1-Cyanobenzocy~ lobutene~(Ia), obtained by the benzyne-mediated cyclization of o- chlorohydrocinnani~ nitrile,~ was hydrolyzed to benzocyclobutene-lcarboxylic acid (Ib). Trcatinent of the corresponding acid chloride IC with sodium azide in toluene provided 1- aniinobenzocyclobutene (Table I, 111) in 40% yield. The direct conversion of the acid Ib to the aniine I11 with hydrazoic acid2 proceeded in somewhat higher yield.