Purification of pyrethroid intermediate compounds by selective partial saponification

A process for removing saponifiable impurities from a composition comprising said saponifiable impurities and a pyrethroid intermediate compound represented by the structural formula:

• ##STR4## wherein R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, bromine, chlorine and alkyl having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and wherein said saponifiable impurities comprise the maleate and fumerate esters of R, which comprises reacting said composition with a dilute aqueous base in an amount and under conditions sufficient to selectively saponify said saponifiable impurities so that they become soluble in said aqueous base, and separating said pyrethroid intermediate compound from said aqueous base.