The mechanism of the rearrangement of N-(1-arylalkylidene) cyanomethylamines ArC ([double bond, length as m-dash] NCH 2 CN) R 1 to the corresponding nitriles ArCH (CN) R 2 (in DMF, at 150 C, with K 2 CO 3) is described. Reaction 1→ 2 was investigated for different types of imine 1, and it was found that with a leaving group other than CN− the reaction does not proceed to yield the nitrile, whereas imines such as PhC ([double bond, ...