Propcess for preparing compounds of the general formula A-X-CH 2 -O-C(=O)-C =CH 2, where A is in which Y 1 and Y 2 independently of one another are substituents of the general formula in which r is 0 or 1, preferably 1, R 1, R 2, and R 3 independently of one another are H, OH, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 2-20 -alkenyl, C 1-20 -alkoxy, C 4-12 -cycloalkoxy, C 2-20 -alkenyloxy, C 7-20 -aralkyl, halogen,-C≡N, C 1-5 -haloalkyl, -SO 2 R', -SO 3 H,-SO 3 M (M = alkali metal), -COOR',-CONHR', -CONR'R", -OCOOR', -OCOR', -OCONHR', (meth)acrylamino, (meth)acryloyloxy, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, and in which M is an alkali metal cation, R' and R" are H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, X is branched or unbranched C 1-20 -alkyl, R is H or CH 3, characterized in that the process comprises the following steps: - reducing a compound of the general formula A-X-C(=O)-O-R''' where A and X have the above definitions and R''' is branched or unbranched C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, or C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen; to give a compound of the general formula (IIa) A-X-CH 2 OH (IIa) - reacting the compound (IIa) obtained above with (meth)acrylic acid and/or with an anhydride, acid chloride or ester of (meth)acrylic acid. A is in which Y 1 and Y 2 independently of one another are substituents of the general formula in which r is 0 or 1, preferably 1, R 1, R 2, and R 3 independently of one another are H, OH, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 2-20 -alkenyl, C 1-20 -alkoxy, C 4-12 -cycloalkoxy, C 2-20 -alkenyloxy, C 7-20 -aralkyl, halogen,-C≡N, C 1-5 -haloalkyl, -SO 2 R', -SO 3 H,-SO 3 M (M = alkali metal), -COOR',-CONHR', -CONR'R", -OCOOR', -OCOR', -OCONHR', (meth)acrylamino, (meth)acryloyloxy, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, and in which M is an alkali metal cation, R' and R" are H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, Y 1 and Y 2 independently of one another are substituents of the general formula in which r is 0 or 1, preferably 1, R 1, R 2, and R 3 independently of one another are H, OH, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 2-20 -alkenyl, C 1-20 -alkoxy, C 4-12 -cycloalkoxy, C 2-20 -alkenyloxy, C 7-20 -aralkyl, halogen,-C≡N, C 1-5 -haloalkyl, -SO 2 R', -SO 3 H,-SO 3 M (M = alkali metal), -COOR',-CONHR', -CONR'R", -OCOOR', -OCOR', -OCONHR', (meth)acrylamino, (meth)acryloyloxy, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, and in which M is an alkali metal cation, R' and R" are H, C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen or C 3-12 -heteroaryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen, X is branched or unbranched C 1-20 -alkyl, R is H or CH 3, - reducing a compound of the general formula A-X-C(=O)-O-R''' where A and X have the above definitions and R''' is branched or unbranched C 1-20 -alkyl, C 4-12 -cycloalkyl, or C 6-12 -aryl substituted optionally by C 1-12 -alkyl, C 1-12 -alkoxy, CN and/or halogen; to give a compound of the general formula (IIa) A-X-CH 2 OH (IIa) - reacting the compound (IIa) obtained above with (meth)acrylic acid and/or with an anhydride, acid chloride or ester of (meth)acrylic acid.