A method for the chlorination of a sucrose-6-acylate to produce a 4 1 6-trichloro- 4 1 6-trideoxy-galactosucrose--acylate wherein said method comprises: (i) reacting the sucrose-6-acylate with a chlorinating agent in a reaction vehicle comprising a tertiary amide in order to chlorinate the 4 V and 6 positions of the sucrose-6-acylate and (ii) quenching the product stream of (i) to produce a 4 1 6- trichloro-4 1 6- trideoxy-galactosucrose-6-acylate wherein before said quenching a portion of the tertiary amide is removed.
