The present invention relates to esters of carboxylic acid agrochemicals comprising a labile protecting group and having formula (I). Certain of the esters of carboxylic acid agrochemicals do not undergo hydrolysis to a significant degree in the dark, but are cleaved to regenerate the parent carboxylic acid agrochemical when exposed to light. Others of the esters of carboxylic acid agrochemicals undergo hydrolysis under both light and dark conditions. The present invention further relates to methods for the controlled release of a carboxylic acid agrochemicals, and to methods of controlling unwanted plants comprising applying to the unwanted plants an ester of a carboxylic acid agrochemical.
