Deprotonation of 3-methylazines, followed by reaction with benzonitile, gives an intermediate which, on treatment with additional strong base, cyclises to give 2-phenyl [1H]- pyrrolo [2, 3-b] pyridine. The application of this type of reaction to a variety of nitriles and β- methylazines (pyridines, quinolines, pyridines, quinoxalines and pyrimidines) is described.