Photoreaction of p- (4) and o-dicyanobenzene (6) and 4-cyanopyridine (7) wi
th formamides (1 and 3) and 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (2) produced a-aryl amide
s (10, 12, 13, 16, and 17). This reaction is attributable to a substitution
of the carbon adjacent to the nitrogen of the amide for the cyano group in
4 and 7.