| abstract |
A process for the preparation of a substituted (cyclo) alkanecarboxylic acid alpha -cyano-3-phenoxy-benzyl ester of the formula <IMAGE> in which R is alkyl or cycloalkyl optionally substituted by halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl (which is optionally substituted by halogen and/or alkoxy), styryl (which is optionally substituted by halogen, and/or optionally halogen-substituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy and alkylthio radicals), spirocyclically linked, optionally halogen-substituted cycloalk(en)yl (which is optionally benzo-fused) or optionally substituted phenyl and R5 and R6 each independently is hydrogen or halogen, comprising adding an aqueous solution or suspension of at least an equimolar amount of a water-soluble cyanide to a mixture of an alkanecarboxylic acid chloride of the formula R-CO-Cl and a 3-phenoxy-benzaldehyde of the formula <IMAGE> in a hydrocarbon solvent which is virtually immiscible with water at a temperature between about 0 DEG and 80 DEG C. |