An improved process for preparing substituted amino acids and lower alkyl esters thereof, and intermediates therefor, comprising reacting a substituted aniline, HCN and an aldehyde to form a nitrile, converting the nitrile to an imidate salt with a strong acid and an alcohol, hydrolyzing in situ the imidate salt to the ester with addition of water, and optionally converting the ester to the salt or free acid. The acids are useful intermediates in the synthesis of pesticides.
The present invention relates to halo-substituted 2,2 dimethylcyclopropaneamides, useful as intermediates for the preparation of imidates having pesticidal properties.