Modified safe and efficient process for the environmentally friendly synthesis of lmidoesters

A method of preparing a compound of the formula:

• 24
• wherein
• R is C1-C10 alkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, three, four, or five groups independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, aryl, arylalkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cycloalkoxy;
• or
• R is aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl, the ring portion of each is unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, three, four, or five groups independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cycloalkoxy;
• and
• R′ is alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, or arylalkyl wherein the aryl group is unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, three, four or five groups independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxy;
• the method comprising
• A) reacting a nitrile of the formula
• 25
• with an anhydrous hydrogen chloride solution in the presence of at least one solvent;
• and isolating the imidoester salt.