Process for chloronitroacetic acid esters

Abstract

A process for the production of 5-chloroxindole starting from chloronitrobenzene. In this way, in a first step, chloronitrobenzene of the formula: ##STR1## is converted with a chloro acetic acid alkyl ester of the general formula: ##STR2## in the presence of a base to a chloronitrobenzene acetic acid alkyl ester of the general formula: ##STR3## The latter is catalytically hydrogenated in a second step with hydrogen to the corresponding amine of the general formula: ##STR4## The latter is then cyclized in a third step in the presence of an acid to the end product according to the formula: ##STR5##

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.