iles (4-56%), were prepared in 1-18% yields from the S-alkylation of pyridinium 1-[3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-[cyanomethylthio(thiocarbonyl)]]all ylides with alkyl halides, followed by treatment of the resulting pyridinium salts with a base and then a dehydrogenating agent. In several reactions of pyridinium salts obtained from reaction of the allylides with benzylic halides, trace amounts of bis[1-cyano-