Process for preparing cephalosporin intermediates

A process for preparing a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl cyanoformate comprising reacting about 1.0 equivalent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl haloformate in a suitable solvent with about 1.0 to 1.5 equivalents of an alkali metal cyanide in the presence of water and a catalytically sufficient amount of a quaternary ammonium phase transfer catalyst at a temperature in the range of from about 31 5.degree. C. to about -25.degree. C.