The invention concerns the novel compound 2-chloro-N-[1-(2,6-dichloro-4-difluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- propanamide of formula (I), a method of producing said compound and the use thereof as starting material for the production of the herbicidal compound 2-chloro-N-[1-(2,6-dichloro-4-difluoromethyl-phenyl)-4-nitro-1H-pyrazo l-5-yl]-propanamide of formula (II).