A process for the preparation of an isobutyramide is disclosed. A sodium phenolate is prepared by reacting sodium with a phenol in ethanol, an excess of toluene is added to the solution to form an ethanol/toluene azeotrope which azeotrope is then removed by distillation whereafter a N-cyanoalkyl .alpha.-bromo-isobutyramide is added, the mixture is refluxed for a period of 6-15 hours after which water is added to form a precipitate which is then removed from the reaction mixture.