A process for the preparation of 4-hydroxyalkylamino-2-nitro-anisoles of the general formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein m is 2 or 3; by reaction of a 4-halogeno-3-nitro-aniline of formula (II) with a chloroalkyl-chloroformate of formula (III), alkaline ring closure of the resulting carbamate and nucleophilic replacement of the halogeno atom by a methoxy group to form a derivative of formula (IV), and finally ring opening of the resulting cyclic carbamate by treatment with methanolic alkali metal hydroxide, followed by neutralization with inorganic or organic acids, wherein the complete reaction is executed in a non-aqueous medium; as well as process for the preparation of 2-amino-4-hydroxyalkylamino-anisoles of formula (V) ##STR00002##