This invention is directed to 2-chloro-6-nitro-aniline compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A represents hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms a cycloalkyl radical having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a chlorine-substituted or hydroxyl-sustituted alkyl radical having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or an allyl or trifluoroacetyl group,B represents hydrogen or a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or isopropyl group, orA and B represent together an alkylene radical optionally interrupted by oxygen, .dbd.NH or, .dbd.NCH.sub.3, and having up to 5 members, or the group .dbd.CH-N(CH.sub.3).sub.2,R represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, or bromine or a trifluoromethyl, methyl, or methoxy group, and X represents oxygen or sulphur,and novel herbicidal compositions containing these compounds as active ingredients.