5-heterocyclylalkyl-3-hydroxy-2-phenylcyclopent-2-enones as herbicides

1. A compound of formula I

wherein:

R 1 is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, halogen, vinyl, ethynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halomethoxy, haloethoxy, cyclopropyl or halocyclopropyl,

R 2 and R 3 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 haloalkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 2 -C 6 haloalkynyl, C 3 -C 6 alkenyloxy, C 3 -C 6 haloalkenyloxy, C 3 -C 6 alkynyloxy, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxysulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxysulfonyl, cyano, nitro, phenyl, phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl or C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl; or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl or C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl;

R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, halogen, vinyl, ethynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halomethoxy or haloethoxy;

R 5 is hydrogen or methyl;

R 6 and R 7 independently are hydrogen or methyl;

R 8 and R 9 independently are hydrogen or methyl; and

m is 1;

and wherein Q is selected from those of the following formulae:

wherein:

R is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or C 1 haloalkoxy;

R′ is C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonyl, C 6 arylsulfonyl, C 6 -C 10 arylcarbonyl, C 6 -C 10 arylaminocarbonyl, C 7 -C 16 arylalkylaminocarbonyl, C 1 -C 9 heteroarylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 9 heteroarylaminocarbonyl or C 2 -C 16 heteroarylalkylaminocarbonyl;

n is 0, 1 or 2; and

A denotes the position of attachment to the —(CR 6 R 7 ) m — moiety; and

G is hydrogen or an agriculturally acceptable metal, sulfonium, ammonium or latentiating group;

wherein, when G is a latentiating group then G is selected from the groups phenylC 1 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), C 3 alkenyl, C 3 haloalkenyl, C 3 alkynyl, C(X a )—R a , C(X b )—X c —R b , C(X d )—N(R c )—R d , —SO 2 —Re, —P(X e )(R f )—R g and CH 2 —X f —R h ; wherein:

X a , X b , X c , X d , X e and X f are independently of each other oxygen or sulfur;

R a is H, C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, C 2 -C 18 alkynyl, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 1 -C 10 nitroalkyl, C 1 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylaminoC 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyC 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 trialkylsilylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), C 2 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro;

R b is C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 3 -C 18 alkenyl, C 3 -C 18 alkynyl, C 2 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 1 -C 10 nitroalkyl, C 2 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkynyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 trialkylsilylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), C 3 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; and

R c and R d are each independently of each other hydrogen, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 3 -C 10 alkenyl, C 3 -C 10 alkynyl, C 2 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 1 -C 10 nitroalkyl, C 1 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkynyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 2 -C 5 alkylaminoalkyl, C 3 -C 6 trialkylsilylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), C 2 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; heteroarylamino or heteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; diheteroarylamino or diheteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; phenylamino or phenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; diphenylamino or diphenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; or C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino, di-C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino or C 3 -C 7 cycloalkoxy;

or R c and R d are joined together to form a 3-7 membered ring, optionally containing one heteroatom selected from O or S; and

R e is C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 1 -C 10 nitroalkyl, C 1 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkynyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 trialkylsilylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), C 2 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; heteroarylamino or heteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; diheteroarylamino or diheteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; phenylamino or phenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; diphenylamino or diphenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; or C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino, diC 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 1 -C 10 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 5 alkylamino or C 2 -C 8 dialkylamino;

R f and R g are each independently of each other C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 1 -C 10 nitroalkyl, C 1 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkynyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 2 -C 5 alkylaminoalkyl, C 3 -C 6 trialkylsilylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano, or by nitro), C 2 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; heteroarylamino or heteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro; diheteroarylamino or diheteroarylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; phenylamino or phenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; diphenylamino or diphenylamino substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; or C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino, diC 3 -C 7 cycloalkylamino, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkoxy, C 1 -C 10 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 5 alkylamino or C 2 -C 8 dialkylamino;

or benzyloxy or phenoxy, wherein the benzyl and phenyl groups may in turn be substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro; and

R h is C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 3 -C 10 alkenyl, C 3 -C 10 alkynyl, C 1 -C 10 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 10 cyanoalkyl, C 2 -C 10 aminoalkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 7 cycloalkylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkenyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 3 -C 5 alkynyloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylthioC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfinylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylsulfonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkylideneaminoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkoxycarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, aminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 2 -C 8 dialkylaminocarbonylC 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, N—C 1 -C 5 alkylcarbonyl-N—C 1 -C 5 alkylaminoC 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), heteroarylC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), phenoxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), heteroaryloxyC 1 -C 5 alkyl (wherein the heteroaryl is optionally substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 3 alkylthio, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfinyl, C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl, halogen, cyano or by nitro), C 3 -C 5 haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 3 cycloalkyl; phenyl or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen or by nitro; or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 3 alkoxy, C 1 -C 3 haloalkoxy, halogen, cyano or by nitro;

and wherein:

the term “heteroaryl” means an aromatic ring system containing at least one heteroatom and consisting either of a single ring or of two fused rings.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

haloalkyl groups are CF 3 , CF 2 CI, CF 2 H, CCl 2 H, FCH 2 , CICH 2 , BrCH 2 , CH 3 CHF, CF 3 CH 2 or CHF 2 CH 2 ;

the term “heteroaryl” means an aromatic ring system containing at least one heteroatom and consisting either of a single ring or of two fused rings; wherein a single ring contains up to three heteroatoms chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, and a bicyclic system contains up to four heteroatoms chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is methyl, ethyl or methoxy.

4. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 2 -C 6 haloalkynyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted by C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 3 haloalkyl, cyano, nitro, halogen or C 1 -C 3 alkylsulfonyl.

5. A compound according to claim 4 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, methyl, methoxy, ethyl, ethoxy, ethenyl, ethynyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted by methyl, trifluoromethyl, cyano, nitro, fluorine, chlorine or methylsulfonyl.

6. A compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 3 is hydrogen; and R 2 is halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 alkoxy, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 2 -C 6 haloalkynyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted by C 1 alkyl, C 1 haloalkyl, cyano, nitro, halogen or C 1 alkylsulfonyl.

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is hydrogen.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, halogen, vinyl, ethynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halomethoxy or haloethoxy.

9. A compound according to claim 8 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, chlorine, bromine, ethenyl, ethynyl, methoxy or ethoxy.

10. A compound according to claim 6 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, chlorine, bromine, ethenyl, ethynyl, methoxy or ethoxy.

11. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 6 and R 7 are hydrogen.

12. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 8 and R 9 are hydrogen.

13. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

R 5 is hydrogen;

R 6 and R 7 are hydrogen; and

R 8 and R 9 are hydrogen.

14. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein:

R is hydrogen, C 1 alkyl, C 1 haloalkyl, C 1 alkoxy or C 1 haloalkoxy; and

R′ is C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 6 arylcarbonyl, or C 1 -C 9 heteroarylcarbonyl.

15. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein Q is selected from the groups Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 5 , Q 6 , Q 7 , Q 25 , Q 26 , Q 27 , Q 28 , Q 29 , Q 86 , Q 87 , Q 88 , Q 89 , and Q 90 .

16. A compound according to claim 15 , wherein Q is selected from the groups C 1 to C 7 .

17. A compound according to claim 15 , wherein:

n is 0; and

R′ is C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyl,

C 1 -C 6 haloalkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 6 arylcarbonyl, or C 1 -C 9 heteroarylcarbonyl.

18. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein n is 0.

19. A compound according to claim 10 , wherein:

Q is selected from the groups Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 5 , Q 6 , Q 7 , Q 25 , Q 26 , Q 27 , Q 28 , Q 29 , Q 86 , Q 87 , Q 88 , Q 89 , and Q 90 ;

n is 0; and

R′ is C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 6 arylcarbonyl, or C 1 -C 9 heteroarylcarbonyl.

20. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein, when G is a latentiating group then G is a group —C(X a )—R a or —C(X b )—X c —R b , wherein the meanings of X a , R a , X b , X c and R b are as defined in claim 1 .

21. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein G is hydrogen, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

22. A herbicidal composition, which, in addition to comprising formulation adjuvants, comprises a herbicidally effective amount of a compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 .

23. A compound which is one of the following compounds: