Process for the preparation of orthocarbonates

Orthocarbonates are prepared by a process, comprising:reacting trichloroacetonitrile with an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt of an alcohol of the formula:wherein R is an unsubstituted or substituted, saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical in which the carbon atom of group R, linked to the oxygen atom of the alcohol, has at least one hydrogen atom, reacting the product obtained in water with an oxidant, extracting the organic-aqueous phase of the material obtained after oxidation, and distilling the extracted material obtained and obtaining orthocarbonate product of the formula:wherein each R group is as defined above.