ω-CyanoN,N-disubstituted amides are conveniently prepared from halogenated amides by treatment with alkaline cyanides. By reacting them with powerful bases such as lithium dialkylamides in ether, these cyano amides may be metallated in α position to the cyano group only. When they are warmed up, the anions react with the amide group to afford α-cyano cyclanones by an intramolecular cyclisation.