The invention provides preparation of a phenolic ester herbicidal compound with different substituents, and applications. The structure contained by the herbicidal compound is shown as a general formula (I); and in the general formula (I), R1 represents -NO2, -Br, -Cl, -F, -SO3H or -CN, R2 represents -CH3, -NO2, -Br, -Cl, -F, -SO3H, -CN or -SO3NH2, and R3 represents C6-C12 alkyl or C6-C8 alkenyl.The herbicidal compound can effectively reduce the using amount and costs of herbicides, so that residuals can be reduced, and potential threats of pesticide to environments can be mitigated.