The Organic Synthesis procedure (W. Noland, Coll.Vol. V, p.833) calls for the generation of nitromethane conjugate base in ∼10 fold excess of MeNO 2 , followed by reaction with para formaldehyde and isolation of the product by co-distillation with PhOPh, for uniform heat distribution. We have used this procedure extensively and, inspite of all precautions, on three occasions explosions resulted, either during or after the distillation. This is to be contrasted with our equally ...