Process for the preparation of hydroxyalkylaminonitrobenzene derivatives

Process for the preparation of hydroxyalkylaminonitrobenzene derivatives of formula I ##STR27## wherein n is 2 or 3 and

• R is hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkoxy, amino, mono-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkylamino, di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkylamino or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkylcarbonylamino, comprising reacting compounds of formula II ##STR28## wherein R is as defined above, with compounds of formula III ##STR29## wherein n is as defined above, in inert aprotic solvents in the presence of a base to give compounds of formula IV ##STR30## wherein R and n are as defined above, and rearrangement of the compound of formula IV with an alkali metal hydroxide, wherein compound of the formula IV is not intermediately isolated, and wherein, when the reaction of the compound of the formula II with the compound of the formula III has taken place, water is added to the reaction mixture, optionally, and the salt containing aqueous phase is separated off from the resulting two-phase mixture at pH values of 0 to 7, and the organic phase is further reacted to give the end product of formula I.