[image omitted] Addition of an isocyanide to an iminium ion intermediate that forms from the reaction between a heteroarylcarbaldehyde and a secondary amine leads to formation of sterically congested 2-(heteroaryl)acetamide derivatives in the presence of silica gel at room temperature. The structures of the products were deduced from their 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and infrared spectra and mass spectrometry.