p-Nitrodiphenyl ether (CAS NO.: ), which is known as Ether, p-nitrophenyl phenyl, could be produced through the following synthetic route.

One hundred sixty grams (1.7 moles) of a good grade of phenol and 80 g. (1.43 moles) of potassium hydroxide are placed in a 2-l. flask, and the mixture is heated to 130–140° until all the alkali has dissolved. The potassium phenoxide is cooled to 100–110°, and 0.5 g. of copper catalyst and 78.8 g. (0.5 mole) of p-nitrochlorobenzene are added. The flask is then fitted with a mechanical stirrer, thermometer, and a reflux condenser. The stirrer is started, and the contents of the flask are warmed with a Bunsen burner to 150–160°, at which temperature a spontaneous reaction begins with ebullition and the separation of potassium chloride. The flame should be removed during this stage of the reaction. Boiling nearly ceases within five to seven minutes, and another 78.8 g. (0.5 mole) of p-nitrochlorobenzene is added. The mixture is again heated as before until a second spontaneous reaction begins. This also proceeds for about five minutes without the application of heat. When boiling due to the exothermic reaction has ceased, heat is applied and a temperature of 150–160° is maintained for an additional thirty minutes. The dark-colored melt is then poured into 1.5 l. of ice water containing 50 g. of sodium hydroxide and stirred well to remove excess phenol. The crude p-nitrodiphenyl ether separates as a dark brown crystalline mass which is allowed to settle. The product is filtered on a Büchner funnel, washed with 2 l. of water, and pressed as free from water as possible. After drying in the air it is distilled from a 500-cc. Claisen flask. The small fraction boiling up to 170°/8 mm., which contains p-nitrochlorobenzene, is discarded. A fraction boiling at 170–188°/8 mm. and weighing 14 g. is collected. The main fraction boiling at 188–193°/8 mm. boils at 188–190°/8 mm. on redistillation with no fore-run and practically no residue. p-Nitrodiphenyl ether solidifies on cooling to diamond-shaped crystals melting at 56–58°. The yield is 173–177 g. (80–82 per cent of the theoretical amount).