4-Benzoyl isoxazole derivatives of the formula I: wherein:, R represents alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, -CO2R3,-COR5,cyano,nitro, -CONR31R4 or a halogen atom;, R1 represents :-, hydrogen , alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl or optionally substituted cycloalkyl, R2 represents :-, halogen, R5, -SR5, -SOR5, -SO2R5, -SO2NR31R4,-CO2R3, -COR5, -CONR31R4, -CSNR31R4, -OR5, a nitro group, a cyano group, a group -O(CH2)q-OR5 or alkyl substituted by OR5;, R3, R31 and R4, which may be the same or different, each represents:-, hydrogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;, R5 represents alkyl or haloalkyl;, n represents an integer from 1 to 5; and, q represents an integer from 1 to 3;, and agriculturally acceptable salts thereof and their use as herbicides is described.