Phenols with pK(a) greater than or equal to 7 react with 1-cyanoimidazole and 1-cyano-2-methylimidazole to give addition products at the cyano group; phenols with pK(a) less than or equal to 1 give rise to the corresponding quaternary salts, 1-cyanoimidazolium phenolates; phenols with pK(a) approximate to 4 do not react with 1-cyanoimidazoles.