The current invention relates to a perylene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride, substituted in the 9-position, of the general formula III n n n n n n n n n n wherein Z is bromine or cyano, and processes for preparing 9-bromoperylene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride and 9-cyanoperylene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride.