The hydrolysis of 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-diazonium bisulfate to produce 2,3-dihyro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranol is carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cuprous compound. The cuprous compound accelerates hydrolysis of the diazonium salt with concomitant reduction of tarry by-products.
A process for the preparation of carbofuran which process comprises converting .sigma.-isopropylphenol to 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-isopropylbenzofuran (I); reacting (I) with an oxygen containing gas to form 2-(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl)-isopropyl hydroperoxide (II); catalytically decomposing (II) to form 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-hydroxybenzofuran (III); reacting (III) with methyl isocyanate to form 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl N-methylcarbamate (carbofuran) and recovering said carbamate. New compounds useful as intermediates in the above process are also described.
N-methyl-N-(3-trifluoromethylphenylmercapto)-carbamic acid phenyl esters of the general formula ##SPC1## In which X is hydrogen or halogen, and R is phenyl, naphthyl or dihydrobenzofuranyl optionally substituted by alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkylmercapto or dioxolanyl, Which possess insecticidal, acaricidal, nematocidal and fungicidal properties.
