Unsaturated nitriles were synthesized in good yields from 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and active methylene compounds containing nitrile group. From methylheptenone and malononitrile, 2-cyano-3, 7-dimethyl-2, 7-octadienenitrile was obtained in 91% yield. The unsaturated nitriles were alkylated at the 3-position by various Grignard reagents. Furthermore, reduction and hydrolysis of these unsaturated nitriles were examined.
