An examination of the literature concerning p-nitrobenzylazoles shows that some of these compounds were synthesized for a study their photochemical behavior. Thus, Beugelmans et al. described that lb, 2b and 5b are formed with excellent yields (> 90%) by reaction of the azole with p-nitrobenzyl chloride in acetonitrile and potassium carbonate upon irradiation and noted that in the dark, the reaction gave yields lower than lo%.'However, other ...