Synthesis of benzyl esters of 2,2-dimethyl-3-(4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)-cyclopropane carboxylic acid — cyclic analogs of pyrethroid fluorocitrinate

3-Phenoxybenzyl and α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl esters of 2,2-dimethyl-3-(4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclopropane carboxylic acid have been synthesized. The latter compound, which is the cyclopropane analog of pyrethroid fluorocitrinate, has moderate insecticide activity toward the housefly.