Aromatic aldehydes with electron-withdrawing groups undergo rapid reactions with a variety of alcohols and secondary amines to afford the corresponding esters and amides, respectively, in high yields, when treated with NaCN or acetone cyanohydrin and base under ambient reaction conditions. In case of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, simultaneous reduction of the C=C bond along with esterification occurred to produce the saturated esters in high yields. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.