2-(Phenoxy or phenylthio)-2-(pyrimidinyloxy or 1,3,5-triazinyloxy)alkanoic acid compounds, such as ethyl 2-(2-fluorophenoxy)-2-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yloxy)-acetate, were prepared by the reaction of a phenol or thiophenol compound with a 2-chloro-2-(pyrimidinyloxy or 1,3,5-triazinyloxy)alkanoate ester compound or by the reaction of a pyrimidinol or 1,3,5-triazinol with a 2-bromo-2-(phenoxy or phenylthio)alkanoate ester. These compounds, and, especially, agriculturally acceptable salts, esters, and amides of these compounds, were found to have herbicidal utility.