An efficient procedure for the preparation of the reagents ethyl and methyl N-(cyanomethy1) methanimidates (NCCH, N== CHOR)(la, R= Et; lb, R= Me) is presented, along with their preliminary properties and reactions. The reaction of aminoacetonitrile hydrochloride with trialkyl orthoformate gave 4 (5)-imidazolone. The reaction of aminoacetonitrile (free base) with the ortho ester, catalyzed by formic acid, gave methyl N-7H-imidazo [l, 5-a] imidazol-2 ...