There is disclosed a process for the racemization of a vinyl-substituted
cyclopropanecarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, which is
characterized by reacting an optically active vinyl-substituted
cyclopropanecarboxylic acid compound of formula (1):
##STR1##
wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represent
a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom,
alkyl which may be substituted having 1-4 carbon atoms,
aryl which may be substituted, or
alkoxycarbonyl which may be substituted, or
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bonded to form an alkylene group, which may be
substituted; and wherein X represents hydroxyl, a halogen atom, alkoxy
which may be substituted having 1-20 carbon atoms, or aryloxy which may be
substituted,
with a nitric compound or a nitrogen oxide.
