Mixtures of optically active cyclohexenone oxime ethers methods and intermediates for their preparation and their use as herbicides

Mixtures of optically active cyclohexenone oxime ethers, with an R and S configuration in the oxime ether section of formula (I) where R = C1-C6 alkyl; X = NO2, CN, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 halogen alkyl; n = 0-3 or 1-5 if all X substituents are halogen; R = C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C4-alkythio-C1-C6-alkyl, optionally substituted C3-C7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C5-C7 cycloalkenyl, optionally substituted 5-membered saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1 or 2 oxygen and/or sulphur atoms, optionally substituted 6 or 7-membered heterocyclic ring with 1 or 2 non-adjacent oxygen and/or sulphur atoms which may be saturated or singly or doubly unsaturated, optionally substituted aromatic 5-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to two N atoms and one O or S atom, phenyl or pyridyl both of which may bear 1-3 substituents: halogen, NO2, CN, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halogen alkyl, alkenyloxy, alkinyloxy and/or -NR R ; R = H, alkyl, alkenyl or alkinyl and R = H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, acyl or optionally substituted benzoyl; and their agriculturally usable salts, and esters of C1-C10 carboxylic acids and inorganic acids of compounds (I), with the proviso that the mixtures contain at least 75 mol % isomers with R configuration in the oxime ether part.