TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation: Preparation of (I) involves reacting core-substituted dianhydride of formula (III) with a cyanide (e.g. copper (I) cyanide) to obtain (I).L = leaving group;n = undefined.Preferred Compound: The compound (II) is selected from compounds of formulae (II'a)-(II'd).R1 = as defined above.Preferred Method: In method (M1), the reacting step is carried out in a co-solvent system comprising a polar protic solvent and a non-polar or low-polarity solvent (preferably xylene and propanoic acid). Preferred Definitions:    R'a = CN, NO2 or C(O)CH3;    A1-H1 = CH, C(CN) or C(C(O)CH3);    n = 2 or 4;    R1 = aryl, biaryl, arylalkyl or biarylalkyl (all optionally substituted).    WIDER DISCLOSURE - Also, disclosed the compound (II) is new.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - 4 Compounds are specifically claimed as (I) i.e. 1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10- dianhydride (I'a); 1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide); 2,6-dicyanonapthalene-1,4:5,8- dianhydride; and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene-2,3:6,7- dianhydride. Preparation of 23 compounds are specifically claimed as (II) e.g. N,N'-dioctyl-2,6-dicyanonapthalene-1,4:5,8-bis(dicarboximide) (IIa); N,N'-bis(n-octyl)-1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide); N,N'-bis(n-octyl)-1,6-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide); N,N'-bis(3S)-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl)-1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide); and N,N'-bis(3S)-3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyl)-1,6-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide).    EXAMPLE - A mixture of 1,7-dibromoperylene-3, 4:9,10-dianhydride (1.5 g) and copper (I) cyanide (4.43 g) in dimethylformamide (70 ml) was deaerated and was heated at 150 degrees C for 6.5 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with methanol, and dried overnight. The crude product was washed with an aqueous solution of potassium cyanide (100 mmol) and with hot water to obtain 1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-dianhydride (I'a) as a dark red solid (65% yield).