Preparation of o-iminooxymethylbenzoic acid

A process for preparing o-iminooxymethylbenzoic acid of the formula I ##STR29## where Z is ##STR30## m is an integer from 0 to 3;

• X is unbranched or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, nitro, cyano or halogen;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and each is hydrogen, cyano, hydroxyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -halocycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, arylthio-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -haloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -halocycloalkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio, benzylthio, benzylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylcarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenylcarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted benzylcarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxycarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenoxycarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted benzyloxycarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxy, unsubstituted or substituted arylthio, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl-C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryloxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylthio-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted hetaryl, unsubstituted or substituted hetaryloxy, unsubstituted or substituted hetarylthio, unsubstituted or substituted hetoaryl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted hetaryl-C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted hetaryloxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, hetarylthio-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyloxy, N(R.sup.6).sub.2, --CO--N(R.sub.7).sub.2, halogen, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, together with the C atom whose substituents they are, form a substituted or unsubstituted, carbocyclic or heterocyclic, ring;
• the two R.sup.6 radicals are identical or different and are H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl;
• the two R.sup.7 radicals are identical or different and are H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl;
• n is an integers from 1 to 4;
• the radicals R.sup.8 are identical or different and each is H, halogen, cyano, nitro, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, benzyloxy, hetaryl or hetaryloxy;
• wherein substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkoximino-C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 -alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, benzyloxy, hetaryl, hetaryloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyloxy, which comprises reacting an oxime of the formula II
• Z--OH II
• with a lactone of the formula III ##STR31## the presence of a basic substance.