Reduction of the nitro group in 4-bromo-5-nitrophthalodinitrile gave 4-amin
o-5-bromophthalodinitrile. The latter was acylated to obtain 4-acetylamino-
5-bromo- and 4-benzoylamino-5-bromophthalodinitriles which were used as sta
rting materials for preparing octasubstituted metal phthalocyanines.