Abstract The facile synthetic approaches to 3-pyridinecarbonitriles are described. The first approach involves the base-catalyzed transformation of 4-hydroxy-1, 1- cyclohexanedicarbonitrile 2a into 4a, b. The other route involves the base-catalyzed multi- step one-pot reaction of aryl methyl ketones with the appropriate arylidenemalononitriles 6, 11a, b. Careful study of the synthesis of 2a, b from 1a, b revealed the importance of ...