Benzamides were converted into benzonitriles with BrCCl3–PPh3–Et3N in CH2Cl2 in an Appel-type reaction. Benzaldoximes could be transformed to benzonitriles under identical conditions. It was found that the reaction system BrCCl3–(2 equiv.)PPh3 was also suitable for these transformations with PPh3 replacing Et3N.