Arylmalononitriles were prepared from the corresponding benzoyl chlorides by three reaction steps. Treatment of the starting substances with cyanotrimethylsilane in the presence of pyridine gave dicyanotrimethylsiloxymethylbenzenes, which were transformed into chlorodicyanomethylbenzenes with POCl 3-pyridine in the second step. Finally, reduction of chlorodicyanomethylbenzenes with Zn–CH 3 CO 2 H afforded ...