A process for the preparation of the compound of formula I wherein R 1 is hydrogen, halogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl-C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, C(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)=NO-C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 2 -C 6 haloalkenyl or C 2 -C 6 haloalkenyloxy; and R 3 is hydrogen, halogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; which process comprises a) adding a compound of formula II wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I, in the presence of an inert organic solvent to a mixture comprising an organic nitrite of formula III R 4 -O-N=O, wherein R 4 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, a compound of formula IV and an inert organic solvent; b) reacting the resulting compound of formula V wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I with O-methylhydroxylamine of formula VI H 2 N-O-CH 3, to the compound of formula VII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I; c) reducing the compound of formula VII to the compound of formula VIII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I d) and reacting the compound of formula VIII with a compound of formula IX in which R* is halogen, hydroxy or C 1-6 alkoxy to the compound of formula I. R 1 is hydrogen, halogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl-C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C 3 -C 6 alkinyl, C(C 1 -C 4 alkyl)=NO-C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkoxy, C 2 -C 6 haloalkenyl or C 2 -C 6 haloalkenyloxy; and R 3 is hydrogen, halogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; which process comprises a) adding a compound of formula II wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I, in the presence of an inert organic solvent to a mixture comprising an organic nitrite of formula III R 4 -O-N=O, wherein R 4 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, a compound of formula IV and an inert organic solvent; b) reacting the resulting compound of formula V wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I with O-methylhydroxylamine of formula VI H 2 N-O-CH 3, to the compound of formula VII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I; c) reducing the compound of formula VII to the compound of formula VIII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I d) and reacting the compound of formula VIII with a compound of formula IX in which R* is halogen, hydroxy or C 1-6 alkoxy to the compound of formula I. a) adding a compound of formula II wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I, in the presence of an inert organic solvent to a mixture comprising an organic nitrite of formula III R 4 -O-N=O, wherein R 4 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, a compound of formula IV and an inert organic solvent; b) reacting the resulting compound of formula V wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I with O-methylhydroxylamine of formula VI H 2 N-O-CH 3, to the compound of formula VII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I; c) reducing the compound of formula VII to the compound of formula VIII wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 have the meanings as described under formula I d) and reacting the compound of formula VIII with a compound of formula IX in which R* is halogen, hydroxy or C 1-6 alkoxy to the compound of formula I.