Preparation of cyano substituted benzyl esters

摘要

An improved process for preparing cyano substituted benzyl esters is disclosed. The process involves reacting an acid halide with an aldehyde and a water soluble cyanide in water in the presence of a tetraalkyl ammonium halide wherein each alkyl group contains from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. The resulting benzyl esters are particularly useful as insecticides.