Process for producing chlorinated phenoxytoluene derivatives

A process for producing in high yield and high selectivity a chlorinated phenoxytoluene derivative represented by the formula ##STR23## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, alkoxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, halogenoalkyl, acyl, acyloxy, aryl, aralkyl or aralkyloxy, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or chlorine, which comprises chlorinating at a temperature of 0.degree. to 150.degree. C. a phenoxytoluene derivative represented by the formula ##STR24## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are same as above, with chlorine in an amount that provides said chlorinated phenoxytoluene derivative, in the presence of about 0.001 to 50 wt. % based on said phenoxytoluene derivative of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-containing compound, sulfur-containing compound, phosphorus-containing compound and oxygen-containing compound which is capable of forming a charge-transfer complex with chlorine, chlorine radical or organic halogen compound, together with about 0.001 to 20 wt. % based on said phenoxytoluene derivative of radical initiator and about 1 to 20 times the weight of said phenoxytoluene derivative of an organic halogen compound.