TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (Claimed): Preparation of (I) (in which X2 is S) comprises sulfonation of (I) (in which X2 is O) in the presence of Belleau's reagent. Preparation of (I) (in which R1 is R1c) comprises reacting (I) (in which R1 is H) with a carbonyl chloride compound of formula ((R1c)3-C(CO)Cl) (II) in the presence of n-butyl lithium. Preparation of (I) (in which R1 is R1d) comprises reacting (I) (in which R1 is R1c) with an alcohol compound of formula (R1d-OH) in the presence of a base, ligand and palladium. Preparation of (I) (in which R1 is R1e) comprises reacting (I) (in which R1 is R1c) with a chloroform compound of formula (CCl3-R1e) in the presence of magnesium. Preparation of (I) (in which R1 is R1h) comprises reacting (I) (in which R1 is NH2) with an alkyl compound of formula (Alk-LG1) (XII).R1c = F, Cl or Br;R1d = 1-8C-alkoxy;R1e = (1-8C-alkoxy)carbonyl;R1h = 1-8C-alkylamino or di(1-8C-alkyl)amino;Alk = 1-8C-alkyl; andLG1 = Cl or Br. Preferred Definitions:    X1-X3 = O;    R1 = H;    R2, R3 = Cl, F, Br, CH3, nitro, CN, OCH3 or CF3;    m, n = 0 or 1;    R4 = F, Cl, Br, I, CN, nitro, CH3, OCH3 or OCF3; and    s = 1.    ACTIVITY - Fungicide; Antibacterial; Insecticide; Arachnicide; Anthelmintic; Nematocide; Virucide; Herbicide; Plant Growth Regulant.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    ADMINISTRATION - Application of (I) is immersing, sprinkling, spraying, evaporating, atomizing, covering by smoke screen, scattering, foaming or drenching. Application of (I) for: treating plant parts e.g. leaves is 0.1-10000, preferably 50-300 g/hectare; treating seed is 2-200, preferably 2.5-12.5 g/100 kg of seeds; and treating soil is 0.1-10000, preferably 1-5000 g/hectare.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - 8 Compounds (I) are disclosed e.g. N-(4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenyl)-1,3-benzoxazol-7-carboxamide of formula (Ia), 1-(5-chloro-benzoxazol-7-yl)-2-(4-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl)-ethanone, 1-(5-chloro-benzoxazol-7-yl)-2-(4-(2,4-dichloro-phenoxy)-phenyl)-ethanone, 1-(5-fluoro-benzoxazol-7-yl)-2-(4-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl)-ethanone and 1-(4-methoxy-benzoxazol-7-yl)-2-(4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-phenyl)-ethanone.    EXAMPLE - 1,3-Benzoxazol-5-fluoro-7-carboxylic acid (150 mg) was dissolved in dichloromethane (8 ml). Then oxalyl chloride (0.076 ml) and a drop of N,N-dimethylformamide were added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 4 hours to obtain 1,3-benzoxazol-5-fluoro-7-carbonyl chloride. 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)aniline (210.451 mg) was dissolved in dichloromethane (8 ml) and triethyl amine (0.344 ml) and reacted with 1,3-benzoxazol-5-fluoro-7-carboxylic acid chloride. After 10 minutes, all the volatile components were distilled. Then, the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane (15 ml) and washed twice with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution. Then the organic phase was dried with sodium sulfate and the solid material was filtered. Subsequently the solvent was distilled to obtain N-(4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenyl)-1,3-benzoxazol-7-carboxamide (330 mg).