Herbicidal cinnamic ester uracils

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The compounds of formula (I) may be prepared according to the following scheme: ##STR3## The formation of the cinnamic acid (III) in the first step requires a strong base, e.
g.
, piperidine or morpholine in an organic base solvent, e.
g.
, pyridine.
Ester (IV) preparation is accomplished using standard methods known in the art, e.
g.
, by the formation of the acid chloride and subsequent treatment with an appropriate alcohol or by refluxing in excess alcohol with a catalytic amount of mineral acid.
Reduction of the nitro (IV) is best done by iron filings in aqueous alcohol with some mineral acid present.
The isocyanate (VI) can be made using phosgene gas and ethyl acetate as solvent.
The uracil (VII) is made by reacting the isocyanate with the sodium salt of ethyl 3-amino-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate at sub-zero temperatures.
Alkylation of this uracil with an appropriate alkyl halide (RX, where X is halogen) with base, e.
g.
, potassium carbonate in DMF solvent gives the compounds of the invention.
The compositions of this invention are comprised of (a) an herbicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as an active ingredient, and (b) a suitable carrier.
Such compositions may comprise one or more of the novel compounds of this invention.
To prepare the compositions, the cinnamic ester uracil may be mixed with an adjuvant to provide compositions in the form of finely-divided particulate solids, granules, pellets, wettable powders, flowable liquids, soluble powders, solutions, and aqueous or organic solvent dispersions or emulsions.
Such formulations may be of several different physical and chemical types, and of which could be made by one familiar with the art.
For instance, the agriculturally active compound may be impregnated on finely-divided or granular inorganic or organic carriers such as appapulgite clay, sand, vermiculite, corn cob, activated carbon or other granular carriers known to the art.
The impregnated granules may then be spread on the soil or incorporated into the soil