is aryl the ammonium salt is a primary amine salt, and mixtures of such salts, provided that no more than two of R, R 1 or R 2 can be --OR 3 .