Organozinc compounds derived from α-bromonitriles are readily prepared in solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and exist in the C metallated form. They condense normally with aldehydes and saturated ketones. A number of new β-hydroxy-nitriles are described. The addition of conjugated unsaturated ketones results in the formation of β-hydroxynitriles or ketonitriles, depending on the nature of the initial