 Trinitroanisole can be prepared by the reaction of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene with methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide followed by the nitration of the resulting product.Alternatively, it can be prepared directly by the reaction of picryl chloride with methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide.Historically, trinitroanisole was used as a military explosive (e.g., Japanese ""), however, due to its tendency to form picric acid and dangerous picrate salts, its use has largely been abandoned.