The reaction of alpha,alpha'-dibromomesitylene (I) with potassium cyanide by means of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) in refluxing dichloromethane water gives 2,2'-(5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(acetonitrile) (II), which is methylated with methyl iodide and NaH in DMF to yield 2,2'-(5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-methylpropionitrile) (III). The bromination of (III) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and benzoyl peroxide in CCl4 affords the bromomethyl compound (IV), which is finally condensed with sodium 1,2,4-triazole (V) in DMF.

The reaction of alpha,alpha'-dibromomesitylene (I) with potassium cyanide by means of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) in refluxing dichloromethane water gives 2,2'-(5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(acetonitrile) (II), which is methylated with methyl iodide and NaH in DMF to yield 2,2'-(5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(2-methylpropionitrile) (III). The bromination of (III) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and benzoyl peroxide in CCl4 affords the bromomethyl compound (IV), which is finally condensed with sodium 1,2,4-triazole (V) in DMF.