A series of new quinoline ester derivatives containing diphenyl ether motif were designed and synthesized using 4-chlorophenol, 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene, as raw materials via four steps. The structures were confirmed by 1 H NMR and HRMS. The compound 8-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2,3-dimethylquinolin-4-(4-chloro) benzoate (4j) exhibited moderate fungicidal activity (68.2% inhibition) against the plant pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at 50 mu g/mL.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.