PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF O-IMINOOXYMETHYLBENZOIC ACID

Process for the preparation of an o-iminooxymethylbenzoic acid of the general formula I in which m denotes an integer from 0 to 3, X denotes alkyl, alkoxy, nitro, cyano, or halogen, R1 and R2 denote hydrogen, cyano, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, benzylthio, benzylamino, alkylcarbonyl, optionally substituted phenylcarbonyl, optionally substituted benzylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, optionally substituted phenoxycarbonyl, optionally substituted benzyloxycarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted arylthio, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted arylalkenyl, optionally substituted aryloxyalkyl, optionally substituted arylthioalkyl, optionally substituted hetaryl, optionally substituted hetaryloxy, optionally substituted hetarylthio, optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl, optionally substituted hetarylalkenyl, optionally substituted hetaryloxyalkyl, hetarylthioalkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyloxy, or denote N(R )2, where R denotes H, alkyl or phenyl, or denote -CO-N(R )2, where R denotes H, alkyl or phenyl, or R and R together with the C atom which they substitute can form a carbo- or heterocyclic ring, or R or R denotes halogen or the group denotes the radical where n denotes the integers 1 to 4 and the radicals R denote H, halogen, cyano, nitro; alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, benzyloxy, hetaryl and hetaryloxy, by reacting an oxime of the general formula II in which R1 and R2 have the abovementioned meanings, with a lactone of the general formula III in which X and m have the abovementioned meaning, if appropriate in the presence of a base or of a diluent, and o-iminooxymethylbenzoic acids of the abovementioned formula.