PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TRIALKYL ESTER DERIVATIVES

A novel process is described for the preparation of trialkyl ester derivatives of the general formula: (See Formula I) wherein X is chlorine, bromine, iodine, tosyloxy or mesyloxy and R is a C1 - C6 - alkyl group. According to this process, a trialkyl methanetricarboxylate of the general formula: (See Formula II) wherein R has the above meaning, is converted to the end product of formula I by reaction with a disubstituted ethane of the general formula: (See Formula III) in which the two substituents X are identical or different and have the meaning given above, in the presence of an alkaline earth metal carbonate or alkali metal carbonate.