Preparation of 1-azolyl-3,3-dimethyl-1-phenoxy-butan-2-ones

A process for the preparation of a 1-azolyl-3,3-dimethyl-1-phenoxy-butan-2-one of the formula ##STR24## in which X is N or CH,

• n is an integer from 0 to 4, and
• Y each independently is halogen, phenyl, phenoxy, nitro, alkyl, alkoxy or cycloalkyl,
• comprising in a first step reacting 1-chloro-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one of the formula
• Cl--CH.sub.2 --CO--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3
• with a phenol of the formula ##STR25## in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon or chlorinated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon as solvent, and in the presence of an acid acceptor, at a temperature of about 60.degree. to 150.degree. C. thereby to form an ether-ketone of the formula ##STR26## without isolation in a second step reacting the ether-ketone with a chlorinating agent in the presence of the same solvent at a temperature of about 20.degree. to 60.degree. C. thereby to form a chloroether-ketone of the formula ##STR27## and without isolation in a third step reacting the chloroether-ketone with an azole of the formula ##STR28## in the presence of the same solvent and in the presence of an acid acceptor at a temperature of about 20.degree. to 120.degree. C.