PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 4-NITRO-5-IMIDAZOLYLETHERS AND -THIOETHERS

4-Nitro-5-imidazolyl ethers and thioethers of the formula I (I) where R1 is alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkylaryl, R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkylaryl, R3 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylaryl or a heterocyclic or heteroaromatic radical or a counter-ion of the corresponding alcoholate or thiolate or, where X is sulfur, R3 is hydrogen, and X is oxygen or sulfur, and the stated organic radicals may furthermore carry substituents which are inert under the reaction conditions, are prepared by reacting a dinitroimidazole of the formula II (II) with an alcohol or thiol of the formula III R3-XH (III) in a solvent or diluent at a pH of the from 4 to 16.