Abstract Reaction of N,N-dimethylaniline (1) with tetrahalomethanes such as tetrabromomethane and tetrachloromethane in acetonitrile was found to give 4,4′-methylenebis(N,N-dimethylaniline) (2) in considerable yield. The reaction is considered to be initiated by the electron transfer from N,N-dimethylaniline (π-donor) to tetrahalomethane (σ-acceptor).