N-aryltetrahydrophthalimide derivatives and intermediates therefor of the general formula I ##STR1## where A is O.sub.2 N--, H.sub.2 N-- or ##STR2## corresponding to compounds Ia, Ib and Ic, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or cyano,R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, which each may be substituted by halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, or is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl, which may be substituted by C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -alkynyloxycarbonyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 -alkoxycarbonyl which may be substituted in the alkoxy moiety by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, halogen or phenyl,and herbicides which contain compounds of the formula Ic.