Fremgangsmåde til fremstilling af benzylethere

The subject matter of the invention is the process for the preparation of mixed ethers of formula I, wherein Ar represents an aromatic or one or more heteroatom-containing moiety, optionally substituted by one or more C1-4 alkoxy, methylenedioxy, C1-4 alkyl, halogen, C1-4 haloalkyl or nitro-group, and/or condensed with a benzene ring; R1 and R2 independently mean hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C2-4 alkenyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl group, R3 means C3-6 alkynyl, optionally substituted by one or more C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 alkenyl, C3-6 alkynyl, C1-6 haloalkyl group, or halogen atom, R3 also means a C1-4 alkyloxy-C1-4 alkyloxy-C1-4 alkyl group. The process comprises the step of reacting the compounds of general formula II with 1 to 3 molar equivalent of the alcohol of general formula IlI in the presence of acid, a Lewis acid, a metal oxide or a metal carbonate, X means hydroxy, halogen or sulphonester leaving group, the resulting ether of general formula I is isolated, if desired, stabilized by the addition of a base and/or an antioxidant; and if desired the excess of the alcohol is recovered.