An improved synthesis, characterization, and X-ray studies of 5-tert-butyl-3-nitrophthalonitrile

An improved six-step synthesis of 5-tert-butyl-3-nitrophthalonitrile (1) is described. The title compound and all the intermediates are fully characterized spectroscopically (FT–IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS). In addition, single-crystal X-ray diffraction further confirmed the structure of the title compound.