PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF MESO 2,5-DIHALOADIPATES

The present process produces the meso dialkyl 2,5-dihaloadipate from a mixture of the racemic dialkyl 2,5-dihaloadipate and meso 2,5-dihaloadipate. In the disclosed process, a 2,5-dihaloadipoyl halide is formed under conditions which result in the formation of an acidic compound. The 2,5-dihaloadipoyl halide is then esterified under conditions wherein the ester of the dihaloadipoyl halide is allowed to remain in contact with the acidic compound, thus allowing the racemic diester to epimerize in the presence of the acidic compound to the meso form and then the meso diester spontaneously crystallizes. In the last stage, the meso diester produced is removed.