The cumbersome preparation of symmetrical tricyanotrimethylbenzene (I) (tricyanomesitylene) by a stepwise introduction of three cyano groups has been reported.' We deemed it of interest to attempt a more facile synthesis of this type of compound. The Rosenmund-von Braun reaction generally proceeds well with halogen compounds bearing the halogen atoms on nonadjacent carbon atoms. The method is satisfactory even under ...
