Preparation of α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 3-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate using diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane A flask was charged with 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde (1.98 g, 10.0 mmole), 10 ml n-heptane, diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (22 ml, 0.2 mmole), sodium cyanide (0.59 g, 12 mmole), and 1 ml water. 3-(2,2-Dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (3.32 g, 10.5 mmole) in 10 ml n-heptane was added with stirring. After 2 hours, the reaction mixture was filtered, the filter cake was washed with 30 ml of ether, and the filtrate was dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was stripped, affording the desired ester as a yellow oil (4.4 g, 96percent yield).