A 100-ml round-bottomed flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer was charged with 2-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic anhydride (10 mmol), prepared as described above, 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde (10 mmol) and a mixture of alkanes (25 ml) having a boiling range of from 60° C. to 80° C. A solution of sodium cyanide (12 mmol) and tetrabutylammonium bromide (0.006 mmol) in water (3 ml) was added to the mixture in the flask at a temperature of 20° C. and stirring was continued. After 100 minutes stirring, the reaction had come to a standstill at a conversion of 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde of 98.5% and at a yield of the title ester of 98%. The mixture obtained was allowed to settle into an organic and an aqueous layer, the aqueous layer was extracted with toluene (15 ml), the extract phase obtained was added to the organic layer obtained by settling of the reaction mixture, the organic liquid thus formed, was washed with water (25 ml), the washed liquid was dried and the solvent was evaporated from the dried liquid, leaving a residue containing the title ester. The yield of this ester was 96%.
