Selective hydrolysis and alcoholysis of chlorinated benzenes

A process for providing a compound of formula (I):

• wherein R is hydrogen or R′, wherein R′ is (C1-C4)alkyl, and Hal is chloro,
• the process comprising the step of:
• reacting a compound of formula (II)
• wherein Hal is defined as above,
• with an alkali metal alkoxide of the formula XOR′, wherein X is an alkali metal, and R′ is defined as above,
• wherein the alkali metal alkoxide of formula XOR′ is added to the reaction mixture in the form of an alcoholic solution in an alcohol of formula HOR′ having a concentration of 25 wt.-% to 67 wt.-%, based on the weight of the total weight of the alcohol HOR′ and the alkali metal alkoxide of the formula XOR′;
• and
• wherein the step of reacting the compound of formula (II) with an alkali metal alkoxide of formula XOR′ is carried out at a temperature of at least 150° C.