Method of preparing polynuclear, halogenated, aromatic benzyl ethers

An aromatic polynuclear, halogenated, aromatic benzyl ether of the formula I WHEREIN W is a chlorine or bromine atom or a methyl radical or the radical -CH2.Z, said radical W being disposed in the ortho, meta or para position with respect to the CH2.Z radical, Hal represents a chlorine or bromine atom, n is 0 to 4 and Z represents a phenoxy radical of the general formula II wherein X is a chlorine or bromine atom, R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a is 2 to 5 and b is (5-i a); a process for producing such polynuclear halogenated benzyl ether by contacting a benzyl halide of the general formula III wherein Hal and n have the previously assigned significance, X is a chlorine or bromine atom, Y is the same as CH2X or is a hydrogen or chlorine atom or a methyl radical and is disposed in the ortho, meta or para position with respect to the radical -CH2X, and a phenolate of a halogen phenol which halogen phenol has the formula IV WHEREIN X, R, a and b have the previously assigned significance, in a glycol monoalkyl ether reaction medium until the ether is formed and thereafter isolating the ether.