Method for producing dihalo acetoacetic alkyl esters

A process for preparing an alkyl dihaloacetoacetate of formula (I)

• in which
• X is fluorine, chlorine or CF3,
• X′ is fluorine, chlorine or bromine,
• R1 is selected from H, C1-12-alkyl radicals, C5-18-aryl, Cl, bromine and fluorine and
• R3, independently of R1, is selected from C1-12-alkyl, C5-18-aryl or C7-19-arylalkyl radicals, by reacting α,α-dihaloamines of the formula (III)
• in which
• R4 is selected from C1-12-alkyl radicals, C5-18-aryl radicals or C7-19-arylalkyl radicals,
• R5, independently of R4, is selected from C1-12-alkyl radicals, C5-18-aryl radicals or C7-19-arylalkyl radicals,
• with a carboxylic ester of the formula (II)
• in which
• R2 is selected from H, C1-12-alkyl radicals, C5-18-aryl, Cl, bromine and fluorine.