AbstractThe facile synthetic approaches to 3‐pyridinecarbonitriles are described. The first approach involves the base‐catalyzed transformation of 4‐hydroxy‐1,1‐cyclohexanedicarbonitrile 2a into 4a, b. The other route involves the base‐catalyzed multi‐step one‐pot reaction of aryl methyl ketones with the appropriate arylidenemalononitriles 6, 11a, b. Careful study of the synthesis of 2a, b from 1a, b revealed the importance of controlling the reaction conditions. Thus, 1,7‐dioxo‐4,4‐heptanedicarbonitriles 3a, b or 3‐pyridinecarbonitrile 4a were obtained in addition to the desired 2a, b under different basic conditions.