Abstract The reaction of α-bromoimmonium bromides 4 with potassium cyanide in dimethylformamide gave rise to β-bromo-α-(dialkylamino) nitriles 5, which were dehydrobrominated in various basesolvent systems to afford (E)-and (Z)-α-cyanoenamines 2. An adaption of a previously published preparation of α-cyanoenamines starting from aldehydes via enamines led to an improved, efficient and fast synthesis of the title ...