Aromatic substitution by carbenes is important synthetically and mechanistically. la-O We now report the effects of substituents on the reactions of benzenes with 3H-1, 2, 4-triazol--3- ylidene (1) and 5-phenyl-3H_-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-ylidene(?) as generated from 3-diazo-3H-1, 2, 4---triazole (2) and 3-diazo-5-phenyl_3H_triazole(4_). lp These investigations reveal (1) impressive orientational selectivities in aromatic substitution by kinetically insensitive ...