在對甲基苯磺酸的催化下，對硝基酚和聚甲醛可聚合得到之主要產物為6-nitro-l,3-benzodioxin。在酸中進行水解6-nitro-1,3-benzodioxin時，除生成預期中的水解產物2-hydroxymethyl-4-nitrophenol外，亦生成經由甲醛分子轉移之產物8-hydroxymethyl-6-nitro-1,3-benzodioxin。
Under an acidic condition, the condensation of p-nitrophenol andparaformaldehyde gave 6-nito-1,3-benzodioxin in good yield. Hydrolysis of 6nitro-1,3-benzodioxin in aqueous phase yielded 2-hydroxymethyl-4-itrophenol and an unexpected product, 8-hydroxymethyl-6-nitro-1,3-benzodioxin. Thisresult indicated that an intermolecular transfer of a formaldehyde moietywas occured during the hydrolysis reaction.
