Abstract A generalized method for synthesizing a wide variety of heterocyclic aromatic amine derivatives from nitriles by use of hydroxide catalysts is presented. Nitrile dimers (3- aminocrotononitrile and dicyandiamide) and a dimer analog (anthranilonitrile) react with monomeric nitriles in the presence of hydroxide to form respectively, aminopyrimidines, diaminotriazines and aminoquinazolines.