The invention relates to oxime ethers of the formula I ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylsulfonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylsulfonyl or nitro; each of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently of the other is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, phenyl or phenyl which is substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylsulfonyl, carboxyl, carbamoyl, C.sub. 1 -C.sub.4 alkylcarbamoyl, nitro or cyano, or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 together are also a 2- to 6-membered alkylene or alkenylene chain which may be substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl radicals; X is hydrogen, cyano, nitro, chlorine, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, carboxyl, carbamoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxycarbonyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylcarbamoyl. The oxime ethers of the formula I are able to act as antidotes or safeners to protect cultivated plants from the phytotoxic effects of herbicides. Such cultivated plants are preferably sorghum, cereals, maize and rice.
The disclosure herein relates to the use of certain amides of dichloroacetic acid and other compounds as safener/antidotal compounds to reduce the phytotoxicity to crop plants, especially corn, of benzoic acid-type herbicides alone or in admixture with other co-herbicidal compounds, e.g., .alpha.-haloacetamides.
