1,2-Benzenedicarbonitrile, 4-nitro-

Synthesis of 4-Nitrophthalonitrile: SOCl2 (83.5 mL. 1.144 mol) was added dropwise under nitrogen purge to dry DMF (200 mL) which had been cooled to 0-5 °C. The solution was allowed to stir for 15 min at 0-5 °C. The 4-nitrophthalamide (60.1 g, 0.286 mol) was then added and the solution was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature and react for 18 h under nitrogen purge. The solution was then slowly added to ice water to crystallize and precipitate the product. The 4-nitrophthalonitrile was collected using vacuum filtration, washed with ice cold water, and allowed to air dry overnight; yield: 45.2 g (92%); m.p.: 141 °C (det. by DSC) 1 H NMR((CD3)2SO): 8.41 (dd, 1H), 8.67 (dd, 1H), 9.03 (dd, 1H) FTIR: 3091 (m, aromatic C-H stretch), 2242 (d, CN stretch), 1534 (s, asymmetric N=O stretch), 1349 (s, symmetric N=O stretch), 853 (s, C-N stretch)