Addition of methanolic methoxide ions to 3, 5-dinitrobenzonitrile (3) results in the immediate development of an absorption (A,,, 490 nm), assigned to the methoxyl u complex of 3 (4), which subsequently decreases rapidly in intensity. The equilibrium constant for the formation of 4 in methanol at 25.00”, K= 1.9 1. mol-', has been obtained from kinetic treatment of the rate of decrease in the absorbance of 4 as a function of methoxide ion concentration. ...