Hydroxylamine ethers I ##STR1## (where X is NO.sub.2, CN, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl, Y is H, NO.sub.2, CN, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl, n is 0-2 or 1-4 where Y and all radicals X are halogen and Alk is unsubstituted or substituted alkylene) and their salts with mineral acids or strong organic acids are prepared by reacting either a hydroximino compound II ##STR2## (where R.sup.1 is alkyl, R.sup.2 is alkyl or alkoxy or R.sup.1 +R.sup.2 form an alkylene chain) in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal alcoholate, alkali metal bicarbonate or alkali metal carbonate as the base, or the corresponding anion II directly, with an alkylating agent III ##STR3## (where R.sup.3 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl) to give an oximino derivative IV ##STR4## said derivative is cleaved by means of a mineral acid or a strong organic acid to give the salt of I and, if desired, the latter is converted by means of a base into the free compound I. The hydroxylamine ethers I are intermediates for crop protection agents and drugs.