The reaction of nitrileshaving no α-hydrogen, such as aromatic nitriles and thiocyanates, with hydrogen chloride was investigated. Benzonitrile, p-tolunitrile, m-tolunitrile and some thiocyanates gave analytically pure 2:2 adducts in their reactions with HCl in a sealed glass tube at 30–60°C. The structure of the adducts was elucidated on the basis of NMR analysis and the mechanism of the generalized