PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF N-ALCOXI-ALKYL-2,6-DIALKYLCHLOR-ACETANILIDS

The invention relates to a novel process for preparing chloroacetanilides of the formula (I) wherein: R1 and R2 represent independently from each other a hydrogen atom or a C1-8 alkyl or C1-8 alkoxy group; and R3 stands for a straight chained or branched C1-8 alkoxy group. Said process is characterized by chloroacetylating a 2,6-dialkylaniline of the formula (II) wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above, at a temperature of 10 DEG to 120 DEG C., optionally in a solvent medium in the presence of an acid binding agent, then reacting a thus-obtained intermediate with chloromethyl chloroformiate or, alternatively, reacting a compound of the formula (II) first with chloromethyl chloroformiate and subjecting then to chloroacetylation, thereafter reacting a thus-obtained intermediate with an alcohol of the formula R3-OH (III), wherein R3 is as defined above, optionally in a solvent medium in the presence of an acid binding agent, and recovering a product of the formula (I) in a known manner. The process of the invention enables the more simple and economic preparation of the compounds of formula (I) of improved purity.