A general procedure for the conversion of p-polynitro-substituted alcohols to their corresponding halides is described, which consists of the treatment of the alcohol with thionyl chloride containing catalytic amounts of pyridine or pyridine hydrochloride. l, l, l- Trinitrochloroethane undergoes a novel rearrangement reaction to dipotassium tetranitroethane upon treatment with nitrite ion in basic media. A study of the chemistry of 1 ...