3-Nitro-acetoacetanilides of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another represent hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, it being possible for two of the said radicals to form a cycloaliphatic ring together with the carbon atom on which they are substituents, andR.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently of one another denote hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkylthio, aralkoxy, aralkylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, halogen, nitro or amino disubstituted by alkyl, aralkyl or aryl, andR.sup.4 and R.sup.5, when they are adjacent, can be parts of a fused cycloaliphatic or aromatic ring,are described as well as methods for its preparation such as by reaction of an acetoacetic acid compound with a 3-nitro-aniline under condensation conditions, or, by reaction of an enamine with 3-nitro-phenyl isocyanate. The 3-nitro-acetoacetanilides are useful intermediates in the preparation of coupling components for color photography.