The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a N-(N'-substituted glycyl)- 2 -cyanopyrrolidine comprising at least (a) reacting, in the presence of dimethylformamide, a compound of formula (V) wherein, independently of each other, X<；SUB>；1 <；/SUB>；and X<；SUB>；3 <；/SUB>；are halogen； X<；SUB>；2 <；/SUB>；is halogen, OH, O-C(-O)-CH<；SUB>；2<；/SUB>；X<；SUB>；3<；/SUB>；, -O-SO<；SUB>；2<；/SUB>；-(C<；SUB>；1-8<；/SUB>；)alkyl or 13 O-SO<；SUB>；2<；/SUB>；-(aryl), with L-prolinamide, followed by (b) reacting the resultant compound without isolation with a dehydration agent, optionally followed by (c) reacting, in the presence of a base, the resultant compound without isolation with an appropriate amine and (d) recovering the resultant compound in free form or in acid addition salt form.
