4-Amino-3-chloro-6-(substituted)picolinates are prepared from difluoroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid, tritylamine or t-butylamine as a protecting group, a 3,3-dialkoxyprop-1-yne and a substituted methylene amine by a series of steps. More particularly, provided herein are processes for the preparation of 4-amino-5-fluoro-3-halo-6-(substituted)picolinates and 4-amino-3-halo-6- (substituted)picolinates from a non-pyridine source. These picolinates are useful as herbicides.
