3-Methoxy-4-nitrobenzyl alcohol was used in the synthesis of: 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzyl azide new aryl azides, (Z)-1-(3′-azido-4′-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)ethane and (Z)-1-(4′-azido-3′-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)ethane, potentially useful photoaffinity labeling reagents for tubulin 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde via oxidation 4-[3-(2-methylphenyl)ureido]-3-methoxybenzylchloride, required for syntheses of trifluoromethyl-substituted hydantoins 3-Methoxy-4-nitrobenzyl alcohol was used in the synthesis of: 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzyl azide new aryl azides, (Z)-1-(3′-azido-4′-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)ethane and (Z)-1-(4′-azido-3′-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)ethane, potentially useful photoaffinity labeling reagents for tubulin 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde via oxidation 4-[3-(2-methylphenyl)ureido]-3-methoxybenzylchloride, required for syntheses of trifluoromethyl-substituted hydantoins