A synthetic pathway that produces alkyl α,-cyanodiolefins in quantitative yield is described, applying chemistry that is based on simple α-alkylation of alkyl nitriles. Three amide bases, lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide, lithium diisopropylamide, and sodium amide, are used to create the α-carbanions that undergo substitution with various alkylating agents. Optimization leads to essentially quantitative conversions for every substrate/example reported herein, which will prove useful in many synthetic schemes.