cyclopropylamine is prepared from butyrolactone by a process comprising : reacting butyrolactone with hydrogen chloride , thereby yielding chlorobutyric acid , esterifying said chlorobutyric acid with a primary or secondary alcohol having 4 - 8 carbon atoms , cyclizing the ester with an alkali metal alcoholate of a primary alcohol having 1 - 3 carbon atoms to give a mixture of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid esters , converting the cyclopropanecarboxylic acid ester mixture into cyclopropanecarboxylic acid amide by reacting the ester mixture with ammonia , and reacting said cyclopropanecarboxylic acid amide with hypohalite ion in a basic medium , thereby forming cyclopropylamine .