Potassiophenylacetonitrile (2) reacts with 2-bromopyridme (1) and 2-chloroquinoline (4) via the SRNl mechanism when the reactants are exposed to near-UV light in liquid NHa. Potassioacetonitrile (6) reacts similarly with 1 and 4 upon photostimulation; however, the phOto-SRN1 reaction with 1 is accompanied by SNAr2 amination which becomes the major reaction in the dark or in the presence of di-tee-butyl nitroxide. Substrate 4 undergoes ...