Cyclopropanoid cyanoesters and method of making same

Claim 1

A process for synthesis of a cyclopropanoid cyanoester comprising the following steps: (A) forming a reaction mixture in a C 1 through C 4 monohydric alcohol solvent of (i) 2-nitropropane, (ii) a cyanoester selected from the group consisting of ##STR43## wherein R' is methyl or ethyl, A, B represents a group having the formula --(CH 2 ) n -- or --(CH 2 ) 2 --Y--(CH 2 ) 2 --, n=3, 4, or 5, Y being NCH 3 , O, or S, and R can be selected from the class consisting of: (1) alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, carboalkoxy, and cycloalkenyl groups having up to ten carbons; (2) a heterocyclic residue selected from the group consisting of furan, thiophene, pyridine, pyrrole and indole; (3) phenyl and naphthyl groups; and, (4) monosubstituted phenyl groups and disubstituted phenyl groups wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, halogen, nitro, alkoxy, and haloalkyl; provided that when R is alkenyl, R is not conjugated with the double bond between C 1 and C 2 and when R is a substituted phenyl group, at least one of the ortho carbons of said phenyl group is bonded to hydrogen; and (iii) a base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal alkoxides and alkali metal carbonates; (B) heating said reaction mixture in refluxing alcohol solvent; and (C) isolating a cyclopropanoid cyanoester from said reaction mixture.