Rhone-poulenc Industries

Rhone-poulenc Agrochimie

Jean-Pierre Decor

Guy Borrod

The invention relates to herbicidal compositions containing a glyphosate type herbicide and a phenoxybenzoic type herbicide, preferably acifluorfen-sodium, the ratio by weight of phenoxybenzoic type herbicide:glyphosate type herbicide ranging between about 1:12 and about 1:80. The compositions are relatively fast-acting and resistant to being washed out during rainfall occurring shortly after application. The invention also relates to a method of weed control employing the compositions.

Herbicidal compositions based on a glyphosate herbicide and acifluorfen

Vitamin A alcohol and its lower alkanoic esters are prepared by desulphonation of corresponding sulphones with a solid potassium alcoholate of a primary or secondary lower alcohol at 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. in an anhydrous liquid hydrocarbon.

Process for the preparation of vitamin A from sulphones

Acetal sulphones useful as intermediates in the preparation of vitamin A and other terpene compounds are made by reacting a sulphone of the formula: ##STR1## with an .omega.-halogeno-acetal of an ethylenically unsaturated aldehyde of the formula: ##STR2## in which m and n each represent zero or 1 and are such that m+n=1, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be identical or different, represent hydrogen or straight or branched alkyl radical of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.6 represents straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R represents straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or arylalkyl containing a straight or branched alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl, unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl or halogen, and R' represents hydrogen or, if m is zero, straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Process for the preparation of acetal sulphones

Halogeno-acetals of ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes are prepared by reaction of an ethylenically unsaturated ester with a halogen cation chosen from Cl.sup.+, Br.sup.+ and I.sup.+ and an alcohol. The products are useful, inter alia, for introducing an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated aldehyde unit into a mono- or polyene radical.

Process for the preparation of halogenoacetals from esters

.alpha.-Halogeno-acetals of ethylenically-unsaturated aldehydes of the formula: ##STR1## are disclosed, which are prepared by reacting a hypohalite of a saturated aliphatic tertiary alcohol with an ethylenically-unsaturated aldehyde of the formula: ##STR2## in which: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be identical or different, represent hydrogen or straight or branched alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms especially methyl or ethyl, X represents halogen, especially chlorine or bromine, R.sub.6 represents straight or branched alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms especially methyl or ethyl; and n represents zero or 1. Such .alpha.-halogeno acetals may be used to introduce an ethylenically-unsaturated aldehyde unit into a monoene or polyene radical.

.alpha.-Halogeno-acetals of ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes and

Halogeno-acetals of ethylenic aldehydes are made by reaction of a corresponding enoxysilane compound with a halogen cation and an alcohol. The products are useful inter alia in the synthesis of retinal and other unsaturated aldehydes.

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Thurins, France

Jean-Pierre Decor