p-hydroxyphenethyl methyl ether is made from β-phenylethanol as the starting material through methyl ether, nitration, reduction and diazotization hydrolysis. (1) Methylation reaction 44g(1.1mol) of sodium hydroxide was added to the mixed solution of 122g (1.0mol) of β-phenylethanol and 60g of methoxyethylbenzene at room temperature (10 ℃), the temperature was raised to 95 ℃, and 142ml(189g,1.5mol) of dimethyl sulfate was dropped within 1h. After adding, continue to stir at 95 ℃ for 2 hours. After the reaction, 300ml of 25% sodium hydroxide solution was added and refluxed for 1h. After cooling, the organic phase is separated, and the inorganic phase is extracted with ether. The extract was combined with the organic phase and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removing the ether, distillation was carried out, and the fraction at 57-59 ℃(667Pa) was collected to obtain 183g of colorless transparent liquid methoxyethylbenzene. After deducting 60g of methoxyethylbenzene added, the net yield was 123g and the yield was 90%. ⑵ Nitration reaction 108.8g of methoxyethylbenzene (0.8mol) was slowly added to 208ml of 94% sulfuric acid below 0 ℃ (about 0.5h). Below 0 ℃, add mixed acid dropwise (prepared by 38ml of 99% nitric acid and 70ml of fuming sulfuric acid containing 50% sulfur trioxide) to the mixed solution within 2h, and continue to stir below 0 ℃ for 1h after adding. After the reaction is completed, the reaction liquid is poured into 1000g of ice water to precipitate solids. Filter, after the waste acid is drained, continuously squeeze the filter cake, extract the oil, and then wash it to neutral. The filter cake was recrystallized with 1300ml of 95% ethanol and 870ml of water mixed solvent to obtain 68g of light yellow rod-like crystal p-nitro compound with 47% yield and melting point of 60-61 ℃. (3) Reduction reaction: 68g p-nitro compound is added to the mixed solution of 275g stannous chloride (dihydrate) and 550ml of 36%-38% concentrated hydrochloric acid at 58-60 ℃ for 0.5h, after addition, heating to 75 ℃ for 1h. Subsequently, it can be treated in the following two ways: a. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0°C and filtered. The obtained solid product is added to 250ml of 20% sodium hydroxide solution under room temperature stirring, and the organic phase is separated after standing, and the inorganic phase is extracted with ether. The extract was combined with the organic phase and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removing ether, 36g of oily liquid p-amino compound was obtained with 63% yield. B. cool the reaction mixture to below 50 ℃, neutralize it with 40% sodium hydroxide solution to pH = 8, separate the organic phase, and extract the inorganic phase with ether. The extract was combined with the organic phase and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removing ether, 49g of oily liquid p-amino compound was obtained with 86% yield. No matter which method is used to treat the amino compound, the obtained oily liquid can be directly used for the next diazotization hydrolysis without distillation. (4) Diazotization hydrolysis reaction into 65ml of mixed solution of 94% sulfuric acid and 1000ml of water, 49g of p-amino compound (0.322mol) is added in batches within 15min at 0 ℃, then sodium nitrite solution (prepared by 22.4g of sodium nitrite and 100ml of water) is added dropwise at 0 ℃ to continuously test with starch-potassium iodide test paper, and the dropwise addition is stopped. Add a small amount of urea after stirring for a moment. The temperature was raised to 80 ℃, the reaction was carried out for 15min. After cooling, the extract was extracted with ether, and the extract was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removing ether, distill, collect 120-122 ℃(533Pa) fraction to obtain light yellow liquid. After cooling, 34.5g of light yellow needle-like crystal product 4-(2-methoxyethyl) phenol was precipitated with 70% yield.