Synthesis of alkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylate by transesterification

A transesterification process, comprising:

• preparing a compound of formula I:
• wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R3 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl, R4 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl, and R5 is methylene, ethylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,4-butylene, 2-methyl-ethylene or 2,2-dimethyl-propylene by reacting a compound of formula II
• wherein R1 is as defined above and R2 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl with a compound of formula III
• wherein R3, R4 and R5 are as defined above, in the presence of a catalyst of zirconium acetylacetonate in an amount ranging from 0.1–5% by weight, based on the total weight of the reactants.