Patent ID: 6103926
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the direct preparation of a (1-haloalkyl)benzoic acid ester from an alkylbenzoic acid ester in which the alkyl group is a primary or secondary alkyl group and wherein the ester group (i) is devoid of non-aromatic unsaturation and (ii) if an aromatic group, is devoid of ring substitution that would undergo benzylic halogenation, said process comprising slowly feeding halogen continuously and/or intermittently to an agitated solution of said alkylbenzoic acid ester in a liquid halogen-containing solvent maintained at a thermal halogenation temperature such that when the alkyl group of the alkylbenzoic acid ester is a primary alkyl group the total amount of halogen fed does not exceed about 0.8 mole of halogen per mole of alkylbenzoic acid ester.