This paper reports the synthesis and the biological activity of novel
tetrahydronaphthalenes with substitution of functional groups at each
position of the aromatic ring and substitution of various alkyl groups
at the 1-position of the non-aromatic ring. These compounds exhibited
pre-emergent herbicidal activity which was determined by the orientat
ion and type of functional groups on the aromatic ring with the 1,1-di
methyl substitution on the non-aromatic ring. The activity tended to b
e highest for nitro or methyl at the 5- and 7-positions with an amino
or ester group at the 6-position and a dimethyl substitution at the 1-
position.