Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of general formula I: wherein: R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl or C2-C6 alkynyl (any of which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and OH) or COOH, COH, COOR , COR6, CONR4R5 or CONHSO2R4; R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R6 is a halogen atom or a group R4; R2 is hydrogen or halo; R3 is C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl or C2-C4 alkynyl, any of which may optionally be substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or halo; the process comprising reacting a compound of general formula II: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined for general formula I; with a nitrating agent comprising nitric acid or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids in the presence of an organic solvent and in the presence of acetic anhydride, characterised in that the molar ratio of acetic anhydride to compound of general formula I is from about 1:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula: wherein R1 is a 4-pyrimidinyl ring substituted at the 6-position by halo, hydroxy, 2-cyanophenoxy, 2,6-difluorophenoxy, 2-nitrophenoxy or 2-thiocarboxamidophenoxy and wherein R2 is any group which can be transesterified to form a methyl ester. The present invention is also directed to a process of preparing said compound.