Abstract: A process for the preparation of a substituted (cyclo) alkanecarboxylic acid .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxy-benzyl ester of the formula ##STR1## in which R is alkyl or cycloalkyl optionally substituted by halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl (which is optionally substituted by halogen and/or alkoxy), styryl (which is optionally substituted by halogen, and/or optionally halogen-substituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy and alkylthio radicals), spirocyclically linked, optionally halogen-substituted cycloalk(en)yl (which is optionally benzo-fused) or optionally substituted phenyl andR.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently is hydrogen or halogen, comprising adding an aqueous solution or suspension of at least an equimolar amount of a water-soluble cyanide to a mixture of an alkanecarboxylic acid chloride of the formulaR--CO--Cland a 3-phenoxy-benzaldehyde of the formula ##STR2## in a hydrocarbon solvent which is virtually immiscible with water at a temperature between about 0.degree. and 80.degree. C.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing phenylacetic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents the radical of an alcohol customary in the case of pyrethroids,R.sup.1 represents C.sub.2-4 -alkyl, C.sub.2-4 -alkenyl or cyclopropyl,X represents H, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, OCHF.sub.2, SCHF.sub.2, SCClF.sub.2 or SCF.sub.3 andX.sup.1 can vary widely or form a fused ring with X, the overall compound necessarily containing a fluorine atom, which compounds possess arthropodicidal properties. Intermediates therefor and an overall synthesis from an alcohol of the formula ROH and a toluene of the formula ##STR2## are also shown.

Abstract: A 3-(2,chloro-3,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-1-butenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cycloproanecarbo xylic acid ester of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, cyano or an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical with in each case up to 4 carbon atoms, andR.sup.2 represents a phenyl radical which is substituted by fluorine and/or by optionally fluorine-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 -alkylenedioxy and/or by optionally fluorine-substituted phenoxy, with the proviso that the radical R.sup.2 contains a total of at least one fluorine-substituent which possesses insecticidal and acaricidal activity.

Abstract: 2-Phenyl-alk-1-enyl-cyclopropane-carboxylic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R each independently ishydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro and, in each case optionally halogen-substituted, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy or alkylthio,R.sup.1 is optionally halogen-substituted alkyk, andR.sup.2 is a radical customary in the alcohol part of pyrethroidswhich exhibit insecticidal and acaricidal activity. They are made from the corresponding alkyl esters which are new and made by novel processes.

Abstract: A process for the monohalogenation of alkylbenzenes in the .alpha.-position is disclosed wherein an alkylbenzene reactant containing a hydrogen atom in the .alpha.-position is contacted with a halogen and the reaction mixture is withdrawn such that the amount of monohalogenated alkylbenzene formed is no greater than 33 mol percent in the reaction mixture. Also disclosed are novel monohalogenated alkylbenzenes of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.7 represents trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio or 2-perfluoropropyl or also, if R.sup.8 represents chlorine, represents trifluoromethyl and, furthermore, ifR.sup.8 and R.sup.9 represent trifluoromethyl, represents hydrogen,R.sup.8 represents hydrogen or also, if R.sup.7 represents trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy, represent chlorine and also, if R.sup.7 represents hydrogen and R.sup.9 represents trifluoromethyl, denotes trifluoromethyl andR.sup.9 represents hydrogen and, if R.sup.7 represents hydrogen and R.sup.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a styrylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid ester of the formula ##STR1## in which R is C.sub.1-4 -alkyl or an alcohol radical customary in pyrethroids,R.sup.1 is alkoxy or alkylthio, either of which may be optionally substituted by halogen,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkoxy, orR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are optionally halogen-substituted alkylenedioxy, andR.sup.3 is hydrogen or chlorine,comprising reacting an ester of the formula ##STR2## in which Hal is chlorine or bromine,with a base.The compounds are insecticidally active. Numerous syntheses of the starting materials, some involving new intermediates, are also shown.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a styryl-cyclopropane-carboxylic acid ester of the formula ##STR1## in which R is C.sub.1-4 -alkyl or an alcohol radical customary in pyrethroids,R.sup.1 is alkoxy or alkylthio, either of which may be optionally substituted by halogen,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkoxy, orR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are optionally halogen-substituted alkylenedioxy, andR.sup.3 is hydrogen or chlorine, comprising reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## with, respectively, one, two or three equivalents of a base at a temperature below 60.degree. C. The products are insecticidally active when R is the residue of a pyrethroid-type alcohol. Various syntheses are given for the starting materials which are new.

Abstract: 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid fluorine-substituted-benzyl esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is hydrogen, cyano, or alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl each with up to 4 carbon atoms, andR.sup.2 is a phenyl radical which is substituted by halogen and/or by optionally halogen-substituted phenoxy, with the proviso that the radical R.sup.2 in total contains at least one fluorine substituent,which possess insecticidal and acaricidal properties.

Abstract: Fluorine-substituted spirocarboxylic acid benzyl esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, cyano or alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, with in each case up to 4 carbon atoms,R.sup.2 represents a phenyl radical which is substituted by halogen and/or by optionally halogen-substituted phenoxy, with the proviso that the radical R.sup.2 contains in total at least one fluorine substituent, andR.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each represent hydrogen, halogen or alkyl, orR.sup.3 and R.sup.4, taken together, and/or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, taken together, represent alkanediyl (alkylene) or a fused-on benzo radical,and the C atoms of the 5-member spirocyclic ring are linked to one another either by double bonds or by single bonds, which possess arthropodicidal properties.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-fluoro-3-phenoxytoluene of the formula ##STR1## comprising reacting 3-bromo-4-fluoro-toluene of the formula ##STR2## with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal phenolate in the presence of copper as catalyst and in the presence if isoquinoline as diluent at a temperature between about 100.degree. and 200.degree. C. Advantageously the reaction is effected in the presence of about 0.9 to 1.5 mols of potassium or magnesium carbonate, about 1 to 1.2 mols of the phenolate, about 1 to 50 g of copper, copper(I) oxide, copper(I) chloride or copper (I) bromide as catalyst and about 150 to 1,500 ml of isoquinoline per mol of 3-bromo-4-fluoro-toluene.

Abstract: Substituted styrylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents C.sub.1-4 -alkyl or an alcohol radical customary in pyrethroids,R.sup.1 represents alkoxy or alkylthio, either of which is optionally substituted by halogen andR.sup.2 represents hydrogen or alkoxy, orR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent optionally halogen-substituted alkylenedioxy, andR.sup.3 represents hydrogen or chlorine,exhibit arthropodicidal activity. A novel synthesis is shown involving reaction of ##STR2## in the presence of an alkali metal cyanide to produce an end product wherein R is an .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl ester. ##STR3## is reacted with ##STR4## in the presence of a base to produce certain novel intermediates.

Abstract: 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-fluoroalkyl-2-oxy-vinyl)-cyclopropane-carboxylic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is fluoroalkyl,R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl radical, andR.sup.3 is a radical customary in the alcohol component of pyrethroidswhich possess arthropodicidal properties. New intermediates therefor are also shown.

Abstract: Combating ectoparasites with the substantially pure isomer mixture (.+-.)-trans-3-(E/Z-2-Chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-vinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclop ropanecarboxylic acid (.+-.)-(.alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxy-4-fluoro-benzyl) ester or the individual E- and Z-isomers of the formula ##STR1## The intermediate free acids, acid chlorides and esters thereof are also shown.

Abstract: An arthropodicidally active substantially pure stereoisomer of 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxy-4-fluoro-benzyl ester of the formula ##STR1## selected from the group consisting of ester in which the asymmetric C atoms , , and .alpha. have the following configuration:______________________________________ Absolute configuration at the center Isomer 1 3 .alpha. ______________________________________ a R R R b R R S c R S R d R S S e S S S f S S R g S R S h S R R, ______________________________________and diastereomeric mixtures of (1R)-cis- and (1R)-trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (R,S)-.alpha.

Abstract: 3-Chlorostyryl-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid 4-fluoro-3-phenoxy-.alpha.-cyano-benzyl esters, which are useful as agents for combating ectoparasites, and a process for their preparation are described.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing phenylacetic acid esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents the radical of an alcohol customary in the case of pyrethroids,R.sup.1 represents C.sub.2-4 -alkyl, C.sub.2-4 -alkenyl or cyclopropyl,X represents H, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, OCHF.sub.2, SCHF.sub.2, SCClF.sub.2 or SCF.sub.3 andX.sup.1 can vary widely or form a fused ring with X,the overall compound necessarily containing a fluorine atom, which compounds possess arthropodicidal properties. Intermediates therefor and an overall synthesis from an alcohol of the formula ROH and a toluene of the formula ##STR2## are also shown.

Abstract: 3-(2,3-Dichloro-3,3-difluoro-prop-1-en-1-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclo-propanecarb oxylic acid fluoro-benzyl esters of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, cyano, alkyl with up to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl with up to 4 carbon atoms or alkynyl with up to 4 carbon atoms, andR.sup.2 represents a phenyl radical which is substituted by fluorine and/or optionally fluorine-substituted phenoxy, with the proviso that the radical R.sup.2 in total contains at least one fluorine substituent,which possess pesticidal activity.

Abstract: 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-bromo-2-phenyl-vinyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid 3-phenoxybenzyl ester of the formula ##STR1## which possess arthropodicidal properties. In addition, the new intermediate of the formula ##STR2## is produced by reacting an .alpha.-bromo-benzyl-phosphonic acid ester of the formula ##STR3## in which R.sup.6 each independently is alkyl or phenyl, or the two radicals R.sup.6 together are alkanediyl, with a 3-formyl-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ester and saponifying. Also the compounds of the formula ##STR4## which are new when R.sup.1 is not alkyl, are produced by reacting triphenylphosphine and bromine to form dibromo-triphenylphosphorane, and reacting the dibromo-triphenylphosphorane without isolation with an .alpha.

Abstract: 3-Phenoxybenzyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-vinyl-cyclopropane carboxylates of the formula ##STR1## in which R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently is hydrogen or halogen,R.sup.3 is phenyl, phenylthio, or phenyl or phenylthio carrying at least one alkyl group or halogen atom,Y is hydrogen or cyano,n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, andm is 1, 2, 3 or 4,which possess arthropodicidal properties.