Abstract The 2-oxomalonylbis (arylimidoyl) chlorides [C 6 H 3 (R 2-2, 6) N= CCl] 2 CO (R= Me, 3a; Pr i, 3b; H, 3c) were synthesized from C 6 H 3 (R 2-2, 6) NHCHO and an excess of (COCl 2) 3 and their reaction with various nucleophiles was studied. Successive hydrolysis of 3a led to the formation of [C 6 H 3 (Me 2-2, 6) N= CCl] 3 COH 4a and [C 6 H 3 (Me 2-2, 6) NHCO] 3 COH 5a, while treatment of 3a with HAuCl 4 (H 2 O) x gave {[C 6 H 3 (Me 2-2, 6) ...