PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PREPARATION OF CHLOROFORMIC-ACID ALKYL ESTERS

1. A process for the continuous preparation of alkyl chloroformates by the reaction of appropriate alcohols with a small excess of phosgene, characterised in that the reaction is carried out by a countercurrent method at constant temperatures in the range of 0 to 30 degrees C in such a manner that a phosgene content of 3 to 20% by weight is always present in the reaction mixture, the reaction mixture is degassed in a downstream degassing stage and the gases expelled in this procedure are recycled to the reaction, and the chloroformic acid ester and phosgene are separated from the exit gas formed in the reaction, after this gas has been cooled, and are likewise recycled to the reaction.