The present invention provides a novel process for preparing herbicidal and insecticidal ureas, carbamates and carbamate derivatives of the formula E is -O- or -C(R4)2- ;, R is C1-C7 alkyl;, R1 is H, C1-C7 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or C1-C4 alkylphenyl;, R2 is H, C1-C7 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C2-C7 alkenyl, C2-C7 alkynyl, or phenyl optionally substituted with Cl, Br, -NO2, -CF3, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, or -N(C1-C4 alkyl)2;, R3 is H, F, Cl, Br, -CF3, C1-C7 alkyl option-ally substituted with F, Cl, or Br, -S(O)nC1-C7 alkyl, C1-C7 alkoxy, C3-C7 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with F, Cl, or Br, or phenyl optionally substituted with F, Cl, Br, -NO2, -CF3, or C1-C4 alkyl;, R4 is H or C1-C4 alkyl;, R5 is C1-C7 alkoxy or -S(O)nC1-C7 alkyl;, R6 is C1-C5 alkyl optionally substituted with F, Cl, or Br, C3-C5 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or, , - X is R3, -N=CH-N(C1-C4 alkyl)2, -N(C1-C4 alkyl)2 or -N(C2-C4 alkenyl)2, Y is H or S(O)nC1-C7 alkyl;, Z is H, C1-C4 alkyl, Cl, F, Br, haloalkyl, -NO2, -N(C1-C4 alkyl)2, -C≡N, phenyl, -S(C1-C4 alkyl), or C1-C4 alkoxy;, n is 0, 1, or 2; and, m is 1, 2 or 3,comprising reacting a nucleophile of the formula A-H, wherein A is as defined above, with a urea of the formula wherein each R is independently chosen from R as set forth above and each R1 is independently chosen from R1 as set forth above.
