2-Alkylbenzanilide is produced by reacting an alkyl 2-alkylbenzoate having the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents a lower alkyl group and R represents a lower alkyl group with an aniline having the formula ##STR2## wherein Y represents hydrogen atom, an alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, benzyloxy or halobenzyloxy group in the presence of an alcoholate in a solvent which is hardly azeotropically distilled with the by-product of alcohol.

O-Trifluoromethylbenzoic m'-isopropoxyanilide formed by the reaction between o-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid and m-isopropoxyaniline is very effective in controlling agricultural and horticultural plant diseases.

The present invention relates to a compound having the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X stands for a halogen atom or a methyl radical; and R stands for an alkyl or alkoxy radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms provided that R represents an alkyl radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms when X is a methyl radical, a process for the production thereof, an agricultural composition containing the said compound as an effective component, and a method for preventing and healing the diseases of the plant and in soil using the said compound.

The present invention provides carbanilides of formula (I), ##STR1## wherein A, Q, R, X, Z and m are as defined herein. A plurality of processes for preparing these compounds is provided, along with methods of using the compounds to control microorganisms in crops and in the protection of materials. The compounds of the present invention also find use in controlling animal pests.

An insecticidal and fungicidal composition comprising (1) An insecticidally effective amount of a nitromethylene derivative of the formula ##STR1## in which X is a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, or a halogen atom, n is 0, 1 or 2 and m is 2 or 3, and a fungicidally effective amount of at least one fungicide selected from the group consisting of (2) O-ethyl S,S-diphenyl phosphorodithioate, (3) 4,5,6,7-tetrachlorophthalide, (4) 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1-cyclopentyl-3-phenylurea, (5) Validamycin A, 3'-iso-propoxy-2-methylbenzenilide, o-trifluoromethyl-m'-isopropoxybenzoylanilide or 6-(3,5-dichloro-4-methylphenyl-3(2H)pyridazinone, and (6) di-isopropyl-1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalonate, 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazo[3,4-b]-benzothiazole, 3-allyloxy-1,2-benzisothiazole 1,1-dioxide, and 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-pyrrolo-[3,2,1-i,j]quinolin-4-one, [5-amino-2-methyl-6-(2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxycyclohexyloxy)tetrahydropyran-3 -yl]amino-.alpha.-iminoacetic acid or S-benzyl diisopropylphosphorothiolate.