Process for the preparation of 3-haloalkylpyrazoles

1. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula I:

wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl;

R 2 is optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R 3 is methyl or ethyl;

comprising reacting a compound of formula II:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are as defined for the compound of formula I;

with an alkylating agent in the presence of an amide;

wherein the process comprises N alkylating the compound of formula II and isomerising the compound of formula IV

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are as defined for the compound of formula I;

produced from the alkylation at substantially same time;

wherein the alkylating agent is a compound of formula III:

wherein R 3 is methyl or ethyl;

wherein the amide is present in an amount of 0.1 molar equivalents to 10 molar equivalents relative to the amount of the compound of formula IV and the compound of formula I.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the amide is a tertiary amide.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the amide is a compound of formula XX:

wherein R 4 is H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 5 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

R 6 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

or R 4 and R 5 together are C 2 -C 5 alkyene;

or R 5 and R 6 are together C 2 -C 5 alkyene.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the amide is dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrollidone or N, N-dimethylacetamide.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the alkylating agent is capable of alkylating a compound of formula IV as defined in claim 1 to form a compound of formula IVa

wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are as defined for a compound of formula IV in claim 1 .

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is for preparing a compound of formula VI:

comprising reacting a compound of formula VII:

with a compound of formula VIII:

in the presence of an amide selected from dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrollidone and N,N-dimethylacetamide.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein

R 1 is difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

R 2 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl; and

R 3 is methyl.